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
kcbridgeman
member
Reged: 03/26/09
Posts: 80
Loc: Kansas City, MO
|
|
After taking a look through my XT10 this past week-end, my father-in-law decided he wants a scope of his own. I think he is looking for portablility, maybe go-to, but apparently he found a Meade DS-2114AT. My wife's grandmother is going to buy it from the local big box mart for him for Christmas, but I told them to hold on. Is this scope going to be much use, or is it just going to be another department store scope? I hate for them to waste the money on it if it isn't going to be any good. He'll use it for visual only.
Here's the real kicker to the story. I have an older (late 90's early 00's) Orion 8" dob that was/is HIS! He never used it after buying it, and other than some simple things to fix up, like a new focuser and spider vanes, it is a great scope. The whole thing is lighter than my base alone, so it isn't the weight issue. I am going to fix these things anyway, and add custom setting circles to it like mine. I think he just wants the bells and whistles that come with the other. He's the type who has to have every gizmo that there is.
Ignoring the 8", what other options would be a good starter for him like the Meade? I think they are wanting to stay under $200.(which I could use to make the 8" wonderful, but we are ignoring it) Thanks.
--------------------
Orion XT10/Telrad/Stellarvue F50M RACI
Numerous Eyepieces
Starry Night Pro Plus 6/Pocket PC w/Pocket Stars
Who are we? What are we? We find that we inhabit an insignificant planet of a hum-drum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people. ~ Carl Sagan
|
panhard
Mongo
Reged: 01/20/08
Posts: 5220
Loc: Markham Ontario Canada
|
|
The only thing that I can say about that scope is. I would be wary about buying it.
--------------------
|
ebusinesstutor
sage
Reged: 07/01/09
Posts: 468
Loc: Nanaimo, BC, Canada
|
|
The DS2114 is expressly warned against in The Backyard Astonomers Guide.
I have one and had nothing but trouble with it. Now I have an Orion XT8i and a C80ED and both work well.
Here are a few options nearer your budget that would be better than the DS2114.
Skywatcher 130NS-EQ2 - $149.50
Orion 4.5 " Dob - $220
Orion Star Max 90 - $199 - should be good for the moon and planets.
Orion Sky Scanner 100mm - $99 - good for lower power, wide angle views of the night sky.
--------------------
Garland Coulson
Orion XT8i Dob & Celestron 80 ED on a Vixen Porta Mount Mini
Baader Hyperion 8-24mm Click Zoom & Siebert Observatory 36mm
Siebert Black Knight Binoviewers
SkyWatcher Observing Chair
Celestron Skymaster 15x70mm binos
|
Tiny
super member
Reged: 05/02/08
Posts: 197
|
|
Ah the DS-2080AT-LNT, you can do about 10000x power in that. You can even see some craters on the moon!
No but seriously, if he had an 8" dob and let it rot i certainly wouldnt get him another dob.
Perhaps an SCT on a tripod with go-to/track. Something like an ETX-80 or used ETX-90.
certainly wasting the dob though.
|
backwoody
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/08/07
Posts: 1114
Loc: Idaho USA
|
|
Quote:
The DS2114 is expressly warned against in The Backyard Astonomers Guide.
I have one and had nothing but trouble with it. Now I have an Orion XT8i and a C80ED and both work well.
Here are a few options nearer your budget that would be better than the DS2114.
Skywatcher 130NS-EQ2 - $149.50
Orion 4.5 " Dob - $220
Orion Star Max 90 - $199 - should be good for the moon and planets.
Orion Sky Scanner 100mm - $99 - good for lower power, wide angle views of the night sky.
Garland is absolutely correct here. I received a similar Meade telescope (DS2130) as a gift, and it was a huge disappointment. Rough views and a difficult mount, requiring considerable astro knowledge to operate at all. Impossible to collimate - because of the built-in corrector lens in the focuser assembly.
I'd go another direction, if I were you. Sorry, 
--------------------
woody
a parsec farther out...
12.5" f/4.8 custom truss dob, EQ platform
|
Mark Harry
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/05/05
Posts: 3128
Loc: Northeast
|
|
Why don't you just give the 8 back to him? (Then you could use that as an excuse to get an XT14!!??)
M.
--------------------
So many projects, so little time!
|
rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4598
|
|
Quote:
After taking a look through my XT10 this past week-end, my father-in-law decided he wants a scope of his own.
If he don't like the 8, get him a Starblast or similar from Orion.
--------------------
Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
|
paul130v
member
Reged: 02/13/09
Posts: 58
|
|
Quote:
If he don't like the 8, get him a Starblast or similar from Orion.
I just love my 4.5" Starblast - it's optically very good, and very versatile, from low power wide field to high power(for the aperture) planetary and lunar. Great!
But compared to the XT4.5 it is a pretty high upkeep relationship, and it just chews up and spits out cheap eyepieces.
So, I'm thinking if actual observing experience is the aim, an XT4.5 would be easier to use. But if the cuteness and convenience factors are more critical to the success of this mission, how about the soon to arrive Orion 100mm f4 SkyScanner? Though it seems pretty redundant to my 4.5" SB, I don't see how I'll be able to resist.
Paul
|
kcbridgeman
member
Reged: 03/26/09
Posts: 80
Loc: Kansas City, MO
|
|
Quote:
Why don't you just give the 8 back to him? (Then you could use that as an excuse to get an XT14!!??)
M.
The 8 is his to have. He just never used it, so I added it to my collection. I use my XT10 99.9% of the time, so the 8 isn't something I can't live without. I just hated seeing it go to waste. He is an impulse buyer, and seeing through my 10 just put a bug up his  . He sees one that says it does all the work for him, and not knowing any better, he thinks it must be good. I don't expect him to stick with whatever he uses for very long. But, if for $200 bucks it's ok, then he isn't out much. If he were to buy one for a couple grand, then it would be a great waste for him, but a great gain for me. 
I'm going to fix up the 8 anyway, and if he wants it back, then great. I'll end up with it again anyway.
As for me getting a 14, I'm looking more into the 18-20 range for my next scope. Go big, or go home. 
--------------------
Orion XT10/Telrad/Stellarvue F50M RACI
Numerous Eyepieces
Starry Night Pro Plus 6/Pocket PC w/Pocket Stars
Who are we? What are we? We find that we inhabit an insignificant planet of a hum-drum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people. ~ Carl Sagan
|
Jim Moscheck
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/08/07
Posts: 1624
Loc: Under the SE Michigan lightdom...
|
|
$200 bucks isn't a lot to spend for someone who likes all the bells and whistles. Ten years ago my wife bought me a Meade Goto 4.5" Newt on an EQ mount. While I did get some good views and got bit by the astronomy bug the mount was very cheap with lots of plastic and pretty complicated for a rank beginner. It soon was broken beyond repair with striped set screws on the plastic motor mounts. Meade customer service was no help at all, but they did send me a 1.25" adapter so I could use my friends Super Plossel EPs in it. It came with .965" EPs.
I was going to suggest the StarBlast, too, but it's pretty low tech in and by itself. In the new Orion catalog I saw the StarBlast 6i, a 6" with the Intelescope COL at $399, and while way over his budget I'm sure he'd like it as it's easy to learn and would give pretty good views. Can be bought for only $279 without the COL.
--------------------
Jim Moscheck
Ford Amateur Astronomy Club
ATM truss dob
Stevens 14.5" f4.3
"A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it's not open." - Frank Zappa
|
|
15 registered and 14 anonymous users are browsing this forum.
Moderator: Don W, werewolf6977, Jason B
Print Thread
|
Forum Permissions
You cannot start new topics
You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled
UBBCode is enabled
|
Thread views: 514
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: 