steve wiz

Hi Malc, Looking to photograph DSO and planets, 8'inch Dob, in garden only up to £50 for the adaptor.

Hi Guys, as the title says, any info appreciated, also any decent budget phone mount/ adaptors that users would recommend? Thank you.

Orange Smartie, a Guitar AND a Dob, my idea of Heaven!😁

Hi Guys I have a few questions about the above. Everyone says, or most, that the SLT mount is cheap and wobbly as opposed to the solid construction of the SE. But forgetting the mounts for a minute are the optics any different? Is the SE also visually better than the SLT and overall a better scope? Or does the large price difference just reflect the mount? The SLT at that price is so tempting, and I'm curious in general as most only talk of the SLT's crummy mount but not about the actual scope itself, it seems like the SLT really gets a rough deal especially if there isnt much difference, maybe the wobbly mount could be modified? Then you have a great 6' Goto at £400 less than the SE.

Now that focuser looks like quality!

I'll wait until the new year, it has it be the Bresser for me!

After looking at 8' Dobs on the site I just discover Stellalyra! Obviously new? or certainly new to me. I now know I can't afford a Goto or Push to Dob, well truth is I can but can't 'Justify' the purchase, so am going stop being lazy, learn the sky and buy a regular Dob and save a packet of dough! Now with the the Stellalyra there's three in the mix, along with Skywatcher Skyliner 200P and the Bressier Messier. While researching it appears the Skywatcher are in a very poor third place compared to the other two? That's overall quality, ALL parts considered. The new Stellalyra has great reviews on FLO, but for me, The Bressier Messier 8' just seems to scream class! Any thoughts Fellas?

Thanks mate!!!

Hi Guys, I've been researching an upgrade for my Heritage 130P for some time and am now convinced it's an 8' Dob, all things consider this is spot on for me. However, I'm lazy. I prefer 'assistance' out in the field so to speak. Many times I have read. '' Get Turn Left at Orion'', educate yourself, don't be lazy and actually learn what your looking for, I brought the book, admittedly it's a great book packed with information, a fascinating read, maybe a little 'heavy going' in places? I started to read but stopped after the first few pages, as I said, lazy. Personally, I would like to be taken on a grand tour of all those wonderful objects with the assistance of those incredible databases, to me that's exiting! I'm also thinking it's less time consuming on our cold British nights, more fun and much less effort. This has brought me to Goto AND the Orion Intelliscope Push to system. With a little research I found her, Orion XT8i, perfect! Obviously most of the talk in the UK is all Skywacher and their brilliant 200p Dob, these are priced at £369, BUT, the Goto in this version goes up to a whopping £999! a bit out of my price range. The XT8i is £ 717.99 on Amazon. I know it's a different system being push to, but after much research I think I would prefer it, in fact, I'd probably go for this over the Skywatcher now if it was the same price! because being push to gives you 'some input', which I like, it also uses much less power, one 9V battery apparently, they say that Syncscan eats batteries then may need an additional power pack, or so I think I have read. Also, the XT8i gets VERY good reviews and it's said to be of excellent all round quality. Orion don't seem to get much publicity here and aren't readily available, which is a shame, I think I know a bargain when I see one say why pay another near £300 when I could buy this beauty! My only reservation is buying from Amazon and not a reputable dealer. Any thoughts or any XT8i/ XT10i owners input would be much appreciated.

Many Thanks for the replies Fellas. LOVE the Amazon cover idea Dave! Many Thanks Guys some brilliant ideas, LOVE the idea of those covers Dave!

Thanks for the reply. Its the footprint, thats my main concern really.

Hi Guys, I want to upgrade to the above, I currently use the Heritage 130. Thing is, I have just moved to a much smaller house and can't keep it anywhere inside my home, the garden seems the best option, also, I think if is out there ready to use I haven't got to lug it about and it will surely get a lot more use. I'm quite sure the base measures 21 inches and as I prefer the solid tube I believe it stands around Four feet. I was thinking of a plastic shed as these are totally sealed, will last for ever and are always clean inside and without bugs/cobwebs [ unlike a wooden one] However, after looking I found these aren't cheap and most are too large and overkill. I've looked hard but the smallest is 4x3, overkill really. Has anyone got any ideas or a suitable product please? I'd also consider metal. I also think the bonus would be no cool down time being stored this way. Many Thanks in advance.

Hi Louis, Thanks, that makes a lot of sense.

Thanks Guys, Much appreciated.

Hi Forgive my ignorance, I'm new quite new to Astronomy. I have 3 BST Starguider EP'S Which I upgraded to after buying my first Scope, The Heritage 130P. I treat the EP's with care as I do will all my Astro kit, I have never put my fingers near any part of the lenses and always put the protective rubber caps on after use, all stored in a foam filled hard case, should they be cleaned routinely? I presume its only dust or finger marks that need to be cleaned?

Hi If I were to buy a Classic Dob, totally manual, could I add the above at a later date?

Hi, I'm relatively new to Astronomy, I currently own a Heritage 130P. It's a great scope but I'm looking to upgrade and like the idea of the 'Push to' system. I also like the Goto set up but understand it eats batteries and an additional cost for a Powertank adds to the cost, hence liking the great idea of Push to. After MUCH research I discovered what I think ticks all the boxes for me. The Orion Intelliscope 6i, then I find out no one stocks this wonderful piece of kit in the UK! I then discover Orion USA have a distributer in Europe, Holland or Germany I think. Truth is, I'm not keen on buying from another country what with Covid and the horrendous delivery times AND possible damage in transit leading to costly returns, Its also available on Amazon UK but I prefer to spent that kind of money with a actual telescope shop, this way I could get after market support and more piece of mind. Why don't Sywatcher make Push to's? Do any other Brands make these, I personally think its a wonderful idea. I'm not great with Aps and maps, probably a bit lazy but thats just me. If, there are no other companies that sell Push to Dobs, surely thats a huge hole in the market?

Just visual only no Astrophotography, DSO and planets, 6 SE looks spot on. Thanks for the info

I just looked, that costs a fortune! MUCH more the a 6SLT! Way out of my budget!

I saw a thread a while ago, someone said ''Upgrading, should I go for the Nexstar SE 6, or the SLT 127 Mak? '' As a beginner that sort of confused me, reason being, would it not be better to ask, SE6 or SLT 6? Both being the same aperture, how could you compare getting a 127 mm to a 150mm. I have heard the 127 SLT is a great scope for the money, but surely does not compare visually with the SE6, whereas the SLT 6 being the same aperture size would be the best option. I read alot about the 127 and 130 SLT and how good they are, but very little about the more powerful SLT 6, is it not a good choice in general? Having said this, what about the 5SLT? No love for the 5 or 6 SLT?

Hi, I cant seem to find any reviews on this scope, very little in fact, every time i put in the letters SLT, I get a ton of info on the 127 and 130 but nothing on the 6 SLT? How does it compare with the 6SE? I found one snippet of info about the SE having a better mount but thats about it? Also nothing on the 5 SLT??? Any info appreciated.

Thanks for the link John, I''ll take a look.

I spoke with two large UK telescope companies the other day, they both said the same...''As good as the Orion scopes are, because they are USA based company, buying one here in the UK would not be a good idea as you can't or wont get the Tech support if needed, and as a beginner I may need it, fair point I guess, but a shame as I love the look of them. I see they are on Amazon, but I personally wouldn't shell out £ 700 or more on there, would have to be a main dealer.

What are your thoughts on this scope people? Anyone own one? What are they like? They seem very rare in the UK, its mainly Skywatcher here. Don't dont get me wrong These are obviously great scopes too, but I'm looking for an 8 inch Dob but prefer the Orion solid tube, may hold better collimation? Also prefer the all black look and the 'Push to function' I've narrowed my search down to the above 'title scope and a Skyliner 200 p flexi Goto, but am heavily leaning towards the Orion, I love the look of the push to Intelliscope system, I wonder how it compares to the Skyliner 200p Flexi Goto...Any info appreciated.

Cheers Ben, I must admit though, I'm not so keen on a Tripod, maybe a little clumsy or wobbly in comparison with a DOB?