Saxon 8" Mak Cass - anyone own one?

[cmr (Chris)]

Hi - Has anyone owned a Saxon 8" Mak Cass? I've been offered a very good price on one of these new... how heavy are they

Main interes visual planets and DSO - - maybe some astrophotogrpahy of planets etc..

Ive read they have a non-starard thread but people seem to have gotten around that,,,

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Hey Chris.
Depends on what you mean by "very good price".
I've only ever looked though one.
OK. But nothing special. Views a bit soft IMHO.
A 'Saxon' is essentially a Skywatcher with less quality control in optics or build.
Wouldn't pay more than $300-$350 depending on condition.
Don't know anything about "threads" tho'.

[cmr (Chris)]

hi peter - thanks for the comment - went for a used c8 ota insread - waitin forvhe moint and tim to do a first light - cheers

[rider]

In defense of the Saxon,

I've had one. Their current scope is an entirely different design to the Skywatcher.
Mine was also much more strongly constructed (- and it was a fair bit heavier.)
The Saxons now have a fixed mirror, and separate focusser, so they don't get mirror flop, and they are 8 inches, not 7 like the sky-watcher.
The smaller Saxon Maks are pretty ordinary, but their 8 is a good scope which give very good views.