Orion XX14i, it's here!

[mbaddah (Mo)]

I'm surprised this hasn't been reported here as of yet but the Orion XX14i is now officially online at http://www.telescope.com/control/pro...=09791?id=cjdf

There is a cloudynights thread over here as well http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthrea.../o/o/fpart/all

Happy times

[PCH (Paul)]

That is certainly a cool bit of kit

[mbaddah (Mo)]

A closer shot of the "Orion UC"

[DavidU (Dave)]

Are they on sale in Aust?

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Doubt it. Orion dobs where available in Aus always carried a huge price premium.

[JethroB76 (Jeff)]

You'll probably get a 14" SDM with what the Orions will be priced at

[Calibos (Keith)]

Originally Posted by JethroB76

You'll probably get a 14" SDM with what the Orions will be priced at

Yeah, I was about to point out to the OP that there is a very good reason why there was no mention of it on these forums, or certainly no fuss being made about it.

Most of the other big names ship straight from their Asian manufacturers to the various international territories. However Orion ship all their inventory to the US first and from there back out across the world. Thus Orions are cheapest in the US, carry a bit of a premium across the pond in Ireland and the UK and mainland Europe and carry a massive premium in OZ.

I couldn't understand why everyone was fitting the Super Argo Navis to their Bintels. It seemed to be overkill. I knew there was probably an element of being loyal wanting supporting local astro companies and maybe you guys got it cheaper than the rest of us, but still, its a heafty investment in the top of the range DSC for a Chinese Dob. ie. Why weren't a lot of aussies getting Orion Intelliscopes. Surely it would be a lot cheaper than a Bintel with an argo Navis.

Then I saw Australias Orion pricing.

OMG, if you have to pay that much for a DSC equiped DOB anyway then its a no brainer to support the local guys and get the best DSC on the market to boot.

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

It looks nice, but the pricing probably kills it. From memory, SDM has a 12" dob with argo navis for around 4.5k and it'll probably have better quality optics and build construction.

Again, Australia's pricing structure leaves a lot to be desired.

Dave

edit: oh, and Orion won't ship direct from the US to Australia. You *have* to buy it from the local resellers. I don't like to support a company that dictates what their consumers can, and cannot do.

[Ian Robinson]

It's OTA is pretty heavy (64lbs == 29kg)

The AUD is getting better , currently about 1AUD = 0.87USD and on the way up.

I guess it's all wood and steel and a bit of Sonotube for the secondayr cage and the mirror box.

Would be nice to get the optical set only , and then
- buy a nice Orion UK mirror cell
- buy another nice 2" low profile all aluminium crayford
- buy a nice AstroSystems spider and sec holder
- use carbon fibre composite tubes for the truss poles
- make the secondary cage from carbon fibre composite
- make the mirror box from carbon fibre composite

Would probably get the OTA to a under 20kg that way.

and park the OTA on a good GEM.

[Starkler (Geoff)]

If you want the optics set from an orion, buy a skywatcher. They are the same thing.

[StarGazing (Alex)]

Looks great, but the price of an Orion dob seems too much for me. Must agree with Jethro that with a few extra $$$$ you could buy a quality Sdm dob.
Thats my two cents.....Alex. Clear skyes to all.

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

Originally Posted by Starkler

If you want the optics set from an orion, buy a skywatcher. They are the same thing.

So do you think we can see the 14" and 16" dobs soon from Skywatcher?

[mbaddah (Mo)]

Originally Posted by toryglen-boy

So do you think we can see the 14" and 16" dobs soon from Skywatcher?

Yes I posted an official confirmation from skywatcher a while back confirming the 14" dob is in the works.

[alfi (Alf david)]

hi
i have been writing a synta representative for some days now, and have been recieving some very kind, and informative answers back.
she could confirm that the 14" flextube dob. will be released in february 2010.
i also asked if there are any chance of a larger ED, than the 120mm, but that is not in the pipeline yet.
i also asked about the 114mm triplet i have seen pictures of, and she said they have made 5 of these, that they have sent out to for testing with some large resellers.
she did not know if they would start the production of these yet.
i offered to buy one of here, but she was sorry to say that they dident have any left .

alfi

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

Originally Posted by alfi

hi
i have been writing a synta representative for some days now, and have been recieving some very kind, and informative answers back.
she could confirm that the 14" flextube dob. will be released in february 2010.
i also asked if there are any chance of a larger ED, than the 120mm, but that is not in the pipeline yet.
i also asked about the 114mm triplet i have seen pictures of, and she said they have made 5 of these, that they have sent out to for testing with some large resellers.
she did not know if they would start the production of these yet.
i offered to buy one of here, but she was sorry to say that they dident have any left .

alfi

Next time you two are talking, wanna find out if there is a 16" dob in the works also?

[alfi (Alf david)]

hi

will write here again tomorrow i think, will ask here if they are working on something.

alfi

[alfi (Alf david)]

hi
i got no confirmation on a 16"
the 14" will come in standard and tracking versions.
she said the prices will be around 2500$

alfi

[toryglen-boy (Duncan)]

Originally Posted by alfi

hi
i got no confirmation on a 16"
the 14" will come in standard and tracking versions.
she said the prices will be around 2500$

alfi

Is that US or Aussie Dollar? $2500? is that for tracking or non tracking?

doesnt sit right with me, not when you can buy a 16" for that, i should think $1800-$200 is closer to the mark

[alfi (Alf david)]

hi
i didnt ask what dollars she meant, i guess US.
she didnt say what version that was.
but prices can change, depending on the market i guess, its still some months to it comes.

alfi

[alfi (Alf david)]

hi
duncan, i just heard from here again, and she said if the 14" goes down well, the 16" will be the next to come, so the plans are there for the 16".

alfi