Skywatcher or GSO Dobsonian?

[kaotic]

Hi there,

I was going to buy an 8" Skywatcher collapsible dobsonian from Andrews, however I have now seen that they also sell GSO Dobs.

I was looking at the 8" and 10" GSO Dobs and was just wondering what everyone would recommend? Go the Skywatcher 8" or go a 8" or 10" GSO?

If the GSO is better value (and better scope) which would would you recommend? There are different versions and is becoming a bit overwhelming. When they mention " Adjustable Super Deluxe (ASDX)" does this mean that its collapsible like the Skywatcher?

http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-10.htm

They currently have a special on the 10"

"Guan Sheng 10" f/5 Limited Dobsonian telescope!

Discounted to only...
$499.00 AUD First grade 10" (250mm x 1250mm) Dobsonian reflector with truly outstanding 1/12 surface wave BK7 mirror, 2" focuser and 2" to 1.25" adaptor. Unbeatable value!!
Resolving power; 0.49 arc second.
Limiting magnitude; 14.5.

Limited version includes a 8 x 50 finderscope, 2" rack and pinion focuser with a 2" to 1.25" adaptor and Premium GSO 9mm and 25mm 1.25" Plossl eyepieces. Yes, it's optically the same as GSO's Deluxe, Super Deluxe and Adjustable Super Deluxe models. Limited stock - first come, first served!"

Any recommendations you could give me would be great!! Im just so confused between these standard, limited, super deluxe and adjustable versions.

[asimov (John)]

I don't know. After doing quite a bit of research on the general QC & optical quality of both Synta (Skywatcher etc.) and GSO, I wasn't impressed with the amount of current GSO owners complaining about faulty coatings on their primaries & in some cases secondary mirrors.

I ended up buying a SW to avoid any problems in those areas.

'Your mileage may vary' as they say in the classics..

[kaotic]

Thanks for the reply. My budget is around the 500-600 mark. Do you think it would be better going for the 10" GSO over the 8" Collapsible Skywatcher?

"Guan Sheng 10" f/5 Limited Dobsonian telescope!

Discounted to only...
$499.00 AUD First grade 10" (250mm x 1250mm) Dobsonian reflector with truly outstanding 1/12 surface wave BK7 mirror, 2" focuser and 2" to 1.25" adaptor. Unbeatable value!!
Resolving power; 0.49 arc second.
Limiting magnitude; 14.5.

includes a 8 x 50 finderscope, 2" rack and pinion focuser with a 2" to 1.25" adaptor and Premium GSO 9mm and 25mm 1.25" Plossl eyepieces. Yes, it's optically the same as GSO's Deluxe, Super Deluxe and Adjustable Super Deluxe models. Limited stock - first come, first served!"

[Paddy (Patrick)]

In your spot I would go for the 10" GSO. I have to admit that I haven't done the research that John has into coatings, but having had a GSO 12" and knowing quite a few others with similar scopes, they seem quite reliable to me and you'd gather 64% more light. I imagine that you may one day want to upgrade the R & P focuser for a 10:1 Crayford, but they don't cost much in the scheme of things.

[that_guy (Tony)]

I've had both skywatcher and GSO however skywatcher was an 8 while the GSO was a 10.. but the GSO is 10 years old and Skywatcher was brand new... I guess that kinda evens out i guess haha. the quality of the mirror on the GSO, is actually really good for a 10 year old scope, surely they must have improved over the years and made it even more fantastic. I'd go with the GSO, I'm always for the cheaper option. In fact, all my scopes are pre-owned at more than half the prices new.. but if you were going to buy new, id say go for the GSO

[asimov (John)]

http://tinyurl.com/3tyb6db Just a taste of a few threads kicking around at the moment. Make sure you read the last entry in the thread, pretty well explains what's going on right now.

I'm not meaning to put you off buying a GSO, just trying to make folk aware of some facts. Some are willing to risk it & rely on warranty procedures after the fact, but I wasn't. I also understand it's a punt - This might never happen to your GSO optics, or it could happen to the SW optics I have right now.

[Liz]

I presently have a Skywatcher Dob, and previous to that a GSO - I found the quality in the Skywatcher a bit better, but things may have changed since then.

Very tricky decision though as 10" better than 8" - mmm, ultimately, prob go with the 10" - that is one heck of a price.

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Bigger is better (mostly).
I have had no problems with GSO gear, whereas a couple of skywatcher purchases have been less than optimal.

Just to mix it up......
The Zambuto comapny is now offering upgrades to the mirrors in mass produced reflectors.
Not cheap, at about $700 + postage. but worth the effort IMHO.

For those not familar Carl Zambuto makes what are arguably the best mirrors in the world.

[mr bruess]

I'd go for the "Guan Sheng 10" f/5 Limited Dobsonian telescope!
Discounted to only...
$499.00 AUD
Andrews has only a limited number of these.They are normally $650.
They are the older model dobsonians without the adjustable(you can tighten it altazimuth bearings to balance heavy eyepieces).
Andrews says that these scopes had previous defective mirrors which were replaced with new good mirrors. These telescopes have a brand new 10 inch mirrors which ARE guaranteed to be good optically.
Andrews says that the gso mirrors are very good and have a slight edge over the comparable skywatchers.

[asimov (John)]

All things being equal, I'd go the bigger aperture. I think I'd like Andrews to explain exactly how GS optical has the edge over Synta..

[kaotic]

are the standard tube styles better then the collapsible?

[nimrod77 (Nathan)]

It's a good question Kaotic and I am wondering the same thing. I am looking at getting a 8" GSO for my son's b'day as his (our) start into star gazing, and at $400 I think it is hard to go past.
My only concern was quality as I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for in life....