Quote:
Originally Posted by Meru
Hi Dave,
Welcome to IIS! As Allan has pointed out the link, have a read. It's quite good to read. I would very much recommend you purchase a 8" dob. I owned both a 10" & 8" dob and have to say, unless you got dark skies the extra weight and hassle of moving a 10" is definitely not worth it (for me anyways  ). |
Well, there you go - I'd say the exact opposite. A 10" gathers 100/64 = 1.5 times the light of an 8" for about 1.4 time the cost. But, more important (and after you have forgotten the cost), the tube lengths are basically the same so anywhere you can fit or carry an 8 you can also fit or carry a 10. I put a carry handle on my 10 and that helps a lot. No more cradling the tube. Just carry it in one hand like a large, odd shaped, suitcase. My first scope was a 10" f/8 (that was a beast to move!) and I've always found eights to be under-powered.