Magnificent Obsession

[Argonavis (William)]

The best built al-az telescope on the market today is Dave Kreige's Obsessions. For large aperature scopes, no-one else appears to offer the same value for money equation. They do cost, but you pay for quality. There is a local amateur here in Australia who makes Obsession clones which are as good if not better for a more modest cost.

To get to my point, Dave has updates his web site. If anyone is interested, please goto.........

http://www.immersivephoto.com/obsession/

http://www.immersivephoto.com/obsession/news/index.html

http://www.immersivephoto.com/obsess...2-5/index.html

http://www.immersivephoto.com/obsess...ist/index.html


You will be impressed.

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by Argonavis

There is a local amateur here in Australia who makes Obsession clones which are as good if not better for a more modest cost.

Who? who ?
Does he have a website?

[Striker (Tony)]

Very interesting site William.

I like the comparison eyepiece shots between all the different aperture Dobs....the 20" will do me.

[Argonavis (William)]

Originally Posted by Starkler

Who? who ?
Does he have a website?

No website - he is too busy making telescopes (will be delivering another 18 after Xmas) and lives in non-metropolitian Victoria where the broadband does not go. He makes a very nice, optically and mechanically superlative product, using some Obsession parts and other parts sourced locally. It is not cheap - but I would not recommend a trash scope vendor.

He probably makes a better product than Dave - each one individually crafted (Dave sub-contracts I believe) with many coats of polyurethane and all stainless steel fittings. Price about the same as an Obsession - so you basically save on the freight to Oz. The QA is better. One astronomical society received delivery of an Obsession with a reputed large scratch on the side (no fortunately not on the mirror) which someone must have noticed and possibly caused, but packaged and shipped anyway. If you are paying that much money you want something pristine, I would have thought, so you only have yourself to blame for any damage.

Mind, if GSO sell a 16 for $2.5k, as per the rumour, you could buy several of these for the price of a Obsession 20 or Obsession clone 20.

If you want more details PM me.

[gary]

> The QA is better. One astronomical society received delivery
> of an Obsession with a reputed large scratch on the side (no
> fortunately not on the mirror) which someone must have
> noticed and possibly caused, but packaged and shipped
> anyway.

Keep in mind that AQIS - The Australian Quarantine and Inspection
Service - along with Australian Customs and reciprocal authorities
within the United States, can and will open goods for inspection.
This is particularly true of goods made of wood where almost certainly
AQIS would unpack the goods to make their inspection.

In other words, any number of other third party people could have been
responsible for the damage.

Though I know absolutely nothing of the particular case mentioned,
it does not necessarily follow that someone at Obsession must have
noticed it and shipped it anyway. Therefore it does not necessarily follow
that Obsession has inferior QA.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Mt. Kuring-Gai

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by Argonavis

local amateur here in Australia who makes Obsession clones which are as good if not better

I think I now who you are referring to. He was booked into the Star Camp at Snake Valley to give a talk on buiding them but couldn't make it at the last minute.

[Argonavis (William)]

Originally Posted by gary

> The QA is better. One astronomical society received delivery
any number of other third party people could have been responsible for the damage. Therefore it does not necessarily follow that Obsession has inferior QA.

Agreed Obsession QA may not be the problem, I am sure the Obsessions work as advertised. My understanding of the case was that the packaging was undamaged. It is difficult to conceive of how this occurred, but it seems too easy to blame the ACS and/or AQIS. I suspect the most likely explanation is damage prior to shipment, and I am sure that Dave Kreige has had very few cases of damage in shipment.

[ving (David)]

dont obsessions look wicked!!

i'd love a 25"

[Argonavis (William)]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

I think I now who you are referring to. He was booked into the Star Camp at Snake Valley to give a talk on buiding them but couldn't make it at the last minute.

correct! hopefully next time...