are made of metal as well. Looking forward to receiving my 102MC in the next few days/weeks depending on supply. I've had the 300p Flextube GoTo for a year now and am delighted with it. The primary mirror, being as heavy as it is, does not hold its collimation that well so tweaking it once in a while (I check it every time I head out) might be good. Skywatcher Heritage 150p or SW Skyliner 150p? have you looked at teleskopservice for the gso dobs?i looked at one and was close to buying but heard better reviews about the lightbridge and the skywatcher. I am given to understand that wildlife is scared by unnatural sounds, so this one fits the bill nicely. This doesn't match the images. By Once the OTA is in, I load the mount in the boot – there is no problem with the estate car, but hatchback struggles, and I have to put it in horizontally - it is like solving the Hedgehog in the Cage puzzle. Another cracking and well illustrated review - thanks again . I just got the Skywatcher 12 Collapsible Dobsonian. The dust bands of the Andromeda Galaxy pop out miraculously, and I am able to resolve individual stars in every globular cluster I have tried so far. For sale is my beloved but now superfluous to requirements HEQ5 Pro for £650. Thank you for this review. I can finally dive into observing dim and small galaxies and galaxy clusters, and I can finally see some famous objects like the Stephan’s Quintet or the Veil Nebula. Continued use of SGL indicates your acceptance of our cookie policy. There are two types of this scope - the one reviewed is the solid tube version - the other is a truss tube based version called the "Flextube". The secondary mirror is held in place with a four-vane spider assembly, which allows you to adjust its position in all four directions to make it as dead centre as possible. This 12-inch telescope features a very innovative design. Another cracking and well illustrated review - thanks again. Dobsonian telescopes are great because you get a lot of aperture for your money. When I transport the thing by a small hatchback (Clio), the things get a bit tricky – I have to fold down the front passenger seat and remove the rear seat to let it fold flat. The plastic parts touch the metal tube, which results in occasional squeak and creak now and then, which can get really annoying. As you might expect, objects like Orion nebula look fantastic, and I can even see some nebulosity around the Seven Sisters in Pleiades. So for me, the Sky-Watcher SynScan’s combination of Dobsonian design and GoTo convenience is, indeed, a match made in heaven. There is even a shelf for your eyepiece with holes in them (three for 1.25” and one for 2” eyepieces), which seems nice, but for me, it is in a rather awkward position. I have described my first impressions of the scope here: The heart of this puny thing is a parabolic primary mirror of 305 mm diameter (12”). Initially, I was worried about scratching the thing when moving it so I wrapped it in a bed sheet, but it has proven unnecessary, and even dangerous that it might slip out of the sheet. Innovative Design. assasincz, November 5, 2012 in Member Equipment Reviews. Of course, when considering the OTA’s shape and size, it all rather resembles a large dustbin; this means that every knock on the OTA gets amplified and it all sounds a bit too hollow, or tubby, which on one hand does not really feel assuring regarding the scopes build quality, but on the other, it is a great tool for scaring away stray wildlife at night - you just knock on the OTA and they are gone. Anyway, as you might have guessed, Skywatcher Skyliner 300P dobsonian telescope is no midget. What was surprising for me was that despite the fact the online description said the mount would come with Teflon pads, it came with roller bearing instead (for azimuth axis). Of course you stretch your back a bit, but at least it’s quick and very simple. I once invited a friend over for some observing, who has never seen a telescope of any sort up close - he was able to observe Jupiter and follow it on his own in 10 minutes or so. Maybe the design has changed? Powered by Invision Community. You can set up the telescope, despite its size, in less than 3 minutes I’ve checked), even when you are on your own. 5 Top 12-Inch Dobsonian Telescopes Best 12 Inch Telescope SkyWatcher Collapsible Dobsonian. It also comes with a choice of "tracking only" or "goto" - so you need to distinguish the different models. I have had my 300P dobsonian for nearly a year now, and it has occurred to me that I finally may be qualified enough to write a review about this little beast. Aperture: 12.5 inches (30 cm) Focal length: 1,500 mm Focal ratio: f/5 Weight: Mount 23 kg; Tube 20 kg