skywatcher collaspible dob

[fl9man]

hello everyone just wondering if anyone has the new skywatcher
collaspible dob,s. thanks anthony

[eclipse]

Yes have the 12 inch and it seems to be very stable, holds position well, and easily collimated due to large finger friendly screws.The manual for assembling the base shows a different model, but with a little thought and finding the correct one on the web no real problems.

[Starkler]

Leslie is there anything about this scope that you dont like or think could be done better?

[deadsimple]

Does the scope come with anything to keep dust out the tube when you pack it away? From the pics it looks like there's still an air gap when you collapse it.

It was one of the main things that turned me towards the regular Dobs when I was hunting for a newtonian.

[eclipse]

There is a good dust cover over the main mirror, and I cover up the part with the secondary to minimise dust. There are some large rubber buffers that could be removed to stop the gap, but we have not bothered. The rotation is excellent, just like butter, much better than the 8 inch dob we have that has telflon, this has a metal roller device. Has very large secondary, but all in all very pleased with it. As it collapses it is transportable and can even fit in our small motorhome. The crayford is pretty average, but it works.

[eclipse]

Just remembered there is a review you might want to look up: http://nightskies.net/scopetest/scopes/skywatcher/flextube.html, it may answer some of your questions

[Omaroo]

Trevor and Anne from our club in southern Sydney have a 12" version. The optics look good and the mechanics seem quite robust without modifications. Extra cross trusses (like some have done) or cables might add to the rigidity, but it certainly doesn't look as though it's required if all you use are 1.25" Plossl EP's. The focuser doesn't like to take 2" EPs or collimators, and maybe this is done on purpose to avoid the extra weight in the secondary cage - thus avoiding flex a little more. Other than that, as a ready-to-go package that they can flick in and out of the car in a couple of minutes it does its job very well.

[Starkler]

Chris could expand on this a bit more please? In what what way does the focuser not like 2" components?

[eclipse]

I have not had any problems with a 2 inch EP with a 2 inch barlow, although certainly the crayford is lightly engineered.I do not feel that you would have any problems either.Focusing is easy