10" GSO vs 10" skywatcher

[Sakthivel]

I have given below the prices of 10" GSO Dob and 10" Skywatcher Dob. The price difference is Rs.17,000. Even though quality vice i think (Based on reviews i read) skywatcher is slightly ahead of GSO is the price difference justified? My personal thinking is I should go for GSO. I would like the views of the experienced group members.

Sakthivel
Coimbatore Astronomy club.

STARTRACKER 10 inch PRO-fessional DOBSONIAN by GSO
D=254 / F=1250mm Dobsonian F/5. . . . Rs. 46200
Add 28% GST Rs 12936
Secured Packing Rs 1550
=======================================
TOTAL Rs 60686
=======================================
Round Off To Rs 60600

*SKYWATCHER DOBSONIAN:

SKDOB10-inch: This is full Tube Telescope.

Description

Rate

Quantity

Amount

Remarks

SKDOB10-inch

60,210.00

1No

60,210.00



28% GST

16,858.80



Total Amount

77,069.00


· F/Ratio: 4.7

[Xitij]

I am a naive, howerver, my observations are as under:

- SKDOB10"
* Pyrex glass.
* Tension Control handle
* Probably single speed focuser
* Probably both eye-piece 1.25"
* Mount may have Teflon bearing

- StarTracker 10"
* BK7 glass
* Tension Control Knob with Clutch
* Double speed focuser
* One eye-pice 2"
* Mount has roller-bearing

[Karthik Subramanian]

On Tuesday, 15 August 2017 11:32:48 UTC+5:30, Sakthivel wrote:

I have given below the prices of 10" GSO Dob and 10" Skywatcher Dob. The price difference is Rs.17,000. Even though quality vice i think (Based on reviews i read) skywatcher is slightly ahead of GSO is the price difference justified? My personal thinking is I should go for GSO. I would like the views of the experienced group members.

Sakthivel
Coimbatore Astronomy club.

Hi Sakthivel,

I haven't used either of the telescopes you mention, so I'll stick to making a few general remarks.

In general, this is what I look for in a telescope (assuming that the aperture and the budget have been decided upon):

1. Optical quality

2. Build quality

3. Portability

Unfortunately, it is impossible to pass judgment on any of these without actually using the scope.

Given the mass-market nature of telescope brands, it is also impossible to tag a certain brand with

a certain "reputation". The quality of the optics does vary widely, as does the build quality - to a lesser

extent, I'd think.

If at all possible, please look for someone who owns either telescope - this will give you a rough idea

of the build quality. 

The next best thing you can do is to maybe talk to the dealer, and arrive at a set of conditions under

which you can return the telescope if you're not happy with it. Since you might not be able to try it

before you buy it, you could buy the scope, star-test it, and then decide to either keep it or return it.   

Lastly, Pyrex vs BK7 might not be much of a consideration. AFAICR, Pyrex and BK7 are not very

different from each other - they are both borosilicate glasses. Pyrex is a trademark owned by Corning,

and it is likely that a scope advertising "Pyrex" is making use of old stock from Corning :D The actual BK7

is made by Schott - but there's no guarantee that a scope advertising BK7 is actually using Schott BK7. 

The bottomline is that you won't come to know *anything* about the optical or build quality of your

telescope until you actually try it.

Best,

K.