Zhumell Z8 Dobsonian Review
By Josh Frizzell.
Zhumell Z8 Dobsonian Review
Started by
Olivier Biot
, Sep 22 2011 03:25 PM
12 replies to this topic
#1
Olivier Biot
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topic starter
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Amused
Posted 22 September 2011 - 03:25 PM
#2
BDS316
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Mercury-Atlas
Posted 22 September 2011 - 03:53 PM
Congrats on getting one with 1/13 wave mirror. I wonder if this is the norm or you got one of the best.
How is the star test?
How is the star test?
#3
CollinofAlabama
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Gemini
Posted 22 September 2011 - 10:56 PM
Very nice article, indeed. I myself am looking at a new GSO 8" dob. Your article was timely, and the 1/13th wave error mirror, like Bryan Stone writes, is quite a positive note. I can only hope to be as lucky.
All the photos are nice. That's one attractive scope, and you've shown it off well.
Thank you
All the photos are nice. That's one attractive scope, and you've shown it off well.
Thank you
#4
Froboz
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Lift Off
Posted 22 September 2011 - 11:32 PM
Congrats on your new scope! I want to encourage you to find and perhaps surpass the supposed limits of an 8" scope. I owned an 8" Orion XT8 for about two years and was very pleased with it. At the Oregon Star Party in 2009, I created my own observing program, which was to find as many galaxies as possible in Ursa Major. I can't remember how many I found, but I do know I was very pleasantly surprised by how many I found. With the very good optics that you have, I'm betting you would have just as much luck.
By the way, if you can borrow one from a friend, try a 27 mm Panoptic. It's one of my favorite eyepieces and similar in size to your 30 mm.
Good luck and clear skies!
Larry
By the way, if you can borrow one from a friend, try a 27 mm Panoptic. It's one of my favorite eyepieces and similar in size to your 30 mm.
Good luck and clear skies!
Larry
#5
David E
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Fly Me to the Moon
Posted 23 September 2011 - 06:10 PM
Excellent review! 
I've had my 8"Z for many years now and it's still one of the most used scopes in my collection.
I've had my 8"Z for many years now and it's still one of the most used scopes in my collection.
#6
Maverick199
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Hubble
Posted 24 September 2011 - 10:15 AM
I have had my Z8 since March of this year and never been happier. Great review.
#7
Craig Smith
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Viking 1
Posted 01 October 2011 - 09:03 AM
Thanks very much. I'm interested in getting one of these, but I'm very curious what the weight of the tube is; the website is lacking in specs and I haven't gotten a consistent answer from them. If you have a chance to weight it it would be great. The most accurate way is usually to weigh yourself and then weigh yourself again while holding the scope and calculate the difference. I would weigh it without the finder scope or eyepiece.
#8
Scott in NC
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Refractor Aficionado
Posted 01 October 2011 - 01:25 PM
Nice review!
#9
loo27
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Viking 1
Posted 10 November 2011 - 04:19 PM
I have the 12" version and at first, didn't like it too much because my main scopes have been CATs, but the more I used it the more I like it. Left the scope out over night, when packing took a peak at M42, split all the stars in the trapezium with ease I think at 50x with the std 30mm 2" ep. In my 8 yrs+ observing, I found this easy with the C14 but a challenge with other scopes.
Also, I'm starting to get the hang of how to enjoy the scope or dobs in general. Plop in your widest field ep and take your most basic star map and just look for the deep sky goodies in the swathe of stars-I was surprised how easy it was. Using a 42mm GSO, things would just pop out...now I'm wondering when the c9.25 is going to get used
Also, I'm starting to get the hang of how to enjoy the scope or dobs in general. Plop in your widest field ep and take your most basic star map and just look for the deep sky goodies in the swathe of stars-I was surprised how easy it was. Using a 42mm GSO, things would just pop out...now I'm wondering when the c9.25 is going to get used
#10
tomcat141
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Ranger 4
Posted 13 November 2011 - 07:29 PM
I agree with the others, nice review of the Z8. I would like to add a comment related to your review and to one of the previous comments.
Just as an FYI, in your review, you mentioned fitting a telescope into a Honda accord. I have a 2003 accord four door, and my Z10 fits comfortably across the back seat with the base inside the trunk. The OTA seemed a little awkward trying to place it in the trunk with the rear seat down. The base will then lay inside the trunk on it's more open side (rear) with the handle pointing up with just enough room to close the lid.
Regarding the question about weight of the OTA, I can't say about the Z8, but for the Z10, the OTA is 35 lbs. and the base is about 32 lbs. That is using the method suggested with bathroom scales. Not perfect, but close.
With the Z8 obviously lighter, this may help someone decide which model they can comfortably lift.
I would agree with the evaluation of the scope, finding my Z10 to be entirely satisfactory for my needs.
Thanks for posting your review.
Just as an FYI, in your review, you mentioned fitting a telescope into a Honda accord. I have a 2003 accord four door, and my Z10 fits comfortably across the back seat with the base inside the trunk. The OTA seemed a little awkward trying to place it in the trunk with the rear seat down. The base will then lay inside the trunk on it's more open side (rear) with the handle pointing up with just enough room to close the lid.
Regarding the question about weight of the OTA, I can't say about the Z8, but for the Z10, the OTA is 35 lbs. and the base is about 32 lbs. That is using the method suggested with bathroom scales. Not perfect, but close.
With the Z8 obviously lighter, this may help someone decide which model they can comfortably lift.I would agree with the evaluation of the scope, finding my Z10 to be entirely satisfactory for my needs.
Thanks for posting your review.
#11
acaptain619
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Sputnik
Posted 23 December 2011 - 11:18 PM
First rate review thanks I got one for Christmas 
but can't peek until the 25th..
but can't peek until the 25th..
#12
BigC
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Fly Me to the Moon
Posted 24 December 2011 - 12:47 PM
You can send that old disused C9.25 to me!
Of course with more mirror the Z12 shows great views.My Z10 is breathtaking with a big 2" eyepice on a clear night.Also breathtaking to move. The biggest dob you can comfortably handle is a good scope to have .You can always have a smaller scope for other places and times.
Of course with more mirror the Z12 shows great views.My Z10 is breathtaking with a big 2" eyepice on a clear night.Also breathtaking to move. The biggest dob you can comfortably handle is a good scope to have .You can always have a smaller scope for other places and times.
#13
Sean Puett
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Vanguard
Posted 08 January 2012 - 01:07 AM
These zhumell scopes are great. I have 2 and have no desire to get rid of either for something "better". I am very happy with them. Too bad you didn't type in "zhumell" in the coupon code space, you would have found out that the z8 is the same price as the orion. You get 10% off. $349 for the z8 and $629 for the z12.
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