Corinthian
member
Reged: 05/20/09
Posts: 26
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Has anyone seen or used both? The Zhumell is a little more expensive I wonder what it has that the LB does not?
Are the Zhumell mirrors higher quality? About the same? Customer service ect? It looks like the Z-16 will be using teflon pads for bearings while the LB has a more intricate system.
Looks like the 16" LB would be a little more stable since the Z-16 truss only has 3 bars.?
I didn't even know Zhumell made a 16" scope. I like their Z10/12's enough. They're the same company as orion? well same optics?
And does this mean that Orion will be coming out with an XX16? Or is the xx14 all they're planning? Because I'd go for an XX14 over the Z16/16" LB probably. But if they offer a XX16 then I'm all in even if its a bit more expensive!
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scott m
super member
Reged: 12/06/07
Posts: 190
Loc: Hatfield Pa
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I would venture to guess that Orion's #1 new product will be a XX16", they keep teasing by sending 1.2 then 1.1 in their new product countdown emails.
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Orion Astroview 120st EQ w/rigel+2"diag(Cosmo)
Zhumell 10 inch dob w/telrad (Oddball)
Nikon AE 10x50 Binos
Astro-Tech Paradigm 5,8,12,15,18,25mm
GSO SuperView 30mm,20mm,15mm,10mm
Knight Owl EWA 6mm,9mm
Zhumell Plossl EP Kit
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rocco13
Got Milk?
Reged: 07/29/06
Posts: 2648
Loc: Phoenix, Arizona
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If I'm not mistaken, both Zhumell and Meade use the same GSO mirrors, whereas Orion uses Synta mirrors.
Based on what I've read here in the past, the truss design of the LB is more stable that the three-strut design of the Zhumell.
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Rocco
Zhumell Z12
Super C8 (1984 vintage)
Celestron 102 f/5
and a cheap pair of binoculars
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JSeay86
super member
Reged: 04/26/09
Posts: 133
Loc: Norman, OK
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Rumors are that the #1 from Orion will be an Ultra Compact 16." Whatever it is, it's gonna be good.
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Jared
Orion XX12 Dob
Ten Acre Observatory
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fatrowbridge
super member
Reged: 06/11/06
Posts: 178
Loc: UpState South Carolina
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You're not mistaken. Lightbridges and Zhumells are both GSO optics (as were the original Orion XT's). Orion's are now Synta.
GSO and Synta are manufacturers. Zhumell, Meade, and Orion are distributors.
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Alex
12" GSO DOB
Paracorr
20mmNT5; GSO 2" 2X ED Barlow
15mm Panoptic; Tele Vue 1 1/4" 2x Barlow
10, 9, and 7.5 mm Plossls
Tectron Collimation Tools
Hotech Crosshair Laser
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sailor70623
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/12/08
Posts: 944
Loc: Ok.
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I've seen both. The base on the Z is much higher, thus larger, so I sure don't want to lift it. The base on the LB is the Heaviet part, and it's about my limit. The mirror bucket (can't really call it a mirror box) is larger on the Z, so heavier too. Now if just collapsing it for storage is going to be your thing the Z will be better (with a set of wheels for moving it) but if taking it in a car, the LB will break down into smaller parts, and the parts will weigh less. The Balance/bearings are like those on my Z10, and it would be nice if Meade could do something there. But after replacing my felt on the Alt on my LB with glide tape, my LB has great movements. And before adding more weight to the top of my LB it balanced good enough for the Alt break that came with it. Yes the Alt break does scratch the pretty outside of the Alt bearing. My scopes are FOR observing not for being observed. For my money I'd get another LB before getting a 16" Z, but I do find the 14" Orion nice too.
#1 is a camera.
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Corornado PST
LB 16" & 12"
Z 10"
LX50 8"
8" CPC
ETX127
102&90mm MAKs
80mm Richfield APO
70mm refractor
ETX60
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Darren Drake
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/09/02
Posts: 1293
Loc: Illinois
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The optics I've seen have been prety good. I've also seen examples of mirrors from GSO that were not so good. I have also seen some secondaries that were not up to snuff. While it is generaly hit and miss I would say that most scopes from GSO have decent optics. My Zhumell has very good optics.
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Astronomy educator/Sidewalk astronomer
Owner of Astronomy Delight franchise
18 inch f4.42 Dob on eq platform w ST120 f/5 finder
12 inch Zhumell Dob modified by Brian Reed on eq platform
8 inch f/8 eq planetkiller
William Optics red 10th Anniversary 80mm FD
PST
24lb eyepiece box
Cernan Space Center astronomer
Member of Northwest Suburban Astronomers
Edited by Darren Drake (11/07/09 09:28 PM)
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Tiny
super member
Reged: 05/02/08
Posts: 197
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The Zhumell comes with a pretty decent alt clutch system that the LB lacks which in my opinion makes it the better scope regardless of the price difference, but both will require modifications out of the box to make them acceptably functional.
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matthew2000tx
sage
Reged: 12/14/06
Posts: 329
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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Since the base on both have some issues. z-being big and the LB lacking a break... here is a simple modification that will make life easier and it makes the weight of the base about 10 lbs! The side circles are removable and lay flat in the car!
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<>< Matthew R.
My Astronomy Blog
*16" Meade Lightbridge
*10.1" f/4.5 Coulter Odyessy Dobsonian
*4.5" F/8 Dob. Built by Yours Truly
*3" Celestron First Scope Dob. IYA2009 edition.
*90mm Meade DSX Mak-Cass Go-To
*60mm Meade Refractor on Sears Discoverer EQ Mount
*60mm Tasco Refractor on Tasco EQ Mount
*12x50 Bushnell Binos
*10x50 Celestron Close-Up Binos x2
*20x80 Celestron Binos
*Canon 20D/40d/50d and bunch of L lenses
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matthew2000tx
sage
Reged: 12/14/06
Posts: 329
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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here is another view. This changes the center of gravity and makes the LB more balanced.
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<>< Matthew R.
My Astronomy Blog
*16" Meade Lightbridge
*10.1" f/4.5 Coulter Odyessy Dobsonian
*4.5" F/8 Dob. Built by Yours Truly
*3" Celestron First Scope Dob. IYA2009 edition.
*90mm Meade DSX Mak-Cass Go-To
*60mm Meade Refractor on Sears Discoverer EQ Mount
*60mm Tasco Refractor on Tasco EQ Mount
*12x50 Bushnell Binos
*10x50 Celestron Close-Up Binos x2
*20x80 Celestron Binos
*Canon 20D/40d/50d and bunch of L lenses
Edited by matthew2000tx (11/07/09 07:52 PM)
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bherv
sage
Reged: 03/10/06
Posts: 308
Loc: WMass
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Matt, I like the base. Did you get the plans somewhere or just come up with design. I am going to need to replace base on my 16" LB at some point and your design looks like it saves weight and makes balancing scope easier.
Barry
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matthew2000tx
sage
Reged: 12/14/06
Posts: 329
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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This is actually my friend's scope and he basically just came up with it. I'm going to do it to mine soon. My friend suggested that I wait so he can figure out any kinks. So I'm in a holding pattern.
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<>< Matthew R.
My Astronomy Blog
*16" Meade Lightbridge
*10.1" f/4.5 Coulter Odyessy Dobsonian
*4.5" F/8 Dob. Built by Yours Truly
*3" Celestron First Scope Dob. IYA2009 edition.
*90mm Meade DSX Mak-Cass Go-To
*60mm Meade Refractor on Sears Discoverer EQ Mount
*60mm Tasco Refractor on Tasco EQ Mount
*12x50 Bushnell Binos
*10x50 Celestron Close-Up Binos x2
*20x80 Celestron Binos
*Canon 20D/40d/50d and bunch of L lenses
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