Overall Rating: 7
Optics:7 Mount:6 Ease of Use:7 Value:5
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date: 07/17/2002 04:56:30 pm PST
By: Staruser
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=112365

>This scope does not come close to a  Starmaster or Obsession Telescope in Quality of construction or optical performance.

Or price...

What do you expect for about half the price?  A StarMaster 18 inch is $6395 without options, and an Obsession 18 inch is $5295 without options (prices based on what is listed on their respective web sites).  Discovery 17.5 inch lists for $3395 without options.

I don't think the StarMaster and Obsession are twice as good as the Discovery optically - any optical difference is barely noticeable, and most people probably could not notice ANY difference. 

The differences in quality of construction and ease of use are more noticeable, and probably what somebody considering these telescopes should consider most when determining if the extra cost for the StarMaster and Obsession is justified.

Don't get me wrong, the StarMaster and Obsessions are nicer (and better) telescopes, but that doesn't make the Discovery a bad telescope, particularly if the price is considered.

Honestly have you ever looked through a Discovery 17.5".  I really doubt it because unless you eyes have some integrated optical testing sensors in them it would be near impossible to tell the difference between 1/4 -1/10RMS @5280Angstroms visually.  However, it is a trivial matter to analyze a given optical system per a star test.  I will agree with you on the quality of the construction but totally disagree with the optical performance.  It is a sad to think that most amateur astronomers assume that when a given mirror has some special wavefront test conducted that it deems it superior, without checking it themselves.  I have made 9 mirrors from 8" to 18" and believe that Discovery mirrors are as good as most others ie Nova.  
 
>This scope does not come close to a  Starmaster or Obsession Telescope in Quality of construction or optical performance.