9 replies to this topic

[ChuppsterXLM]

Is Orion rebranding Kson optics? I bought one of their new reflector models as a gift for a nephew after watching Ed Ting's review.

Manufacture and QC has gone down with the new OTAs they are pushing. I have mixed feelings with the Observer 134mm (replaced Synta's venerable Spaceprobe 130ST) since they managed to use plastic in every possible part! The mirror is not bad at all but the focuser and EQ mount are garbage. 

 

Any thoughts? 🤔

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[RichA]

Is Orion rebranding Kson optics? I bought one of their new reflector models as a gift for a nephew after watching Ed Ting's review.

Manufacture and QC has gone down with the new OTAs they are pushing. I have mixed feelings with the Observer 134mm (replaced Synta's venerable Spaceprobe 130ST) since they managed to use plastic in every possible part! The mirror is not bad at all but the focuser and EQ mount are garbage. 

 

Any thoughts?

Same thing with ES getting Bresser.  A mad rush to cost-cutting.   Only solution?  Go elsewhere and spend more money.

[Jon Isaacs]

 

Is Orion rebranding Kson optics? I bought one of their new reflector models as a gift for a nephew after watching Ed Ting's review.

Manufacture and QC has gone down with the new OTAs they are pushing. I have mixed feelings with the Observer 134mm (replaced Synta's venerable Spaceprobe 130ST) since they managed to use plastic in every possible part! The mirror is not bad at all but the focuser and EQ mount are garbage. 

 

Any thoughts?

 

I bought a 134mm Observer just to check it out.

 

Do you have a link to the KSON scope? There are similarities.  The EQ mounts looks substantially different than the Observer mount.  The focuser bases look significantly different.  

 

I adjusted the focuser on my 134mm Observer which was a major improvement.  I also replaced the tripod legs with legs made from 2x2s, that was also a major improvement.  

 

 

And having owned at least two SpaceProbe 130STs, it's not like their focusers and mounts were all that great. They had plastic focusers and rode on EQ-2 mounts, they really needed a EQ-3 mount with wooden legs.  The one I had for several years rode on the Astro-View with Vixen legs and had a 2 inch GSO rack and pinion focuser.

 

(SpaceProbe 130ST with 2 inch focuser and Astroview/EQ-3 mount)

 

 

Jon

Edited by Jon Isaacs, 19 April 2024 - 05:20 AM.

[MJB87]

Moving to an appropriate forum.

[carolinaskies]

Are we really hearing complaints about a sub $299 box store telescope having plastic? 

 

[ChuppsterXLM]

Are we really hearing complaints about a sub $299 box store telescope having plastic? 

 

The OTA is not the issue, the issue is a well known established company rebranding "low quality" stuff.

[CrazyPanda]

This is the result of Orion no longer having Synta as the maker of many of their scopes. Either due to supply issues or as a result of the whole Synta/Sunny price fixing thing. There aren't many mass market manufacturers in the industry so Orion probably had to turn to KSON.

 

I remember for a while when the XT series was completely out of stock, Orion tried pushing these hillariously junky KSON dobs: https://www.telescop...it/p/135035.uts

 

Somehow they're still available for sale...

Edited by CrazyPanda, 19 April 2024 - 03:41 PM.

[Battlestamps]

This is the result of Orion no longer having Synta as the maker of many of their scopes. Either due to supply issues or as a result of the whole Synta/Sunny price fixing thing. There aren't many mass market manufacturers in the industry so Orion probably had to turn to KSON.

 

I remember for a while when the XT series was completely out of stock, Orion tried pushing these hillariously junky KSON dobs: https://www.telescop...it/p/135035.uts

 

Somehow they're still available for sale...

Take a real close look at the XT dobs sold by Orion now. They are not the same as the models from a few year ago. There's a variety of differences - cosmetic and specifications. 

Edited by Battlestamps, 19 April 2024 - 06:45 PM.

[Jon Isaacs]

The OTA is not the issue, the issue is a well known established company rebranding "low quality" stuff.

 

I paid $209 for my Observer 134 and that included shipping.  The EQ mount itself is more robust than the EQ-2 mount that shipped with the SpaceProbe 130ST.  

 

Jon

[Binojunky]

I removed the OTA on my Zhumell 130 from its horrible table top mount and installed it onto a ES Twilight 1, cost around $450 Canadian, not as cheap as the above mentioned scope but far more user friendly, also just before Christmas I picked up a Celestron 102mm refractor on a usable mount new from  Cosco for $199 Canadian plus sales tax, other than the objective cap and focuser knobs no plastic on that, Dave.