Telescope Reviews: Anyone have an XX16g on the way?

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Equipment Discussions >> Reflectors

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Kevdog
sage

Reged: 07/11/12

Loc: Desert Hills, AZ

Anyone have an XX16g on the way?
#5485903 - 10/23/12 07:26 PM

Anxious for some first light reports. Still waiting and thinking....

Anyone got one shipped yet?

Post Extras:

GOLGO13
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/05/05

Loc: St. Louis area

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: Kevdog]
#5486342 - 10/24/12 01:01 AM

Seems to be a bit heavy to me. I'd rather find a used premium 16 inch with the finding and tracking. May cost a little more, but I think it would be worth it. 200 pounds may be OK if you have it permanently mounted somewhere. But that's some crazy weight even for a 16. I'd also be a little concerned if all the mechanics of these designs scale well with that much of a weight/size increase. But that's more of a hunch than any basis of fact.

However, I can say a 16 inch scope in dark skies can be very very special. It's a nice step up from a 12 inch.

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CounterWeight
Postmaster

Reged: 10/05/08

Loc: Cloudyopolis, OR.

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: Kevdog]
#5486510 - 10/24/12 05:49 AM

I'm curious as well, noticed they'd bounced the ship date around a little, this mornin' says the 27th. I was thinking to pre-order but I've never bought anything first round and untested.

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MikeBOKC
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/10/10

Loc: Oklahoma City, OK

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: CounterWeight]
#5486679 - 10/24/12 09:25 AM

I think and hope that Orion got the bugs inherent in a new product rollout worked through on the xx14g and simply scaled up for the xx16g. I know the initial xx14gs had some cluitch and mirror mounting issues which one hopes were integrated into the xx16g design. The one encouraging sign is that they have only slipped delivery dates on the 16 by a week; when the 14 came out they slipped several months before full production and delivery began.

Post Extras:

Kevdog
sage

Reged: 07/11/12

Loc: Desert Hills, AZ

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: MikeBOKC]
#5489094 - 10/25/12 06:58 PM

Nobody?

Looks like my finances may delay any purchase I was going to make.... but still wanna know!

(It'd be a shed scope at my house, so weight is not a problem)

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gene williams
member

Reged: 01/17/11

Loc: Missouri

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: Kevdog]
#5491907 - 10/27/12 04:35 PM

If it is anything like the XX14g, then it will be a winner. Yes, it is heavy, but it breaks down into easily manageable components. The weight can also be viewed as a benefit to smooth hand guiding and vibration-free viewing.

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kharrison
member

Reged: 10/16/12

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: gene williams]
#5509034 - 11/07/12 09:00 PM

OK, I confess. I ordered one. I plan on using it with a MallinCam at public observing events. Of course "ordering" and "getting" are two different things. They just pushed the ship date to 12/6.

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Wcclower
super member

Reged: 04/14/11

Loc: Terrell, Texas

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: kharrison]
#5509649 - 11/08/12 10:12 AM

I was at my dealer yesterday, The Observatory in Dallas, Tx and they had a brand new XX16G on the floor that they had oredered for a customer. Very surprising as it took them 6 months to deliver my XX14G a little over a year ago. They did say Orion was "very quick" to get the XX16G out. Impressive scope but my 14 is near too much for me to carry from inside my house to my observation area and then back at the end of the night.

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GOLGO13
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/05/05

Loc: St. Louis area

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: Wcclower]
#5509717 - 11/08/12 10:51 AM

Those are some crazy heavy scopes. Best for a permanent location vice transport. Believe they weigh about 2 times the amount of normal truss scopes. That's something to consider for sure.

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Kevdog
sage

Reged: 07/11/12

Loc: Desert Hills, AZ

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: kharrison]
#5510005 - 11/08/12 01:46 PM

Quote:

OK, I confess. I ordered one. I plan on using it with a MallinCam at public observing events. Of course "ordering" and "getting" are two different things. They just pushed the ship date to 12/6.

Guess I don't have to feel bad about not having the money to order one just yet!

Anxiously awaiting your first impressions.

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kharrison
member

Reged: 10/16/12

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: Wcclower]
#5518725 - 11/13/12 09:23 PM

Quote:

I was at my dealer yesterday, The Observatory in Dallas, Tx and they had a brand new XX16G on the floor that they had oredered for a customer. Very surprising as it took them 6 months to deliver my XX14G a little over a year ago. They did say Orion was "very quick" to get the XX16G out. Impressive scope but my 14 is near too much for me to carry from inside my house to my observation area and then back at the end of the night.

The one at The Observatory is mine. I picked it up last Friday (11/9) but weather and work have conspired to prevent first light. I hope to have it out by this weekend and I will post a review.

It has filled up my PT Cruiser pretty much. No single piece was very difficult to pick up, even given the wimpy nature of my arms. Orion said the base is the heaviest piece but if you leave the counterweights attached the mirror box becomes the heaviest piece (I know, duh!).

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ourobouros2k2
sage

Reged: 11/10/11

Loc: okc area, oklahoma

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: kharrison]
#5519155 - 11/14/12 08:13 AM

dang, there goes my trip to dallas to see it in person this weekend, lol. Congrats and we all look forward to the first light report!

Andy

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Wcclower
super member

Reged: 04/14/11

Loc: Terrell, Texas

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: ourobouros2k2]
#5519329 - 11/14/12 10:45 AM

Congrats Kharrison! You will love it. I really love my 14. And you couldn't be dealing with a better bunch of guys. I have a great relationship with Rick, Frank, and Marcus. Hollar back if you want some advice for dark skies around the Dallas area.
Craig

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MikeBOKC
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/10/10

Loc: Oklahoma City, OK

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: kharrison]
#5520180 - 11/14/12 09:23 PM

Did you have much trouble hoisting the assembled base, or did you break it down for transport? Be most anxious to hear first light report, especially how much step-up is required for viewing near zenith.

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kharrison
member

Reged: 10/16/12

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: MikeBOKC]
#5520339 - 11/14/12 11:24 PM Attachment (79 downloads)

We broke down the base to put it in my car. It would be about 100 lbs assembled. If the weather cooperates I plan to take it out Friday/Saturday. If I did it right, the attached picture of it has a 12" dob in the back.

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Kevdog
sage

Reged: 07/11/12

Loc: Desert Hills, AZ

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: kharrison]
#5520953 - 11/15/12 10:44 AM

Holy *BLEEP*! That's a 12" dob tube in the back? Then it is HUGE.

*drool*

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Kevdog
sage

Reged: 07/11/12

Loc: Desert Hills, AZ

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: Kevdog]
#5521649 - 11/15/12 06:02 PM

As a side note, my wife told my 5 year old son that we can't get me the telescope I want for Christmas because we don't have the money right now.

My son said, "Well why don't we have Santa get it for him?" My wife explained that Santa only gets stuff for boys and girls and not adults.

My son asked, "So can I ask for the telescope for Christmas and then give it to Daddy?"

.......

That's a good boy I have there!

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pstarr
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/17/04

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: Anyone have an XX16g on the way? new

[Re: Kevdog]
#5521781 - 11/15/12 07:31 PM

Quote:

As a side note, my wife told my 5 year old son that we can't get me the telescope I want for Christmas because we don't have the money right now.

My son said, "Well why don't we have Santa get it for him?" My wife explained that Santa only gets stuff for boys and girls and not adults.

My son asked, "So can I ask for the telescope for Christmas and then give it to Daddy?"

.......

That's a good boy I have there!

Sounds like the kids learning how to work the system.