All the Common Dobsonian Reflector Sizes Compared! Which One is Right for You?

[@edting]

Beware of scammers, everyone. I am not doing a giveaway on this video. I will never ever ask you for money.

[@richardmartin3440]

I was hoping for maybe an Obsession 25...I live in North Central Washington state, but I would have got a plane ticket...Oh well I'll just enjoy my 8 inch Dob. Thanks for all the videos Ed, I've watched them all...keep up the good work.

[@AdmiralSpaceballs]

is you don't mind being used as a comparison , how tall are you ?

[@kevchard5214]

Ed I watched all of your videos before deciding on a 10" dobsonian. I own 22 acres in the Dark mountains of Arkansas and will retire there this year. I now live near Oklahoma City where the 10" gathers way too much light pollution. I brought my scope to Arkansas and WOW this is a great scope for dark Sky. I do agree it is choppy, cumbersome and heavy but the light it gathers is unbelievable. Thanks for your videos.

[@kasa6038]

There are some dark spots in Oklahoma as well. I was looking at some place near Ringgold which was Bortle 1!.

[@kevchard5214]

@@kasa6038 I went down south around the blue river and it was better than in by back yard which keeps getting worse the more subdivisions they build but I haven't found anyplace as nice as my property in Arkansas.

[@wedgesmudge6893]

Man oh man. Great channel! In northern NH. Ive owned an Orion xt 8 for years. Best scope ever! Some mods. Laser flocking upper two thirds of tube. Orion dobsonian tripod base (reccomend). Bob's knobs. Laser pointer. Other stupid stuff because it made things better. The trick is not in the equipment as much as making other people amazed... and smile. Educating others to the universe is the best investment of time and money. So fun! Love your channel !

[@robertkidd2449]

I'm from New Zealand, and I still haven't found anywhere to stargaze as beautiful as my home farm down south near Invercargill. Bortle 1, full milky way, both maliengelics forever visible to the naked eye without even being adjusted. So shame I couldn't study down there at any Uni =(@@kevchard5214

[@elchappo1320]

For newbies, would u recommend the 10inch or 8 inch? Prices are not too much different

[@gjb49]

Here's my thoughts on very large telescopes. In 1991 I had a 'terminal' illness called Two Inchitis (I had a 8 inch scope and I wanted something larger). In January 1992 I found a 17,5" Coulter dob in 'The Starry Messenger' in Cleveland (I lived north of Chicago). On March 21 my son and I drove to Cleveland to pick it up. It was HUGE! and barely fit in the back of my pickup. While I could handle it by myself at home (it came w/ wheelbarrow handle), I needed help when I went observing w/ my club. Needless to say, the views were fantastic!, After a couple months I rebuilt the scope as a truss version. I used it quite a bit, in my backyard (Bortle 7) and at the club's local site (Bortle 6). A few of us even ventured as far as near the Mississippi in NW Illinois (Bortle 4). I also took the scope to central New Mexico (Bortle 2) several times. Eventually the time came for me to sell the scope. The Mirrors reside in West Texas. Now that I'm retired, I wish I had that scope.

[@thomasholland6334]

gjb49, I was wondering if you could tell me where the spot is you observed in northwest Illinois. I get to that area at times and would like to find a good spot. Thank you in advance.

[@gjb49]

I live on a small farm near East Dubuque. I would suggest Apple River Canyon State Park. I have observed from there many times. Alternative would be Mississippi Palisades State Park near Savanna. The spot I observed from was on private property.

[@cthuemmel1]

Thanks for sharing Ed! My 8in Apertura will be here this afternoon!

[@richardmartin3440]

Thanks Ed for all of your Info and recommendations. The three Middle Schools in our area bought the Orion XT -8 for each school based on your opinions. I have a collection of personal scopes both refractors and reflectors. I gave my grown daughter my Meade 10 inch sono tube Dob, and replaced it with an Apertura AD8 Dob. It is getting used a lot more than the 10 inch did. As I get older (75 now...where did all those years go?) the weight of the bigger Dobs is something to think about...my back now talks to me about such things. Again thanks Ed for the videos. (I've been in this hobby since I was 11 years old.)

[@richardmartin3440]

@ed_ting1 Hi Ed, It says I am a "Lucky Winner"...What might I have won?

[@William.N]

It's fake

[@JollyFigNut]

@@richardmartin3440 It's a bot, report it.

[@alexrichardson9125]

This is a really good video, with plenty of (very much wanted) simple points on buying my first telescope. I particularly valued the size comparison photos. Thank you so much.

[@GrnXnham]

I've had my 12.5" Meade Starfinder Dob for many years now. I have made many improvements. Movement with mine is buttery smooth. I used a combination of teflon with the all famous ebony star formica on the base and that works well. I actually was very happy with the size of this scope for many years. I know people with the 8" and 10" dobs who looked through my 12.5" dob and were impressed with how much better the images were on deep sky objects. But, yes, this scope is not for everyone and certainly not for QUICK viewing sessions! If you have the 12, you want to make it worthwhile to get it out by using it for several hours at a time.

[@irishjoe5868]

Thank you Mr. Ting. Your videos are more helpful than you know. The way you present the subjects in your videos makes it easy to understand and very enjoyable. I have an Apetura AD8 that I just love and know I made the right decision in buying it. Thanks again.

[@LiquidREAP]

I got the Aperture Ad8 based on your suggestion for the xt8, the ad8 has upgrades on it, dual focuser, cooling fsn, 30mm 2" ep. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us all.

[@irishjoe5868]

Good choice. I have the same scope. Love the bearing base and the focuser on it.

[@HumbleLife8]

I got the AD8 also it has premium Dual Focuser with fine tuning, most don't have that and its just premium all around, my family and I like it so much we are about to get an AD10 because we know how good the quality is of the Apertura Dobsonians!, Great choice, I think I will get the wheel base for the AD10" though and High Performance Kit, thanks for sharing Liquid Reap!

[@robbinconner9061]

Great introduction and loved your description of the 8 and 10" models and their pros and cons. Slightly surprised you didn't mention collimation and the required laser/reverse Barlow or something similar. The collimation cap often included I have not found to be great. You definitely got me started on the the "space-walk" Televue eyepieces in the '90s when I re-entered the hobby and have always found your advice thoughtful and helpful over all of these decades. Thank you!

[@user-xh3lb1ov3t]

I'm sure Ed could learn so much from you...

[@KingLoopie1]

Over 20 years ago I built a 10" f6 from sono tube and a Meade Research grade full thickness mirror set. I have a dozen or so telescopes and binoculars, but I still drag that 50# beast out with its 30# base. The 60" focal length is a bit of a pain at zenith located targets, but I still love the views!

[@Pajeot1]

Yes, PLEASE do an episode on Coulter dobs! So cool, and important to the history of dobs. Love your videos!

[@christaylor9112]

A very nice and informative video. If I had my time again I'd chose an 8" Dob as my first choice as it's a powerful and portable scope. However, I made the mistake of buying a 12" Dob which is a beast to lift and so doesn't get used much. My favorite scope, and which I still own is a 6"TALM set up permanently in my garden with a scope coat. Just pull off the coat and observe, it's fantastic.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Great video as always Ed! It's very critical people buy the right telescope for their lifestyle. An 8" Dob is a common suggestion for many... until you realize if you're driving to a dark sky site, and you have a typical 5 person vehicle, that tube is going to rest across the backseat of the car. Which means... you're limited to one extra passenger in the front seat only. I most frequently observe with my little girls, and Schmidt-Cassegrains fit our lifestyle better. Mostly because a C8, mount and tripod fit easily in half the trunk or less. SCTs are more expensive of course, but there's a reason why when you go to star parties, there's as many SCTs (or more) as there are Dobs.

[@IsisofDurnham]

Some folks also live in an apartment and don't have a backyard. I'm looking at the 6 "Bresser tabletop dobsonian though ( don't know if it's good choice because there's no user reviews anywhere to be found ,just one website review ) . The flextube design of the heritage inhibits what you can attach to focuser and the Bresser uses a fulltube design

[@holdfastjoe8841]

I recently took my boys to an observatory and they had a great time. I'm looking to get something for them for Christmas and I was considering the 8in dob but I don't have my heart set on anything in particular. We will need to drive to a dark site. How long is an 8in dob? Could I fold down one of my seats so the 3 of us could travel with it? Mid size sedan

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@holdfastjoe8841 depends on the car but it might... you'll want to grab measurements from the vendor and then check against your vehicle :)

[@holdfastjoe8841]

@@MikeLikesChannel ya duh I'm an idiot. It will fit, measured up ok. Though an sct would be so much easier. I'm searching around, I don't have my heart set on any particular model or type. I am going to look for the local club and talk to the guys there. Beg for mercy and ask for help as I'm totally out of my element here

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@holdfastjoe8841 yeah that’s why I have an SCT. Much easier to move around. Dobs are nice too, but it depends on your vehicle.

[@francistaylor1822]

Thanks for that, I have a 8" Dobsonian and a lens kit (Bought second hand a few years ago) and have been loath to use it as I didnt know what to expect - this taught me some things I didnt know about it and im going to give it a go next week!

[@wedgesmudge6893]

So cool! I've owned an 8 inch orion dob classic for years. Not sure exactly why anyone would waste money on anything else 😂. Some mods. Laser flocking upper 2/3 of tube. Bob's knobs on secondary. Laser pointer. Etc. I love my telescope. The fun thing is teaching others and using the "light bucket" to amaze people to the wonders and beauty of our universe. Good job. Fun watching

[@barthvapour]

If you're not sure why anyone would "waste money" on anything else, then perhaps you should consider that the number one biggest enthusiasm killer among beginning astronomers is inability to find the object they want to look at. Hence the rise of goto mounts, which aren't a good fit with the dobsonian design. Then there's people who want to do astrophotography. Then there's people with limited space in their homes. Then there's people who want a longer focal length for planetary observing. Suddenly those different types of scope don't seem like such a waste of money, do they?

[@Astronurd]

I owned the 8" dobsonian for years before moving up to the 12". I upgraded the azimuth bearing to a proper roller bearing and transferred the Starsense unit from a small refractor. This along with my 4" apo refractor complement each other perfectly.

[@petset77]

Hi again Ed. I just wanted to share last night's session in support of your suggestion about the 8" Dob. It's the perfect happy medium in size and what it can see. I wanted to take a stab at a couple of summer objects in lower Ophiuchus before they went away for the year. In order to even try, I knew it was necessary to move the scope around, from a deck, to a few different spots on the driveway. I chose to not use my newest (to me) scope, a, Apertura AD12. Even separated to two parts, the tube itself is large and heavy, making it more difficult to move, especially off of a porch and onto a sloped gravel driveway. I chose the XT8, and it was a no-brainer. I got M9, NGC6356, and M107 just above the ridge (plus M75, and a number of objects I regularly visit). To do that, I moved the scope five times, even before taking down for the night. Yes, the XT8 is indeed the "sweet spot". It's not difficult to move it around as a single unit, and I'm 66. Yes, with the 12 I can get better resolution on dim objects, and more of them. But depending on planned session, the 8 will always be a reasonable choice. ....on the AD12, the Az pivot its a "Lazy Susan" setup with roller bearings. It moves easily- too easily. I'm adding a couple of felt furniture foot pads between base sections to dampen the pivot without adding a stiff start like with the 8. All in all, the 8 is a great tool. Thanks for your position on it. It's spot on and MUCH appreciated.

[@jaradb3047]

Very helpful for someone wanting to make the jump from a very old and well used 4.5 eq mount to a 6-10 inch dobsonian.

[@AlbertoGirardi747]

I have a Bresser Messier 254 mm/10 inch, 1270 mm focal length. Had only a few nights due to weather. I am loving it. A lot of light and still not a big issue to move. It is not my first scope, I had a 130 mm Newtonian on eq mount first. Unfortunately it was an astromaster, so it had a spherical mirror.

[@IsisofDurnham]

I'd like to know of anyone who's had experience with the 6 inch tabletop Bresser Dobson , I get it folks think the skywatcher flextubes are the "best " but for me it seems not very practical it IS a flextube ( due to the constraints of what the focuser can handle ) .For me ( living in an appartment ) even an 8 inch is not workable so I have to look at the tabletops

[@zedbear1]

A good Spherical should see well at 5". I have a Celestron C4.5 spherical, it puts some of my 6" to 8" paraboloids to shame for clarity and definition.

[@mrjack8849]

I got 8” Dob about 6 years ago and it reignited a hobby after having some cheaper refractors as a kid. Brighter images, easier to use over a polar alignment mount, and easier to look through. I used a drummers stool and could sit there for an hour looking a stuff. The smaller refractors I’ve tried weren’t nearly as bright, had color issues, and were more awkward to look through when looking at higher objects. The eyepiece level in the Dob is much more comfortable to me and requires me to move around less. When I moved to a bigger city, I left it with family in the darker sky area. I wanted something I could move easier in my new apartment, so I went with 6” Astrograph on a tripod. Still much brighter images than a refractor and it has the capability for astrophotography. I like it, but it’s not really any smaller than my Dob. I would consider a open truss or collapsible Dob now to help make it easier to move. A smart mount would be nice to track stuff and do some light astrophotography too.

[@Astronurd]

Just remember that some truss dobsonians are heavier than their solid tube counterparts.

[@alasdairmacdonald6730]

Excellent video again. I took your advice anout the 8 inch dob being the best beginner telescope and I love it. Even from an urban environment I am seeing so much I never knew existed, it's brilliant. And I'm learning so much, thanks to the manual nature of the scope.

[@perry3928]

Hi Ed. Thanks. The best scope is the one most used.

[@marcpopick248]

I agree. Even a small scope shows much more than without.

[@alandyer910]

Great survey. I see Celestron has come out with a 6-inch tabletop StarSense similar to the old Orion StarBlast 6, which was a fine scope but disappeared once they bought Meade and lost their Synta-sourced models. The Celestron 6 StarSense seems like a great combination. Maybe you can talk Celestron into sending you one for review. Clear skies!

[@edting]

Oooh, that sounds tempting!

[@Roope00]

I have a 10" GoTo Dobsonian, I love it but you're absolutely right about the bulk reducing the use. Great video Ed.

[@poggergen1937]

Ed, it was because of watching your videos that I have an Orion XT10 Sitting right next to me. Your videos have always been educational, informative, and fun to watch. Keep up the great work!

[@Ponokaiguy]

I'm so glad you did an update on this video. Great job!! This video helped me so much 4 months ago when I was buying my first telescope. Yes, I chose the Orion XT8. 🤙🏻

[@JollyFigNut]

I recently got the 6" SkyQuest brand new from Orion's website and I'm pleased to say they got rid of the plastic r&p focusers, they now use 2" metal Crayford focusers with 1.25" adapters. This is the only Crayford focuser I've personally used so far, but it's worlds better than any r&p focuser I've used. EDIT: Just got to the 6" in the video, glad he mentioned this rectification. Also if you're new to telescopes and the 6" or 8" looks easy to manage and you're thinking of getting a 10" just know they are WAY bigger in person than what videos will prepare you for. I legitimately thought Orion sent me a 10" by mistake because of how big it was in person, I have some trouble using the 6" I can't imagine using 10" or higher comfortably.

[@Sergeant_Nugget]

Lol, he isn't lying about the 12 inch. I will be honest, I got the 12 inch about 3 years ago, and I have only used it once. I got it because I live near the city and figured I should get something to collect more light. Although it has been 3 years since I last used it, I got a new car (suv) where I can now take it to dark skies, also new work hours which means I can actually use it more often, and a friend who is interested about using the telescope with me. So it is helping me get back to it 😅

[@MRTAT33]

Hello, I really appreciate your videos. I am just getting back into Telescope Astronomy. This brings up and answers ALOT of Questions. Very Informational. I just happen to start learning about Stars, not Ringo Star, trying to learn more about Our Closesed Star. Extremely do not want to burn my Retinas out 🥺. This, honestly in the last 30 years I lost a lot of the Knowledge of the Shy. I would like to say, it is Always better have something you do not need versus not having it in that Lottery Ticket situation. 😊.

[@astralfields1696]

The 8” is amazing. I had the chance to compare two SW 8 and 10 side by side. The f/4.7 of the 10 really bothered me. The focus was also more tricky. The image was a bit brighter but that was it. I am thinking about the 12” SW.. but so far too happy with the 8”. I can take it with me everywhere and fits my car quick and easy. One of my friends with the 10” doesn’t feel like taking it anywhere.. size does matter I guess.

[@sten4982]

Grab the 12 and just buy some lifting straps that farpoint make for them big solid tubes. Jupiter and Saturn looked amazing through mine early this morning.

[@tuunaes]

Focus problem is only because of SkyWatcher/Synta using cheaped out single speed focuser instead of proper dual speed focuser. Though standard mass produced Dobs certainly start getting heavy and clumsier at 10".

[@Astronurd]

I moved up from the 8" to the 12" and I'm really pleased I did. Nebulae are much brighter and stand out a lot more. The Veil nebula is stunning through it.

[@Astronurd]

​@@tuunaesMy 12" came with a dual speed focuser, RACI and cooling fan as standard. Fantastic scope and once placed on an EQ platform is a pleasure to use.

[@harimadhav8846]

​@@Astronurdi too recently got hold of a 12 inch and an eq platform on its way, do you happen to have any suggestions for a camera?

[@scupking]

I had a 6 back in the early 2000s and it was my favorite scope. With that said if bought a dob again I would go with the 8. I think 8 is the perfect all around size.

[@millenialfalcon8243]

Thanks Ed, love my dobs. Have you seen the new Celestron StarSense Explorer tabletops that are coming out? There is a 114mm for $350ish that does have a parabolic mirror. Would be a great loaner/library if the lock on the app wasn't an issue. Maybe if Celestron would work with the library programs to do limited trial codes?

[@AstronomyAdventuresNB]

I went with the 6 inch Dob. It fit better into my budget at this time. Plus, with the money saved, I was able to purchase some accessories in preparation for the solar eclipse coming in April 2024. Clear skies all.

[@lasercat538]

We're you able to capture some good photos?

[@AstronomyAdventuresNB]

@@lasercat538 I did get some good photos. Although the cell phone looking through the lens started out great, it doesn't compare to the detail you see looking through the lens yourself.

[@AstronomyAdventuresNB]

@@lasercat538 I got some ok photos. The best was actually with the DSLR during totality.

[@AstronomyAdventuresNB]

I got some ok photos. The best one was actually with my DSLR at totality.

[@curronhill2744]

Nice video, well done. I am currently debating an 8” or a 10”. I currently am using a 5” apo refractor on a Stellavue M2c mount. I love looking at deep sky objects. I have had 6, 8, 10, and 12” dobs over my 50 years of observing and I must say the refractor adds more contrast I think. But I do miss the light gathering of the larger aperture. I loved the 12 but the weigh got to be to much. The 10 was not bad, but as you said it was usually left in the shop because I selected an easier setup. Oh well, maybe I’ll just stay with the apo.

[@NG-VQ37VHR]

I bought a 10" ad10 dob many years ago. They are great, but the size really does keep me from using it. An 8" may have been the way to go. I mostly stick to just my refractors, but I can't make myself get rid of the 10" dob. It really is a great scope, but inconvenient to move around.

[@tuunaes]

5" APO likely overall matches 6" reflector in how dim targets can be seen. Better contrast should be advantage also for that, besides for seeing tiny details. Though 8" and above definitely have raw power advantage, especially 10". If weight is issue, there are some lighter Dobsons with aluminium base and tube.

[@FrancoGrimoldi]

This is amazing, Ed, great great content, excellent presentation, so helpful and delightful 🙌

[@myk1200s]

Hi Ed, New to the channel. Really appreciate what I've seen so far. I've always been interested in astronomy since I was a little kid. I watched all the Apollo missions Now some year's later I think I'm going to pull the trigger so to speak and finally get a telescopes. I hear Meade and orion both are no longer around sorry to hear that. So I'm curious as to what you would recommend for someone such as myself looking to purchase his first telescope and why ❓I'm primarily interested in the DOBSONIAN models $1000 or less, thanks for your response.

[@davidlabedz2046]

Excellent advice for aspiring astronomers.

[@arnavarora4129]

Please make a video on the bresser cell phone adapter

[@sofjanmustopoh7232]

Hi Ed . “May or may not open the carton” In 2006 Carl Zambuto finish a 12.5” F6 mirror and Telekit finish a 12.5” dob kit . Shipped to patiently waiting guy . It then stay in his basement until 2018 . Where he sold the Zambuto mirror and Telekit to me . And it still stay in my basement in the BOX 📦 . Life , Career and family really took most of my time . The 8” f6 dobsonian or Questar 3.5 got used a lot more often . I promise one of this day, I’ll finish that Zambuto 12.5” f6 with Telekit 😄

[@edting]

Wow, thanks for the story.

[@jackverbrugge7828]

I saw your 16 inch meade telescope video and was successfully talked out of buying that (for only $800). I went and bought the 12" Apertura already :D Didn't see this video. I guess I'm taking you up on this challenge!

[@genefoster8936]

I finally bought the Apertura AD8. Thanks for the advice.

[@caseywheeler9842]

Great video! Can you do one for SCT sizes too? I know you're favorite is the C9.25 but aperture fever has me eyeballing the C11... when you're already spending so much on a (already heavy) mount and OTA it feels like you might as well go for it!

[@edting]

In the works! Be patient, these comparison videos take FOREVER to organize and shoot...

[@caseywheeler9842]

@@edting awesome! Watch every video, so I won't miss it!

[@kvitoroulis]

Happy to have come across your channel Ed. Question for you or your community. Very recently bought a 200mm, 1000mm used focal length reflector telescope. For the kid (and the father) to start getting into the hobby. We love it. Is the 1000mm focal length uncommon?

[@rossbagley9015]

Fantastic explanation of beginner scopes. I have an 8" f/6 dob and it just barely fits in my car trunk. Anything larger and I couldn't take it and the family to a star party. Looking into an 8" EdgeHD SCT on an EQ tripod for my second (and hopefully last "big scope") for the size, weight, and flexibility (f/10, f/7, and f/2).

[@mrfunkybassist]

I just got my first dob a few weeks ago and ended up with the zhumell z130. So far the family is loving it. Just wish it came with that metal focuser. Oh well, i’ll probably upgrade it down the road if it breaks or i have trouble with it. So far i love the thing. Skies havent been clear but have been able to get some nice views of the moon, jupiter and a few star clusters. Now if my eyes were just better

[@steveng4252]

This was a very good video but I should add a couple of things. I chose a 10 inch versus a 6 or 8 because it offered a dual speed metal focuser and a 2 inch tube with an adapter to use standard and 2-in eye pieces. I use all of those features and I'm really glad I got them.

[@bill5982]

I have a 4 1/2 Orion Dobsonian that I got from a friend as it was sitting in his garage unused. I traded him an Astroscan telescope that I didn't use. The Orion is an older model as the focuser is made out of metal rather than plastic. The motions on the scope were stiff. The attitude wasn't real bad but the azimuth was terrible. I took the base off. The Teflon pads were small and stapled in place. A couple of staples were actually high enough to touch the base. I tried lubricating with silicon lubricant but it wasn't much better. Finally I added 3 inch round sliders that you use on the bottom of furniture. Again a little silicon and that fixed the problem. For the attitude, I lubricated the trunnions with silicon and that fixed that problem. I sit it on a wooden box with baseboard around the edge to keep it from sliding off.

[@edting]

Sounds like a good upgrade path you've done. Commerical Dobs are often blank canvases upon which you can express your creativity.

[@starfruit6775]

Hi Ed, Great video by the way! I asked you awhile back about what eyepieces to get for my Orion Xt 4.5 inch and I picked up a Explorer scientific 14mm 82 wide field optic. I’ve been using that for planets but was wondering if it’s good for DSO’s. I also have the 25mm one that came with it and I can see a few DSO’s but I’m still struggling even to find things like m13 and C20. I don’t know if I should upgrade and get an 8 inch scope now that I have good optics or if I should just keep trying to find objects with the 4.5? I’m wondering if a 230 dollar optic is over kill with a 250 dollar scope. Thanks Ed!

[@edting]

If I had an XT4.5, I'd probably get a 24mm Panoptic as my main eyepiece.

[@starfruit6775]

@@edting Thank you for the feedback Ed, so should I get the 24mm panoptic and upgrade to the 8, or just get the 24mm panoptic. Also, I live in the country where we have dark skies.

[@BennyKleykens]

Still love my 8" !

[@D-Flap_FPV]

I totally agree with you Ed regarding the 8” dob. This was my second telescope that I have ever bought and it is perfect size for me. Not sure the benefits of a larger telescope is worth the effort. I would love a larger aperture but I wouldn’t get it out very often. If I do go 12” then I would only look at the open truss type. Love the videos.

[@acem7749]

I went full in on a 12-in dobsonian for my first telescope Maybe ironically no regrets. For my situation it works Out perfect. Made mostly possible by a $30 harbor freight collapsible dolly that has a rather large bottom plate, plus a large sheet 2inch foam between the telescope and the dolly rails for some extra cushioning. I roll my telescope in and out of my garage to the front yard or backyard. Most areas I have a diveway/sidewalk / path and if needed to go a little off-road the tires are big enough to roll over my lawn. I do not have any issues with balancing the up and down or the rotation on the dobsonian mount. My model is the Apertura AD12. Got it Dec 2020 still using it a lot. the total eclipse was absolutely amazing while being viewed through it.

[@smevox7490]

Thanks for the video. Curious does moving these big telescopes(10+) require mirror adjustment more often than say the 6? Also how good are the highpoint synscan go to dobsonian systems? Are the truss ones from them good or do they require lots of adjustment in the opitcs? Sorry for the armature questions.

[@gihanilangakoon]

Very good review Ed of the Dobsonian range. Please do a comparison of 2 or 3 brands of 8" Dobs

[@venombhai69]

Hey ed! Can you review the explore scientific 2nd gen open truss tube 12 inch dobsonian pls?

[@mazyar_]

Hi Ed. First thanks for your relaxed and informing videos including this one, I've learned a lot. I have to say and I'm sure that you would agree that no matter how good one's telescope and eyepieces are under a clear sky, it's no fun observing when you are freezing your butt off from the cold because of poor choice of clothing. Can you consider sharing your experience and make a video about appropriate clothing during long observing sessions in the cold seasons? there isn't much about this topic online. Best regards from Europe.

[@tuunaes]

If you can bend backwards to look above you, you don't have enough clothing. ;) "Michelin man" would be another description what you should look with enough clothing... And for figners you'll want this as outer layer: metsastajalehti.fi/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/4-2-scaled-e1640782175951.jpg

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

Perfect timing. I was looking at Dobsonians. An 8" is like $700, or the 6" is about $400. Both of which are larger than my equatorial, which is a 4".

[@Astronurd]

You have a 4"mount?

[@nocareriots]

I have a celestron omni az 102 at the moment and I love it but I'm saving up for a apertura ad8 now.

[@edting]

A 4" refractor and an 8" Dob make a good combination.

[@Hartin31]

Thanks for the breakdown. Great information

[@tietosanakirja]

I have a 6" newt and a cheap 4" refractor for worry free traveling. The 4" refractor gets twice the use of the 6", and I love it to bits, even though it's less than half the price of the newt. I dream of some day owning a home at a dark site and buying an 8" or 10" dob. The 6" I use mainly for astrophotography.

[@jackieblank4249]

Hi Ed. Love your videos. Yes 6n8s definitly great to use. Put em on a solid pedastil if you like to stand and walk all around it. Not me i like to sit n gaze a little while then get up n move it. Come to the swamps of Louisiana and see how we deal with all the bugs n critters in the summer.😅😅😅

[@joeparham2889]

Thanks for your expertise! Any opinion on the Explore Scientific 10 dob from Costco? 600.00 is hard to beat

[@edting]

Don't buy that. The product is an unmitigated disaster. There's a reason they're being blown out (I saw them briefly on Amazon for $188). They didn't get anything right. On the other hand, the newer First Light series from Explore Scientific are very good.

[@joeparham2889]

@@edting thank you very much!!

[@srfox1]

Working on getting an 8in starsense.

[@jona5003]

Yesssss, I love dobsonians and I love your videos. I was wondering when you would make another video on dobsons

[@richiewitkowski7142]

I had the Orion 4.5 inch with the equatorial mount that came with it (went back to it the other day; never again) and when i got a new telescope I went straight to the 10 inch because i am young and can easily carry it around but id like to point out, the 10 inch seems more suitable for my height as a 5' 11" person. I dont have to bend over so much and hurt my back when im standing there. At the observatory I go to, the have the 8 inch on rollers which raises it up much more but i dont go there as often as id like

[@fazergazer]

I have several sizes, the F/8 4-1/2” is a spherical mirror but gives good views❤

[@robertkage8308]

I've camped on dromand Island for years because I found a perfect location with a sandy beach and a small inlet witch offered great fishing. Also found a Mellon sazed pudding stone! Good times!

[@sameerjoglekar2113]

Hello Mr Ting, thank you for the amazing videos. I just had a question - you mentioned the Dobs are not good for astrophotography and imaging and I understand that is due to the alt-azimuth mount and no tracking. Just curious, how did you take the images that you showed at 9:49 - are they from a cellphone or camera simply attached to the eye piece ?

[@edting]

The M81/M82 image was taken with one of my usual imaging rigs. Celestron AVX mount, Astro-Physics Stowaway (newest version) with dedicated field flattener, HuTech full-spectrum modded EOS 5D Mk3, SBIG Sti-C autoguider, PHD2, PixInsight, PS2020.

[@William.N]

The 8" really does seem to be the sweet spot. Just gotta find a spot for it before buying it

[@AdamHarrisonEros]

I engage in light astrophotography, and I’m thinking a dobsonian would be fun for star gazing while the photo rig does it’s thing, but… If I did want to do astrophotography with one of these, is it possible to put it on a rail and equatorial mount it for an evening of shooting and then move it back to it’s native mount for casual stargazing?

[@edting]

In theory, yes. In practice you are going to have all sorts of problems. Your camera may not come to focus and you're done right there. Good rings and a D plate are going to cost you. The lack of field flattener/coma corrector is another problem. Also your mount is going to have to be huge. A club member needed a G11 to hold his XT8 OTA. You'd be spending $3000 - $4000 on behalf of a $650 optical tube and it still might not work.

[@mederichebert]

It is possible, I've got my XT-10 setup to be used both on it's original mount and on a EQ6. For the camera focus, you can use longer bolts on the primary holder to get it closer to the camera and in it's focal range. You might get lucky and find a coma corrector for astrograph that works with it too.

[@phpnotasp]

I inherited a 10" dob. Can I add that smartphone adapter? Yes, mine is super stiff; thank you for recommending a fix. I find the focuser to be not very fine-grained. When I spin the knob just a teeny bit, it causes large movement.

[@nitehawk86]

Yeah, I agree. Regardless of the price, I don't see a point in getting a solid tube Dob bigger than 8-10" unless you are putting it in a fixed observatory roll off roof.

[@Astronurd]

Nonsense.

[@nickademuss42]

I use a 14" dob at public events and our other club members use 12's and 8"s. My 12 is a strut style without the solid tube. I can set up in 10min, the weight isnt that bad, the movements are smooth and easy to realign.

[@ergonautilus]

How do the Orion and Celestron compare? Orion offers a spring lock; Celestron offers a phone mount. How overall would you grade these two makes?

[@taylor315]

I got the Celestron 8” dob and I LOVE it. The starsense app is a game changer, makes it quick easy and convenient. Even in bortle 5 skies I can see nebulas and galaxies.

[@hecker-c9v]

Do u see colour in them?

[@taylor315]

@@hecker-c9v It depends on the nebula size and distance, but I can make out faint greens and blues, most of them are like a wispy grey cloud. I haven’t seen any color in galaxies but can easily make out the size/shape and bright center.

[@togray619]

6 and 8 are my favorites!

[@Rick.Sanchez.C-137]

great video, very informative!

[@thomasholland6334]

Hi Ed, I find your channel the most informative regarding the hardware I need to get into astronomy and I thank you for that. I've heard you state the 8" dobsonian is the best beginner telescope. However I'm leaning towards the 10". I was wondering if you could offer me any insights as the greater impact of the 10" over the 8". Will I be able to see all the same deep space objects with the 8", but at a lower brightness level, or will the 10" allow me see things the 8" cannot?

[@edting]

I have an entire video coming up about the 8" vs 10" Dob. The 8" is still the correct choice most of the time. There are two problems with the 10". 1) The weight of the optical tube starts to exert pressure on the azimuth axis, resulting in sticky motions. 2) You will use the 10" less. The scope that shows you the most is the one you use the most. These issues should be addressed in the video.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

I had an 8 and 10” for a number of years. Kept using the 8, so I sold the 10… to a guy who lives 2 hours away from anything in the deep boonies of Ohio. For him, it’s a Bortle 4, a 10” makes sense on his farm. For me, 2 minutes away from a Costco, the 8” Dob is *plenty fine*

[@mjanovec]

I would love to see a video about the Coulter Optical scopes! As a kid in the 80s, I dreamed of owning a giant Coulter scope… and often studied their ad in Sky and Telescope. While I eventually ended up with a 10-inch Orion dob in my adulthood, I often wondered just how good (or bad) those Coulter scopes were. I even considered hunting one down just to satisfy my inner 14-year old self… but so far I have successfully resisted the urge.

[@AdamHarrisonEros]

I just saw one of these for sale on Facebook marketplace, but I shied away as it looked like a paper tube. I’d love to know more about these as well.

[@edting]

The Coulters were awful - among the worst telescopes ever made. Some of the "mirror cells" are pieces of rope, and some of the "focusers" are pieces of PVC plumbing. They are so bad, they're good!

[@mjanovec]

@@edting That’s my understanding too, though I know some swear by the blue ones (once they’ve been modded to make them more functional). There is still something about them that appeals to me… as light buckets that attempt to gather the most amount of light with the cheapest of materials. Low tech!

[@arnoldacerimmer6790]

What do you think of equatorial platforms for a dobsonian ?

[@deanblackwell2090]

Ok I've been watching too many of your videos - it was clear from the beginning the 8" was goign to be your pick :D

[@pjcd7016]

Hey Ed, I'm new to the game, I have a 6" NexStar and was looking at a collapsable 8" Dobsonian to take camping. They compactness is a plus for me,. My question is, are the collapsable ones worth it or should I stick with a solid tube?

[@edting]

I have a review of the 10" Sky-Watcher collapsible Dob on Scopereviews. I didn't find the collapsible feature all that useful. If you have a 6" NexStar, it will be about the same size, if not smaller, when disassembled, than the 8" collapsible Dob.

[@pjcd7016]

@@edting Thank you Ed

[@charlenej916]

Right now I have a 6" Dobs and had it for 6 months. With the California wildfires going full right now there is no clear shot of any sky, and I'm still hopeful though. If I can master the 6" I would like to buy an 8". What does the sky look like with the constant haze of wildfire smoke ? Everything it sees looks like irregular shaped marshmallows! In case you are wondering, I haven't learned much yet, but still trying.🥴By the way, my Dobsonian is sitting on a plant stand with castors, so that I can transport it through the house.

[@kevinbraden7021]

I found this to be very fun and informative.

[@fredaw61]

Hello Ed. I have the 8” Orion and enjoy using it however I find myself not able to see too much resolution and brightness in what I can find. I tried to see the Eagle nebula and owl nebula, but they were not visible in my scope. Even the dumbbell nebula was quite lack luster. I have been thinking about jumping up to the Apatura AD12 to hopefully gather a little more light and bring these things to light. Even the Hercules star cluster and the ring nebulae and lira are quite dull. I remember in years gone by that the ring nebulae was a bit more spectacular in my old 10 inch Dobsonian . Listening to this video of yours makes me wonder if I should even attempt the 12 inch and use a cart to bring it out of my garage and onto my side yard. I am concerned about the azimuth being sticky like you said. The Apertura AD12 has roller bearings in the base and I was wondering if that helps with that motion. Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

[@tuunaes]

Sounds like you've had standard western world increase in light pollution. (now how could we get polititians to put pollution tax on that?)

[@fredaw61]

@@tuunaes I even hate it because it takes away from the wildlife’s land to live. They just keep building and consuming.

[@georgewashington7444]

A 6” dob from my Bortle 5 skies shows much detail in M27-M57-M13 and a hint of spiral structure in M51. I find it surprising you’re having difficulty with a 8” if you are in Bortle 7 or higher a larger aperture is a waste and will make little difference on faint DSOs. I have 6-14” dobs and my best every observing session was from Central Nevada Bortle 1 at 5000’ I was using a Astroscan 4.5 red ball and the views were comparable to a 10” dob from suburbs but with crazy better contrast. The Virgo galaxy cluster was unreal in that little 4.5”

[@fredaw61]

@@georgewashington7444 I would say my area from my yard is a 5-6 in reality. I had a chance to look through a 12”. The contrast and resolution was better, but like you said that some DSO objects just won’t been seen only because of the light pollution. The Hercules cluster in the 12” did reveal more pin points of stars.

[@ogshotglass9291]

I do want to point out that theoretically, you could do astrophotography with a Dobsonian, although I wouldn't really recommend it. You would have to look towards a go-to Dobsonian telescope, of which there are a few, although for those you are looking at larger apertures and far more expensive (Skywatcher Flextube 350P is an example). On top of that, because it is an ALT-AZ mount, cropping your image due to field rotation is necessary. Think of a final image of 1/3 to 1/4 original image area. Due to that, you will have to photograph targets in sections, which would take several nights of careful planning and precise positioning. You would then have to edit each section and stitch them together to make a final full-size image. All that would take more time and effort than necessary. I don't even know of any pro astrophotographers that would be willing to take on that kind of project.

[@OldCurmudgeon3DP]

EQ wedge

[@jacobsteele1178]

The nice thing about being in vancouver with my 12 inch dob is that im so deprived of clear skies that when it partly cloudy i do all i can to get it out to use it

[@suomi422]

Sky-watcher Classic Dob 8 inch for observation, Seestar S50 for astrophotography and you are around 1100$ for both as a good start for beginners

[@A0111.]

I'd like to have an 8" dob, but if I bought 8" instead of my 10, I would've wanted to buy a 10", so if you have some space in your garage, buy both... and probably all the others.

[@anirudhnair558]

Hi Ed love the video thanks as always! Just wondering about the "downgrades" for dobs that you mentioned, I have my eye on the starfield 8" dob, looks very similar to the orion skyline 8" dob but for much cheaper. It doesn't look like it has the spring system and stuff on it, would that be a better buy compared to the XT8? Thanks! 😁

[@tuunaes]

Starfield is lot better than XT8 (or SkyWatcher) with dual speed focuser, neck saving RACI finder and actual wide view starter eyepiece included. It's basically same GSO Dobson as Apertura AD8.

[@anirudhnair558]

@@tuunaes Wow thanks a lot, it helps clear things up for me!

[@Astronurd]

​@@tuunaesAlso known as the Stella Lyra range of dobsonians in the UK.

[@TimCrosswhite-i1q]

Would you consider a review on using a Barlow Lens

[@bubblehulk7647]

Ed Money, you’re putting in the work my dude! Love your videos! Time stamps! Just sayin!

[@MrTeabag55]

Can you use these to zoom on a 14000ft height mountain at ~50 miles away during daytime? (to see if we can distinguisher climbers from the snow)

[@TheDevOfTheDevs]

Love the channel ❤️. Can you please use metric for units? Thank you.

[@GrnXnham]

It's really very simple. Just multiply inches by 25.4 and you get mm. There's a lot of back and forth in astronomy between inches and mm. You get used to it.

[@ADF_Cable]

Love ya Ed...... You are a true legend xx

[@bowrudder899]

Do a Coulter video! Coulter owners are passionate about their scopes.

[@carlosarambula]

Hi Ed how I can get in touch with you? We have a project starting in Chihuahua Mexico and maybe you can give us valuable technical info, I am part of the sociedad astronomica de Chihuahua (Chihuahua astronomic society), warm regards Carlos Arámbula.

[@peter7624]

When I was 12 or 13 and starting to take an interest in astronomy Patrick Moore would recommend either a 3" refractor or a 6" reflector as the ideal telescope for the budding amateur astronomer, in his books. I think everyone must have had better eyes in those days, or maybe there was just less atmospheric and light pollution around. Great vid. Ed!

[@tuunaes]

Amount of light pollution was far lower and contained to far smaller areas. Also (mass production) manufacturing methods of the time weren't as good as today.

[@KevinRudd-w8s]

The scopes available in the UK when those books were written ( and yes I some of have them as well ) were very expensive compared to the price of a 6"" or 8" Dob today. At my school's astronomy club we ended up making our own, we even silvered the mirror ourselves ( well it was the chemistry teacher actually ). The sky where I live would have been bortle 3 (2 after midnight when the street lights were switched off) back then, it's up to 5 now and getting worse.

[@tedbohrer6799]

With the 10" model, with the extra aperture would it make sense to use a good 2x Barlow to effectively double the focal length so Saturn and Jupiter could be seen better?

[@edting]

Be careful with the use of the barlow. It magnifies everything, including the stuff you don't want (atmospheric distortion, mount shakiness, etc). This is one of the most common beginner mistakes. I usually keep it under 125X for the planets.

[@tedbohrer6799]

@@edting Yes, I remember you saying th is about the Barlows. The 8" and 10" Dobs have a focal length of 1200. Is it reasonable to get 125x from that?

[@jsauerii]

I have an 8 10 and 12, the 12 hasn't come out in years, the 10 I shortened by about an inch and made it only for hooking my DSLR to it as a prime focus lens for said dslr..