All the Common Solid Tube Dobsonian Reflector Telescopes Compared!

[@edting]

This is a big enough topic that it may warrant a revisit in the future. Stay tuned!

[@SanderSmit77]

Please tell people how to calculate how much more light each size gathers compared to the previous one: Just square each number and divide them (the 4 pi disappears), for example 6 vs 8 inch is 64/36=1.78, so 78% more light (I think you said 50%) for the 8 inch compared to the 6 inch and 36/64=0.56, so 44% less light for the 6 inch compared to the 8 inch (perhaps that is what you were thinking of when you said 50%?) Also an example of how much wider the field of view can be with a 2 inch focusser would be interesting info, because in the range they suddenly go up but apart from being metal it might not be clear why it is an advantage.

[@edting]

Ha, thanks for pointing out one of the many misspoken numbers I've given out through the years. Yes, it is 78%.

[@SanderSmit77]

@@edting Keep up the good videos! We need something to get through the cloudy days and your videos are a wonderful way to do so :)

[@Plestora]

@@edting Do you think the 8" xt8 will come back down to 400$ or is the new 550$ price just what they cost now?

[@Adam.Holmes.]

@@Plestora where are you finding $550? I'm seeing $830 as the cheapest.

[@alexd4795]

You're the kind of dad any kid would be lucky to have

[@calebjaymes9710]

This guy is super chill for sure

[@astrospeedcuber]

He seems strict tho…

[@Nochift138]

tiger dad

[@astrospeedcuber]

@@Nochift138 lol yes

[@DaninVirginia]

Absolutely agree!

[@thecman26]

Wow, what a difference 2 years can make! 8" reflector 2 yrs ago "around $400" today: $849! If only i could have bought 100 of em for $400! That's a better investment than the stock market!

[@DDL-n2u]

Seriously I just looked at prices. Is it just inflation? Can’t be demand now that we are 4 years into Covid

[@SteveZ919]

AD8 on sale for 600, Nov 2024.

[@entropytango5348]

I have had the 8, 10 and 12". Decided in the end to keep the 10", more light gathering than the 8" but much easier to handle than the 12"

[@SeanDS89]

Good to know, thanks for commenting! I plan on upgrading from my 6" dob soon, so I'm doing a bunch of research to see which one is right for me. Btw, is there a brand that you have really liked? Consequently, are there any brands that you weren't happy with?

[@stevied1266]

@@SeanDS89 Hey Sean, I saw your post and wanted to mention the Apertura line of dobsonians'. I was eye balling one of those for a long time, but bought a 10" explore scientific dobsonian for a an incredible price a few years ago. Apertura give a better accessory bundle too!

[@DP-qb1zw]

I agree that a 10" solid tube is the best compromise between aperture and transportability for a healthy, adult male. I bought one for my brother. Very nice views and relatively easy to transport.

[@brandon152lee]

Any specific manufacturer you’d recommend?

[@elchappo1320]

Im torn between the 8 and 10. I know bigger is better. But what ed is saying is probaboy true too regarding how often will it be used

[@jamesvannoy539]

Thanks. You described me exactly. I'm one of those thinking, he recommended the 8" so I'll go a little extra and get a 10". Watching this just saved me some money and aggravation.

[@_WorldWorks]

same

[@astrospeedcuber]

Ah so true

[@peteallennh]

You totally read my mind...

[@philongpham3886]

Lol me too :D I'm considering between the 10 and 12. From your experience, would the 10 fit in the second row of your car? I heard that the 12 wouldn't.

[@johnbenedict6703]

Back in the 1960s I bought a 5" primary mirror, a diagonal mirror, other related items for assembly, and a tripod from a local optical manufacturer. I got a 6" diameter stove pipe the appropriate length, tinkered and painted, and put the whole thing together. Back in the day the Dobsonian focus arrangement was know as Newtonian. Thanks to the efforts of the fellow that brought telescope building to the youth, it's now called Dobsonian. At least that's the way I figure it. Thanks. This is an informative channel and I subscribed.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Fantastic video Ed! 8" is the perfect blend of everything for me. Excellent performance under my Bortle 6-7 suburban skies, easy enough to load in the car to go to darker spots. Not insanely heavy or expensive. 12" is a darn water heater.

[@blackie75]

I decided on the 8" Dobsonian for my first telescope thanks to you. 💙

[@edting]

Great, hope you like it!

[@goldni4429]

Just picked up a super clean Orion XT8 off Craigslist for $50 with a Telrad,I'm so excited! Even though it's number 21 in my scope collection it's my first Dob!

[@edting]

Wow, $50, you stole that. The Telrad alone is worth what you paid. Good for you!!

[@goldni4429]

Haha my thoughts exactly,thanks for the great videos Ed, you do an amazing job you are the reference standard for scope reviews!

[@entropytango5348]

Thanks Ed for all those years of great reviews. I'm a definite fan. You have done great things for our hobby!

[@Dusty11408]

Hi Ed, I just purchased an Orion xt8 Dobsonian telescope and it’s being delivered tomorrow! Thank you for all of your advice. I find your KZbin Channel to be extremely educational. I can’t wait to try out my new scope! Thanks again! Dusty.

[@freeman10000]

I am am card carrying member of the 8" fan club. I have been interested I Astronomy for 40 years and I always seem to end up owning an eight inch scope. The perfect combination of aperture and convenience.

[@RoyalRajput108]

Ed is truly a genius. I am trying to watch all his videos to learn the ABC of astrophotography.

[@astrospeedcuber]

Same

[@padraicley3265]

I started my hobby almost a year ago and got Astro photo gear. Due to limited time, they need to be operational. 2023 New Year's Eve, I saw a 10" Dob on sale and ordered it for the fun of our small local star party monthly. If you want to learn astronomy, Dobsonian is a must-have; it is simple to use and a reasonable price to start the hobby, as Ed always said. Many of them are on sale after a few uses since they are big and do not aim for astrophotography; you may pick up a mint one locally from hobbis who have moved on or moved up in prices. In 2024, prices are 50% more compared to 3 years ago when this video was made. 10" regular price is roughly $900, 8" is $650, and 6" is $450. At the end of the year's holiday, you may see half price for one model from Sky-Watcher / Celestron (same Taiwan company). Yes, all are made in China. As China's economy grew, the manufacturing cost increased yearly. So they are not going cheaper unless they move to another country like India or Vietnam. So the best deal at year-end holiday time is if you can wait, but just one model, so there is no choice price-wise. Most are sold at Amazon without discount unless, like that Black Friday event, I see the price up 10-15% from 2023 or 22. But more supply after Covid.

[@robanton3689]

Hi Ed, I'm new to astrology and I recently brought a 8" Dobsonian as per your recommendation and am extremely happy with it. If you are ever in New Zealand please free to stop by and say hi. Keep up the great work . Big fan of your channel.

[@impact0r]

Telescopes are pretty useless in astrology. Sell it and get some tarot cards and a crystal ball instead.

[@davemonteith2177]

@@impact0r 'Telescopes are pretty useless in astrology', I can't stop laughing!

[@M42-Orion-Nebula]

@@impact0r Yes, why would you use a telescope in astrology?

[@kencur9690]

@@impact0r well “aCtUaLly”, original astrologers did take a keen interest in rudimentary astronomy... perhaps the guy is old school.

[@fishing1335]

I bought the Apetura AD8 dob because of this video. I've had it a few months now and love it. Thanks Ed

[@edting]

Good job on the 8" Dob!

[@Dusty11408]

Thank you so much for all of this useful & practical information. It has saved me from making all of the usual new guy mistakes. My wife and I looked at Jupiter last night and were able to see one of it’s moons. Take care and thanks again! Dusty Morrison, Southern California.

[@starlingblack814]

Hello Ed, I enjoy your videos.....I had a 17.5 inch dob from Odessey Telescope years ago; it was a beast and used a dolly to get it into the yard. Although one night saw the best view of Saturn ever! Eventually sold it for $300 to a telescope shop. Now old age favors lighter scopes, although failing eyesight does not. Thanks for a fun informative video

[@mesenteria]

One comment from me, a 12" Dob user who was 71 when he purchased it. They're long and heavy. The base comes with a handle, and it's surprisingly easy to hoist and to get into an SUV or pickup back. The tube is another beast altogether. You must figure out how to move it safely, how to get it into AND out of the vehicle and onto the cradle flanges of the base. Hint: tighten the altitude bearings just enough that they stay in one position... not so loose that they fall naturally to their lowest position. Then, angle them so that, as you carry the tube by the straps (you'll definitely need...not want...need, straps!!), you can just angle the tube so that the bearings slide easily into their cradle recesses. So here is the comment, after all that: you'll want to take that marvelous beast out to the boonies to dark skies. It will be a pilgrimage and a privilege, and you'll know what I mean the first clear night you take it outside the town/city to a remote park 25 miles away...or further. In fact, if you can climb some, say toward a ski resort or whatever, so much the better; less atmosphere to look through. So that's it. The larger Dobs are amazing value, but they're heavy. And once you take that first trip out some night to a remote location and set up, you will appreciate the light-gathering power even more. It'll become a 'thing', just as it is for all larger Dob owners.

[@chrisfry6850]

Thank you so much, Ed, for all of the work you do in the making of these videos, they're very informative, and invaluable in choosing a scope to buy. Have you ever considered doing a video where you report your findings on the optical performance of some major brand telescopes, on the moon and planets? For example, take an 8" Dob made by Orion, Meade, Celestron, Sky Watcher, and maybe one or two others, and use the same brand eyepiece at low, medium, and high power on the moon, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. Tell which one gave you the sharpest views, best contrast; tell if the moons of Jupiter showed up better in one scope over the others. And on Mars, tell if the polar ice cap showed up better in one scope over the others. It would take a long time to do this comparison, waiting for each planet to be up. But I think a lot of lunar/planetary "backyard astronomers" would benefit from it. I know I would. Just an idea.

[@jasonng3486]

After much checking on which type of telescope to go for, I think I’ve made up my mind for Dobsonian 6” or 8”. I’m sure I will never go wrong with expert’s advice 😊

[@daviddorfman320]

The table-top dobs can also be placed on stacking plastic milk crates. To adjust height, add or remove a crate. To add stability, add plywood to the top. For storage, simply nest the crates. Crates can also be used for storage, such as the finder and star charts when the scope is not being used.

[@imhigh172]

the prices of the xt8 have surprisingly doubled on retail and their old price was replaced by the bl135mm sky scanner, i wanted to point that out as that would probably change your recommendations. I was very excited to buy the telescope after seeing so many videos on it, all of them saying it’s $400, but at some point recently they must have changed that price sadly and given the price it to a cheaper model

[@SICKFREDO]

Sounds like a new video is due

[@mk7mig]

I recently got mine 500 used with tons of accessories. one now at 400, my local OfferUp. Still pricey but I hope the prices come back down soon.

[@williamkimeria3228]

Just bought the Apertura AD8 based on this and related videos. I used to have a 12 Inch Skywatcher Flextube that I sold 10 years ago when we moved across the country (I only kept my Orion ShortTube 80 refractor). Decided it was time to get another Dobsonian. Went back and forth between the AD8 and the AD10, but decided to do the sensible thing and get the AD8 (and I also don't have much viewing time so I needed something that was quick to carry out/setup). I am glad I did. The AD8 is larger/bulkier than I expected and just the right size for me (turns out aging 10 years will change the amount of inconvenience one is willing to put up with. The 12 Inch Skywatcher was amazing to look through but getting it out for viewing was a production each time). I've just tested the AD8 in my backyard and it was not too difficult to get it out, I feel it is just the right size to be able to take out to the backyard on a whim, and will easily fit in any car. And being a solid tube vs a truss tube setup is faster (the Skywatcher was not a classic truss tube since the trusses were captive, the downside was that the tube + trusses was really, really heavy). The cherry on the cake is that I get to use my nice 2 inch eyepieces that have sat unused for the last 10+ years.

[@EzraWilson1]

The 8" Dob is absolutely the best all-around telescope on the market, especially when outfitted with a Telrad.

[@herethereandeverywhere.3222]

If you don’t mind taking a few minutes or a few moments, feel free to recommend a place that I could purchase one for say under 500. I live in Japan and the costs that I am seeing are like 12 or $1300.

[@Jeeprepdiaries12]

​@@herethereandeverywhere.3222come to India you will get one under $500 of gso (sky watcher apertura ) buy from it

[@Ramsez]

Great showcase! I love that you're next to them so we can actually estimate if we could carry it easily or not. Most showcases don't do that for some reason.

[@billducas]

I'm so glad I found your channel. I have a 4.5 table top, 6SE, and 8" DOB. I was thinking of getting a 10" or 12" Goto DOB, or a 9.25 STC due to aperture fever. Now I realize I have all of the telescopes I need. The 8" DOB and C6 are at the limits of what I can handle.

[@BlueTrane2028]

A truss dob larger than 8" is a worthwhile investment, IMO. But, that does depend on how much you can lift.

[@billducas]

@@BlueTrane2028 the weight was my first concern. Then came size. I lifted a 10" and an 8" DOB at the Orion store and realized that the 10" was too big and too heavy. I looked into the truss rod telescopes, and the bases can get a little heavy. Being a retired Barber, my back is shot, so I need to be careful. Even though a piece may be lighter, the perceived weight may seem heavier just due to the physical size and shape. Believe me, I'd love something bigger, but maybe if I was younger.

[@aeromoe]

Ed - I just recently found your channel and I love your videos and your personality. I've been a casual amateur astronomer nearly 30 years now and I really enjoy watching your content. Keep it coming, and clear skies, friend.

[@mesenteria]

Orion and Meade have closed their doors as of about August 2024. My 12" Dob is from Orion, and I have to say I am very pleased with the scope, and I am sorry that Orion couldn't make a go of it. But my comment is about the azimuth bearings. I have the 'lazy susan' type, but it has thin needle bearings, and it comes with a knob brake. It works really well for me. I take care to level the base as much as the surface will let me, and that makes a difference in how the scope swings in an unwanted way...that and the brake. The Apertura Dobs are essentially the same if anyone cares...good solid reputation.

[@mudbutton2]

I'm going with a 10" GSO. Got plenty of room and live rural, so dark skies. Cousin is a keen astronomer so has given me some advice.

[@Android_Warrior]

Care to share his advice?

[@mudbutton2]

@@Android_Warrior Get a decent 8" Dob he told me. So I went for a 10" as I always upsize.

[@Android_Warrior]

@@mudbutton2 : I am planning to buy my first telescope and I`m thorn between getting a Orion SkyQuest XT8i IntelliScope Dobsonian Telescope or a Orion SkyQuest XT10i IntelliScope Dobsonian Telescope. what do you think and how your 10" is working for you?

[@mudbutton2]

@@Android_Warrior Well I'm only very new to the game but I did ask him about go-to's vs manual telescopes and my budget was around 1K AUD so he said spend it on optics and not gadgets, which makes sense to me and is one of the ideas behind a Dobsonian. He told me to just install Stellarium on a phone or tablet and learn to find objects. Which isn't as easy as it sounds, LOL. I'm waiting on him to come and visit and give me some pointers to find deep sky objects, as the likes of Saturn and Jupiter were very easy and we got a good look at them. I can't comment on 8 vs 10 as I've never looked through an equivalent 8 to know the difference. The 10 isn't hard for me to move around though of course it's bulky and I'm glad I didn't go for a 12". I live in a rural area with little to no light pollution so I just take it outside the shed and away we go. One of my criteria given world events, was to avoid buying Chinese made products. The GSO's and of course GSO made scopes branded for other companies are made in Taiwan and review well.

[@Android_Warrior]

@@mudbutton2 : Thanks for taking the time to explain.

[@aemrt5745]

Excellent review. For me, 8 inches is a great sweet spot between bulk and capability. I am the original owner of a 1983 Meade 826 8in GEM Newtonian. Great scope. I have had decades of fun with it, and it has kept up with my astronomy growth from age 14 to 52. After all those years, I finally decided to upgrade to a 12in Orion Goto Truss Dob (should arrive this month).

[@kencur9690]

Aaaaand? Come on man, don’t leave us hanging. Which one do you find yourself using most now, the old wife or the new mistress?

[@aemrt5745]

@@kencur9690 LOL. Well, I ended up getting a 14in Sky Watcher in the end. I showered the new mistress with only the best accessories; TeleVue eyepieces and High Point scientific filters. It has been my only travel companion to the High Sierra, and has a prominent spot in the formal dining room. But no worries on the old classic. It is now retired in the master bedroom and chases deep sky objects on our balcony.

[@kencur9690]

@@aemrt5745 haha cool man. I am going for an 8” coming from the refractor side of things. Mostly backyard viewing at quite respectable dark levels, but possibly taken on a trip or two to the darker sides. In the end, most of this hobby is in our mind and imagination - but that’s not to say we don’t want to spend some dough on fancy equipment and eyepieces. For me it will be the latter for now apart from the main tube as I think the size is enough for my current needs, but they don’t come with lenses which do the OTA justice.

[@sagadust-1079]

Thanks Ed, I've been watching this video and many others on your channel, really helpful. Today I have received my Dobsonian SkyWatcher 8'' .

[@gcobies]

Thank you for all the great content and advice. This has been one of, if not the best channel I’ve come across in some time.

[@Ekorslk]

I’ll be getting my fist telescope from my family this weekend, the sky’s here Tucson, AZ are amazing at night, thanks so much!

[@astrospeedcuber]

I live in the biggest city in my whole continent, I have no idea what clear skies are

[@ledpinkdefsabbathwhokinksd9733]

@@astrospeedcuber jacksonville damn that makes me grateful for my bortle zone 7

[@astrospeedcuber]

@@ledpinkdefsabbathwhokinksd9733 I live in… Sydney

[@astrospeedcuber]

@@ledpinkdefsabbathwhokinksd9733 lol Sydney is the largest city in all of Australia and Oceania

[@astrospeedcuber]

@@ledpinkdefsabbathwhokinksd9733 I get around between bortle 7-8 but at the very centre of sudney is well over 8

[@flexusmaximus4701]

Enjoy your channel, have learned a lot in my research for buying a telescope. But you should be aware that orion xt 8s now retail for 600, 700 dollars. They are now quite pricey for some reason.

[@taraswertelecki3786]

I personally regard a 6 or 8-inch Dob as a great choice for a beginner. Under good skies they do offer a lot of bang for the buck on both deep sky objects and the planets. The F/6 and F/8 focal ratios eliminates the coma that is very noticeable in faster telescopes and that also makes producing high quality primary mirrors easier. The diagonal can be smaller which is beneficial because the smaller the diagonal the better to a point. Less light loss and better image contrast are a good reason to keep the diagonal no larger than 20 or 25 percent of the primary mirror's diameter where possible.

[@alibarnes1136]

This was so helpful. I felt so lost! Thank you!

[@davidkerins]

Terrific overview Ed, thanks!

[@poggergen1937]

Mr ting, I wish to thank you for your advice as I am now a new owner of an Orion XT10!

[@denodan]

I think anything over 6" dob becomes bulky very quickly. I discover this when I got my Evolution 9.25, so much easier to handle than my 10" dob

[@francescam.e.1884]

Thank you for doing this video. Very good information to make an educated decision. Glad we found your channel and subscribed. My honey is an amateur astronomer and had a 10" dob with a wooden base, but it was too heavy to be carting outside and moving from the yard. Now he has an 8" carbon fiber Newtonian with a carrying handle on the tube! That's a plus!

[@angelowong2375]

Sold on the 10” thanks much Ed.. dark north fl sky.. Thanks much!

[@alexisvan222]

I had a Coulter 10-inch.... Borg 77ED, Meade LX (10-inch) on a custom budget mount, haha... Apogee 25x100 binocs... I once carried a Celestron Comet Catcher 5.5 f3.3 Schmidt-Newtonian optical tube assembly up into a clearing at Big Bear Lake and saw the dust lanes in the Trifid Nebula. This kind of stuff is nearly impossible now with the light pollution....

[@ledpinkdefsabbathwhokinksd9733]

move rural or close to a dark sky site less than an hour drive

[@FoundSeventhGear]

I’ve had my zhumell z130 for a little over a year now, I go out every clear night and am already dying for more aperture lol

[@joeiborowski9763]

I bought a lazy susan for 14 bucks at Amazon for my 10" skywatcher dob. Just put 2 small pieces of leftover carpet next to the teflon pads and it moves perfectly. Got that tip from an astronomy board. The 10 isn't that heavy, just more bulkier so a little harder to carry by the altitude handles.

[@bawattsyl]

Totally agree with what he said about the downfall of those first few models being those cheap 1.25" plastic focusers. Thankfully GSO makes all kinds of OTA's including 6" tubes with awesome 2" dual speed crayfords for very affordable prices. GSO also makes some very nice replacement focusers both 1.25" and 2".. although depending on the scope it might require quite a bit of work, as far a drilling a new hole, moving things around etc. Totally agree with him that these companies putting in those plastic focusers in 3,4 hundred dollar scopes is crazy.

[@shreyasj4502]

U got a GSO scope bud ?

[@bawattsyl]

@@shreyasj4502 I did!

[@shreyasj4502]

@@bawattsyl what could u see with it ? Do u live in a city or countryside ( I mean which bortle class ) and can u recommend any filters for viewing DSOs , coz i live in city ( class 7 ) Thanks , clear skies !😊

[@bawattsyl]

@@shreyasj4502 currently I live in the worst light pollution possible. Which sucks,, however, i still get cleave views of the moon, Jupiter, saturn, and right now Mars. The moon filter helps best with long viewing of the moon.. but I've also seen all kinds of satellites 🛰, and the focuser is great. Can handle a lot of weight and really can get that fine focus. Very well made tube for what you get. I paid around$260

[@shreyasj4502]

@@bawattsyl thanks for sharing your experience , i was thinking of buying an 8" dob . I think i can get some good views too with it . Sorry for any inconvenience if i caused (I'm replying many times) Stay safe man!

[@HeliStephan]

Sehr ehrliches und informatives Video. Dankeschön!

[@Westlake]

For me, the 6" Orion AstroBlast tabletop Dob worked out perfect. Found a solid round table to set it down on and a guitar stool for viewing. Easy to move inside/outside without any hassles. Nice and bright compared to my buddies old tiny refractor! Seeing Jupiter's moons for the first time was incredible as was watching Saturn move across the eyepiece. Yes, the 2" eyepieces would be a treat. Get yourself a 2x barlow lens and a laser collimator and you are good to go. Maybe upgrade the eyepieces for sure. Months later I moved into astrophotography with a whole new rig. (GoTo EQ mount, apo refractor, guide scope, dedicated pc, etc. to shoot some emission nebulae, and other deep sky targets). These dobs are truly "light buckets".

[@shawnstatzer95]

Informative video. I was not sure whether to get to 10" or 12" inch. Now I know. Thanks.

[@cmas-astronomy4715]

Ed, thanks for helping me get started on a wonderful journey all those years ago. Been reading your blog for at least 10 years. We are practically neighbors since I'm from Maine. :-)

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

I had a friend give me a telescope like one of these, It was about 4-5 feet long and around 8 inches in diameter. I had no idea how to use it, and the eye pieces got lost...(kids!) I ended up giving it away to a good will store.

[@BangBangBeefyMacNCheesy]

I am so glad I stumbled upon your channel! I got here by seeing your “review” of the spotting scope (you know the one LOL). I’m getting back into astronomy after retiring from my professional photography career. My last scope was an Edmund’s Scientific 3” reflector which I had planned to upgrade and then life got in the way (work, family, kids sports ⚽️ 🏀, other obligations, etc). So, here I am.... I have the cameras, now just need a decent 8” scope for planets and maybe some deep space astrophotography. I’m loving every video on your channel! Thank you so much for presenting the info in a very factual and yet entertaining manner.

[@juandavidbarrada]

Great videos. I'm glad I found your channel! (Beautiful and nice background pictures too!)

[@yager4092]

Thank you. I was looking at a 12in But I don't want to deal with a bad base. 8in is the winner 🎉

[@yellowlynx]

My local club bought a 16" Meade truss-tube Dob. The guy assembled the base. Then they regretted - when they transported the scope to its final site, the base was too wide and they couldn't get it through the door. They had to take it apart. Mine is a 12", and I too need to solve balancing issue - the primary mirror cell was steel - so I used strong magnets and barbell cast iron weight training disc to balance it when I used my big eyepieces. I made a giant setting circles that fit the base and use a inclinometer to make it into a push-to.

[@oliveoilsjim]

I agree with Ed in his hatred of the lazy Susan on the Dobs! I had an Orion 6” I bought used, as I’m older, an wanted a light scope to take out to the deck for a quick look! It was fine, but you know amateur astronomers, never satisfied, so I sprang for an 8” Apertura! It has many fine qualities, most of which are found on the optical tube, including the 2” Crawford and the great right angle finder! HOWEVER the base drives me crazy! If you can’t change eyepieces in the dark with out moving the scope they went too far trying to make the scope swivel too easy! I have the tension knob so tight I’m afraid I might be warping the ground board! So..... I guess every scope has it’s good points , and it’s bad!

[@alexisvan222]

Saw you at RTMC one year (if not mistaken). Glad to see you are still active and educating .... I will be buying a 100mm-102mm again for light photography w/Micro Four Thirds rigs.

[@garywhelan8567]

Another great video, Ed. The Orion scopes are frequently discounted in the clearance section on their website. Got my XT6 for $230, an unbelievable price for six inches of aperture and 1200mm of focal length.

[@MrChit-od9po]

I'm in Canada and orion charged me more than what I could have purchased on Amazon.ca They told me thed give me a 50$ to purchase other lenses in the future. I complained they are sneaky with the exchange prices on their site. I'll say with proof: those orion office people are chicken hawks..poor public relations

[@MildSatire]

Not true. 8 inch is now like $650 everywhere

[@JuanGonzalez-nc6fr]

Those carrying handles look like they are a great help. This is the first time I see those. I gotta get me one of those for my 12.5" Dob!

[@edting]

Juan, those are Scope Totes and I'm not sure they make them anymore.

[@audioaficionado9494]

'Strap a handle' strap handles work great for wielding an awkward dob ota in and out of the door or car.

[@Jay.McCarty]

I had a nice 12", solid tube, Dob once. For the first year it was great but it started to wear on me. It was difficult to transport from site to site and it got really annoying moving around once on site. It wasn't about weight either. It's about how ungainly it was. Even with Scope Totes, it could be a PITA. That being said, the views were incredible.

[@DP-qb1zw]

Turn it into a truss tube like I did.

[@leechjim8023]

Best bet is to have a large WIDE open back yard. If not have Kleenex ready, and prepare to SOB!😥😥😥

[@AstronomyGarage]

This was extremely helpful. Trying to decide between 10 and 12. I heard that John Dobson said 10 was the ideal one for amateurs.

[@warsquirt]

I just recently made that decision as well and decided on the 10. It seems to be less of a hassle and a good deal lighter and cheaper. What did you pick?

[@AstronomyGarage]

@@warsquirt I'm aiming for the 10 incher, but none to be found right now (everybody sold out). I think the Christmas season has caused a pretty huge demand. I'll have to wait until January or February. Until then, I have a 6 inch Dobsonian that I built years ago from the Richard Berry book. It performs surprisingly well despite being 25 years old.

[@mikeg.2125]

@@AstronomyGarage I just ordered my XT10i from Orion and it will be arriving 3rd to 4th week of January. The XT8I was not until mid to end of February and so was the base XT10. Can’t wait!

[@AstronomyGarage]

​@Cosmic Knock Oddly enough, I bought them all. Over the span of a few months, several used 8", 10" and 12" telescopes came up for sale and I bought one of each at bargain prices. The catch? They all needed serious repairs. The 8" was a mess (was in a muddy flood). The 10" was computerized, but it had a broken altitude encoder, so I had to do some electrical surgery to get it fixed.) Lastly, the 12" needed to have the mirror re-coated ($175). I own them all, but the one I use the most is the 8". I can lift it and take it outside and be observing in less than 30 seconds. I made a funny video that highlights the back-breaking problems of the 8" and 12": kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaXGlHqGh9t8iM0

[@AstronomyGarage]

@@mikeg.2125 Of all my Dobsonians, I'd have to say that the XT10 probably has the best optics. Hope you are enjoying the heck out of your telescope!

[@davidborger1808]

Good job, Ed! Great video!

[@coffeemocha]

These videos of yours are very helpful. thank you for doing them.

[@cdh79]

bought my first telescope (a 10" Meade Starfinder Dobsonian) in 1995 when I was 16 and an exchange student in the US and even brought it back to Europe.. I kept it for over 25 years but it unfortunately got destroyed at my moms house a little while ago (after I had moved to another country and left it there).. I was really contemplating getting one again for a bit of visual stargazing, but where I live there is just too much light pollution, which was the main reason I didn't bring it with me when I moved. I mostly do narrowband imaging now on a Tak FSQ, but whenever I see Dobsonians I take a trip down memory lane..

[@EvilKaNegro]

Get another when you have a chance and experience the magic again!

[@clayc124]

Very good info and a good comparison of the sizes. Thanks, Ed.

[@JStrepp]

i purchased the x6 for my first telescope. So far very happy.

[@Gary-tc7zx]

Prices are through the roof now, just got the 6 inch for $500, at least Orion has upgraded thier 6 inch to a 2 inch metal focuser. I can't wait for it to arrive!

[@Astronurd]

I love my 12" dobsonian and have upgraded the azimuth bearing to a proper heavy duty bearing which is really smooth. I also always use it on an EQ platform which eliminates the constant nudging especially at high magnification on the planets.

[@rcpilot9963]

10 inch is a way to go for me, perhaps Skywatcher flex tube version.

[@DP-qb1zw]

My 17.5" Discovery is a truss tube and gives amazing, sharp, bright views. Is very solid and smooth in motion. I have the F5 model which doesn't need a coma corrector but does need a 2 step ladder 😀 .

[@bngr_bngr]

Love to see a review on the skeleton Dobsonian telescope.

[@moosein_ussr4493]

Great Video. I have the 10" Orion with the Atlas Equatorial mount. Mine came in the box with both focusers (plastic and Metal). I put the metal on and kept the plastic one as a spare part. The big issue I have always had with it is size. When I purchased it, I purchased my SUV to fit the scope and wherever I take it, it doesn't go far from the car. I'm also struggling to use USB to serial connections because the controls (I bought it in 2008) are all serial. Also, I'm finding that the scope is a little big for the Atlas mount if you want to add ANYTHING to it , like cameras, guide scopes, etc. If I add anything, I'll almost never get a three star alignment. Also, with an equatorial mount, I'm finding lugging around counterweights and the mount itself daunting. I wish Orion sold a dobsonian adapter kit for this scope.

[@martynh5410]

Great comparison and honest opinion based on your experience.

[@joaomatinho7019]

Thanks for this amazing comparison. I have decided to go for the 6inch one as I live with my family and do not have much space at home... My only concern is the eyepiece but I will be as careful as I can when carrying it around. Other than that it looks the perfect telescope for a beginner considering the price and the size of it

[@robinj.9329]

My 6 inch, f/8 Newtonian is on a sturdy German Equatorial mounting. On clear nights I can use it at up to 240x. Saturn, Jupiter, our Moon, all look beautiful!

[@ebinrock]

Thank you for these informative videos, Mr. Ting. My wife is really fascinated with astronomy and wants to get started. For a Christmas present, she received a "department store" telescope (I know what you said about them, but "don't look a gift horse in the mouth", right?). I'm starting to do the research to help her choose her first "real" telescope, and I always hear you and others recommend the Dobsonians. Main things that concern me are: (1) I've heard that Dobsonians and reflectors in general need a lot of maintenance, particularly with collimation (I'd be afraid of breaking a lens or mirror!) and with cleaning, since I've read that reflectors tend to have an open design where all the dirt/dust and other environmental debris can get into the tube; and (2) unfortunately, I don't see a single Dobsonian that mounts onto a tripod (why not??), which would make all but the larger Dobsonians practical for outdoor use. That's why I would hate to choose that kind of telescope. Can you persuade me otherwise?

[@ebinrock]

By the way, of course I know nothing about telescopes, but just coming from the professional video production world, I wonder why telescopes (especially larger ones, not necessarily heavy ones) don't come with (1) a built-in carry handle for the tube; and (2) especially for Dobsonians, a wheeled DOLLY for the base!? Casters, in other words, with brakes for stability.

[@edting]

Just get the scope. Don't worry about the collimation. Dobs just sit on the ground. That is the most stable platform. Once you start hoisting all that metal and glass into the air at an angle, the mount may weigh up to several hundred pounds. JMI makes wheeled dollies. Wheels are almost always a compromise until you get to the kilobuck stuff. Keep in mind the scope must be absolutely still. All this stuff will be clear to you once you get the scope.

[@ebinrock]

@@edting Thanks. Just wondering, what's the main reason to get a Dob over a standard Newtonian reflector on an equatorial mount and tripod? The latter just seems like it would be more portable/versatile/fit in one's car better for traveling to a dark sky spot - rather than the former, which seems rather bulky and reminds me of an anti-aircraft gun.

[@edting]

There is no correct answer. Most reflectors over 4.5" these days are Dobs. Simpler, lighter, cheaper, steadier. They force you to learn the night sky and there are no computers or operating systems to crash. An 8" Dob weighs 45 lbs. An 8" equatorial Dob can weigh over 150 lbs.

[@tuunaes]

@@ebinrock Sturdy enough mount+tripod for any significant size Newtonian (or if you could find equally big refractor) would weight as much as that AA-gun+its mount. For scale 110mm/805mm TAL-1 weights about 20 kg (44 lbs) and that could still use extra sturdiness for 150x level magnifications!

[@roberthodgson1866]

Thanks for the ""All Dobs Compared" video. it's one of my favorites! I purchased a new Zhumell Z12 Dobsonian telescope that's still in the shipping box. I intend to mount it on small JHI Wheeley Bars (three 10 inch pneumatic tires w/screw-down posts) and roll it out to my driveway. I will be observing at home using a minimum of attachments (Telrad, RACI Finder Scope, medium-size quality lenses). After the viewing session the whole mobile assembly will return a climate-controlled garage. I have enough space in the garage to remove the heavy aluminum tube from the base. I do not wish to warp the wooden particle board base. What is the best way to position the tube for safe, temporary storage (either vertically or horizontally) until my next session under the sky? I want to stick with this method of observation until I can learn this craft the traditional way...trial and error and talking with the local astronomy clubs. I have a scientific (field geology) education but I lack woodworking/fabrication skills. The videos made by you and others are very well done. It's expensive but worth every penny. Cheers!

[@David-hm9ic]

Ed, I've been watching a lot of your videos recently. I find this one "dead on" with regard to the 12" Dob. It's a great scope but it's over 80 pounds. With dew heaters, right angle finder and Telrad it's closer to 90 pounds. Mine now has long 1x4 "handles' with lawn mower wheels so I can move it outdoors fully assembled. The older I get (retirement age) the more I appreciate scopes that are easy to handle. I'm seriously considering converting my 6" Cave Astrola to a Dob for easy, quick viewing sessions/ I'm sure it will see more use than it does with a heavy German Equatorial Mount.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

I use my 6" SCT a whole lot... because it's light weight and surprisingly capable. The 8" Dob is about the biggest I like to go...

[@rallypoint1]

Thank you for the informative vid!! Now to find one in stock.😥

[@miahoover9225]

I have the 6 inch and bought a padded case for it.

[@robynharris7179]

I just received my brand new 16 inch truss tube dobsonian from Orion a week ago and I can already vouch that it is a beast to haul around. But oh, what a view!

[@edting]

I assume it's an XX series. Nice!

[@robynharris7179]

@@edting Yes, I got the goto. And in the fine tradition of astronomy everywhere, 6 and 3/4 of the 7 nights so far have been pouring rain or solid clouds. 😆

[@DirkDirk1983]

The straps around the 12" look very handy. I've been looking for some way to make handles on it, this might be it.

[@FredOzzie]

Useful reviews. But note, the Skywatcher 150 (6") scope has a metal focuser (likely aluminum). You didn't mention 2-speed focusers, which help for fine-focusing. The Skywatcher's is 1-speed.

[@astrospeedcuber]

This channel is so good

[@marcstowbridge5983]

Focuser tubes for the star blast are easy to get, but come as a complete focuser. One must disassemble both to switch the tubes. Great presentation!

[@zetacrucis681]

Excellent overview. I've owned 8, 10 and 12 inch GSO and Synta Dobs and tried the 6 inch a few times at star parties, and it's 8 inch all the way for me. Most fun to use of the lot. The 6 inch does not quite have the resolution to really wow on planets, while the 8 inch is usually more limited by the atmosphere than aperture when it comes to detail. The one with optically the best mirror though was the Synta/Skywatcher 10", which is the only one that uses pyrex instead of BK7 g;ass for the main mirror. (It's weird that for the 12", which would need the low-expansion glass the most, they go back to BK7.) But the extra weight and bulk of the 10" over the 8" somewhat limits its usefulness especially if you need to move it around a lot (like to take it places, show other people the night sky). The 12" is by far the most cumbersome and the mount is not up to the job. Sold mine after 6 months and replaced it with a 10". Still got the most use out of the 8" though (for 6 years, till it got stolen).

[@Astronurd]

I added wooden straps, two on each side onto the base of my 12" and upgraded the azimuth bearing to a heavy duty bearing. It's strong and the movement is smooth now. I love it despite its size and weight.

[@thescienceguyprof.juncajig2749]

I love your scopes, thanks for sharing through this video

[@sasquatchhadarock968]

Top-creep has been addressed elegantly by Apertura, at least according to highpoint. The base is designed so you can shift the ota's center of gravity to allow using heavier eyepieces or cameras. I like your idea of bigger bearings though. More smoothness, more precision, please! My 5" *coughchinesecough* scope came with a tripod but the adjustments are so stiff and jerky! Well, that's the economic tradeoff for you. Cheaper is as cheaper does. Pretty sure my next scope will be an 8" dob. I almost made it my first but circumstances demanded a scope that could be tucked away as small as possible.

[@DaninVirginia]

Excellent, practical review thanks very much!

[@garrettroberts7937]

My dream dob would be a 12 inch where the OTA tube and base were build out of carbon fiber but the top part of the tube would have a slightly larger circumference and grooves designed for the tube to shrink down by 1/2. This would substantially reduce the weight while adding portability WHILE avoiding a truss design all With a built in equatorial base. No one is making this because the cost would negate some of the “bang for buck factor” but it would be a dream telescope because it would open up the AP world while making the 12inch very portable.

[@duneideannaer5990]

This is marvellous sir thank you from Edinburgh

[@db91977]

Very helpful, Ed. Thank you!

[@ferdlc7757]

Thanks for this video. I was tempted to buy the 10 inch as a starter scope since everyone recommends it over the 8 inch. I never realized the size and weight difference was actually much more difficult to manage than it looks on paper. I went for the 8 inch

[@ann470]

Hey I’m buying an 8 inch Dob soon, but I’m worried about the weight and how I’m gonna be storing it, so how has that been for you? I’ve been on a telescope research frenzy😅😂

[@ferdlc7757]

@@ann470 the 8 inch is really easy to carry if you move it in two parts. I carry the base out first and then the tube after. It's impossible for me to carry the whole thing assembled. I'm only 5'6 and 130lbs so pretty much any person should be able to carry the telescope if you do it in two parts like I mentioned. I wouldn't go any smaller than 8 inches since you'll miss out on some views. Also, for storage I leave the whole telescope assembled inside my room, it doesn't take up much space since it fits in the corner

[@ann470]

@@ferdlc7757 thank you so much, I appreciate it , do you use a cover for your telescope to protect it from dust and stuff, tbh idk I’ve done some research and mostly what comes up is people recommending a cover for your Dob but I’m not sure if it’s completely necessary

[@ferdlc7757]

@@ann470 I haven't used a cover but I've heard the cheapest and best possible way to prevent dust build up is to buy shower caps and put one on each end of the telescope. A bag could work too but I personally wouldn't bother buying those overpriced covers found online

[@ann470]

@@ferdlc7757 yeah I found some covers on Amazon for around $200(aud)😅 I’ll just stick to shower caps for now

[@genogeno1234]

I really enjoy your videos. I did, however, have one issue that needs to be addressed concerning altitude bearing diameter. It is true that large diameter altitude bearings are needed on low pivot point dobs like the Obsession, Starmaster, and the compact truss tube designs where the rocker box is very low to the ground. There is no way to make those work without them due to the extreme torque of the system. My old 18 inch Obsession was a joy to move around the sky, but it did have some disadvantages in terms of image dampening due to the torque on the system. That was largely a non-issue since I had Servocat, and I would suspect many people use the Servocat just to eliminate that issue with manual guiding. I also agree that some of the commercial dobs do not have a large enough diameter bearing (the giant 16 inch Meade being a case in point, as well as a few others). However, there is a point where making the altitude bearing larger diameter on a high pivot point design is not only not necessary, but undesirable. Your homemade design looks to be excellent, but making the diameter larger would make it perform worse. There is a commerical dob available that I had the unfortunate experience of purchasing where the altitude bearings resembled the low pivot point bearings on the Obsession, but this particular telescope was not a low pivot point design. It was the classic John Dobson "cannon" design with the pivot point further up the tube like a cannon (just like your homemade version). What I believed would be a much better motion in altitude actually became a frustrating exercise in actual use. As an engineer, I spent some time trying to figure it out, and went back to John Dobson's original design concept using a cannon as the model. As Mr. Dobson explained, the diameter of the altitude bearings is not a case of "bigger is better" because it all has to do with the location of the pivot point. In the case of most inexpensive dobsonian designs, I have found the higher you make the pivot point (and the sideboards will need to be higher), the smaller the diameter altitude bearing that is required for smooth motion. There is a sweet spot that should not be went above or below to get good push-to tracking, and so far, I have found the 14 inch Skywatcher manual push-to (discontinued in favor of the goto version) has been the absolute best in terms of the higher pivot point mount and altitude combination. Sticktion is perfect in this design, and there is no need for counterweight with an Ethos eyepiece and a Starsense mirror and iPhone and battery pack mounted near the eyepiece. The bearing diameter of this particular scope is 8 inches. Unfortunately, not all Skywatcher dobs have this perfect combination of design attributes across all sizes, but at least I finally got lucky with the 14 inch version. The Orion XX14g I owned had a much lower pivot point and a lower sideboard height, and the bearings were not large enough for good manual tracking. Good thing it had motor drive...Sorry for the long message, but just wanted to point this out because one partcular manufacturer whose name begins with an "E" and the second letter of second word begins in an "S" is touting the large diameter altitude bearings on their inexpensive dobsonian line, and they did not do their homework. They should have read the memo by John Dobson.

[@Bushcraft-xz6xd]

For me the view is the most important thing and I will put up with a lot to make that dim smudge into a brighter smudge lol. I don't see the point in having an easy to use scope if the image is a let down?

[@cbf63]

I had the 10" and the 8" ....in truth you get a much better image with the 8" because it's a slightly slower f/ system at around 6, the 10" is like 4.5 so much faster and a lot of coma and edge problems for eyepieces. In the end I ended up with a C8 ....very eyepiece friendly. ✌️

[@Myrslokstok]

Nice presentation, but you should clip to macroimages of the scopes between your clips of yourself but keep the sound, then you will be smoth between clips.

[@bruh5924]

I just ordered the StarBlast II. I am a beginner, though this would be my second telescope. My first one was a Seben Starcommander, never got to use it and find something because of light pollution. It broke when we moved. Now that I have a driver's license and a car, I decided to buy another one. Starblast it was. It was a tough decision between the 8" and this one, and now I found that there was one with AstroTrack, not exactly sure what it is. I'm now thinking about cancelling my order.

[@Zagrath]

Ordered Zhumell 8 after some research👍 First scope as a beginner😊

[@cryptojihadi265]

That's a great choice! How are you liking it?

[@TransformersHoarder]

I have had a 8” Dob and still do. Just picked up a lightly used manual 12” SkyWatcher Flextube 300P, hoping the weight and bulk is worth the trouble.

[@rdrjr4129]

After 2 months of owning it, would you say the 12” is worth it?

[@TransformersHoarder]

@ 100%