lighttrap
Reged: 02/06/04
Posts: 3833
Loc: cloudy, foggy, humid NC, US
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If anybody's sitting on the fence wondering what scope to buy to get started in astronomy, this is a FANTASTIC buy. This scope was a good buy at $199, a better buy at $149, and is an absolute steal at $99. Hardin is getting out of the retail scope business, but that really shouldn't matter.
Hardin 6" Dob $99
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18" Starsplitter II f/4.5
8" Hardin Dob f/6
C5 workhorse mini SCT f/10 or f/6.3
70mm TV Ranger dual purpose birding/astro
77mm Leica Televid APO
16x70 Fujinons on UA Deluxe Mt.
12x50 Nikon SE
8x30 Nikon E2s
and many others
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jdickson
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/26/04
Posts: 685
Loc: Desert Hot Springs, Ca
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Yikes! I want to buy one and I don't even need one.
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Joe
10" f5 ATM dob, 20x80 p-mount binos.
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matt gray
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/17/04
Posts: 747
Loc: Butte county, CA
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That is an unbelievable bargain- thanks for posting it.
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matt
XT10
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~Steph~
Texas Wildflower
Reged: 06/11/05
Posts: 21658
Loc: North Texas
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I just bought a Meade 10" LX200 GPS (which I'm currently already having to get a replacement part for  ), which I would presume is "better" at seeing than this. But for a newbie, would you suggest that this would still be a worthwhile scope as a back-up or a first Dob or just something completely different from the SCT, or anything like that? At that price, I almost feel stupid not getting one that sounds to be a decent baby scope.... 
Thanks!
Steph
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Steph
10" RCX400 ~~ 4" TV102 ~~ WO ZS80FD ~~ PST
Serenity Observatory 
HansenAstro | CN Member Websites
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NewAstronomer
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/03/04
Posts: 2690
Loc: Scranton, PA U.S.A
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Yeah its a good backup if your scope is unusable. Also a good scope for freinds / neighbors to use when you don't want them touching your scope!
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Chris
AT66ED f/6
C80ED f/7.5
10" GSO Dob f/5
SVP w/ autoguide mod
Oly E-500 DSLR, DSI-P, DSI-C, NexImage
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ezrider23
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/21/04
Posts: 1190
Loc: Sparks,NV
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I ordered one at this price. It is just one of those deals none of us will probably see again. Do I really need it, not really, but I dont own a 6" newt and now I do. I also bought it as a learning tool for when I can afford a big dob (12-18") in the future.
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12.5" custom Teeter truss "Rosebud"
intes micro m503 "sputnik"
WO/TMB 80mm FD "Althea"
6" dob "Fanny"
12x50 Pentax
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chrissy
sage
Reged: 05/22/05
Posts: 203
Loc: Calgary, Alberta
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looks like they don't ship to canada
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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster
Reged: 06/16/04
Posts: 12070
Loc: San Diego, California
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>>>But for a newbie, would you suggest that this would still be a worthwhile scope as a back-up or a first Dob or just something completely different from the SCT, or anything like that? At that price, I almost feel stupid not getting one that sounds to be a decent baby scope....
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I certainly think it would be worth getting. A 6 inch DOB can be setup and ready to go in a couple of minutes, is simple to use and can provide some surprising views. Your 10 inch SCT will be fun to use but there will be lots of nights when it the time required to setup (and tear down) is just too much.
Jon
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chrissy
sage
Reged: 05/22/05
Posts: 203
Loc: Calgary, Alberta
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someone in the US should buy one and then send it to me 
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matt gray
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/17/04
Posts: 747
Loc: Butte county, CA
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A 6 inch f/8 for 99.00, with mars right around the corner, is a no brainer.
I wonder if the wife would notice another scope sitting in the living room 
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matt
XT10
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lighttrap
Reged: 02/06/04
Posts: 3833
Loc: cloudy, foggy, humid NC, US
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Just to echo what Jon said, one of the real pluses of a Dob in the 6-10" range is that it's super portable from house to yard, super fast to setup, and generally the cheapest way to get aperture there is, and that's before one even factors in such things as a sale on a scope for eyepiece money.
With both the 6" f/8 and 8" f/6, sitting down to observe on a campstool is easy. IMO, that makes for better, easier, and more relaxing observing sessions. As far as a "backup" scope, yeah, sure, why not? You might find yourself redefining which was your "primary use" scope, and which was just for darkskies and/or longer observing sessions.
This $99 deal on the 6" is really a no-brainer. I've currently got the 8" DSH, which I gladly paid $299 + sh for a $343 total, and thought it one of the better bargains on the planet, then. Despite having multiple scopes, the humble 8" Hardin Dob gets heavy use, primarily because of it's sheer simplicity to setup and get started observing with. In fact, this $99 deal on the 6" is so good that I'm wracking my brain trying to think of any conceivable justification for getting one, even though I've already got (2) 5" SCTs, (1) 6" EQ Newt and (1) 8" DSH Dob. I can definitely see giving these 6" Dobs as gifts. These things might be a godsend to a startup school or scouting astro program. Too bad I don't know of any.
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18" Starsplitter II f/4.5
8" Hardin Dob f/6
C5 workhorse mini SCT f/10 or f/6.3
70mm TV Ranger dual purpose birding/astro
77mm Leica Televid APO
16x70 Fujinons on UA Deluxe Mt.
12x50 Nikon SE
8x30 Nikon E2s
and many others
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22464
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
This $99 deal on the 6" is really a no-brainer.
It's very tempting to pick up a couple of those to stash for Christmas.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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garyc11
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/20/04
Posts: 2779
Loc: Niagara Falls,NY
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chrissy, i live in niagara falls usa. your olny an hour or two away from where i live. you can have the scope shipped to my address if you want and come down and get it when it arrives.
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CGE 1400
CPC 1100
MallinCam Hyper Plus Color
Celestron 100 ED
CG5-GT
Celestron C-8 Newtonion
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keithb
member
Reged: 06/08/05
Posts: 87
Loc: Rhode Island, USA
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I'm just about to hit the 'order' button on this as my first scope. I was planning to go with a pair of binoculars in this price range first, but this looks like too good a deal to pass up.
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6" f/8 Hardin dob
80mm SS ATM refractor
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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NO WAY. I just bought the same scope form the same place a week ago for 149$ This makes me mad!!!! Thats not right. I want SOME MONEY BACK!!!!
Edited by zeeman4715 (06/17/05 06:01 PM)
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keithb
member
Reged: 06/08/05
Posts: 87
Loc: Rhode Island, USA
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It may even drop in price a bit more, but eventually they'll be out of stock.
zeeman - try calling them?
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6" f/8 Hardin dob
80mm SS ATM refractor
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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ok i'll try calling them. but that gets me mad
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Gerry
member
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 54
Loc: Mexico city
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Quote:
I'm just about to hit the 'order' button on this as my first scope. I was planning to go with a pair of binoculars in this price range first, but this looks like too good a deal to pass up.
I'll go for it! In fact i did (and without any offer), i was going to buy my 10x50 and ended up buying a 6" Dob, and i don't regret at all!  Although, i must tell you i am now about to purchase my 10x50's, so maybe you'll want too later... a scope should always have a pair of binos around 
If you want a pair of binos, i recommend reading some of the information (lots of) in the binoculars forum, i found it very useful.
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Ohh, what a bargain... but i already own a 6" Dob. Hmmm, stash for Christmas you say?
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Gerry
Orion XT6
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erik
telescope surgeon
Reged: 01/30/04
Posts: 24019
Loc: Hawaii 19 N lat -155 Long.
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that is just UNREAL! 
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-Erik Wilcox
Homebuilt 16" Truss Dob
SV 80mm ED Nighthawk NG on M1 ALT/AZ
Nikon Prostaff 65mm spotter on Trekpod
Konusvue 20x80 binos/Peterson pipemount
Orion 10x50 binos
Homebuilt 80mm f/5 refractor
Mirador 60mm f/12 1960's refractor
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square_peg
Postmaster
Reged: 03/26/04
Posts: 23950
Loc: Maple Valley, WA
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Wow! Thanks for posting that, Mike! 
I ordered one on the spot. It'll probably be a gift for someone. Kinda thinking I should have ordered 2. That's just way too good of deal to pass up. Anyone sitting on the fence get off it before these are gone!
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Tom (Pegster)
DSH-8 (GSO Dob)
15x70 Oberwerks
SVP 100 f/6 achro
WO 66 Petzval
Sears Discoverer EQ 60/900
8x42 Regals
History is Philosophy teaching by examples.
Thucydides
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