HollyHound

That's what I'm hoping for and also I was really (pleasantly) surprised how easy it was to setup and use... such a simple alt/az system, stable and smooth 👍

Fortunately I have a couple of 9x50 finders, but yes it's the only bit that lets it down... thankfully it's easily replaceable 👍

Well after deliberating for almost a year, I finally did it and bought a reflector... indeed a Dobsonian. I'd first been looking at these things last Christmas after I got myself the little Mak 102 and started this short (so far) astronomy journey. They were dotted throughout the Backyard Astronomer book and of course looked the business, but at the same time I was worried that they might be too awkward and clunky to use! Three Maks, three refractors, an SCT and almost 12 months later, I spotted that @FLO had the Bresser 10" Dob in stock, so jumped and bought it. I'd seen various recommendations for this model, including of course some good reviews and modification articles by @johninderby (thanks 👍) and in particular the construction, bearing quality & focuser seemed to be good for the price. It arrived yesterday in two boxes, one of which was of course massive and I had a moments panic, thinking I might have bitten off more than I could chew. Despite having a sore shoulder, I got it setup and ready for early evening. Carried it out in two parts quite easily and setup on the patio. I was impressed by how quickly it can be taken outside and it's ready to go. We're just outside Thornbury but on a farm and so have reasonably dark (perhaps Bortle 4/5 skies) and last night it was clear apart from a few bits of cloud here and there. Around 8pm, Mars was up and Pleiades too, so popped in the Aero ED 35mm, installed the supplied finder and had a quick look... nothing would focus, no matter how far in or out I moved the focuser! After a few minutes of confusion, I realised that I'd instinctively popped a 2" star diagonal in and so thinking that could be the cause, tried a 1.25" one instead with the Panoptic 24mm... still nothing would focus! I realised that I'd never seen pictures of anyone using a reflector with a diagonal, so thought "ah ha, simple", immediately removed it and used just the Aero 35mm again... still nothing would focus and it seemed like I needed to be able to move "out" more on the focuser. At this point I remembered there was an extension ring supplied with the scope, so installed that and miraculously it all started working and I could see stars 🙂 I swung it round to Mars and roughly calibrated the finder. This confirmed two things... the supplied finder is a bit plasticky and not the best (although usable) and also that I definitely do need to install my 9x50 RACI finder before using this properly, just from a comfort and ease of use point of view. What was immediately apparent was just how many stars were visible through this big "light bucket", it was very impressive. Tried various eyepieces including Aero 35mm, Panoptic 24mm, DeLite 18.2mm & 13mm and the Ortho 6mm, all worked very well. I'm sure that better eyepieces could be used too, but for now these are more than enough. Mars through the 6mm Ortho was a good sized disc and the dark surface features were very visible, I would say as clear but not quite as contrasty as the StellaMira 80mm f/10 or indeed the Mak127, but very nice indeed. Not so keen on the four diffraction spikes coming off the planet, but they were really only visible on Mars and at no other time. So for planets this is very usable. Pleiades in the 35mm was awesome... just so many stars and just filled the eyepiece perfectly. I put the end cap back on and left it for a couple of hours to cool down and wait for the moon and Orion to be high enough to observe. When they appeared I set my sights on M42, as this was the very first nebula I observed through the Mak 102 almost a year ago. The difference was (to me) staggering... previously I could see the grey "smudge" and with averted vision could see shape and just make out four of the Trapezium, but with this scope at various magnifications (I recall the 13mm DeLite being perfect) I was able to see shape and structure directly and even more with averted vision, plus four main Trapezium stars were clear and very well spaced (I'm sure more would be visible with the right magnification and time). This was what I hoped a large(ish) aperture reflector would give me and it was better than expected 😃 Finally I swung around to the moon and dropped down to the 6mm ortho for some really crisp, relaxed and detailed views of the lunar surface. It "seems" more detailed than the Mak127, can't be certain, but it's absolutely fantastic lunar viewing and I'm now thinking that with the right night, I could extend the magnification up from 200x to even perhaps 400x (3mm) and get some stunning views... for another night. Overall impressions of the dob (and I'm sure other dobs too) are that despite misgivings about size and potential "clunkiness", this is an amazing scope. I was really surprised how easy it was to locate (despite the finder) and then track objects, even at 200x. Rotating the tube allowed me to place the eyepiece in a comfortable position, so I could use my old guitar stool still as an observing chair and remain very comfortable throughout. The movements were both effortless and smooth, so I think the comments about the Bresser bearings used, are spot on. Packing it away again after 90mins, was quick and easy, just carry the OTA in and then the base and drop OTA back onto base, stood upright... doesn't get much more simple... no tripods, mounts, bits etc. Oh, and not a sign of dewing at any time in 2hours of use! I was thinking this would likely be a "specialist" scope that I got out occasionally, but now realise that I am likely to use it an awful lot more than I originally imagined, due to its ease of use and fantastic bright views. Next task is to get the TelRad or Rigel fitted (will try both), the 9x50 RACI mounted on a Synta (Baader) shoe and to upgrade the focuser with fine focuser knob... all incoming from @FLO. Highly, highly recommended and thanks to all for the reviews/guidance towards this class and model of scope 👍 I look forward to many hours working my way through "Turn left at Orion" and chasing all sorts of DSOs over the next months/years. I'm also happy that 10" seems to be more than enough aperture and won't have me yearning for something bigger in the short term at least! The StellaMira, Mak127 and C5 all still have their role, but this big guy is going to get a lot of use! Cheers Gary

Mine is more concerned why his sleeping area is occupied by this large white thing 🤣

My Bresser 10” Dob arrived this morning, all seems ok, the spider vanes look straight enough to me. Have set it up and even given it a quick go this evening... very impressed 😀 Did have a bit of a scary moment when I couldn’t get focus on any eyepiece, until I realised that you don’t use a star diagonal on a Newtonian, and also needed to put the focus extension ring in place too... once that was done all was fine. It’s big, but was able to carry outside in two parts, and given I have a sore shoulder right now that’s not bad at all 😬 Just need to replace the finder with my 9x50 RACI and fit the TelRad or Rigel (have both, but undecided, until I try each). Lovely scope... Pleiades was amazing and good detail on Mars (with 6mm ortho). Thanks again to @FLO for fantastic service as always 👍

Well, I took a few painkillers, bit the bullet and put it together... even managed a quick 30 mins under the stars, very impressed... will try a longer second first light tomorrow if the sky is clear and post a report 👍 Oh and as a teaser, here’s a quick photo, excuse the mess, the room is full of stuff right now🤣 and with dog for scale 😀

DHL have just delivered my Bresser 10" Dob... both packages arrived safely and all looks to be in good shape... will try assembling later today or tomorrow 🤞 Thank you @FLO as always for superb service 👍

And secondly, at long last, after deliberating for almost a year... finally got a Dob... a Bresser 10". Seems highly recommended and can't wait to give it a go. I remember first time seeing the Orion Nebula with my little Mak 102 last Christmas and want to compare how it looks through this 🤞 Unfortunately, might be a few days before I get it setup, as I've got a sprained shoulder this week, so advised not to move heavy items... and this thing is not light... probably take me a day to assemble the base unit anyway 🤣

It must be lockdown... I've had two fantastic deliveries this morning, I'm going to make the most of the long winter nights ahead 👍 Firstly, a ZWO ASiair Pro & ASI120MM-Mini Bundle... never tried any form of imaging or EEVA, but want to give it a little go (yes, I know it will be all consuming 🤣), so this (along with my DSLR) should be a good entry for a total beginner... the 120MM is normally used for guiding as I understand it, but also makes a decent mono lunar/planetary camera for beginners🤞

That’s why I think it will work well enough for me, prefer to keep things more easily balanced 😃👍

Thanks for the information. I shall look forward to seeing how it performs. I do also have a Panoptic 24mm as well, so have options 👍

Ok thanks John. Oddly enough I had a StellaMira Losmandy bar but sold it 4 months ago 🤣

@johninderby If one wanted to go completely mad and try mounting their own 10" Bresser OTA in such a way, what type/length of dovetail bar would that crazy person look at getting (my saddle is universal Vixen or Losmandy) ? 🤔

Oh damn, if I'd have spotted that one earlier, I wouldn't have bothered ordering the 10" Bresser dob and saved myself some money 🤣

Indeed, I did compare this with the Skywatcher back then and was impressed by the difference. Dual speed knob ordered and already have the 9x50 RACI 👍

Temptation was too strong this time... I have been mulling over a dob since January, but finally decided to take the plunge 😃 Your recommendation for the Bresser made the final decision easier, thanks 👍

Always the way, fortunately I have quite a few bits I’ve acquired this year. I’m hoping the Aero ED 35mm will make a good wide angle eyepiece and I have a good mix of others too 👍

I have one of these already (on my C5), so can move that across first and then order another 👍 Also have a Telrad (with riser) and ordered a Rigel yesterday... was going on the C5 or Mak, so will try out both on the dob and see which works best. Already have a 9x50 RACI (use on the StellaMira but can get another sometime).

The corridor leading to the back door is usually a few degrees cooler at the far end (near the back door (converted barn) so not only is it convenient storage for "lug and go" but should keep it closer to outside temperature 👍

I am actually looking at this right now.... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bresser-telescopes/bresser-messier-1-10-gear-set-for-hex-focuser.html Is this the one I should order ? Also getting one of these... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/rigel-aline-collimation-cap.html as no Cheshires in stock at FLO (some on Amazon), but this will get me going ok ? Cheers John

Just bought one of these 10" Bresser Dobs an hour ago, and I have a similiar location near the back door, where it's not as warm as the rest of the house and should allow me to take it in and out quickly enough. From room temperature (or very slightly cooler) how long would it take before usable... John mentions 30-40mins for a 12", but is the 10" really going to take that long before usable ? Thanks Gary

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 🤔😬🤣

Haven't bought much for astro for a few months, been too busy with work but should have some more free nights now, so got these few bits from @FLO Dew controller (for the AstroZap heated dew shield for Mak127) Another of those really handy little red light torches (this one to keep in my eyepiece case) Pair of 6mm Baader Classic Ortho (for binoviewing) 👍

Nice 👍 I've just ordered a pair of the 6mm Orthos for my binoviewer... can't wait to try them out 🙂

Nice scope. Welcome to the forum and happy viewing 😃