Review: Skywatcher FlexTube 12" Dobsonian

iceman (Mike) · #1 01-04-2009, 06:49 AM

Duncan Gibb has written a grea review of the Skywatcher FlexTube 12" Dobsonian.

You can read the review at the IceInSpace Reviews page, or directly by clicking on the link below:

Skywatcher FlexTube 12" Dobsonian

Thanks to Duncan for writing the review. If you'd like to contribute a review or other content to IceInSpace, please contact us.

iceman (Mike) · #2 01-04-2009, 09:41 PM

Review Uploaded.

toryglen-boy (Duncan) · #3 02-04-2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman

Review Uploaded.

thanks mike

Maxim (Drew) · #4 26-04-2009, 01:25 AM

Nice review. I also have one of these and I agree with what you have said. I like the scope a lot and so far my only complaint is somehow I got oil from the supports onto the primary mirror (I have no idea how), but that came off after washing the mirror using Mike's guide. Now i just need to replace the 10mm eyepiece that came with it after it got dirty and my attempt to clean it made it worse by scratching it.

acropolite (Phil) · #5 26-04-2009, 10:30 AM

Nice review Duncan, Thanks

toryglen-boy (Duncan) · #6 26-04-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxim

Nice review. I also have one of these and I agree with what you have said. I like the scope a lot and so far my only complaint is somehow I got oil from the supports onto the primary mirror (I have no idea how), but that came off after washing the mirror using Mike's guide. Now i just need to replace the 10mm eyepiece that came with it after it got dirty and my attempt to clean it made it worse by scratching it.

thats a pity, i thought the eyepieces that came with it where not to bad at all

toryglen-boy (Duncan) · #7 26-04-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acropolite

Nice review Duncan, Thanks

you're welcome

Kevnool (Kev) · #8 26-04-2009, 11:38 AM

Great review Duncan and a great read to go with it.
Cheers Kev.

Maxim (Drew) · #9 26-04-2009, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toryglen-boy

thats a pity, i thought the eyepieces that came with it where not to bad at all

The 25mm is fine. I'm going to try taking the 10mm apart and washing it to see if that helps any.

toryglen-boy (Duncan) · #10 26-04-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevnool

Great review Duncan and a great read to go with it.
Cheers Kev.

thanks Kev

Starkler (Geoff) · #11 26-04-2009, 02:36 PM

I had a good look at this scope when Dave47tuc bought his, and overall I was very impressed.

The good:

excellent optics (did Dave get lucky?)
simple quick set up with all components captive as opposed to a truss scope
Nice finish - it looks good
Simple mods can make movements excellent

The not so good

Focal plane out too far requiring use of crummy plastic adapter
single speed focuser

If you follow the mods that Dave47tuc did to his scope the result is excellent and better than anything else you could buy at twice the price.

If I was starting out again from scratch I would own one of these.

toryglen-boy (Duncan) · #12 26-04-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starkler

I had a good look at this scope when Dave47tuc bought his, and overall I was very impressed.

The good:

excellent optics (did Dave get lucky?)
simple quick set up with all components captive as opposed to a truss scope
Nice finish - it looks good
Simple mods can make movements excellent

The not so good

Focal plane out too far requiring use of crummy plastic adapter
single speed focuser

If you follow the mods that Dave47tuc did to his scope the result is excellent and better than anything else you could buy at twice the price.

If I was starting out again from scratch I would own one of these.

Howdy

I dont think Dave got lucky, i have had a look through 2 of these, side by side, and the optics on both where very good (one of them was mine obviously!) and i am gonna stick my neck out here, and say its of better optical quality than a 12" GSO i have looked through.

Focal plane out too far? i use everything a 6mm to a 40mm (although not too often as the EP is too large) and i never have any of those problems, i can get everything i have thrown at it to focus, no issues. I know what you mean about the focuser, but for what you pay, against what you get ....

Starkler (Geoff) · #13 26-04-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toryglen-boy

Focal plane out too far? i use everything a 6mm to a 40mm (although not too often as the EP is too large) and i never have any of those problems, i can get everything i have thrown at it to focus, no issues. I know what you mean about the focuser, but for what you pay, against what you get ....

Im not suggesting any problems achieving focus, but you're forced to use the crummy plastic adapter which sticks up high from the focuser.

On GSO scopes you get a much lower profile 1.25" adapter with compression ring and the whole setup is much more solid and a fine focus option is available.

Dave got the best of both worlds by fitting a gso dual speed to his, but it required a raising adapter to be machined to lift the focuser to match the focal plane height. I would follow this path rather than buy a lightbridge.

toryglen-boy (Duncan) · #14 26-04-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starkler

Im not suggesting any problems achieving focus, but you're forced to use the crummy plastic adapter which sticks up high from the focuser.

On GSO scopes you get a much lower profile 1.25" adapter with compression ring and the whole setup is much more solid and a fine focus option is available.

Dave got the best of both worlds by fitting a gso dual speed to his, but it required a raising adapter to be machined to lift the focuser to match the focal plane height.

oh ...

mine hasn't got a plastic adapter anywhere

Starkler (Geoff) · #15 26-04-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toryglen-boy

oh ...

mine hasn't got a plastic adapter anywhere

Thats odd. The picture in your review shows one with a laser sitting in it.
IIRC, its a hard plastic adapter with a grub screw to secure the eyepiece.
Do you have to change adapter to use a 2" eyepiece?

Am i going mad?

toryglen-boy (Duncan) · #16 26-04-2009, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starkler

Thats odd. The picture in your review shows one with a laser sitting in it.
IIRC, its a hard plastic adapter with a grub screw to secure the eyepiece.
Do you have to change adapter to use a 2" eyepiece?

Am i going mad?

oh that!!

yeah i have to use an adapter, although both the 2" and 1.25" adapters are metal. although i did mention in the review that its not the best setup

Sarge (Rod) · #17 26-04-2009, 05:18 PM

I recently bought the Skywatcher 12" collapsible, upgrading from a 5" dob and so far have found it a very easy to use unit. Anyone interested in purchasing one, I got mine from Gerry Gibbs Camera House in Perth. Excelllent price and I notice he still has then on special (little more than I paid). The best part was delivery was only $15. 40 kgs in two boxes, can't go past that.

Gem (Grant) · #18 03-12-2011, 08:04 PM

Anyone know if these scopes are still the same model since this review? Or have they changed a bit over the past couple of years?

I am thinking of getting the 14" as a visual scope.