Apertura "Tweaker's Dream Package" vs Ordinary Dobsonian

[nwink]

I understand many of the people on this forum aren't in the US, so I'll provide a link with details regarding my question.

I'm a newbie looking to buy my first telescope (I've used a borrowed 8" dobsonian for a while), and I'm planning to get a 10" dobsonian. I know Apertura is a pretty good brand, but they also are more expensive due to their now-standard "Tweaker's Dream Package." (http://www.opticsmart.com/apertura-ad10-dobsonian-reflector-telescope.html)

Flocking preinstalled to the Optical Tube Assembly

•  Upgraded primary collimation springs

•  Light Shield

•  Hand-adjustable secondary collimation knobs

•  Upgraded Washers for the secondary mirror

•  Soft-grip guide knob

•  Additional 5-hole accessory tray for base

My question is: in your opinion, how valuable do you think this package would be? The cost of this Apertura would be $700, but a standard Zhumell Z10 would be $470. I want to buy a telescope I'll use for a long time, but it only seems like marginal benefit would be obtained with the Apertura package, so I may save myself that money and get something else instead with the difference. But I want to hear others' thoughts on the matter. Thanks!

[ronin]

The flocking is something you could do yourself, I would not expect the inside of the OTA to be sort of white anyway but have known of crazier stuff.

Collimation springs, difficult. The skywatcher ones here are likely questionable, but if you went for Orion I would of half expected them to have put in slightly better items. Additionally not sure what the upgrade implies - longer, stronger? What.

Light Shield - bit confused, it is a solid tube OTA what light shield? They are generally for a truss tube dobsonian and the one show is not a truss.

Suppose that the secondary collimation knobs are supposed to be a bit like Bob Knobs, possibly useful, may make collimation easier.

Upgraded Washers? What is an upgraded washer.

Guide knob, nice but cosmetic, people have managed for years without one, you would seem to have, and it is actually something I can see could be more annoying then use. It has to be in the right place for you.

5 Hole accessory tray - useful if you have a goto, it is somewhere to put the handset. Everything else I suggest a nice big plastic storage box. Hang a red light torch round your neck.

For the $230 I would get the plastic storage box and 3 Astro Tech Paradigms.

[John]

If Apertura are a good brand they ought to fit adequate collimation springs to even their base models.

The scope is a GSO though (same as the Zhumell) and certainly the 12" GSO's have known to have weak collimation springs for years. Something so easy to sort out and yet year after year they don't

These are all low cost modifications and I don't think justify a $230 premium. The washers upgrade refers to plastic ones fitted beneath the adjustement screws on the diagonal boss. That costs nothing to do oneself, apart from a little time, as the washers are cut from plastic milk cartons.

[ronin]

There was me thinking washers were made from metal. :eek:

[niallk]

Seems like quite an expensive upgrade ... Money that could buy a really nice ep or two to compliment the scope...?

[damnut]

HMMM,

Have a look at :-- http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/Classic-Dobsonians/Orion-SkyQuest-XT10-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/pc/1/c/12/sc/13/p/102006.uts

At $580

Edited April 1, 2015 by damnut

[nwink]

HMMM,

Have a look at :-- http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/Classic-Dobsonians/Orion-SkyQuest-XT10-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/pc/1/c/12/sc/13/p/102006.uts

At $580

Damian, why's that...do you prefer Orion over Zhumell?

[nwink]

Seems like quite an expensive upgrade ... Money that could buy a really nice ep or two to compliment the scope...?

Yeah, that's the direction I'm leaning.

[nwink]

If Apertura are a good brand they ought to fit adequate collimation springs to even their base models.

The scope is a GSO though (same as the Zhumell) and certainly the 12" GSO's have known to have weak collimation springs for years. Something so easy to sort out and yet year after year they don't

These are all low cost modifications and I don't think justify a $230 premium. The washers upgrade refers to plastic ones fitted beneath the adjustement screws on the diagonal boss. That costs nothing to do oneself, apart from a little time, as the washers are cut from plastic milk cartons.

Thanks for your thoughts, John.  I'm also thinking it's a lot of money for low-cost modifications.  I agree that adequate collimation springs should just come with the base models!

[nwink]

The flocking is something you could do yourself, I would not expect the inside of the OTA to be sort of white anyway but have known of crazier stuff.

Collimation springs, difficult. The skywatcher ones here are likely questionable, but if you went for Orion I would of half expected them to have put in slightly better items. Additionally not sure what the upgrade implies - longer, stronger? What.

Light Shield - bit confused, it is a solid tube OTA what light shield? They are generally for a truss tube dobsonian and the one show is not a truss.

Suppose that the secondary collimation knobs are supposed to be a bit like Bob Knobs, possibly useful, may make collimation easier.

Upgraded Washers? What is an upgraded washer.

Guide knob, nice but cosmetic, people have managed for years without one, you would seem to have, and it is actually something I can see could be more annoying then use. It has to be in the right place for you.

5 Hole accessory tray - useful if you have a goto, it is somewhere to put the handset. Everything else I suggest a nice big plastic storage box. Hang a red light torch round your neck.

For the $230 I would get the plastic storage box and 3 Astro Tech Paradigms.

Ronin, I agree with your thoughts.  About the most valuable thing appears to be the flocking, in my opinion.  I've heard flocking takes a bit of work, but isn't too hard?  I've heard the whole inside doesn't have to be flocked to get the max benefit (I'd have to look up the resource again for more specifics).

[russ.will]

There was me thinking washers were made from metal. :eek:

That seems reasonable to me. I can't see on earth why you would ever want to introduce plastic into a system that requires collimation - It will make collimation easier, but it will also ensure you need to collimate on a regular basis.

On another note, I think the additional light shield is a great addition. Most Newts are a good six inches short of preventing incident light falling directly on the EP, never mind the inside of the focuser tube. I've put light shields on all my Newts and reckon it makes a bigger difference than flocking. If you build a full circumference shield, it's pretty handy at warding off secondary mirror dewing too.

Russell

[John]

That seems reasonable to me. I can't see on earth why you would ever want to introduce plastic into a system that requires collimation - It will make collimation easier, but it will also ensure you need to collimate on a regular basis.

On another note, I think the additional light shield is a great addition. Most Newts are a good six inches short of preventing incident light falling directly on the EP, never mind the inside of the focuser tube. I've put light shields on all my Newts and reckon it makes a bigger difference than flocking. If you build a full circumference shield, it's pretty handy at warding off secondary mirror dewing too.

Russell

I felt the same for a long time on the plastic washers Russell but I've tried it and it works really well and holds the secondary collimation without any problems. The guy that came up with the idea is a member here I think.

I use a light shade on my dob for the reason you suggest. Because I have a fair amount of stray light to contend with it's worked wonders with contrast. Again it's a low cost fix and easy to implement yourself.

[Science562h]

It's about $, get the cheaper one & upgrade to customize later-on. 10"!

[Charles Kirk]

Those upgrades look very useful, so I think it depends on whether you have the time and inclination to make those types of modifications yourself or prefer to pay more to have something that works well out of the box.

The flocking would be time consuming to do, so the labour cost would account for some of the price difference.