14 replies to this topic

[Kellkat000]

I have zhumell 114. Is the Orion Starblast 6 a good upgrade scope? It’s a used one for $350.  Says portable, but is it small enough to easily transport? 

[Anony]

Guess it depends on what you consider portable? Some here think of 8" dobs as portable.

 

Plan to travel with it? Okay with the weight?

 

Not sure about that price though. Is it a goto version?

 

I see a Heritage 150p, which is similar (albeit not a solid tube) new at $310.

[Echolight]

Only you can say.

 

Some people think a 10 inch solid tube dob is easily transportable.

 

As far as the price, I guess it depends on how old it is. And if you are real comfortable with a tabletop dob mount.

And I would greatly prefer a 2 inch focuser on a 6 inch f5. The new Starblast 6 appears to come with a 2 inch focuser for $450.

If it's an older model with a 1.25 inch focuser, then I'd pass.

[vtornado]

Hmm 114 to 150 is on the threshold of a good step up as far as visual goes.

Does the SB6 have a two inch focuser?  That would be a good upgrade.

 

$350 does not strike me as a great deal.  I recently bought a tube only mead 6 f/5 for $200 used.  So you are paying $150 for a plywood mount.

 

IIRC a 150 f/5 is 7x30 inches and weighs around 12 lbs.  I don't know how big the base is, but it is going to be considerably larger than the base for the 114.  If you are handy, you could probably mod the mount so the vertical piece could be removed from the turn table.

 

Transport is ambiguos.  Hand carry it? hundreds of feet?  Carry it down stairs, pack in a car? Airline?

Edited by vtornado, 19 May 2024 - 01:53 PM.

[sevenofnine]

Welcome to C/N! 

 

Yes, it is a reasonable upgrade in a portable telescope IMO. However, you do need to consider what you will be setting it on. That's not as easy as it seems. Picnic tables are often in shady areas and other types are not stable enough. So, many members build one or some modify a wooden stool. The asking price of $350 would not motivate me. New is only $450 and that gives you a warranty plus free shipping to your door. There's also good customer service if something isn't right. Something to consider. Good luck! 

 

https://www.telescop...pe/p/102011.uts.

Edited by sevenofnine, 19 May 2024 - 04:09 PM.

[sevenofnine]

Here's a You Tube video on how to make a good table for it  

 

https://www.youtube....sGD9mU8cR0&t=3s

[Sky Muse]

I have a Zhumell Z100, and an Orion "StarBlast 6" from 2012.  Ah, had I only the chance to travel back in time, I would've gotten just a 6" f/5 OTA, and placed it upon a mount of my own choosing.  This, the Orion "StarBlast 6" optical tube on its well-matched mount, an alt-azimuth...

 

 

There are generic 6" f/5 optical tubes for sale online, without a mount.  I would get one of those locally, and then search worldwide for a supportive alt-azimuth mount, like or unlike my own.

 

There is also this to consider...

 

https://www.astronom...0.html?___SID=U

 

Still portable, in its own right, and a solid classic.  Less-expensive eyepieces play very well with an f/8 Newtonian, versus an f/5.  Orion sells, or used to sell one similar. 

Edited by Sky Muse, 19 May 2024 - 06:08 PM.

[Echolight]

I have a Zhumell Z100, and an Orion "StarBlast 6" from 2012.  Ah, had I only the chance to travel back in time, I would've gotten just a 6" f/5 OTA, and placed it upon a mount of my own choosing.  This, the Orion "StarBlast 6" optical tube on its well-matched mount, an alt-azimuth...

 

6 f5v.jpg

 

There are generic 6" f/5 optical tubes for sale online, without a mount.  I would get one of those locally, and then search worldwide for a supportive alt-azimuth mount, like or unlike my own.

 

There is also this to consider...

 

https://www.astronom...0.html?___SID=U

 

Still portable, in its own right, and a solid classic.  Less-expensive eyepieces play very well with an f/8 Newtonian, versus an f/5.  Orion sells, or used to sell one similar. 

That's a good mount for bigger small scopes. But likely hard to find.

[Sky Muse]

That's a good mount for bigger small scopes. But likely hard to find.

Yes, that's why I had suggested to search worldwide.  Europe is a reliable, and productive, source, and where the visual-only users are better appreciated.

[Echolight]

Yes, that's why I had suggested to search worldwide.  Europe is a reliable, and productive, source, and where the visual-only users are better appreciated.

The Sky-T should work. With a pier extension.

Or a CG4 in alt-az mode.

 

I tried my Celestron C6N 150 f5 on a Polaris in alt-az mode and it seemed too big for it. Maybe if I used the counterweight...

But it's a bolt on.

[SeattleScott]

$350 used price for a $450 new item? Feels steep. Maybe they are flexible, assuming someone will offer less than asking.

[Sky Muse]

The Sky-T should work. With a pier extension.

Or a CG4 in alt-az mode.

 

I tried my Celestron C6N 150 f5 on a Polaris in alt-az mode and it seemed too big for it. Maybe if I used the counterweight...

But it's a bolt on.

I still have my CG-4 head.  It can be transformed with some modification.

 

I got my alt-azimuth head with tripod from Astronomics, about twenty years ago.  I'm planning to make phosphor-bronze washers to replace the plastic ones, in the alt and az heads.  Andrews here has an active order for that very GSO-made mount, and accessories, including the coveted pier-extension, from GSO itself, the horse's mouth, near to the bottom of this page...

 

http://www.andrewsco...0-guansheng.htm

Edited by Sky Muse, 19 May 2024 - 08:00 PM.

[Tony Flanders]

I have zhumell 114. Is the Orion Starblast 6 a good upgrade scope? It’s a used one for $350.  Says portable, but is it small enough to easily transport?

Yes, a 6-inch StarBlast is easy to carry for indefinitely long distances, and takes up a very small amount of space in a car. But unless you enjoy viewing while sitting on the ground -- which actually works quite well with this particular scope -- you will also need to carry the table to put it on. But presumably you already know that from your Z114.

[Nov500]

Yees

[scopeboy42]

If you think a 6" f/8 Dob is portable then Astronomics has the Sky-Watcher 6" f/8 on sale for $349.

 

https://www.astronom...ope-s11600.html