Telescope Reviews: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same?

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Oscar56
super member

Reged: 01/25/13

Loc: Summerland, BC

Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same?
#5704528 - 02/27/13 11:41 PM

I am just getting started in this hobby, so far I have only binoculars, Nightwatch, CN and lots of cloud cover. But I have been doing plenty of reading on the internet and lots of window shopping on telescope sites for 8" and 10" Dobs.

Excluding hand built Dobsonians I am starting to suspect that all of the brand name Dobs are virtually the same. I am aware that they all start in 1 or 2 factories in China even if the paint job and labels may be different.

But are they really any different in optics and value? At the heart of a Dob is it not just a sono tube, parabolic mirror and 2ndary mirror? After that the various brands offer different EPs, focusers, target sights etc?

So if there is a "high end" of the 8" and 10" Dobs is it a function of the peripherals or does one brand use better mirrors as their starting point?

Post Extras:

Jason D
Postmaster

Reged: 10/21/06

Loc: California

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: Oscar56]
#5704547 - 02/27/13 11:54 PM

You have custom made and mass produced made dobs. You are asking about the mass produced dobs. I would say you got it right. Most are more or less the same in terms of quality.

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kfiscus
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 07/09/12

Loc: Albert Lea, MN, USA

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: Jason D]
#5704569 - 02/28/13 12:11 AM

The Chinese scopes are now steel tubes. As the OP has written, the price differences are from the accessories included with the rig. The optics tend to be incredible values. I currently own a 4.5, 6, 10, and two 12s.

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Oscar56
super member

Reged: 01/25/13

Loc: Summerland, BC

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: Jason D]
#5704574 - 02/28/13 12:16 AM

Quote:

You have custom made and mass produced made dobs.

And what is it about the custom made units that they command such a significant price differential?

Post Extras:

Jason D
Postmaster

Reged: 10/21/06

Loc: California

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: Oscar56]
#5704577 - 02/28/13 12:22 AM

Quote:

Quote:

You have custom made and mass produced made dobs.

And what is it about the custom made units that they command such a significant price differential?

Better design, attention to details, and quality components -- especially optics.

Post Extras:

Oscar56
super member

Reged: 01/25/13

Loc: Summerland, BC

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: Jason D]
#5704585 - 02/28/13 12:29 AM

Jason:

Your signature refers to an Orion X10? What are the premium optics? Better quality mirror(s)?

Post Extras:

Jason D
Postmaster

Reged: 10/21/06

Loc: California

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: Oscar56]
#5704618 - 02/28/13 12:52 AM

Quote:

Jason:

Your signature refers to an Orion X10? What are the premium optics? Better quality mirror(s)?

Correct. I replaced my stock secondary and primary mirrors with premium mirrors. The primary mirror was hand made by a reputable optician. There is a difference in image quality at the eyepiece but the difference is subtle. The cost of the replacement was almost twice the cost of my original XT10.

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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: Jason D]
#5704851 - 02/28/13 08:15 AM Attachment (14 downloads)

Quote:

Better design, attention to details, and quality components -- especially optics.

Generally the optics are better but a great deal of effort and cost goes into the structure itself. Premium Dobsonians are made high quality plywood rather than particle board and steel and constructed using custom cabinetry/furniture making techniques. The bearings are big and the motions super smooth and the mounts stable.

I have both some custom built dobs as well as a 10 inch F/5 GSO Dob. I enjoy them all but the custom scopes do work better.

Jon

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nirvanix
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 06/07/07

Loc: Saskatoon, SK

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5705103 - 02/28/13 10:55 AM

I'll just chime into the mix with the statement that these days you are likely to have a very positive experience with the commercial dobs. They have improved a lot of the mechanical annoyances that the early versions had, and as many satisified CNers will attest , the optics are typically good. Having said that, if you are an enthusiast and can spare the coin, you would appreciate a premium scope. There's a 20 inch quartz mirror dob over at astromart that I'm salivatin' over!

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johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: nirvanix]
#5705361 - 02/28/13 01:34 PM

The Teeter STS 8" and 11" dobs are a good example of a custom scope where something similar to the typical mass-produced tube dob structure has been built, but with super quality materials by a master craftsman. Then Rob Teeter offers the buyer the choice of using a typical mass-produced GSO mirror or for a higher price, a custom mirror.

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Oscar56
super member

Reged: 01/25/13

Loc: Summerland, BC

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5705477 - 02/28/13 02:46 PM

Thanks to everyone who participated in this thread. I will be weighing the options of investing in a 8" or 10" later this year. My budget (nor my wife) will not allow me to invest in a custom scope, but I am getting a better idea on what to look for when comparing different brand name dobs and what improvements to make over time.

Post Extras:

Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: Oscar56]
#5705640 - 02/28/13 04:05 PM

Quote:

Thanks to everyone who participated in this thread. I will be weighing the options of investing in a 8" or 10" later this year. My budget (nor my wife) will not allow me to invest in a custom scope, but I am getting a better idea on what to look for when comparing different brand name dobs and what improvements to make over time.

I think that the modern Asian commercial Dobsonians are quite good and don't need a lot of improvements. I think you get more value for your dollar with the GSO Dobs than the Synta Dobs, the basic scopes are essentially the same but the GSO Dobs (Astro-Tech, Zhumell, Apertura) have better outfitted and have better accessories. In particular, the standard 2 speed GSO focuser is simple but very effective.

The bases are made from particle board but is durable and long lasting. My 10 inch GSO is more than 10 years old. I bought it when it was less than a year old but it had been left out in the rain one night...

The base shows the wear and tear of the thousands of miles it has traveled but it's solid.

Jon

Edited by Jon Isaacs (02/28/13 04:11 PM)

Post Extras:

Oscar56
super member

Reged: 01/25/13

Loc: Summerland, BC

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5705706 - 02/28/13 04:43 PM

I think you get more value for your dollar with the GSO Dobs than the Synta Dobs, the basic scopes are essentially the same but the GSO Dobs (Astro-Tech, Zhumell, Apertura) have better outfitted and have better accessories. In particular, the standard 2 speed GSO focuser is simple but very effective.

Jon

Jon:

As I recall Synta owns Celestron etc. GSO is another manufacturer? What other name brands are manufactured by GSO?

To bring the GSO versions that you listed north of the border will incur additional shipping and brokerage costs which may negate the value of the better accessories.

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johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5706408 - 02/28/13 11:31 PM

Quote:

The Teeter STS 8" and 11" dobs are a good example of a custom scope where something similar to the typical mass-produced tube dob structure has been built, but with super quality materials by a master craftsman. Then Rob Teeter offers the buyer the choice of using a typical mass-produced GSO mirror or for a higher price, a custom mirror.

Wow, looks like Rob has just changed to using mirrors by Alan Raycraft of Antares Optics as standard instead of GSO...

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Deep13
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/25/05

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5706481 - 03/01/13 12:40 AM

Except for small, custom vendors, the answer is yes. Optically, they are all the same. And by the "the same," I mean within their range of quality control variances.

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KerryR
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/05/07

Loc: SW Michigan

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5706953 - 03/01/13 10:33 AM

Quote:

Wow, looks like Rob has just changed to using mirrors by Alan Raycraft of Antares Optics as standard instead of GSO...

I'm glad to hear Alan Raycraft is still around. He refigured my 8" Newtonian (Asian) mirror several years ago, as part of my "HPN" scope from the now defunct Anttlers Optics. Shortly after that, his website declared he'd only be doing OEM optics and would no longer be providing consumer services. I was wondering what had become of him.

Post Extras:

Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: KerryR]
#5706966 - 03/01/13 10:45 AM

Quote:

I'm glad to hear Alan Raycraft is still around. He refigured my 8" Newtonian (Asian) mirror several years ago, as part of my "HPN" scope from the now defunct Anttlers Optics. Shortly after that, his website declared he'd only be doing OEM optics and would no longer be providing consumer services. I was wondering what had become of him.

I also wondered what had happened to Alan. He refigured my 12.5 inch F/4.06 for me several years ago and then dropped out of sight. Good to know he is still around.

I think he did the first Starmaster Oak Classics.

Jon

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Jerry-rigged
sage

Reged: 01/30/12

Loc: Coastal Texas.

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: Oscar56]
#5707039 - 03/01/13 11:43 AM

Quote:

Meade Lightbridge truss scopes are also GSO, I think.

Edited by Jerry-rigged (03/01/13 11:50 AM)

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Oscar56
super member

Reged: 01/25/13

Loc: Summerland, BC

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: KerryR]
#5707044 - 03/01/13 11:46 AM

I'm glad to hear Alan Raycraft is still around. He refigured my 8"

What does a refiguring consist of?

Post Extras:

KerryR
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/05/07

Loc: SW Michigan

Re: Are All Brand Name Dobsonians the Same? new

[Re: Oscar56]
#5707088 - 03/01/13 12:29 PM

Quote:

I'm glad to hear Alan Raycraft is still around. He refigured my 8"

What does a refiguring consist of?

Bench testing the mirror, asessing the accuracy of the paraboloidal surface, removing coatings, and adjusting the accuracy of the curve in the surface of the mirror to bring it closer to theoretical accuracy.

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