10" vs 12" Dob

[zumka]

Hi Guys,

Is there big difference between 10" and 12" dob in terms of viewing ability.
I'm considering of buying a dob and not sure which one to go for.
I have Toyota Kluger will that be enough to transport 12".

Regards,

Daniel

[Dave47tuc]

Hi Daniel,
This thread may help.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=37201

Not a big difference between 10 and 12 but it is there. Go for a 12" if you can afford and move it.

Good luck with your choice.:thumbsup:

[rmcpb]

Make sure you have actually had a go at moving the 12" before buying, its actually similar to a water heater. If you can move it easily then it would be my choice.

Cheers

[erick]

Agreed, if you can transport it, 12". Just build up those muscles so you can move it!

[zumka]

At the moment YourOptical 12" is cheapper then 10" from any other shop.

:)

$736 - That's why I'm considering it.

I realy like Skywatcher 12" Truss version, but almost 2 times the price makes me think twice.

[rmcpb]

The truss version is only really worth it if you have to collapse it to transport it. Doens't seem to be the case with you.

[zumka]

Yourkoptical don't have these Dobs anymore. I got offered Skywatcher for $850 but it doesn't have 10:1 Crayford focuser and Mirror cooling fan.
Do you think it's still worth it?

[peter_4059]

Try putting the 12" in the back of the Kluger - You'll be surprised at how much room the 10" scope and base takes up in the rear if you are planning to use the back seat for passengers - at least thats what I found! The 10" just fits across the width of the vehicle.

[erick]

Probably. If you shop around, most 12" dobs are selling well over $1,000 now.

Mirror cooling fan - a cheap 12V computer fan, a bit of wiring, a 8xAA battery pack and you are done - for not many bucks. There should be a spot to mount the fan already

10:1 Crayford - nice to have but not essential. Are they offering a normal Crayford? Put the call out in the classifieds. The 10:1 come up for sale from time to time and people upgrade their focusers. $70, maybe $80 and you'll have one you can swap over - then sell the original for $40-50.

Eric :)

[zumka]

Thanks Erik,

Focusers, are they standard fit or diferent from brand to brand.

[erick]

True they do vary so you'd want to check out a few things first. I think the Chinese made scopes are all much the same hole locations but the baseplate radius may vary with the tube diameter.

The GSO focussers can be interchanged between base plates - two small grub screws holds them together.

Ask York to advise on your upgrade paths?

[zumka]

Is GSO in 12" better quality then skywatcher ?

[Screwdriverone]

Hi Daniel,

Les Dalrymple of AS&T fame (NGCLes here) did a comprehensive SW980 solid tube evalution in the AS&T not too long ago, where he praised the quality of the Skywatcher's optics in being able to split Sirius A & B optically as well as resolve the smaller details on Saturn compared to his Mark Suchting (hope I spelled it right) 12" mirror 31cm dob and it did very well in comparison. I dont know about the GSO optics but from all reports, they are very good and perhaps on par with the Skywatcher ones.

Have a quick search here for Les' posts and you will turn up the reports and his comments on other threads re the 12" SW980.

Cheers

Chris

[erick]

A well-known telescope maker looked at the sky with my GSO 12" reflector last weekend and wrote to me:-

"..... how good your mirror is. It's actually in the small handful of the very, very best I've ever seen!!!" :)

So that expert opinion suggests that GSO optics can stack up well.

I tried to answer the question of Skywatcher versus GSO some time ago:-

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=32880

but no definitive answer. :shrug:

[Davekyn]

Last viewing session I had, I could not stop people from raving how good the GSO mirrors really are! I would advise getting the 12" if you intend to use it in light polluted areas, as you really do need every bit of advantage in such situations these days. However if you can travel to a dark sight & space in the car is an issue, I am sure a 10" will sufice.

I hope you enjoy your scope, whatever you decide.

[zumka]

I bought 12" SkyWatcher from YorkOptical for 850 + delivery. Better value for money at the moment.

[erick]

You are going to enjoy it, Daniel. But get to dark skies as soon and as often as you can to get the best out of it. :thumbsup:

[zumka]

Got my dob yesterday.

Came in pieces (mirror not attached) took me 2 hours to assembe and collimnate everything. Thanks god the sky was clear last night, I didn't realise M42 that big :eyepop:

[Davekyn]

Congrats! Dobs really are awsome telescopes. I am about to try baffling my focuser as described in the Nov/Dec issue of Australian Sky & Telescope on page 74. If your interested pm me and I'll send you some info on it.
Dave

[zumka]

Actualy speaking of focusers I'm going to need to upgrade mine to 10:1.
Any recomendations ?

[Spanrz]

Yes, it's phenomenal in a 12". It blew me away with a wide field EP.

Even though it's a bit of a lug, I still think that extra $200 was worth it for a 12".

It's just mind blowing. :)