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Orion SkyQuest XT6 (Intelliscope) Dobsonian

I love my XT-6. The telescope is well built, and the focuser is great.This was my 1st telescope purchase in about a decade, and I couldn't be happier. It provides great views of the M Objects and even a few NGC's that I have been able to locate. The ease of use is fantastic, and is eminently portable and quickly set up. The correc-tension springs work as advertised, allowing a change of eyepieces or the addition of a barlow without affecting balance. The downside is the base motions are rather "jerky" when using high power(definately takes a little more than a "gentle nudge" to move the az) , but I have read that if you make "washers" from a plastic milk jug and use them between the bottom plates it can help smooth the motions. Collimation is easy and takes just a minute or two, but I wish they had included thumbscrews instead of phillips - it would make the job much easier. I don't have anything to compare it to (except my old Sears Tasco 650X scope which couldn't even dream of coming close in useability or viewability), but I believe it to be a very capable, inexpensive scope that will keep me happy for quite some time. Highly recommended for an old "newbie" like myself!

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 09/26/2000 05:01:12 am PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.1.161)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=39678

if you want i think you can replace the phillips screws with knobs you can buy online.  just search google for "bobs knobs"

i think you'll find what you want there.


>I love my XT-6. The telescope is well built, and the focuser is great.This was my 1st telescope purchase in about a decade, and I couldn't be happier. It provides great views of the M Objects and even a few NGC's that I have been able to locate. The ease of use is fantastic, and is eminently portable and quickly set up. The correc-tension springs work as advertised, allowing a change of eyepieces or the addition of a barlow without affecting balance. The downside is the base motions are rather "jerky" when using high power(definately takes a little more than a "gentle nudge" to move the az) , but I have read that if you make "washers" from a plastic milk jug and use them between the bottom plates it can help smooth the motions. Collimation is easy and takes just a minute or two, but I wish they had included thumbscrews instead of phillips - it would make the job much easier. I don't have anything to compare it to (except my old Sears Tasco 650X scope which couldn't even dream of coming close in useability or viewability), but I believe it to be a very capable, inexpensive scope that will keep me happy for quite some time. Highly recommended for an old "newbie" like myself!

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