10/12 Dob Synta vs GSO

[ColHut]

Does anybody know/have an opinion :) as to how the GSO/Bintel 10" OTAs match against the very similar sounding Synta/Skywatcher 10"OTAs. I am thinking particularly dobs, but also on EQ mounts.

cheers

[ColHut]

Bump

Somebody must have looked at the f4.9 Skywatcher and f5 GSO dobs.

It seems that the GSO come with crayford foccusers and cooling fans as well as proper bearings on one axis...

Anyway I can get the Skywatcher stuff locally (without paying all that freight) but if the GSO is better well... and longer. help needed

[skies2clear]

I recall someone in IIS Forums 2 or 3 months ago getting a Saxon 10" dob and getting excellent results from it. I'm not sure if this is the same as a Skywatcher, but the Saxon had a pyrex primary mirror, whereas the GSO was BK7. Even though pyrex is better, for 10" scopes using BK7 doesn't seem to be an issue really.
Never compared these 2 scopes, but have looked through both on different occasions and they both perform very well. It may be hard to say which is better, as with anything mass produced, there may be sample to sample variation anyway.

Hopefully others will chip in with their thoughts too, to help you out,

Clear skies

[Miaplacidus]

Hi ColHut,

I'm not necessarily the best qualified to answer, but I do have a Synta 8 inch F6 dob, and a GSO 8 inch F4 (originally on a GEM). The first is a few years older, and hell, maybe details have changed. Hopefully others will correct me, but here goes.

I prefer the Synta OTA tube. White, smooth paint job, almost looks and feels enamelled, compared to the coarser paint job and thin-walled GSO OTA. (Used to be some reports here of rust on the GSO OTAs. I could picture that on mine, but I can't imagine it on my Synta.) Both tubes are sufficiently black on the inside, although the GSO is probably blacker. The GSO R&P focusser is much better than the Synta one (so I bought a Crayford for the Synta). The GSO secondary mirror holder is better, more robust looking. As too the GSO collimation knobs. (I think the Synta primary knobs aren't even interchangeable with Bob's knobs, which is a bit of a pain.)

The laminate on the dob base is superior on the Synta. I get the feeling it will tolerate more damp. OTOH, the GSO eyepiece rack is better. (How much detail do you want?!)

If there is a difference in terms of the mirror coatings, wave error, etc, then I can't see it.

I think the tension control handles that Synta use to stabilize altitude movement is pretty good, and probably better than the spring system on the GSO and other dobs. This is probably a matter of personal opinion, though. Still, if nothing else, it is nice to have carry handles right there handy.

Originally I thought the tension control handles would preclude attaching encoders for an Argo Navis. This is no longer the case, and I have attached an AN to mine. Works a treat.

For the size you are looking at, you'll want a fan I suspect. And if they throw in a Crayford focusser, it is definitely worth it and would almost certainly tip the balance for me.

Which ever dob you get, you'll love it. But try and get the one you can check out first hand.

Good luck!

Cheers,

Brian.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I purchased a 10" GSO dob almost exactly 1 year ago and it was one of the first with the white coated OTA - see comment above re tube coatings, etc.
My 10" always felt to me that it looked and felt more like enamelling than a paintjob (it WAS paint, just to clarify that, but a good paint job) and many other dob owners who saw it said that it had a thicker & stronger coat than their own GSO's had.

I don't know if all GSO's come that way now, but Mike's (Iceman) unit did - read his byline. Try asking the question re coatings of one of the companies who are actually selling them.

Cheers!

[iceman]

I've got a white GSO now, it's heaps better than the silver tube rusty ones.

You will do well whichever of those you get - they are very similar in quality, price and performance.

[ColHut]

Many thanks to you all. It is really hard to work out whether theone is better than the other. Did yours come with the ordinary crayford style foccuser or the 10:1 version? BTW I ahve been through all the saxon dob threads to and they helped a little bit.

cheers

[iceman]

Mine has the normal crayford, not the 10:1, but it's motor driven by an Orion AccuFocus unit.

The 10:1 is great though, well worth getting.

[ving]

i have the older silver GSO, and while so many have complianed about rust mine doesnt have a spot of rust on it....

at the end of the day there are fores and againsts for each. some say GSOs mirrors are better while other say syntas are better made... I think my decicion would come down to what comes with the scope, and price... they seems to be very similar otherwise.
best of luck in what ever you decide :)

[janoskiss]

I have an 8" GSO (silver) and 10" Saxon aka Skywatcher, and used to own a 12" GSO (white).

Either make of scope is a great buy, each with its own advantages and drawbacks.

The main advantage of the GSOs is the accessories mainly the 10:1 Crayford microfocuser - and also fitted fan (though I prefer to fit my own with a baffle). Fitting a Crayford focuser to an SW Dob is a lot trickier. The altitude bearing is better on the GSO as well IF the scope is balanced.

The + of the SW 10" is much *much* better collimation and mirror support screws, smaller central obstruction (20% vs 25%) with no secondary holder, no pinched mirrors (loctited loosely fitted primary mirror clips), a Pyrex mirror (usable sooner than my 8" plate glass GSO - no big deal if you have fan), alt axis tension handles which allows you to lock the alt axis while changing EPs (tube won't tip from being off balance) and the better, more durable overall finish of both the OTA and the base.

btw white GSOs are not necessarily newer than silver ones. GSOs are made in black, white and silver (and maybe some other colours) - usually the dealer chooses which not you. GSO white finish is still a fairly flimsy thin coat of paint, not the tougher powder coating you get on the SWs.

Contrary to semi-popular opinion GSO mirrors are not better than Synta/SW/Saxon. Out of the three Dobs I have and had the Saxon has the best mirror with sharpest pinpoint stars and great contrast on planets. But all 3 scopes had decent mirrors. Getting a really good mirror in a mass produced scope involves a bit of luck.