Orion SkyQuest XT10 10" Classic Dobsonian
(2 Orion SkyQuest XT10 Reviews)
Your Price:
$499.95
Usually ships in 3-5 weeks
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(2 Orion SkyQuest XT10 Reviews)
Your Price:
$499.95
Usually ships in 3-5 weeks
Manufacturer: Orion
Aperture Modes: over-200mm
Telescope Type: dobsonian-reflector
Model SKU: B001DJ4FEE
I've Reviewed the XT6 & XT8, Might as Well review this one also.
by R. Kirkham
from Rushville, Illinois USA,
2009-11-29
That's right, I own an Orion XT6, XT8, and XT10. I use them for leading seminars. I seem to buy a new one each year. So far I have always kept the previous one. I can probably compare them as well as anyone. They are all sitting side by side in my shed. For the purpose of this review I will compare the XT8 & XT10.
REASONS TO PURCHASE THE XT10
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Larger aperture. Yes, it makes a big difference. It was worth the money to take a step up in size. Some views that were beyond the grasp of my 6, and only located with my 8, are now easy to see in my 10.
REASONS TO PURCHASE THE XT8
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Money. There is a jump in cost. Both the 8 and 10 are powerful enough to do serious astronomy. Both are good scopes. Both should last for years. There is always a bigger scope out there for a few more dollars. One must draw the line somewhere.
Weight. In my mind the 8" is the largest of the truly inexpensive, portable dobs and the smallest of the large aperture light buckets. The 6" is a wonderful scope. I don't intend to let go of it, but I wouldn't call it a large aperture scope. The 10" is a light bucket, but I wouldn't call it easily portable. The 8" is both. I have the strength to move my 10", but noticed that I wasn't using it as much. Then I purchased a garden cart to haul it around in, and now I use it several times a week. It wasn't that I couldn't pick it up, it was just awkward and I was worried that I was going to break it.
BOTTOM LINE
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If you have the money and don't need to lug it around a lot, get the 10". I'm glad I did.
If the cost is prohibitive or you need to move it around a lot, get the 8". All three are excellent scopes.
If you lead regular astronomy seminars and need some good quality dobs so you can create teams of three or four students per scope, get them all! That's what I did, until my wife tells me that one of them must go.
Awesome telescope, more than worth the money!
by J. Owens
from Connecticut,
2009-09-12
This is a great telescope. I highly recommend it. The only drawback to it is its size, but the size aides in its stability. All in all, it is a fantastic product!