Good morning all. I’ve been looking for telescopes since few weeks and shortlisted the below
Hi Chandrasekar,
You have 3 Brilliant Choices. I have myself a GSO 8 inch professional Dobsonian and The Quality of the Mirror and The Equipment is Simply world Class. Just Note: DOBS are not Meant for Photography, Its Great for Visual. GSO is Manufactured by GSO itself and Other Two are from Synta. All Three are good in their Class. If you can afford GSO professional Dobsonian which has a Dual Speed Crayford Focuser and Better Mount, Then you can go for GSO undoubtedly. If you are choosing the Nightwatch version, you can go with anyone which is bang for the Buck, Since there won’t be much difference between them. I guess Skywatcher should be much higher than the Other Two. One Another Point to Consider is the Weight of the Scope, if you have to Carry too often. Orion scores in the Weight category, Its much lighter than the Other Two. Hope my Insights help.
@Venkatesh_Rajamani thanks for the insights. I shortlisted DOBs for easy handling compared to EQ mounts. I’m also interested in photography (not as professional) but can we try basics hands-on photography using the dobsonian mounts? Primarily I’m looking for planetary and deepsky views. I’ve also read few reviews on accessories which we need to purchase additionally. Need some guidance on that too.
Yes, Its just we have to Manually Track and we can’t get very long Exposure Pictures. You have too buy T rings if you had a DSLR camera or a Phone Mount from Amazon for Photography. I have taken some Cool Photos of Moon with just phone, The DOB is the Best One for a Starter and Visual. Surely its a light Bucket. If you have slightly more Budget, you can go for the 8 inches, which was the advise i got, Since the Extra 2 inch Aperture will be helpful in a Long Time perspective. Additional accessories will be T rings or phone Mount based on what you have, Barlow can be useful, 2 inch GSO ED Barlow is great for Photography.
@Venkatesh_Rajamani thanks. Let me post once I get my telescope. Meanwhile here is the one which I clicked long ago using my regular 200mm Nikor with D3300
@Chandrasekar_C, one suggestion I would give is to get an 8 inch if you can afford the extra cash.
I own a GSO 8 inch professional dob but I have also used SkyWatcher’s 6 and 8 inch versions over the last few years. From my experience, GSO’s mount is smoother compared to the SkyWatcher. However, the focusser in the professional version(the dual speed Crayford focuser) doesn’t really work that well. When heavy eyepieces are used, it doesn’t move smoothly and the focuser draw tube drops down due to the weight. If I have one complaint with my telescope, it has to be the focusser. It annoys me so much that I tend to just use my own hand to move the eyepiece as needed. Other than that, I have had no issues with the scope over the last 6+ years. The optics are good and the scope itself has tolerated a lot of harsh road trips.
They might have improved the focusser over the recent years. Maybe @Venkatesh_Rajamani can share his experience with the focusser on his scope.
Please note that the GSO normal version comes with a different mount and I am not sure how it is compared to other scopes.
Hi Siva, I could feel you when you wrote about the Focuser. I guess they didn’t Improve much on that. I get annoyed sometimes too.
Since @Chandrasekar_C is looking to go for the Normal Version, there won’t be much Trouble since its gonna be the Single Speed One. When Comparing with Skywatcher, GSO may be less pricy. But I am not sure How GSO and Orion’s Normal Mount(The XT and GSO nightwatch shares the Same mount) compares with Skywatcher’s Tension Mount. Eventhough if you opt for Normal Version, Choose a 8 inch if you can afford., You would appreciate your Decision in future.
@Venkatesh_Rajamani @siva - Appreciate your feedback. 8" Nightwatch is already and extended budget for me. 8" pro costs around 39K including taxes. Hope nightwatcher doesnt disappoints if I’m finalizing it. Also I was also checking for XT8; any feedback on orion ?
Final verdict on GSO 8" Nightwatch vs Orion Skyquest XT8?
@siva @Venkatesh_Rajamani Finally I booked GSO 8" Nightwatch Dobsonian today. Hope I and my children enjoy the experience.
Great, wish you clear skies!
Congrats bro❤️, Happy nightsky
@Nanikutty @siva @Venkatesh_Rajamani I’m setting up my new GSO 8 inch Dobsonian. I’ve got so many questions in getting started. Appreciate if someone can help me. Looking forward for the response.
Appreciate your help @Venkatesh_Rajamani. Let me know how I can contact you. Please share your number to MODERATED, so that I can call you. Thanks
Sure, I will ping you on Whatsapp.
I am new to this
. Where to buy basic telescope in chennai-
Through online like tejraj or go scientific sir ?
Buy 6’ dobs or 130mm refractor ?
@Dr_Hementha_kumar_Or even I’m a beginner with telescopes. After lots of study and experts advice I got an 8" Dobsonian.
@siva, I recently bought GSO 8" professional version. As you said, i am facing same issue wiith Crayford focuser when we heavy eyepieces. Apart from that, i have two more issues. I could not lock side bearings, even after tight locking, scope is moving. Same issue for base side also. after full tight i it is moving. Could you provide some tips please?
@Chandrasekar_C, if you can help on this.
Try tightening this thumbscrew (marked with a red circle) directly below the eyepiece to increase the tension of the focusser so that it will hold heavy eyepieces. (Clockwise to tighten, anticlockwise to loosen)
Is the scope moving on its own due to its own weight or is it moving when you push it? The altitude tension knobs cannot ‘lock’ the telescope in one place (i.e.) the scope will still move if you move it. It is only intended to hold the telescope in the same place where you point it. The tension can be increased/decreased with respect to the weight of the eyepiece used. If the scope is moving by itself due to its own weight, check the number of the tube balancing system. It should be on zero by default (image attached). If not, you can loosen the two screws on the tension knobs with the provided allen key and slide the tension knobs to ‘0’. If the tension knobs are still not holding the telsecope, contact the dealer.
The base’s tension knob cannot lock the base. Tightening it only increases the resistance with which the base moves. You can tighten it a bit to prevent the scope from moving due to wind. The base will move if you push it even with the knob fully tightened.
Hope this helps
Clear skies,
Lohitaksh
Thanks. Got it.
The reason why i asked this question is, after I pointed out scope to desired target, if i give it to my kids, even slightest touch, the alignment changed.
One more doubt, can we change the highlighted one with right angle instead of buying complete new right angle finder scope?
