XT Classic sale got me-anyone else?

I bit and bought the XT8, after too much thinking about which dob to
get. I ordered it 9/11 and received it this past Saturday 9/19. I
had decided on the Discovery at one time, with their great mirrors,
made in USA and many options. My budget conscious would eventually
show up and, when the XTs went on sale-$60 off amounting to free
shipping-the choice was made for me.

Having the XT4.5, I knew the build of these scopes-pretty solid, and
with looks having nothing to do with the views except the black
helping to keep your nightvision intact-they look good.

While the XT4.5's views especially of the moon are sharp, the XT8's
views are sharp with more clarity-detail on/in the edges of
craters-really nice, expected with the increase in resolution due to
larger aperture, just didn't really know what to expect with the jump
from 4.5' to 8".

The azimuth and altitude movements are fine, no complaints. The
focuser is fine, might could use just a tad tightening, but overall it
works smooth-feel no need to change the grease. I've went out with
this scope twice since I've had it, so it will put me through my paces
for a while.

I bought a cheshire, but for now I want to keep collimation simple.
On my XT4.5, just recently got the secondary back in line-it can be a
pain when it's off (my fault-had to see what's what), so like I've
read at Joe Schlatter's XT8 page-
http://www.schlatter.org/Dad/Astronomy/xt%208.htm
-I'll keep my hands off as much as possible. The collimation cap
works fine for now. I may send the cheshire back and get the red-dot
finder instead, will wait and see.

I also got the 9mm Expanse ep, having never looked through
Nagler/Pentax etc. eps, I've had a Takahashi-(nice...) I will say the
views are fine. The first ep I grabbed to look at the moon (this past
Monday evening) showed the clarity in the crater walls-nice detail.
The eye relief is more than the plossls, it will blackout, but I did
get used to it-that wide field is neat. Contrast is better than
Sirius plossls, I'd say for the wider field on par or close to the
Highlight plossls, which I believe are comparable to UO's. The moon
looked great.

On splitting the double-double in Lyra: 1st place-7mm UO classic, very
close 2nd place-6.3mm Highlight, 3rd place: 10mm Highlight plossl,
very close 4th place 9mm Expanse (3rd & 4th were neck & neck),
last-the 10mm Sirius plossl. (My cheapie ep roundup...). The Sirius
plossls have done well for me before-different seeing conditions-very
clear/clean splits on doubles. We've been humid lately.

I did save by getting this scope, so I splurged on an Astronomiks UHC
filter-ordered today from OPT, hopefully that will help me see what's
going on in Sagittarius-Cygnus area, as well as any and everywhere
else. I didn't get the Intelliscope, yet perhaps this might help me
find elusive objects.


Hope the skies clear tonight-preferrably tomorrow morning for an early
view of Saturn.

Clear skies,
Kerry
s.e. Louisiana

kowen wrote:
I bit and bought the XT8, after too much thinking about which dob to
get. I ordered it 9/11 and received it this past Saturday 9/19. I
had decided on the Discovery at one time, with their great mirrors,
made in USA and many options. My budget conscious would eventually
show up and, when the XTs went on sale-$60 off amounting to free
shipping-the choice was made for me.

No way to go wrong with that choice.

Phil

If I may, let me recommend a Meade 25mm SWA, used. They are
affordable and you will love the views... poor man's Nagler.



kowen wrote:

I bit and bought the XT8, after too much thinking about which dob to
get. I ordered it 9/11 and received it this past Saturday 9/19. I
had decided on the Discovery at one time, with their great mirrors,
made in USA and many options. My budget conscious would eventually
show up and, when the XTs went on sale-$60 off amounting to free
shipping-the choice was made for me.

Having the XT4.5, I knew the build of these scopes-pretty solid, and
with looks having nothing to do with the views except the black
helping to keep your nightvision intact-they look good.

While the XT4.5's views especially of the moon are sharp, the XT8's
views are sharp with more clarity-detail on/in the edges of
craters-really nice, expected with the increase in resolution due to
larger aperture, just didn't really know what to expect with the jump
from 4.5' to 8".

The azimuth and altitude movements are fine, no complaints. The
focuser is fine, might could use just a tad tightening, but overall it
works smooth-feel no need to change the grease. I've went out with
this scope twice since I've had it, so it will put me through my paces
for a while.

I bought a cheshire, but for now I want to keep collimation simple.
On my XT4.5, just recently got the secondary back in line-it can be a
pain when it's off (my fault-had to see what's what), so like I've
read at Joe Schlatter's XT8 page-
http://www.schlatter.org/Dad/Astronomy/xt%208.htm
-I'll keep my hands off as much as possible. The collimation cap
works fine for now. I may send the cheshire back and get the red-dot
finder instead, will wait and see.

I also got the 9mm Expanse ep, having never looked through
Nagler/Pentax etc. eps, I've had a Takahashi-(nice...) I will say the
views are fine. The first ep I grabbed to look at the moon (this past
Monday evening) showed the clarity in the crater walls-nice detail.
The eye relief is more than the plossls, it will blackout, but I did
get used to it-that wide field is neat. Contrast is better than
Sirius plossls, I'd say for the wider field on par or close to the
Highlight plossls, which I believe are comparable to UO's. The moon
looked great.

On splitting the double-double in Lyra: 1st place-7mm UO classic, very
close 2nd place-6.3mm Highlight, 3rd place: 10mm Highlight plossl,
very close 4th place 9mm Expanse (3rd & 4th were neck & neck),
last-the 10mm Sirius plossl. (My cheapie ep roundup...). The Sirius
plossls have done well for me before-different seeing conditions-very
clear/clean splits on doubles. We've been humid lately.

I did save by getting this scope, so I splurged on an Astronomiks UHC
filter-ordered today from OPT, hopefully that will help me see what's
going on in Sagittarius-Cygnus area, as well as any and everywhere
else. I didn't get the Intelliscope, yet perhaps this might help me
find elusive objects.

Hope the skies clear tonight-preferrably tomorrow morning for an early
view of Saturn.

Clear skies,
Kerry
s.e. Louisiana

"kowen" wrote in message
...
I bit and bought the XT8, after too much thinking about which dob to
get. I ordered it 9/11 and received it this past Saturday 9/19. I
had decided on the Discovery at one time, with their great mirrors,
made in USA and many options. My budget conscious would eventually
show up and, when the XTs went on sale-$60 off amounting to free
shipping-the choice was made for me.

Having the XT4.5, I knew the build of these scopes-pretty solid, and
with looks having nothing to do with the views except the black
helping to keep your nightvision intact-they look good.

While the XT4.5's views especially of the moon are sharp, the XT8's
views are sharp with more clarity-detail on/in the edges of
craters-really nice, expected with the increase in resolution due to
larger aperture, just didn't really know what to expect with the jump
from 4.5' to 8".

The azimuth and altitude movements are fine, no complaints. The
focuser is fine, might could use just a tad tightening, but overall it
works smooth-feel no need to change the grease. I've went out with
this scope twice since I've had it, so it will put me through my paces
for a while.


Look closely at the focuser -- I may have a photo of this on my collimation
page (which you have visited). On the focuser are two tiny Allen-head
screws -- I think it's 1.5mm Allen head. Tighten these to tighten the
focuser action.


--

-----
Joe S.



I bought a cheshire, but for now I want to keep collimation simple.
On my XT4.5, just recently got the secondary back in line-it can be a
pain when it's off (my fault-had to see what's what), so like I've
read at Joe Schlatter's XT8 page-
http://www.schlatter.org/Dad/Astronomy/xt%208.htm
-I'll keep my hands off as much as possible. The collimation cap
works fine for now. I may send the cheshire back and get the red-dot
finder instead, will wait and see.

I also got the 9mm Expanse ep, having never looked through
Nagler/Pentax etc. eps, I've had a Takahashi-(nice...) I will say the
views are fine. The first ep I grabbed to look at the moon (this past
Monday evening) showed the clarity in the crater walls-nice detail.
The eye relief is more than the plossls, it will blackout, but I did
get used to it-that wide field is neat. Contrast is better than
Sirius plossls, I'd say for the wider field on par or close to the
Highlight plossls, which I believe are comparable to UO's. The moon
looked great.

On splitting the double-double in Lyra: 1st place-7mm UO classic, very
close 2nd place-6.3mm Highlight, 3rd place: 10mm Highlight plossl,
very close 4th place 9mm Expanse (3rd & 4th were neck & neck),
last-the 10mm Sirius plossl. (My cheapie ep roundup...). The Sirius
plossls have done well for me before-different seeing conditions-very
clear/clean splits on doubles. We've been humid lately.

I did save by getting this scope, so I splurged on an Astronomiks UHC
filter-ordered today from OPT, hopefully that will help me see what's
going on in Sagittarius-Cygnus area, as well as any and everywhere
else. I didn't get the Intelliscope, yet perhaps this might help me
find elusive objects.


Hope the skies clear tonight-preferrably tomorrow morning for an early
view of Saturn.

Clear skies,
Kerry
s.e. Louisiana

If the focuser seems loose, there IS an adjustment control on it to tighten it
up or loosen it up a bit. It will even lock it in place for those over-heavy
EP's.
Clear, Dark, Steady Skies!
(And considerate neighbors!!!)

The XT8 is a fine scope, got one in 2001 & have no complaints.

There's a knob on the underside of the focuser on mine that adjusts how
easily the EP tube moves. Perhaps you have a different version though,
there are at least two versions of the pre computer assisted XT8 that have
different focusers (1 1/2" and 2"). I don't know what the 2" focuser looks
like, I suspect taht's what's described below.

Regards, Michael Kreuzer
--
Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien. E.P.
"Joe S." deleted(underscore)2athotmaildotcom wrote in message
...

The azimuth and altitude movements are fine, no complaints. The
focuser is fine, might could use just a tad tightening, but overall it
works smooth-feel no need to change the grease. I've went out with
this scope twice since I've had it, so it will put me through my paces
for a while.


Look closely at the focuser -- I may have a photo of this on my
collimation
page (which you have visited). On the focuser are two tiny Allen-head
screws -- I think it's 1.5mm Allen head. Tighten these to tighten the
focuser action.