Telescope Reviews: Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5

· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt

· Submit a Review / Article

Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums

Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User

You are not logged in. [Login]

Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online
FAQ · Calendar

Equipment Discussions >> Reflectors

Pages: 1

BobinKy
Post Laureate

Reged: 04/27/07

Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5 new

#2565487 - 08/07/08 02:50 AM

I am looking for opinions on the Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5 for use in my suburban driveway under 5.6 skies. I am also interested in recommendations for two or three Pentax XW eyepieces to start, as well as a finder and other accessories.

Post Extras:

Alpheratz
member

Reged: 06/13/08

Loc: Norway

Re: Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5 new

[Re: BobinKy]
#2565632 - 08/07/08 07:26 AM

Hi.
Best of luck to you. It is not easy to find opinions on this scope. I guess you have seen the review on the 17.5 here on CN?

http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1705

This is all i found on the 15":

http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/entry.php?sectionid=12&entryid=311

Seems to be easyer to find reviews of the 12.5

However, all reviews i have seen on Discovery dobs seems to agree on good optics. Thats why i ordered the 15" f/5

Post Extras:

Luigi
Postmaster

Reged: 07/03/07

Loc: MA

Re: Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5 new

[Re: Alpheratz]
#2565689 - 08/07/08 08:18 AM

Gestation times on 17.5" Discoveries have been ~8 months. Smaller scopes seem to get delivered faster. Be prepared to be patient.

Post Extras:

Alpheratz
member

Reged: 06/13/08

Loc: Norway

Re: Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5 new

[Re: Luigi]
#2565772 - 08/07/08 09:11 AM

!!!
But the AD says 90-120 days? Just kidding, i know. Good on optics, slow on delivery! I have now been suffering for 3 months, but i can take it. The northern skies has just started to darken, and i hope to get it in a few weeks. In the meantime i have the XT10.
But back to the topic;
Like the OP i would also like some advice on additional equipment. I am considering adding a finder of a kind.
Any suggestions?

Post Extras:

tommy54
super member

Reged: 06/09/06

Loc: Ohio, U.S.A.

Re: Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5 new

[Re: BobinKy]
#2565856 - 08/07/08 09:53 AM

I waited 16 months on my Discovery 15" F5 PDHQ
Best of luck to you.....Tom.

Post Extras:

Luigi
Postmaster

Reged: 07/03/07

Loc: MA

Re: Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5 new

[Re: tommy54]
#2566156 - 08/07/08 12:36 PM

The finder I use is a 50mm Stellarvue RACI and, of course, a Telrad. The Stellar view is quite nice.

Post Extras:

Mike B
Starstruck

Reged: 04/06/05

Loc: shake, rattle, & roll, CA

Re: Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5 new

[Re: Luigi]
#2566277 - 08/07/08 01:39 PM

I, too, waited beyond a year for a custom 15" Dob. Finally bailed, and am STILL trying to get my deposit $$ back.

Then i turned to the "used" market with my remaining funds. Took a couple months of watching & waiting- finally found one within driving distance. Took the drive, met the guy, met the scope, learned its assembly & use, bought the scope (for the same as the *balance* i would've still paid on the "new" one

)... and have NEVER looked back!

Having spent the last 15 months since that day, cruising the heavens with a FANTASTIC rig, excellent optics that bag faint-fuzzies with astounding finesse, and render "showpiece" objects with jaw-dropping splendour... i can't recommend the "used" route highly enough! I'd probably still be waiting today had i NOT gone that route

Wait if ya wish, yeah "new" is "nice", and patience is a virtue... but i found out that i preferred viewing over phoning & emailing.

Quote:

...for use in my suburban driveway under 5.6 skies

Incidentally, Bob, those sound like my exact conditions as well. I think you'll LOVE a scope like that. Stick a BVer in it, and you won't wanna come in at nite

Cheers,

mike b

Post Extras:

bsim
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/04/08

Loc: Miskatonic

Re: Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5 new

[Re: Mike B]
#2566329 - 08/07/08 02:06 PM

Over 15 months, you still haven't got your deposit back? You're talking about Discovery Telescopes, right?

Post Extras:

Mike B
Starstruck

Reged: 04/06/05

Loc: shake, rattle, & roll, CA

Re: Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5 new

[Re: bsim]
#2566404 - 08/07/08 02:54 PM

No... but at this time i'm preferring to not get into the details.

Post Extras:

John Fitzgerald
In Focus

Reged: 01/04/04

Loc: AR

Re: Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5 new

[Re: Mike B]
#2566763 - 08/07/08 05:54 PM

I advertised on AM for a 15 to 18" Dob. Found four within a half day driving distance, and bought one of them (15" discovery TD. I would have bought a 17.5" solid tube, but no way to haul it). Only had to post two ads and wait a total of three weeks or so. The used Dobs are out there. No waiting, you can see up front what you are getting, usually pay less, and many times accessories like finders and DSCs are included. I don't think I would buy anything over a 10" new again.

Post Extras:

DeepSpaceTour
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/25/05

Loc: In the dark and"WAY"out there!

Re: Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5 new

[Re: John Fitzgerald]
#2566791 - 08/07/08 06:07 PM

....

...well there you go,what is the wait time on a new Discovery a year maybe more maybe a bit less,WOW!!!And a used Discovery three weeks,well I know what I would do,well,I did,and that is go used,get a like new one with tracking and DSC's if you want,and all kinds of extras at a fraction of the cost and wait time, THIS!!! is what I have been advocating for quite some time now,glad to see someone honed in on it,it is the way to go when buying a great large aperture scope,I love my 17.5" trusser!!!

Clear skies.

Post Extras:

bsim
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/04/08

Loc: Miskatonic

Re: Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5 new

[Re: DeepSpaceTour]
#2566820 - 08/07/08 06:18 PM

My next big scope purchase: 18" Obsession will be a used one. Many of these big scopes have seen little use and are in excellent condition. You can buy them virtually new for a fraction of the cost of a new one.

Edited by bsim (08/07/08 06:19 PM)

Post Extras:

John Fitzgerald
In Focus

Reged: 01/04/04

Loc: AR

Re: Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5 new

[Re: bsim]
#2567189 - 08/07/08 09:23 PM

Some might now say this "used buying practice" will hurt the manufacturers. I say it will help them to catch up to where they should be anyway. Any Dob manufacturer with six month to year waits has more business than he can handle. Hurray for the used telescope market. It spreads the hobby around.

Post Extras:

Mike B
Starstruck

Reged: 04/06/05

Loc: shake, rattle, & roll, CA

Re: Discovery PDHQ 15" f/5 [Re: John Fitzgerald]
#2567322 - 08/07/08 10:18 PM

Quote:

Hurray for the used telescope market. It spreads the hobby around.

Plus, it gets unused (& under-used) scopes out in the field, as well as the people to use & enjoy 'em! It also frees up assets to put back into the market.

Seems like a winner all around!

Post Extras:

Pages: 1

Extra information

6 registered and 14 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator: Jarad, ausastronomer, okieav8r

Print Thread

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled

Thread views: 895

Jump to

CN Forums

Home

Cloudy Nights LLC
Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics