OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

I currently have a Celestron XLT 120 refractor and am thinking about a purchase of a 12 inch DOB.
I am looking at the Sky Watcher with the collapsible optical tube or the Meade Light Bridge.
Does anyone here have any thoughts or opinions on either of these scopes? I know the optics are virtually identical, but what about the operation of the units? Do they both hold collimation about the same? Are the focusers equal? What about the smoothness of the turn table?
Are there other things I need to consider?
Thanks in advance for your advise.

donnz Loc: Auckland, New Zealand

I thought about a big dob like that .
I had to rethink when I saw it . just to big to fit in a car , too big to easily move any where, so really needed a permanent home,man if I had that space room I would love one
I bought a 8 inch and love it, and that
works for me, other scope is skywatcher 127 goto
don

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

Thanks for your opinion Don. I am trying to go to a star party where maybe they will have one. It just seems to rain every weekend here and they get canceled.
I have a truck so hauling it won't be a problem. However, I once had a 10 inch SCT and ended up building an observatory because of the weight and hassle of setting it up. I really don't want to go there again.
Maybe I already have the scope that would be best for me.

profpb Loc: Venice, Florida

This is not designed to confuse you but...

I sold my Celestron telescopes (8 in. CPC800 and 5 in. NexStar) because I was not using them.

I now do my astrophotography with an iOptron SkyTracker using my D800e and 70-200mm lens with a 2X teleconverter lens or any wider-angle lens of my choice. I can do exposures of hours with no star trails, capturing the Milkyway, nebulae, and neighboring galaxies and other sky objects that can never be seen in a telescope. I do use binoculars on a tripod for live view scanning of the sky but speaking of live view, I have that too.

Now I've added the CamRanger so after pointing at Polaris I don't go outside in the Florida humidity and with those large, aggressive mosquitoes. I can make all of my camera adjustments on my iPad while sipping a Moscato or taking a nap in my air-conditioned office.

Life is much better without a telescope but I'm older as wiser, and share this for a time when you are ready.

donnz Loc: Auckland, New Zealand

it's so neat to see many ideas, a dob isn't much good for astrophotography no tracking .its ok for 7 sec web cam avi files and the centre and stack
but it's great for quick set up easy viewing, the skywatcher is goto and I use my d7000 on that.

mozzies are not a problem where I live ,but I don't have the bucks to set up a full blown astro geared system, and I have too many toys already lol
Don

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

Thanks for sharing.. Life is good when it is simple.

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

Actually the 12 Sky Watcher is a DOB. I really don't want to get into serious astro photography. Too expensive. Maybe a little prime focus photography of the moon and brighter targets.
I do have to admit, however, I am also looking at the Celestron 10 inch reflector on an eq go to mount just in case I do want to gear up for photography. I just don't know if I want to give up 2 inches of aperture.
Thanks for your reply.

Hankwt Loc: kingsville ontario

new to astro ------ DOB ????? thanks in advance

Hankwt Loc: kingsville ontario

new to astro ------ DOB ????? thanks in advance

donnz Loc: Auckland, New Zealand

dobsonian a type of long scope able to moved and set up easily and sits on a wooden base , and the price is right. the eyepiece is right at the top
look it up online it is always called a dob.
its not motorised so you have about 7 seconds of viewing for an enlarged image before it races off the scope, for astro you use a web cam, capture the avi file and use software to centre what you want and then stack it
Don

OnTheFly Loc: Tennessee

Here's a link that will help. With these scopes, you get the most aperture for the money. But, not without sacrificing the convenience of tracking. Some do have motors to allow tracking but with the added cost.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobsonian_telescope

Hankwt Loc: kingsville ontario

Great thanks for the info !!! Enjoy your day.... or in this case Night !!!