Peter Turvey

I started with a Skywatcher 130P table top Dobsonian during lockdown, and have just 'traded up' to a secondhand (2 year old, hardly used) Skywatcher Skyliner 250P Flextube GOTO Dobsonian (10") . I went for GOTO to reduce the amount of time spent star hopping, and for the ability to track objects. A 300P (12") would have been nice but far too heavy for me to move on my own! So from my rather limited experience I would recommend a GOTO Dobsonian. And second GTom's comments regarding getting quality eyepieces so you can transfer them to you next scope. However you will end up wanting even better ones, so be warned!

Thanks everyone, realised I could also make a thin split ring of plastic to fill the shallowest part of the barrel diameters

Hello Have just acquired a 2x Celestron X-cel Barlow, with compression ring fitting. Unfortunately it does not firmly hold my BST Explorer eyepieces. Anyone else had this issue or found a solution . I suppose I could simply buy a couple of Celestron eyepieces to fill the gaps in my eyepiece range, and ensure a good fit, or sell this Barlow on...... https://www.celestron.com/products/x-cel-lx-2x-barlow-lens-125in

Scope collected and commissioned, Lacerta Focuser upgrade fitted, did a quick tracking and finder alignment on Saturn (visible from inside our garage) so all ready to go. Light shroud right angle finder and extra Telrad base purchased and on the way.

Thanks again, I collected the 250P this morning, and have ordered the Lacerta dual speed focused upgrade. Ditto for Wide field eyepiece suggestions, which now will have to wait until budget permits!

Thanks, was it a direct swap fit or did you have to drill extra holes for it?

Thank you for the advice everyone, I have now bought a secondhand 250P GOTO collecting it on Wednesday, so will be sourcing more kit for it soon

I have a Skywatcher 130P Dobsonian and am looking to change up to a 250P Flextube GOTO (having borrowed one its definitely the largest size I can move on my own!) . Mainly interested in visual observing, but want to be able to do occasional astrophotography - with a smartphone or initially a borrowed planetary camera. Considering a focuser upgrade to a 2 speed focuser - should I get the Astro Essentials one here https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astro-essentials-focusers/astro-essentials-v2-2-dual-speed-crayford-focuser-for-sky-watcher-refractor-telescopes.html or the more bulky Skywatcher one https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-focusers/dual-speed-crayford-1252-inch-focuser-for-skywatcher-explorer.html Also considering a wide field 2" eyepeice, 30-40mm focal length, any recommendations? Tele-Vue ones are way out of my budget and I suspect of far better quality than the scope warrants . Thanks