Mihai

On 03/11/2020 at 20:36, HollyHound said:

Hope you don't mind me jumping on this thread. Just read that @FLOhas a couple of these back in stock today (10" Bresser Dobsonian), and on the basis of the comments & recommendations (thanks again @johninderby👍), I've just ordered myself one of these too... finally taken the plunge and going to try a Dobsonian... will I regret this... aperture fever 🤔😬🤣

Hi Holly,

Glad to hear that they stocked up. Just wanted to give everyone a quick update on the situation, my has arrived on the 4th of Nov and it's glorious!

Here it is next to my small 130P:

Also wanted to mention 2 things:

- Bresser was nice enough to include a solar filter, although the weather didn't allow for any good viewing so far

- If you get the focuser microreduction add-on, please be careful when installing. With all the care in the world and mine's allen screw broke in the shaft. Waiting on FLO to let me know what the procedure is next.

To end on a high note, here are some Moon stills capture with this beauty:

@johninderby, thanks again for the the recommendations! Now I have to beef up my eyepiece collection :D

29 minutes ago, Pixies said:

Hi 

The latest Bressers come with solar filters included, I believe.

Mine certainly did, and I have heard the same from a few others too.

@Pixies, amazing news!

FLO's website did not mention it so I though I would have to get one myself. Thanks for letting me know

3 hours ago, johninderby said:

Glad to hear you have finally got things sorted. 👍🏻

It will be worth waiting for and at least the nights will be darker by then as well. 

One other thing to get is some Turtle Wax to wax the bearing surfaces with. Only the original Turtle Wax works and no other brand works as well. I experimented with different things and found this to be by far the best. It has been recommened for years for a good reason. 👍🏻

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00068OL1A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

For which bearings is this, John? Alt, az, maybe the focuser's, all of them?

Thanks again for all the knowledge sharing. It's really appreciated!

Update (for posterity):

I've been speaking to the wonderful people over at FLO and made a pre-order for the Bresser 10" Dobsonian today. It will take a few weeks to get this, as it is back ordered but @johninderby made a really good case for it and, after some through research, I decided that it was the best value for money option I could possibly get. Thanks again for all the extremely useful info and tips, John!

I'm so pumped! Can't wait for first light with this bad boy.

In case anyone in the future has the same struggle as I, here is a list of everything I ordered:

- Bresser Messier 10" Dobsonian Telescope
- Bresser Messier 1:10 Gear-set for Hex-Focuser
- Baader Universal Quick Release Finder Shoe / Base
- Astro Essentials 9x50 Right-Angled, Erecting Finderscope
- Premium Cheshire Collimating Eyepiece
- Explore Scientific 82º Series Eyepieces - 8.8mm (1.25")
- Explore Scientific 2x Barlow / Focal Extender 1.25"
- Astro Essentials Variable Polarising Moon Filter
- Baader Colour Filters for Visual Use - Light Blue / 470nm (1.25")
- Baader Colour Filters for Visual Use - Red / 610nm (1.25")
- Celestron NexYZ 3-AXIS Universal Smartphone Adapter

There are 3 more things on the list but I am going to way for the scope to arrive and then consider purchasing these:

- Explore Scientific 82º Series Eyepieces - 8.8mm (1.25")
- Baader Neodymium Filter (1.25")
- Astrozap Baader Solar Filter 294-304 mm (10" Newt')

I will update everyone once first light has been drawn.

Thank you all again and have a great evening!

Cheers,

Mihai

On 29/07/2020 at 19:18, Whistlin Bob said:

Hi Mihai- glad to hear what a good time you're having with your 130. If you're enjoying that, then a larger dob will really do it for you...

Have you considered a second hand purchase? Most amateurs seen to take good care of their equipment, and with a dob, unless it's mistreated, there isn't a lot to go wrong. 

I was in your position a couple of years ago and eventually opted for a 3rd hand (at least) truss 14" Orion USA that I found on Astro Buy and Sell with a few extra bits for £800. I was able to check it out before purchase and it has paid me back many times over in fabulous views and awesome sessions. At my Bortle 5 home it blows my 200p out of the water, at a dark site (sadly only a few trips in that time) it is a wonder. It's needed a bit of maintenance but it has been a fantastic purchase. With the experience you already have you'll know what to look for and if you're patient you're sure to find a similar (if not better) bargain.

Sorry about the delayed reply, @Whistlin Bob. Must have missed your message when it came through.

I have been browsing Astro Buy & Sell for a while and found an older 12" Revelation Astro that seemed perfect. Unfortunately, by the time the seller got back to me, it was already taken.

Haven't managed to find any dobs in the UK since then. If you know of some, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Thanks and have a great week ahead!

13 hours ago, johninderby said:

APM is a major manufacturer of telescopes including APO refractors up to full professional observatories. Also one of the founders of Lunt Telescopes. 

https://luntsolarsystems.com/about-us-lunt-solar-systems/

Bought an A&M refractor from them years ago and Markus Ludes phoned me to discus options with the scope before shipping. Don’t think he deals with customers direct any more with the growth of the company.

But anyway a top company to deal with. 👍🏻

A youtube vid of one of their observatory class scopes being installed.

 

I emailed them yesterday evening and Markus Ludes just replied

Unfrotunately, they don't have it in stock.

I will check again with the UK retailers and maybe wait for the Bresser to be back in stock, if it's not to delayed.

If anyone can think of other similar options, please, don't hestitate to post.

Thank you all again for the invaluable feedback!

Cheers

5 minutes ago, dweller25 said:

To get the best out of a large aperture scope you may need to view away from the turbulence of Manchester.

So you may need pick a scope that you can transport

We do have a pretty big Skoda with lots of space in the back, so that should necessarily be an issue. The main concern is quality (for optics, focuser and general build) within the £1,000 budget.

Thanks for the info, @dweller25!

Since I have you here, I was wondering what your thoughts are regarding my options.

Cheers!

I found this German company that might still have the Bresser in stock and, with shipping, it would be about 640 EUR: https://www.apm-telescopes.de/en/telescopes/dobsonians/bresser-messier-10-dobson.html

Do you know anything about them?

Thanks again, John!

I've been seeing pretty bad opinions on the build quality for this one, so I'm not sure. Also the extra setup plus the need for a full shroud gives me pause.

@johninderby, I was wondering if there was something else, other than the higher price point, that you think is off with the Orion SkyQuest XT10 PLUS. I understand that the R&P focuser on the Bresser is a bit more stable with large eyepieces and cameras, but is the Crayford that bad? Also, is there anything else that rubs you the wrong way with this one?

Thanks again!

I had it's bigger brother in my original line-up:

"Explore Scientific Ultra Light 12" Dobsonian (Gen II) - Although this is just a bit above budget (£1,063 + £7.50 shipping) and the truss design gives me some pause (regarding the ease of setup, the need to constantly recollimate and the potential need for a shroud - as I live close to Manchester's light polluted center), I've read that they improved quite a few things with the 2nd generation. The light gathering capabilities would obviously be better but it would mean that I would have to give up on the RACI and the eyepieces, at least for now. Also, given that I live in Manchester and the weather and light pollution are usually terrible, I'm not sure how often I would manage to get it to a proper dark site with clear skies. What do you think?"

As mentioned, the only things I'm a bit worried about the truss setup process, collimation and light pollution in and around Manchester. Do you think any of those would be an issue?

What about a RACI? Do you think it could support that?

Thank you agian!

@johninderby, it seems like no one has in in stock, both in the UK as well as Europe.

I guess I missed that train

What would next best option be, in your opinion?

Cheers!

45 minutes ago, johninderby said:

I checked Bresser.de and this is the notice they are showing on availability.

Yeah, just gave the Bresser support team a call. Apprently, because of the huge amount of orders they've been receiving, they have ran out of some parts that connect the OTA to the alt bearings. They are waiting for some more now but said it would be at least until late Oct or early Nov before a new batch is out

Mhmm...so that means that they are probably back ordered.

Hopefully FLO, RVO or other UK astro shops are getting some soon.

Thanks again for the interest, John

3 minutes ago, Pixies said:

Worth checking Telescope House too. They are Bresser UK, effectively. I think they will be able to give a good indication of when the next shipments are due to arrive.

What's weird is that they don't seem to have the Bresser Dobs on thier website: https://www.telescopehouse.com/telescopes/telescopes-by-type/dobsonian-telescopes.html

Even if you check the Bresser Telescopes only, they are missing: https://www.telescopehouse.com/telescopes/telescopes-by-brand/brand-bresser-telescopes.html

Aha! Makes sense.

Will try RVO first and if they don't have it I'll give BC a call as well.

Thank you both

Oh, dang! I emailed them now and will see what thye say.

Found it here at an even lower price with free shipping: https://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/p-bresser-messier-10-inch-dobsonian-telescope.htm

Do you know anything about Bristol Cameras? Are they any good?

Cheers!

Awesome!

Thanks again for all the details, John. It's really appreciated!

I will give the guys from FLO a call today to see if it's in stock

Thanks agian, John. Was wondering if you use any loger focal lenghts for DSOs, something above a 16mm.

Also, any padded cases for when you take your dob to a dark site?

Cheers

Fantastic!

Thank you so much, John. I think you swayed me, as this is very much within my budget and there's plenty of room left for eyepieces and other upgrades.

Btw, since I have you here, I was also wondering what your thoughts are on the ES 82º Series Eyepieces. Would you recommend something else?

What about Manual Setting Circles? As I am mostly an astronomy virgin and cannot star hop, I also had that planned for whichever dob I was going to get.

Thanks a million!

L.E. What do you do if you want to take it to a dark side? Any padded cases for the OTA?

@johninderby, I was also wondering about the secondary mirror. Does it have screws on knobs?

Also, what about your finder scope. I see you've upgraded it and was wondering what that is, besides the telrad.

Thank you again!

It does indeed! Great subtle laquer finish on it.

Did you make it yourself, John?

Was also wondering about your finder scope and telrad. What are those upgrades you have on there?

Just found it myself! Thanks again

That acually changes my plans, as the scope does seem to have a fantastic build quality.

How did you feel about the original MDF base? Is it any good?

Cheers!

5 minutes ago, johninderby said:

The Bresser has a great CNC r&p 2.5”  focuser that is very high quality and not to be cofused with cheap r&p focusers.

The bearings come with teflon pads.

 

Oh, ok! That looks great!

I was under the impression that the focuser is not a dual speed one. Is that an extra option on it? If so, how would I go about getting that from FLO?

Thanks again for all the info. It's really appreciated!

On 28/07/2020 at 18:38, johninderby said:

Well as you have linked to mass market dobs and not high end ones I’ll just recommend another mass market dob.

 the Bresser Messier 10” dob. Great build quality and a great focuser that’s better than any of the focusers on any of the other 10” dobs you’ve linked to. The 1:10 fine focus is an option but very easy to fit and well worth getting. Proper bearings as well and as the OTA is mounted using tube rings you can rotate the OTA to put the focuser in the best position and also move the OTA up and down for balancing.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bresser-telescopes/bresser-messier-10-dobsonian-telescope.html

BTW the Orion USA scopes tend to be overpriced in this country as there is no UK distributor so you are paying more than you need to. Also the GSO scopes are overpriced as they are shipped from Germany usually. Telescope House used to sell them and they were very keenly priced. The 10” Revelation (GSO deluxe) sold for £478.00.

I replaced the base on mine with a taller one made from marine ply which is more durable than the melamine covered mdf.

Hi @johninderby! Thank you very much for the input.

Do you know of any high end dobs that might fit my budget? I am willing to go a bit higher for a really good one.

As for the Bresser, I have also considered it, however I read in multiple posts and articles that the generic R&P focusers are subpar compared to the Crayfords. As for your setup, that mount looks very nice. Have you added any teflon pads for the tube rings to side a bit better?

Thanks again and have a great evening!