Skywatcher motorised dob - coming soon

Starkler (Geoff) · #1 20-03-2009, 09:56 PM

http://firstlightoptics.com/proddeta..._flextube_auto

For those who rule out choosing a dob due to the lack of tracking and goto....
Well you can now have it all, and at a much cheaper price than an equivalent sized sct

#2 20-03-2009, 10:05 PM

If I knew SW were going to be realeasing this when I bought my 10" version I would of got this 100%

Very upset now

AlexN · #3 20-03-2009, 11:16 PM

nice looking setup!

Glenhuon (Bill) · #4 21-03-2009, 12:41 AM

Looks good. Be nice to hook a DSLR up to it and see what transpires on DSO's

Around the A$2500 mark in UK, but I reckon you'll be looking at nearer $4000 when it gets to the shops here.

Bill

Starkler (Geoff) · #5 21-03-2009, 02:35 AM

No it should be cheaper here than the equivalent GBP value in the UK.

If we think we have it bad price wise in Australia, the Europeans have it much worse.

telecasterguru (Frank) · #6 21-03-2009, 09:56 AM

How would you go about guiding the scope for DSO?

toryglen-boy (Duncan) · #7 21-03-2009, 10:37 AM

LOL

3 weeks after i get mine, this is announced !!

i quite fancy the 14"

GrahamL · #8 21-03-2009, 11:54 AM

Real men push there dobs !!

Does look very neatly put together though

wavelandscott (Scott) · #9 21-03-2009, 12:49 PM

Thanks for posting that...looks neat!

I bet I'll get to see one soon as I am hoping to make it to NEAF...it is only about an hours drive from my house. Here is hoping my bonus cheque gets deposited in time (not for the scope in the post but for other goodies)!

AlexN · #10 21-03-2009, 01:26 PM

I dont think it would be useable for DSO imaging, as its still alt/az... short exposures only.. but for planetary imaging these would make quite a splash I would imagine... 12 + inches of aperture with tracking for what will be MUCH less than the cost of equal aperture on an equatorial mount....

Starkler (Geoff) · #11 21-03-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightstalker

Real men push there dobs !!

I agree wholeheartedly

If the addition of tracking motors detracted in any way from the ability to make it move easily and smoothly in push-to mode I would see it as a big minus.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

but for planetary imaging these would make quite a splash I would imagine... 12 + inches of aperture with tracking for what will be MUCH less than the cost of equal aperture on an equatorial mount....

Whats an unknown at this stage is how smooth the motor drives are for high power imaging.

AlexN · #12 21-03-2009, 03:08 PM

Too true...

ColHut (Colin) · #13 24-03-2009, 09:46 PM

You must be nuts - That one des not include SynScan

That is not all! These can be easily upgraded to a full GOTO system by the addition of a SynScan AZ handset and cable (available soon).

you might just as well buy

http://firstlightoptics.com/proddeta...d=sw300peq6pro
at £1495.00

My 10" dob (not quite the same league) was AUD 499

If you want the works buy them - but why irritate yourself with a non-eq mount for the same price. You will need a truck to movie it anway!

Starkler (Geoff) · #14 24-03-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColHut

If you want the works buy them - but why irritate yourself with a non-eq mount for the same price. You will need a truck to movie it anway!

I say the opposite. Why irritate yourself with the weight and set up hassle of an eq mount unless photography is your main purpose.

Newtonians on eq mounts for visual? Too much hassle polar aligning, having to rotate the ota each time you shift object potentially screwing your alignment, and too much weight. Yuk

netwolf · #15 25-03-2009, 12:26 AM

If the tracking is good then this will make a very nice spalsh in the Planet, Comet, NEO imaging and finding scene. Dob's are cheaper and alt/az mounts are much simpler to use than the EQ mounts. This is welcome news indeed, look forward to real word reviews of its performance. I just hope the price is kept low. If this is Synscan compliant then perhaps a Altazmod similar to the EQmod could be developed for this. Also i wonder if they are using servos or steppers.

ColHut (Colin) · #16 25-03-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Newtonians on eq mounts for visual? Too much hassle polar aligning, having to rotate the ota each time you shift object potentially screwing your alignment, and too much weight. Yuk

Pah! It wil be so heavy you'll need caterpillar tracks for mobility

TJD (Trevor) · #17 25-03-2009, 10:01 PM

my scopes exactly the same but with out the moters just woundering if i could atach goto to mine its a 12"colapable skywatcher black diamond dob

it would be great if there was a divise that could turn a ordenary dob in to a goto monster

toryglen-boy (Duncan) · #18 26-03-2009, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJD

my scopes exactly the same but with out the moters just woundering if i could atach goto to mine its a 12"colapable skywatcher black diamond dob

it would be great if there was a divise that could turn a ordenary dob in to a goto monster

*cough*

Argo Navis

*cough*

Starkler (Geoff) · #19 26-03-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJD

it would be great if there was a divise that could turn a ordenary dob in to a goto monster

Argonavis +servocat

Cost will be more than what you paid for the scope

Goto is overrated imo when you can have push-to for much cheaper.

pete_pumpkin (Pete) · #20 21-04-2009, 08:47 PM

I just found some local prices from the following site:

http://www.sirius-optics.com.au/index11.htm