Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 7177
Loc: Issaquah, WA.
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Looks like Orion is finally joining the ranks of companies offering a custom built dob. It's avaliable on their 8" & 10" Classic's and their 8" & 10" IntelliScopes.
Looks like they are also offering 20% off accy's along with the custom built dob purchase. Not a bad deal if your just getting started.
Link is here.
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Equipment Overload!
Kerry
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 7177
Loc: Issaquah, WA.
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Looks like all the accy's, EP, focuser & finder need to be Orion branded products to qualify. I think the 12" should have been included as well, but maybe a way to boost sales in the smaller ones.
I think the collapsible dob base that comes with the 14" should be an option for the 10", & 12" too.
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Equipment Overload!
Kerry
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bsim
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 1047
Loc: New York City
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That 20% discount is for EPs only. I priced a build-a-scope 8" Classic dob with the following accessories: 2" dual-speed Crayford, 9x50 RACI, and a 25mm Sirius Plossl. The price with shipping ($50) less 20% discount for the EP came out to $540.61.
You're better off buying the Zhumell 8" which comes with a 2" dual-speed Crayford, 8x50 RACI, 2" 30mm EP, 9mm EP, and the new tension knob for $379.98. The shipping is free and you can usually find a coupon.
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 7177
Loc: Issaquah, WA.
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Quote:
That 20% discount is for EPs only.
Actually that's not true.
Their email along with the on site info lists these discounts:
20% off Orion EP's
20% off Orion telescope & EP filters
20% off Orion collimators
15% off Orion barlows
10% off Orion telescope coveres & cases
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Equipment Overload!
Kerry
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bsim
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 1047
Loc: New York City
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Thanks for the correction.
The build-a-scope dobs aren't good deals at all. Unless you want an Intelliscope, the Zhumell dobs offer better deals.
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 7177
Loc: Issaquah, WA.
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No prob... 
Quote:
You're better off buying the Zhumell 8" which comes with a 2" dual-speed Crayford
Looks like some of the higher price is due to them adding their better higher priced dual speed crayford instead of the cheaper version offered on other less expensive dob's.
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Equipment Overload!
Kerry
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Lenardo
sage
Reged: 02/19/09
Posts: 221
Loc: Ma
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if i could just buy the tube mirror and 2ndry i'd buy it and put my OWN focuser on...
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BWAZ
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/21/05
Posts: 579
Loc: CA
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I think this is a smart move.
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APO-aholic.
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Zamboni
sage
Reged: 01/03/05
Posts: 254
Loc: Arizona
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I really lost a little bit of respect for Orion on this one. These are all modular systems designed by Synta that can quickly swap in or out. Its not like you really have to pay extra for labor. The price difference between a build-a-dob classic where the only change from the standard is the dual speed focuser is about 20 dollars higher than the difference in price between the focusers themselves. This is not a good bargain.
I hate to say this, having long been a devout Orion man, but go with the Zhumell.
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-Tristan Schwartz-
My Equipment:
6 inch Orion DSE dob
4 inch Galileo Newtonian
Schwartz Observatory Homepage
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Tiny
super member
Reged: 05/02/08
Posts: 191
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Quote:
Looks like some of the higher price is due to them adding their better higher priced dual speed crayford instead of the cheaper version offered on other less expensive dob's.
I was under the impression they were all GSO or GSO clones. I tend to doubt the difference in quality is really that glaring.
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mcoren
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/11/06
Posts: 1174
Loc: Northern Virginia, USA
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Quote:
Quote:
Looks like some of the higher price is due to them adding their better higher priced dual speed crayford instead of the cheaper version offered on other less expensive dob's.
I was under the impression they were all GSO or GSO clones. I tend to doubt the difference in quality is really that glaring.
If I'm not mistaken, Orion's dual-speed focuser is made by Long Perng in Taiwan.
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Mike
Orion SkyQuest XT10
Suburban Washington DC
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Sky Captain
Metal Whisperer
Reged: 11/07/04
Posts: 7177
Loc: Issaquah, WA.
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Quote:
I was under the impression they were all GSO or GSO clones. I tend to doubt the difference in quality is really that glaring.
If you actually go to the site and look at the focusers, you'll see the difference, it's pretty obvious. Having compared and owned many Crayford style focusers, I can say there is a noticeable difference, but as usual, it depends on the size/weight of your EP's and how you end up actually using the scope.
I think the simple fact that they even offer a choice to it's customers is a great step forward.
How many people have a bone stock scope and think its perfect...  there is always something that can be changed to make it better. Lord knows I push that envelope to the edge! 
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Equipment Overload!
Kerry
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