Telescope Reviews: Orion XT8g

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Equipment Discussions >> Reflectors

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Jarrod
sage

Reged: 01/20/13

Loc: SE USA

Orion XT8g
#5715142 - 03/05/13 07:10 PM

The brown truck paid me a visit just now.

Post Extras:

Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: Jarrod]
#5715147 - 03/05/13 07:11 PM

How did you get the boxes to stick to wall like that

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Jarrod
sage

Reged: 01/20/13

Loc: SE USA

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: Lane]
#5715150 - 03/05/13 07:12 PM

Quote:

How did you get the boxes to stick to wall like that

Hehe. Fixed.

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dan777
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/16/07

Loc: Indiana

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: Jarrod]
#5715242 - 03/05/13 07:57 PM

My boxes showed up a year ago.
Life's been great ever since.
Yell if you have questions.

Edited by dan777 (03/05/13 09:53 PM)

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: dan777]
#5715284 - 03/05/13 08:23 PM

Well open them already, I want to see whats in there.

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Jarrod
sage

Reged: 01/20/13

Loc: SE USA

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: Lane]
#5715442 - 03/05/13 09:49 PM

A couple unboxing pics:

Contents of the smaller box:

A peek inside the OTA box:

Edited by Jarrod (03/05/13 09:50 PM)

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bryguy27007
super member

Reged: 03/09/09

Loc: Minnesota

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: Jarrod]
#5715523 - 03/05/13 10:32 PM

Beautiful scope. I had the non go-to version a while back. You'll love it.

Clear skies!

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Jarrod
sage

Reged: 01/20/13

Loc: SE USA

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: bryguy27007]
#5715587 - 03/05/13 11:10 PM

Base assembly was remarkably easy. Very impressed with the overall quality of the parts and precision of the hole placement, etc. Can't remember the last time I assembled something of this size where all the holes lined up perfectly with no fuss.

Edited by Jarrod (03/05/13 11:26 PM)

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Jarrod
sage

Reged: 01/20/13

Loc: SE USA

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: Jarrod]
#5715698 - 03/06/13 12:43 AM

All done! Now what?

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Jarrod
sage

Reged: 01/20/13

Loc: SE USA

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: Jarrod]
#5715711 - 03/06/13 12:51 AM

First question: Initially the focuser was *really* raspy feeling and sounding. I actually thought it might be broken somehow. But I seem to recall someone mentioning that their new focuser needed to be "broken in", so I racked it in and out several times and it got a whole lot better. But it is still not what I'd call buttery smooth in some positions. Maybe it will keep settling in after much more use? Does that sound like it's within normal tolerances for these Orion 2-speed Crayfords?

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dan777
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/16/07

Loc: Indiana

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: Jarrod]
#5715994 - 03/06/13 09:02 AM

Quote:

But it is still not what I'd call buttery smooth in some positions. Maybe it will keep settling in after much more use? Does that sound like it's within normal tolerances for these Orion 2-speed Crayfords?

It definitely should not be raspy; metal-on-metal is not good. I would disassemble and inspect it. Mine was not raspy, but rather it would not hold a heavy ep. When I tightened it, it did not tighten evenly - it was either too tight or too loose with the slightest adjustment. I disassembled it (down to the last o-ring) and put it back together making sure the L & R adjusting screws were screwed-in the same amount. It is now buttery smooth (I use my little finger) and easily supports my heavy ep.
Focuser adjustment
To Tighten:
1) Slightly and equally loosen the left and right adjusting screws by turning CCW.
2) Slightly tighten the center set-screw by turning CW.
3) Equally tighten the L & R adjusting screws by turning CW.
To Loosen:
1) Slightly loosen the center set-screw by turning CCW.
2) Equally tighten the L & R adjusting screws by turning CW.

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Starman81
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 03/06/08

Loc: Metro Detroit, MI, USA

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: dan777]
#5716182 - 03/06/13 11:07 AM

I've always wondered how easy are the XTg dobs to move around manually, to pan the sky? I like the option of being able to use the electronics or not. With something like this, most of the time, I would prefer to star hop and then just turn on the tracking when I reach my target. Of course, the Go To has its uses as well, but the tracking aspect is more valuable to me, personally.

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Jarrod
sage

Reged: 01/20/13

Loc: SE USA

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: Starman81]
#5716272 - 03/06/13 12:08 PM

Thanks Dan. I didn't even realize the adjustment screws were there...that's probably all that's required. I need to finish RTFM later.

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Jarrod
sage

Reged: 01/20/13

Loc: SE USA

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: Jarrod]
#5716323 - 03/06/13 12:46 PM

I'm pretty sure there is something wrong with the focuser. The fine adjustment doesn't do anything, and if you (carefully) engage the focus lock, disengaging it takes the focuser back to the raspy metal-on-metal sound/feel until tweaking the adjustment screws. I got the fine adjuster to work brieflly, for about three turns of the small wheel, but then it disengaged and stopped working. Unless someone gives me a

, I'm going to have to call Orion about this.

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dan777
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/16/07

Loc: Indiana

Re: Orion XT8g *DELETED* new

[Re: Starman81]
#5716362 - 03/06/13 01:13 PM

Post deleted by dan777

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dan777
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/16/07

Loc: Indiana

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: Jarrod]
#5716400 - 03/06/13 01:29 PM

Quote:

I'm going to have to call Orion about this.

I agree that's the smart thing to do.

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Starman81
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 03/06/08

Loc: Metro Detroit, MI, USA

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: dan777]
#5716648 - 03/06/13 03:24 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I've always wondered how easy are the XTg dobs to move around manually, to pan the sky?

The XT8g is not as easy to move in az or alt as the XT8i because you have to overpower the friction of the clutch(s). So for panning, moving it manually just isn't practical. For panning I use the slew buttons on the hand controller (you can select a slew speed). I can keep my eye in the ep and fingers on the slew button(s). I don't have to look at the hand controller at all while I'm panning. I had an XT8i for many years (in the metro Detroit area) - great scope. But the XT8g tracking is a great feature.

Thanks Dan! I added the XT8i after I got the 8SE; I didn't want to be 'tied down' to a power source. I watched the videos on the Orion website for the XTg scopes and specifically the one for the XT10g shows Ken panning the scope around very easily. So your report conflicts with what I think I saw.

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Billytk
sage

Reged: 04/22/12

Loc: Orlando, Fl.

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: Starman81]
#5717095 - 03/06/13 07:16 PM

I agree with Dan. You can push the scope to a new area of the sky quickly and it will still go-to and track but not the scope to use to manually track objects with (jerky and hard).

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dan777
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/16/07

Loc: Indiana

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: Starman81]
#5717099 - 03/06/13 07:19 PM

Starman,
Well, I changed my mind. I had issues with my first XT8g and it had to be replaced. It's movement was very stiff. I never realized how easy the movement is in my replacement scope. After I watched your video link I tried my scope in manual mode and low & behold it surprisingly moves quite easily. Personally, I would rather use the slew control, but in answer to your question, yes you can use it manually if you wish. (I am going to delete my post.)

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thetortoise
super member

Reged: 07/25/12

Loc: Longmont, CO

Re: Orion XT8g new

[Re: dan777]
#5717379 - 03/06/13 10:06 PM

I use my XT10g manually more often than I use it powered on for the tracking or goto. Mine tracks smooth manually. It is possible to adjust the tension of both the azimuth and altitude. If the movement is overly stiff, perhaps loosening the tension will smooth it out (requires taking off the plastic covers and using a hex tool - Orion can email you the instructions). With a bit of trial and error you can get it exactly how you prefer.

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