Which one ?????

[bloggsey]

I am buying my first "real" telescope, but after months of consideration, I can't decide between a Sky Watcher 8" on an EQ5 Pro mount, or a 10" Sky Watcher dob. Both are GOTO mounts and cost about the same. EQ5 would give me more options for a different OTA in the future, if that were to be an option, 10", bigger......

[Barrykgerdes]

If you are a beginner go for the Dobsonian mount. An 8" newtonian scope is too big for satisfactory operation on an EQ5 as well as being more difficult to set up.

Use the Dobsonian as a push telescope first while you learn about collimation and its operation and then use the goto function on the alt/azm mode.

Later when if you want to do photography spend your money on a good solid mount.

Barry

[that_guy]

first what are you interested in? visual or photography? if its visual go the dob, its easier to use and more bang for its bucks...

[AstralTraveller]

Yep, go the dobs - apperture rules. It is better and easier to use and there are no convincing arguments for the 8". High power views are easier with tracking but that is the only (small) advantage of the GC5 (and I have one). If the dobs wasn't GOTO then perhaps the GC5 would get the nod.

BTW, Barry I can find your house from your signature. Tiny backyard!

[Barrykgerdes]

All the better for mowing.
If you used the Google Earth. It is about 4 years old. There is no dome on the old observatory now. The ute and trailer out the front is the mower man (I don't cut Lawns) so the picture was taken on a Friday.

Barry

[bloggsey]

Thanks for that guys. I am only starting out and the main purpose at this stage is visual, so looks like a dob is the way to go.:)