Overall Rating: 1
Optics:8 Mount:0 Ease of Use:7 Value:3
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 09/08/2003 06:49:24 am PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.29.199)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=297725

I wonder if this poster installed the springs incorrectly.  This is a common issue.  See http://www.darofamily.com/jeff/links/dob/ for correct installation.

Also, I can't believe this scope was rated a 1 for a spring problem.  The optics are excellent and a simple average of the posters rankings makes it at least a 4.5.

Regards,

>Hardin currently sells two versions of their 8" Dob.  Note that the $299 version comes with a bad base that doesn't stretch the tension springs enough to hold the scope in position in altitude.  i.e., the scope drifts in the vertical, and *not* just when changing eyepieces.  Hardin offers a $349 version with a "new, improved" base that stretches the springs an additional 1/2", providing sufficient friction in altitude.  With the "new, improved" base, this is an excellent scope.  Otherwise, it borders on being the equivalent of a Department Store scope.

Why not just buy the less expensive one and do a little surgery to stretch the springs an extra 1/2"?  Seems like a quick/easy fix to save $50!


>Hardin currently sells two versions of their 8" Dob.  Note that the $299 version comes with a bad base that doesn't stretch the tension springs enough to hold the scope in position in altitude.  i.e., the scope drifts in the vertical, and *not* just when changing eyepieces.  Hardin offers a $349 version with a "new, improved" base that stretches the springs an additional 1/2", providing sufficient friction in altitude.  With the "new, improved" base, this is an excellent scope.  Otherwise, it borders on being the equivalent of a Department Store scope.