Differences between Orion, Bresser and Skywatcher 10" dobs

[Giles_B]

I'm looking for a 10" Dob to upgrade from my current beginner set up (Celestron Starsense explorer 130mm newtonian). I've narrowed the potential range down a bit, but I'm getting a bit confused between the options.

These seem to be Skywatcher 250PX https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/skywatcher-skyliner-250px-dobsonian-telescope.html

Orion XT10i https://uk.telescope.com/Telescopes/Orion-SkyQuest-XT10i-IntelliScope-Dobsonian-Telescope/rc/1306/p/109949.uts

Bresser Messier 10 https://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/p-bresser-messier-10-inch-dobsonian-telescope.htm

The technical points of difference seem to be:

Skywatcher 250PX - crayford focuser (has some recoil), teflon bearing

Orion XT10i - crayford focuser, nylon bearing, cheap base, Push-to system

Bresser Messier 10 - hexfocuser, generally better construction, upgradable to  equatorial mount, teflon bearing

The other big difference is price and availability: the Skywatcher is around £550 and everywhere, the Bresser is about the same and difficult to find in stock, and the Orion seems to be pretty rare and is nearly £1000.

-now, I am attracted to the push-to on the Orion XT10i (given I am migrating from a Celestron starsense) but I am not sure if it justifies the potential lead time and huge cost difference (I am anyway planning to adapt the starsense explorer phone adapter to the new scope): are there technical differences I am missing?

Any advice gratefully received

 

[johninderby]

While my favourite is the Bresser looks like being available again sometime this summer so quite a wait.

The StellaLyra is the best choice at the moment and not a long wait for availability. Very well specced and comes with the upgrades you would want as stock.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/stellalyra-telescopes/stellalyra-10-f5-dobsonian.html

You couladd the push to kit.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-mount-upgrade-kits/asterion-push-to-kit-for-gso-deluxe-dobsonians.html

The SW solid tube dob needs a lot of upgrades and is looking a bit dated now. Not such a good buy any more since the recent price increase. Yes it can be upgraded but why spend a couple of hundred  £ doing it.. BTW the focuser is not a crayford.

Edited January 23, 2022 by johninderby

[Dave scutt]

I think what johninderby said is the best choice has the Stellalyra got the upgrades.

The money you save you could spend on some good ep's as an f 4.9 would need 

[Shimrod]

45 minutes ago, Giles_B said:

I'm looking for a 10" Dob to upgrade from my current beginner set up (Celestron Starsense explorer 130mm newtonian). I've narrowed the potential range down a bit, but I'm getting a bit confused between the options.

These seem to be Skywatcher 250PX https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/skywatcher-skyliner-250px-dobsonian-telescope.html

Orion XT10i https://uk.telescope.com/Telescopes/Orion-SkyQuest-XT10i-IntelliScope-Dobsonian-Telescope/rc/1306/p/109949.uts

Bresser Messier 10 https://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/p-bresser-messier-10-inch-dobsonian-telescope.htm

 

 

If you check the Orion website you will see the Dobsonian intelliscope versions are no longer available for purchase rather than being out of stock. I have noticed Orion have been reducing their range available in the UK as they used to offer collapsible truss dobsonians as well as go-to versions in sizes up to 16"

FLO have said they expect another shipment of Stellalyra dobsonians in mid-February so probably the best choice if you want to observe before summer!

[Giles_B]

Thanks for the tip on the Stellalyra. it does look very well specced, and the push to looks like an interesting option.

It sounds like a lot if the difference is about features rather than anything fundamental with the optics. I have noticed all these scopes come up on eBay from time to time, which is another way of saving cash for good eyepieces - are the optics pretty similar for all the different models if one came up at significant discount?

[johninderby]

The optics are all pretty much the same which is to say quite good. You would have to go up to something like an Orion Optics UK dob to get better optics. 

[Stu]

2 hours ago, johninderby said:

BTW the focuser is not a crayford.

It’s described as ‘crayford style’, what does that mean?

[johninderby]

35 minutes ago, Stu said:

It’s described as ‘crayford style’, what does that mean?

Found it listed as the Orion crayford so yes technically it is a crayford but given the price as low end as a crayford can get.

https://www.highpointscientific.com/orion-2-crayford-style-focuser-for-newtonian-reflectors-13039

Pics of the focuser fitted to the SW and the dual speed craford fitted to the StellaLyra.

Edited January 23, 2022 by johninderby

[Stu]

44 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Found it listed as the Orion crayford so yes technically it is a crayford but given the price as low end as a crayford can get.

https://www.highpointscientific.com/orion-2-crayford-style-focuser-for-newtonian-reflectors-13039

Pics of the focuser fitted to the SW and the dual speed craford fitted to the StellaLyra.

But still a Crayford, despite being lower cost?

[Mr Spock]

Lower cost ones are easily upgraded.

This is as smooth as you'll find.