Quote:
Originally Posted by floyd_2
I owned an Obsession 15" for quite a while and loved it. They're very well made and a joy to use. Having said that, I must admit that the current price tag of about AU$10,000 for a kitted out Obsession 15", compared to the price tag of about $3,000 for an Orion XX14i makes the decision easy. I have owned both, and in your shoes, would snap up an xx14i toot sweet.
Dean
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Hi Dean,
That's a matter of personal opinion. It depends on many things. How much money you have, how discerning an observer you are and what you expect from your observing equipment. Importantly, it also depends on how much time you want to spend frigging around with your equipment to get it to work properly, instead of observing. It also depends on how long you expect it to last and how long you plan to keep it. At about 3 times the price I would take my 14" SDM with Zambuto mirror, Argo Navis and Servo Cat each and every day over an XXi14. Having an 18" Obsession and a 14" SDM in the stable, I can also say the SDM takes things to the next level again, notwithstanding the Obsession is an outstanding scope. Because SDM only produce about 10 to 15 scopes a year and Obsession produce 200 plus, Peter Read has a lot more time to individualise every SDM scope and make sure it's perfect in every way. The Obsessions are excellent and everything on them works exactly as it should. Wait time on delivery for an Obsession is minimal (3 mths), conmpared to 12 mths plus for an SDM.
The other thing to remember is you see people upgrading each and every day from a mass produced Asian made scope to a premium truss dob. The only time you ever see people going from a premium truss scope to a mass produced scope is when they need the money for something else. That having been said, a premium truss scope is a big investment and a 15" Obsession or SDM sitting unloved in the garage in 2 years time is a lot of coin going to waste. I think Anthony should "dip his toes in the water" with a 10" GSO or similar to see if his interest is going to hold before shelling out large coin. As a matter of fact I know of a really excellent 10"/F5 GSO dob with Argo Navis and every conceivable mod, that's for sale at a very good price
Cheers,
John B