Skywatcher vs GSO newtonians

[5ash (Philip)]

I am looking at getting a new telescope with more aperture for astrophotography . Has anyone any comments about 10" optical tubes from the above manufacturers. The GSO scopes seem to have more and are cheaper but are the skywatchers a better buy?? Are there are any other fast F ratio scopes i should consider . I have a NEQ6 mount to mount the scope.
philip

[icytailmark (Mark)]

i think the optics are pretty much all the same. I have a 12" SW Collapsible Dob and its awesome. It comes down to what eyepieces you use and seeing conditions etc.

[chris lewis]

Yes when I was in the market for an 8 in E.Q. Newt. I looked at the GSO and S.W. Very similar optics and build qualities. I actually got the GSO as it had a Crayford focuser and the S.W. had a basic R. and P. focuser at the time.
I have had 2x previous GSO Newts. and they have proved reliable and accurate. The GSO mirrors appear to have consistent Q. and A.
One of them was a 8 in F/4 which after some adaptaion was good for A.P. although I never really went down this path. GSO do sell a modified F/4 version for A.P. - larger diagonal, different focuser etc. But then again you want a 10 in. Orion also sells a 190 mm F.5.3 Mak. Newt. which is apparently excellent for A.P. I viewed through one at Sirius Optics in Brisbane and the image was flat. Build quality was excellent. There are reviews here and on the web on these.
Really however I believe the S.W. and G.S.O. both offer good quality for the price. My current S.W. Equinox 120ED has excellent optical and build qualities.


Chris

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Optically they seem 50/50. GSO has better fixtures and fittings IMHO. Also they tend to be cheaper, but doubt you'd go wrong with either.
PJH

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

well ill give you some heads up about the SW/GSO, GSO is not better in build qualitys not by a fair shot i know this due to a friend of mine having one and seeing them side by side, the difference lays in the tube construction and collmination system. as for the mirrors. they are pretty much on par with each other, but with the substrate bing substantially different. one is made with normal glass, the other with pyrex glass. minimizing the mirror changing shape due to temperature.

With either of the telescopes. instantly go and purchase a high quality focuser. do not buy the GSO/Bintel 10:1 they are Cr4p! and will not hold a canon 40d at 800grams.! look at a minimum of Moonlight,JMI or Feathertouch.

out of the box, the SW focuser is alright and will hold your camera but itsn't the best by a long shot after SW decided to make the 2" interface a seperate piece! grrr...