Sky-Watcher 200P Flextube Dob

[sheridangj]

Hi Stargazing Loungers,

I'm considering getting one of these as my portable scope and was just wondering how well they hold their collimation between uses if left extended? I was thinking of keeping the OTA extended in my shed and transferring to my car for the 2 min drive to my site but don't really want to collimate every time I arrive there. I assume it would need collimating every time it is retracted and then extended again? I realise that from that it sounds like the obvious answer is to just save some money and get the solid-tube version but I would also like to take it on family holidays or camping trips with my buddies when the car is usually full of kids junk or outdoor gear! One other question - do the mirrors tend to dew-up more easily?

Cheers

Gav

[Space Cowboy]

These scopes only need a few tweaks with a laser collimator Gav. Usually the secondary mirror does not need touching and the primary takes a few secs. I carry mine around in a holdall so neat and tidy in a car. I would not recommend transporting the OTA fully extended.

The secondary mirror does dew up on very damp nights even with a dew shield and ota shroud. Most of the time its fine.

[j45on]

These scopes only need a few tweaks with a laser collimator Gav. Usually the secondary mirror does not need touching and the primary takes a few secs

I second that Although I am yet to take mine out in the car

[SeedyF]

Another vote for don't transport it extended. I don't even like to carry mine out on to the patio extended.

I check collimation fully every couple of weeks and use a laser before every use to do the minor tweaks needed and agree it takes a few seconds - I've also fitted thumbscrews on the secondary which is a major plus, little allen keys were far too much trouble. If you're thinking of transporting it around regularly thumbscrews would be a good investment (£6).

[ItIsOnlyMe]

Another vote for don't transport it extended. I don't even like to carry mine out on to the patio extended.

I check collimation fully every couple of weeks and use a laser before every use to do the minor tweaks needed and agree it takes a few seconds - I've also fitted thumbscrews on the secondary which is a major plus, little allen keys were far too much trouble. If you're thinking of transporting it around regularly thumbscrews would be a good investment (£6).

Ditto for the bigger 300p. I never move extended.

Re collimayion I've only touched the secondary once since new 18 months ago. Check with a Baader laser every use and a tweak is all that is ever required. Takes 2 minutes tops and its usually so close that for a casual session you could do without.

[WayBig]

Another vote for don't transport it extended. I don't even like to carry mine out on to the patio extended.

I check collimation fully every couple of weeks and use a laser before every use to do the minor tweaks needed and agree it takes a few seconds - I've also fitted thumbscrews on the secondary which is a major plus, little allen keys were far too much trouble. If you're thinking of transporting it around regularly thumbscrews would be a good investment (£6).

Plus 1 for thumbscrews

[sheridangj]

Many thanks for the advice guys. I guess being a 'flex'tube it's just not rigid enough to moved around when extended which is fair enough. I was also thinking of investing in a Hotech crosshair laser collimator so I'll keep that with me to check collimation on site. Thanks again.

Gav

[WayBig]

I too use a hotech, it really is then just a 5 minute job to tweak the collimation. I sometimes carry the tube extended between my garage and garden, but collapse it to fit it in the car.