Internationally shipped telescopes - Orion suppliers

[Jaybee76]

Hi all,

Despite wishing to get into astrophotography, I have decided on a 8-10" dobsonian as my first 'scope. The problem is, I want a quality 'scope and I am on a very tight budget. (AU$400 - 600'ish)

The only 'scope I can find that fits the bill is the Orion XT8. Orion, however, seem to me to be less popular here downunder?? Given our (close to parity) exchange rate at the minute, and also the fact that the best Aussie price I can find is about twice that of US suppliers, I thought I would try to import one.

Orion lists all its international distributers (http://www.telescope.com/control/view/page?p=intl) , but do not ship internationally to consumers. I've another post on the beginner equipment forum about getting an XT10 from Indonesia, but am skeptical about legitimacy.

Does anyone think I am on the wrong track with an Orion Skyquest XT10 classic dobsonian as my first scope? And is getting one from anywhere other than Australia (where an XT8 classic would barely be po$$ible) actually achievable?

I should still be able to photograph the solar system on a dobsonian mount, shouldn't I?

Thanks :question:
JB

[snowyskiesau]

Have you checked out the prices on dobsonians at Andrews (http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-10.htm) or Bintel (https://www.bintelshop.com.au/welcome.htm)?

I'm sure you'll find something within your budget and with local support.
Does your budget prices from an overseas supplier, include freight?

[mangrovedutch]

I'm agreeing with you Geoff. Freight is a killer, but also look at the warranty issues and support with anything else you need. I bought my scope local from Ron (Sirius Optics), and he has been an absolute legend in support (patient as well :P). I got my scope as a used item and still got 5 years warranty on the OTA and mount, when he hasn't got what I want, he directs me to others that are reputable, and tells me the market cost of that item. You can't get that support from OS, and IMHO is worth more than the scope itself. If you have to, get a second hand DOB, I'm sure there is someone local who has one or knows of one. The stores Geoff suggests might even have something that you are looking for in your price range.

Regards, Dutch

[AG Hybrid]

Inregards to freight. Andrews has a special for freight at the moment. $50 nation wide.

[Jaybee76]

I hadn't checked Andrews, Geoff, but I have been mostly doing searches for Orion. I had kinda had my heart set, after coming to believe the quality of their optics are fantastic for the price... I cant really find a comparable 8-10" dob in my budget $600 max.

As I stated in my aforementioned post, I have found a place in Indonesia who will supposedly sell me an XT10 Intelliscope for US$345. Whereas in Oz, best I can find is an XT8 Classic for $500'ish... an XT10 Intelliscope over here would cost upwards of a grand, I should think...

It has been suggested to me that I should look at Guan Sheng, which I will do...

Thanks for your help :)

-JB

[Jaybee76]

Thank you too, Dutch. As I have never purchased a 'scope I really appreciate the benefit experience. I will now certainly be looking to buy onshore, and will start looking at the options you guys have enlightened me with...

[Jaybee76]

... having done sooo much searching for an Orion, it sucks to have to go back to the drawing board and find an alternative :sadeyes:. (I was kinda coming to suspect I would be the case, however.)

The missus is ready to go to buy me my Christmas present, but I still havent found anything; and I am dying to get amongst it. There is only so much joy I can get out of the 200mm lens on my Nikon...

[wasyoungonce]

The Orion SkyQuest 8" XT8g cost is $849 USD (http://www.telescope.com/control/product/%7Ecategory_id=goto_computerized/%7Epcategory=dobsonians/%7Eproduct_id=08948). Shipping would be around $450 USD (guesstimate)...a total of around $1300 Aust minimum. Looks a nice scope, especially the controller (http://www.orion-xt10.com/orion-xt10.html). But optically, probably no better than GSO or Skywatcher scopes.

Orion (http://www.company7.com/orion/index.html)is a odd company, they sell many many differing brands and also sell re-badged scopes ..mostly probably GSO.

You can use freight forwarding companies like PriceUSA (http://www.priceusa.com.au/)to get one shipped here, but this will add to the costs, I suspect lets say another $150 bringing it all to $1450 Aust.

At that price some of the local dealers (http://www.astro-optical.com.au/listscopeorion.php?minnum=0&maxnum=5&sort=name&priceband=all) (and here (http://118.127.11.230/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=556&osCsid=92a7663b2d148147f2053932a46b 5dfa), although not Orion) are looking good.

I wouldn't buy from Indonesia!

edit:
Orion 8" Xtg scopes here (http://www.sirius-optics.com.au/orion%20dobs.htm) from Sirius Optics for $1125.

[toc]

I was also under the impression that the Orion dobs used the same mirrors as GSO, Skywatcher, Bintel, Saxon, and Meade dobs sold here. Happy to be proven wrong though. :)

[andrew2008]

GSO make the mirrors for Meade, GSO (obviously), and Bintel. Synta make the mirrors for Skywatcher, Saxon, Orion and Celestron.

To the OP. For your budget, any difference between the Synta and GSO mirrors is more likely to be individual variance in mirror quality than 1 brand making consistently better optics. Both are generally very good with the occasional exceptional or poor mirror getting through. Get onto Sirius Optics if you have your heart set on an Orion as they seem to have the best Orion prices which are listed on their website. Otherwise any of these brands are very good and TBH i would buy whichever was cheapest or came with better accessories.

[wasyoungonce]

Yet Orion Optics Europe (http://www.orionoptics.co.uk/OPTICS/opticsinformatio.html) appears a totally different company and has some very interesting short tube Newts (astrographs) etc.

[norm]

Astro Opticals in Crowsnest Sydney stock Orion scopes.

http://www.astro-optical.com.au/

Cheers, Norm

[Tiotion]

Hey Jason,
Like those above it would be hard for me to notice a difference in the optics of the major dob manufacturers... all much of a muchness. My guess is that you've been to a star party and looked through an orion and wanted that. Not trying to be patronising, all im saying is that when it comes to commerical dobs, the mirrors are all mass produced and would all have the same level of quality.
Given that you have a tight budget, why not float around the classifieds of this forum, and wait for a nice dob in your budget to pop up. I bought my 12" GSO dob from this forum, and i absolutely love it. Didnt cost me nearly as much as brand new, already had the mods dobs need to move smoothly, plus a few extras like a telrad, collimator and eps. Then bit by bit i added more like DSC's, TV eps, dew heaters, glatter collimator....
Point is you could find the Orion your after within your budget, but youll soon want/need other bits and pieces. Buy used and theres a good chance some of these will be thrown in.

Good luck

[mozzie]

hi jason
just noticed a 12" orion dob for sale in telescope and mount section a bit more then you want to spend but aperture rules with reflectors.....

[ballaratdragons]

Just out of curiosity, why an Orion?

Not that there is anything wrong with them.
Just wondering.

[Tiotion]

From the forums:

Near new 8" for $450
Bit older 8" for $300
12" SW collapsable $900...

thats just a the first three ive seen.
Also, (most) astronomers are so anal with their equipment that its probably in near new condition. Maybe a few knocks and scrapes like mine was but a 12" solid tube is awkward to carry to say the least.

No shame in buying used!

[dannat]

i don't think its feasibel to ship an orion dob to Aust -the frieght would kill you -it only makes sense for a c14 or TAK refractor where the saving is in the '000's

[seeker372011]

All good advice above
You also asked if you could do solar system imaging with a dob
Yes you can and mike salway has written a how to -check the articles section

Real pain in the posterior though

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Orion Optics UK is no relation to Orion Optics US.
Having been through the angst of receiving a duff scope from abroad, I would warn against importing a NEW one.
A proven 2nd hand one from a reliable vendor would be better.
Having said that, as others have pointed out, freight would be a killer. Possibly the same as the scope again or more.
Orion are no better or worse than GSO or Meade or Skywatcher, so unless you are hooked on the "Intelliscope" platform - which is a great idea - Ithink you's be just as happy with any other 10". I think, but I'm not sure, that Skywatcher makes go-to dobs.
Ay any rate, unless you are doing quick Lunar shots, a dob really isn't suitable for astro-photography. I suppose you could take multiple short exposures of planets and then process them in registax, but an 6 or 8" on a decent GEM will prove infinitely better.
Good luck with your search!
Peter

[Jaybee76]

Sincere thanks to everybody for their input :thumbsup:. I am now armed with a much more open mind about what a good scope is, and where a good place is to get one... I am currently back at the drawing board, much further away from finding a scope than I was before I started looking!



As I know nobody with a scope, and know nothing about scopes, I had to simply rely from info on the 'Net. As you will know, there is SOO much info out there, and as such I came to see the name Orion keep popping up. Picking up the Orion ball and running with it, I did a little homework on Orion and found pretty much no major drawbacks, as far as I could see. As they reportedly have good optics and build quality, and given that I could not find much in the same price range (that I had ever heard of, or knew anything about), I developed a one-track mind for an XT8...



:D

[JethroB76]

Orion distributors have traditionally treated the Australian market with contempt, particularly when it comes to the intelliscope dobs, hence why you don't see many around. Its not that they are unpopular - just the pricing was, however this has improved recently.

[Jaybee76]

Yeah Jeff, the pricing seems to be : the cost of an Orion from the 'States, + shipping cost to Oz = Aussie price... Major downer! I guess it ensures stability for their distributers around the world. Doesn't do much, as you say, for popularity. Surely 'bums on seats' is better than happy distributers?

Oh well, looks like I am to be steering away from them :shrug:

Cheers!

[Jaybee76]

I think I am going to go with an Orion XT203mm from Sirius Optics (really are the best prices I have encountered).

Just one thing, tho. Does anybody know the difference between an 'XT8" and a "XT 203mm"? I am guessing, that because the XT 203mm seems considerably cheaper, it is simply an Australian model.

Perhaps, as Jethro eluded to, Orion have started changing the way they play their game down-under, and have released the XT8 as a more competetively priced model, the XT203mm?

Can anyone shed any light?

:thanx:

[andrew2008]

How much is the price difference? On their website i see two 8" versions. One with Intelliscope and one without. About a $250 difference. IMHO the extra $250 would be well worth it. If i were after an 8" scope my money would be on that or the Skywatcher 8" GOTO which can be had for $999.

[Jaybee76]

Thanks to all!

Unfortunately I could not stretch the budget to the Intelliscope :( . I could have maybe got the 6" Intelliscope, but opted for aperture instead.

My XT8 is now only about 2 days away, and I am itching with excitement! I am sure I won't be disappointed:D

COME ON BABY!!!