Guan Sheng 12: F4 - Any good?

[Poita (Peter)]

I have a friend that live about an hour further into the sticks than I do, and they don't have internet, so I said I'd ask some questions for them.

Andrews has a 12" OTA "imaging Newtonian reflector" for $899, which seems like a very cheap price. He currently has an ED80 on an EQ6 mount and is mainly into photographing DSO with it.
How does the Guan Sheng compare to other 12" units?
Any advice appreciated.

It is this one:
12" f/4, 3" M-LRN Imaging-optimised OTA reflector features GSO's extra-heavy duty LINEAR 10:1 microfocuser, primary mirror cooling fan, 8x50 finderscope and large collimation knobs.
(300mm x 1200mm)
Has strong and smooth 3" diameter linear focuser! Includes new, wide, cast tube rings with guide scope mounting points

[Poita (Peter)]

Nevermind, he just contacted me to say the 12" is outside the capabilitities of the EQ6, so he is going to look at a carbon fibre RC instead.

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

I've put a 10" GSO f4 refractor on an EQ 6 pro and with the 20 odd Kilo of counter weights it pushes it a tad.
I do like it though, nice piece of kit, the tube weighs about 16kg just on its own so quite hefty.
Graham

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by graham.hobart

I've put a 10" GSO f4 refractor on an EQ 6 pro and with the 20 odd Kilo of counter weights it pushes it a tad.
I do like it though, nice piece of kit, the tube weighs about 16kg just on its own so quite hefty.
Graham

a 10" refractor!!!!

Graham, I think you mean a 10" Reflector

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

Oops! thanks for correction
what a dumb thing to write!!
Graham

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by graham.hobart

Oops! thanks for correction
what a dumb thing to write!!
Graham

It was a Freudian slip to be sure I'd like to own one

[mldee (Mike)]

Here's one, courtesy of Griffith Observatory, LA.

I wonder what they use for goto?