Explore Scientific 14mm - will I need counterweights for my Skyliner 300p?

[Lerxst]

This ep weighs 516g (1 lb 14 oz) - do ya think I will need an extra counterweight for my collapsible GOTO dob?

[brantuk]

Did you join the "Dob User" group yet Stig? In there is a thread called "Dob Mods" - loads of ideas for counterbalancing tubes in there - some very elegant solutions

[GazOC]

I have the 20mm model and, while its a bit of beast, my 14" Dob doesn't need any rebalancing.

[Astro_Baby]

GAz - how do you rate the 20mm ES ?

[GazOC]

GAz - how do you rate the 20mm ES ?

I'm getting a lot of use out of it. Its sharp to the edge in my f7.5 refactor, there is edge distortion in the f4.5 Dob but only the outer 5-10% which is the part you have to "look around" into the eyepiece to see in any case. It also Barlows pretty well,

I've never used a 21mm Ethos which is the obvious comparision but with the price differential I'm not sure I could justify buying the Ethos for any improved performance in that outer 10% in any case.

[Astro_Baby]

Yes - I find the 'look around' factor pretty uncomfortable. Ethos owners seem to like it but I find it weird and distracting. At F5 I couldnt see any difference between the 14mm and the 13mm Ethos - they views were similar but not identical with plus and minus points on both. If my website were livce you could read the whole review I did of one

Did you get your 20mm at a knock down price on the special offer ?

[GazOC]

Nope AB, I missed the special offer.

[Lerxst]

Yes Kim, I just did!

I placed an order for the 14mm and the 9mm ES ep's from astronomics.com - they were bundled as a special offer for only $700, or £441,57 - which is only £22 more than Telescope House charge for the 14mm alone...