RougeThunder
member
Reged: 03/18/08
Posts: 18
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I wonder if the design will allow the mounting of a small refractor...
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DarrylS
sage
Reged: 09/02/07
Posts: 214
Loc: Ottawa, Canada
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Quote:
The link earlier in the thread to the quebec supplier has 'introductory special' labelled in the price. I just went and checked, it has popped up very recently at island eyepiece too now.
http://www.islandeyepiece.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=641&cat=Skywatcher+Dobsonians#
Looks like the suggested retail is going to be 999. Even at that, 12 inches of f/5 on a mount, reasonably portable, under a thousand. It's an interesting combination of telescope and price point.
Note though that the Island Eyepiece version has a RACI and a 2-speed focuser vs. the straight-through finder and one-speed focuser at Lire la Nature.
Darryl
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RogerRZ
Whatta you lookin' at?
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 2578
Loc: West Collette, NB, Canada
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Quote:
I want one. Anyone know if these things will be heading stateside?
I suppose there would be, if somebody orders one.
I believe US dealers can't carry the Skywatcher line, but rest assured, there are friendly astro-dealers to the North that would be glad to expedite you one! 
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-Roger Pitre-
1 X 7 binocular Astro-Tech Imaging Newtonian MPCC
Starblast guidescope Starshoot autoguider
EQ6 Pro, HEQ5, Canon 50D, 70-200 f/4L
"He's got shoulders on him like a smelt..."--Anonymous
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10723&id=509325956&l=79d06a1d10
http://ajpobservatory.isgreat.org/
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panhard
Mongo
Reged: 01/20/08
Posts: 5105
Loc: Markham Ontario Canada
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What I meant was If both mirrors where of same quality the size difference would not make a detectable difference in what you see. no wow factor Hope this explains it clearer.
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InkDark
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 1828
Loc: Montreal, Canada
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Quote:
Note though that the Island Eyepiece version has a RACI and a 2-speed focuser vs. the straight-through finder and one-speed focuser at Lire la Nature.
Now we're getting somewhere! 
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Jimmy
If you could stop time, for how long would you stop it?
"...since that time, I have not complained about the weather one single time. I’m glad there is weather." – Alan Bean, Apollo 12
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Olegus
newbie
Reged: 10/29/06
Posts: 4
Loc: Russia
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Look at here
http://www.gs-telescope.com/content.asp?id=85
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Astraforce Paul
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/05/05
Posts: 1875
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Anyone know what the weights are on these puppies? Overall and separate parts?
12" or 16" could be quite heavy to move as one piece!
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panhard
Mongo
Reged: 01/20/08
Posts: 5105
Loc: Markham Ontario Canada
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I would say you could remove the word quite from your statement about the 16". 
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bobby4
newbie
Reged: 04/26/08
Posts: 3
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Paul - according to the Skywatcher website:
Ground Board Weight(s) 18.5Kgs
Tube Weight 21Kgs
What I can't figure out is if the two sections can come apart for carrying - i.e. if the extending is an option or does it have to be stored collapsed (and heavy!)?
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Starkler
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/04/05
Posts: 782
Loc: Australia, Melbourne
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Listed on the Andrews website, with pricing, as "coming soon".
Interestingly they are priced $100au cheaper than the Lightbridge from their major competitor in the 8 & 10 inch sizes, and $200au cheaper for the 12.
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Geoff
15" SDM truss dob | Vixen r130sf | GSO 10" dob
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JerryDeveau
journeyman
Reged: 04/17/08
Posts: 5
Loc: New Brunswick, Canada
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Has anyone found a measurement from the bottom of the base to the top of the collapsed tube? I would like to see if the 12" can fit in the back of my van without having to separate the base from the OTA.
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binoculars: 12X25 Tasco, 10X50 Bushnell
Skywatcher 12" colapsible dob
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InkDark
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 1828
Loc: Montreal, Canada
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Tube diameter: 35.5cm (14 inches)
Tube length (extended): 143cm (56 1/4 inches)
Tube length (retracted): 93cm (36 3/4 inches)
Base diameter: 64cm (25 1/4 inches)
With the tube retreacted on the base I would guess just under a meter.
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Jimmy
If you could stop time, for how long would you stop it?
"...since that time, I have not complained about the weather one single time. I’m glad there is weather." – Alan Bean, Apollo 12
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Starkler
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/04/05
Posts: 782
Loc: Australia, Melbourne
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Now available in Australia 
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Geoff
15" SDM truss dob | Vixen r130sf | GSO 10" dob
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InkDark
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 1828
Loc: Montreal, Canada
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Do we know if these are rolled sonotube? The weight of the OTA on the SW site seem to indicate that it is so, but I'm not sure.
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Jimmy
If you could stop time, for how long would you stop it?
"...since that time, I have not complained about the weather one single time. I’m glad there is weather." – Alan Bean, Apollo 12
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Bill Weir
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 1293
Loc: Metchosin (Victoria), Canada
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Quote:
Do we know if these are rolled sonotube? The weight of the OTA on the SW site seem to indicate that it is so, but I'm not sure.
I doubt if it's sonotube. A 10" Skywatcher, regular tube dob that the school has, is a metal tube. Why would they make this one out of a different product?
Bill
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6'' Orion SkyQuest
12.5'' f/5 Custom Truss Dob
William Optics 80mm ZenithStar ED II
f/5 25" newtonian on a giant GEM, any time I want
Observing sessions grand total for 2008, 121.
So far in 2009, 91
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InkDark
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 1828
Loc: Montreal, Canada
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Oh wow am I dumb! I assumed that my SW Dob was not rolled steel because its weight is lower than the Orion's 6XT OTA, but now I get what is sonotube!  Oh wow I sometimes impress myself... 
I still think that my scope is thinner than the Orions though, again due to the weight difference.
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Jimmy
If you could stop time, for how long would you stop it?
"...since that time, I have not complained about the weather one single time. I’m glad there is weather." – Alan Bean, Apollo 12
Edited by InkDark (05/23/08 03:39 PM)
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dave b
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/10/05
Posts: 3480
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the metal tube scopes are LIGHTER than sonotube.
sonotube is a very heavy material.
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dave bonandrini
30" f/5.2 Dobsonian
President of GCAC
Astromart Moderator
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InkDark
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 1828
Loc: Montreal, Canada
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Today I went to a local dealer and saw the 8 inch Sky-Watcher collapsible Dob. They just receive it and it wasn’t even ready for display yet. It wasn’t sitting on its base but on the floor (standing on the lower hand). It is equipped with a RACI and a single speed Crayford.
The thing that surprised me (a bit) is the size of the OTA. It is pretty small. There was an 8 inch Lightbridge standing close to it and the SW’s OTA is smaller. It really is compact. It’s so small that my girlfriend asked me: “why are you interested in that scope, I thought that you wanted a bigger one” - BTW, my scope is a 6 inch SW Dob. If Orion produces similar scopes and make transport bags for it, this is going to be very “transporter friendly”.
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Jimmy
If you could stop time, for how long would you stop it?
"...since that time, I have not complained about the weather one single time. I’m glad there is weather." – Alan Bean, Apollo 12
Edited by InkDark (05/23/08 08:23 PM)
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Starkler
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/04/05
Posts: 782
Loc: Australia, Melbourne
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Quote:
I would like to see if the 12" can fit in the back of my van without having to separate the base from the OTA.
Eek! I wouldnt recommend driving like that.
The OTA ideally should be travelling on the back seat or on something with a bit of cushioning.
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Geoff
15" SDM truss dob | Vixen r130sf | GSO 10" dob
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Zamboni
sage
Reged: 01/03/05
Posts: 249
Loc: Arizona
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Well, I guess we now know who will carry this baby in the US:
http://www.celestron.com/c2/news_view.php?NewsID=47
This is getting VERY interesting!
As for the light shroud issue, I think there should be something like a collapsible shroud built around two metal hoops that slide around the poles which would expand and collapse with the truss. The bottom segment below the lower ring would have a velcro-sealing opening through which you could place the plastic cap to seal the bottom of the tube. That way you wouldn't ever have to remove the light shroud. You could attach it one time (hinges on the hoops, threading through velcro loops on the inside of the shroud, the aforementioned velcro opening all the way up and down, attaching to the tube with velcro tabs on the inside of the shroud and on the rims of the tube segments?) and never have to take it off.
Whatchoo all think?
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-Tristan Schwartz-
My Equipment:
6 inch Orion DSE dob
4 inch Galileo Newtonian
Schwartz Observatory Homepage
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