There is already a thread about this in the "Equipment Discussion" area but I thought this may have big impact for someone just looking at buying their first scope, so I've written this for the beginners here. I've tried to include some helpful information but if anything here is unclear please ask questions and we'll do our best to explain.
Andrew's Communications, one of the dealers that many of us (myself included) have purchased scopes and/or accessories from, have some almost unbelievable prices on the GSO brand of Dobs at present.
(add postage costs to all these costs of course)
You can get a 6" dob starting at $249 - great price, but not "news"...
You can get an 8" dob starting at $299, even better price, also not news...
You can get a 10" dob starting at $299!!!!! DEFINITELY NEWS!!
Refer to this page on their website, scroll down to the dobs (about 1/3 of the way down).
http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-10.htm
10" dob with Rack & Pinion Focuser, 8x50 straight-through finder and 2 eyepieces ...
$299
10" dob with Crayford focuser (better than Rack & Pinion), 8x50 right angle finder, mirror cooling fan, and 2 eyepieces ...
$399
10" dob with 10:1 Crayford focuser (much better fine focus control), 8x50 right angle finder, mirror cooling fan, and 5 eyepieces ...
$499
(
12" dob with Crayford for
$599 !!!!)
I have no affiliation with GSO scopes, Andrews Comms (apart from being an occasional customer) nor any other personal interest in these other than the burning desire to buy another dob!!!!!
Exactly 2 years ago this week, when I bought my 10" dob from Andrews, I paid either $649 or $699 (memory fades...) for the Crayford version which was a great price even then! You can now get it for $399. Cripes!
If I was a newbie again now I'd possibly buy the "$299" version, then buy the separate 10:1 Crayford focuser for $119 (further down, same page) and mount it up myself (4 small screws), price $418.
(For the $499 you get the right angle finder instead, and the fan, plus 3 extra eyepieces, which is a brilliant deal, however for $418 you can still have a great scope package if money is tight.)
The 10:1 Crayford focuser (if you buy it separately) is only made to fit on an 8" scope, so the curvature machined into it's base is "too curved" to fit "flat" on a 10" or 12" tube, however I had one mounted on my 10" ok. It screwed on securely with the top and bottom edges tight against the tube, and I used some blutack to "fill" the curve gap and prevent any stray light getting in sidewise.
If you buy the scope with the 10:1 already fitted it fits the scope body precisely!
I hope someone finds this useful.... Cheers!