Which 10" Dob?

[Dean]

Hey all, almost got enough to buy a basic 10" Dobsonian reflector. I live not far from Sirius Optics in Brisbane so thought I might buy it there.

They have three brands of 10" Dobsonians on their website, all for $795 each...

- Saxon
- Skywatcher
- Orion

All seem pretty much identical in specs, except the Orion is f4.7 while the others are f5...

Any of them better than the others? Personally I like the darker colors of the Orion scopes... but not too fusyy otherwise. Want to get the best scope of the 3.

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Hi Dean,
Saxon and Skywatcher are the same 'scopes with different comsmetics. The Orion is, I think, sourced from the same optics company but a separate brand. I don't think any one is 'best'. They're all pretty good as the Chinese have become pretty proficient ant constructing large mirrors.
So really it boils down to fixtures and fittings and price (at least for me).
I'd choose the Orion also.
Peter

[Dean]

Thanks for the reply mate!

I just came back from Sirius Optics... with a new 10" Skywatcher Dob...
That was the only one they had in stock and I was told that all three scopes come from the same factory in China anyway so I wasn't too fussed. (I had read that somewhere else before too). All were the same price anyway at $795.

It has the Crayford Focusser too which is good.

[Kevnool (Kev)]

Good luck on first light Dean with your new 10"er.
You shall see lots and also look a very very long way back in time.
All the best....Cheers Kev.

[Dean]

Thanks Kev. Can't wait to unveil light into the tube! Tonight was the perfect night really but had to go do grocery shopping and now finishing off a magazine that is due at printers tomorrow ARGGHHH!

Oh well

Yeah I still can't get my head around that "looking way back into history" thing.. Well it makes sense of course but when you stop and think, it is really amazing.

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

do make sure that you grab a laser collimator and cheshire for a start to give you decent enough collimation, at f4.7 they are slightly sensitive to collimation i should know i use a 10" dobsonian for photography

[Dean]

Yeah plan on getting a laser for collimation. Had a go at collimating via a collimating cap and it was hard work but I think I got it collimated quite well. Images of nebula and saturn seemed quite sharp afterward.

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

a collimation cap will get you about 80% of the way there. laser+cheshire will get you to about 96%, and the other 4% is where you get to the OCD or astrophotography+coma corrector territory in which you go and spend 300 odd bucks on collimation kit

good luck champ

[astro_nutt]

Hi Dean.
Congrats on your new scope!
I own the Saxon 10" version for the past 6 years and find it a very capable and honest scope, very good optics and easy to use.
One thing though with the base assembly, be sure to smear some silicone on the exposed particleboard edges and allow to dry before putting it together. This will help protect the base on those dewy nights.
Cheers!