OK after posting on the board and reading a few replies I have decided to get a DOB 10" . I want to pick the scope up rather than get delivered
I have found the following
Kirks Camera Supply have a SW 10" for $799 these are the accessories with the 8" I will find out what come with the 10" tomorrow 8"
203mm Aperture, 1000mm Focal length
9x50 finderscope
Eyepieces: Super 25mm and Super 10mm
Another price was a saxon sob Astronomy Alive
Saxon Dob 109 10" for $839
2. EXCLUSIVE UPGRADES TO SAXON
The Saxon Dobsonian Newtonian telescopes include the following standard EXCLUSIVE upgrades unavailable on other brands (8 inch version refers):
i. Eyepieces - The standard Symetrical "Super" eyepieces thart are offered with Celestron & Skywatcher are UPGRADED to Premium Plossl eyepieces. This is an upgrade of genuine importance as I am sure you will appreciate that low cost (wholesale cost) US$ 2.50 each Symetrical eyepieces being upgraded to (wholesale cost) US$ 33 Plossl eyepieces enables a far greater performance. Indeed the eyepieces are THE most important part of a telescope system, as a good telescope with poor eyepieces still fails to perform.
ii. Focuser - The standard rack & pinion focuser on the Celestron & Skywatcher is UPGRADED to a Premium Crayford focuser on the Saxon 8 inch system. This is because a Premium Crayford is substantially smoother in operation, provides far greater ease of focusing, plus provides a "non notchy" operation, plus also has no focuser wobble or backlash slap that the rack & pinion unit has. Thereby enabling higher performance in operation, easier to achieve exact sharpness and higher detail.
iii. Finderscope - The standard 6 Magnifications X 30mm sized finderscope used with other brands is UPGRADED to a larger 9 Magnifications X 50mm sized finderscope as standard supply on all 8 inch Saxon Dobsonians, why ? - it is simple, these are high performance Deep Space telescopes that deserve a finderscope that enables Deep Space objects to be found, the smaller commonly available 6 X 30 being too small to achieve this task.
Or for $799 astro-optical
These accessories are for the 8" I will find out if they are the same for the 10"
Standard accessories:
*31mm(1.25")/51mm(2") Dual Fit AL Teflon-lined rack and pinion focuser
*Smooth Dobsonian mount
*Metal tube assembly
*9x50mm Finder scope
*10mm Super MA eyepiece(1.25")
*20mm Super MA eyepiece(1.25")
*Sturdy rocker box and cradle.
Optical Specifications :
Aperture : 250mm
Focal Length : 1255mm
Focal Ratio : 5
Peter,
For the extra money, I think a 10" scope is the way to go.
The 8" inch specs above will give you magnifications of 1000/25=40 and 1000/10=100.
The 10" specs above will give you magnifications of 1255/20=63 and 1255/10=126 roughly.
I would prefer a lower magnification somewhere between 40 and 75 and a higher magnification range somewhere between 150 and 200. The lower range for wider fields (e.g. clusters, nebulae, large galaxies) and the higher range for smaller objects (e.g. planets, small planetary nebulae) and splitting closer double stars less than 5" apart.
So, for a 1255mm focal length you need an eyepiece closer to 7mm as 1255/7=179 magnification.
Maybe they can do a deal on another eyepiece, or swap the 10mm.
Regards, Rob.
checkout the Sky watcher collapisable one, excellent if you plan on travelling with the scope.
A 10" full OTA can be quite heavy and awkard to transport around, I find my collapisble very easy to transport around and the setup is a breeze.
I love my collapsible 12" to bits. Squishes down fast and easy to shove in the back of the car.
The 10" is even more portable, and for $799, go for the biggest aperture you can get straight up. 10" is almost the perfect size/weight/performance/portability trade off for a scope that needs to travel to dark skies, or even to the backyard.
I got the 8" Saxon and highly recommend the 10". It is exactly the same in every other way. The focuser is very nice and smooth and the standard eyepiece respectable - though I traded in the larger one to get a William optics one
Hi Peter..
I've own a Saxon 10" for a few years now and can highly reccommend them as a good honest scope..The only mods I have made to mine is to first change the three secondary collimation screws (4 x 20 mm allen head grub screws) for something locally made from a harder marterial.
After a few times dusting the inside of the tube the matt painted surface gets a few shiney streaks..I brought some thick matt black paper from the local newsagent and relined the tube..just use a gluestick and join the paper to itself and not the to the tube...Contrast has improved 100%!!
A right-angle finder does make it easier on the neck and back!!
Whatever you choose..enjoy!!!
