Orion Skyview Deluxe 6"

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Brand and Model:Orion Skyview Deluxe 6"
Price ($USD):$429.00
Type:Newtonian
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:152mm (6")
f Ratio:f/4.9
Focal Length:750mm
Finder:6x30
Electric Power:Optional
Mount:Skyview Deluxe EQ
Tripod:Aluminum
Weight (lbs):37 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
Orion Skyview Deluxe 6"
This too was my first real telescope, and I have to say that I am very satisfied with it. It came packaged well and putting it all together wasn't a problem. The only real drawback to the scope as a whole is the finder scope, as I think with all eq mounted scopes, it's rough on the neck and back. So consiquently we changed it. The views I have with it are pretty breath taking for a 6" scope. Jupiters bands can be seen as with it's red spot, Saturns Rings are very crisp and clear, cassini's division is very distinct. I often push the scope to it's limits with no problems if the atmosphere cooperates. I added the Dual Axix drive system and that works real well too. As far as the mount, it could use a little more stablization.Tripod Stabilizer pads seem to help it a great deal.
One last thing, collimation, the scope came across the united states very well, the collimation was checked with the cross hair cheshire tube collimating tube and it showed it to be almost right on but with a laser collimator it is dead on now. 30 minutes of time on this. All in All in my opinion this a nice beginners scope as well as seasoned scope users.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:10 Mount:9 Ease of Use:8 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=185364

Orion Skyview Deluxe 6"
This was my first scope and it amazed me. BUT, the tripod was weak. In fact the screws dug into the metal legs and made a hole and the legs still would not stay in place. Of course this started well after the warranty was up. I permanently secured the legs to a set lenght. Then the worn screw drive on the Dec side torn up the internal gear so that it doesn't work any more. The tube and optics are fine and I still enjoy using the scope as it is a quick set up and does well here in the suburbs of Duoage county in Illinois. I get good views of Jupiter and Saturn. I can see the rings and the break between them and the planet without going to high magnification. With out filters I can see two cloud bands on Jupiter even when in a well lighted parking lot and old Sol coming up over the horizon. Basically the tube and mirrior I like but the EQ mount and tripod get a thumbs down.

Overall Rating: 5
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38698

Orion Skyview Deluxe 6"
I bought this scope used and it arrived in like new condition. I'm still trying to tweak the colimination but can't get it right on both sides of focus. Never seem to get a sharp focus - suspect spherical abberation. Focuser has a slot of slop in it that can only be taken up by tightening focus lock - which then makes focuser too stiff to operate.

Mount is fine although the supplied Accutrak drive needs constant fiddling to keep tracking.

I was dissappointed with this scope. I had hoped for more but I guess the Chinese optic affliction carries over into reflectors too.

Overall Rating: 6
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38697

Orion Skyview Deluxe 6"
I didn't know how sharp my modified C102 really was until I put this 6" f/5 Orion scope on the double double to find the usual newtonian flaring and diffraction spikes. The C102's star images are textbook pinpoints with dim first rings but the Orion is maybe two or three rings if you can get it collimated set exactly. I have yet to get the collimation perfectly set, but I have gotten it close, using Vega as my guide and fine tuning the primary and secondary adjustments. I estimate my optics to be 1/4 wavefront of overcorrection error judjing by the star test pattern, but the mirror's figure apears to be smooth, which helps things very much. Star images in the scope are smooth and tight when the scope is collimated and equalized to the outside air temp.
6" aperture in dark Arizona skies brings in globular clusters and nebulae well with all of my eyepieces. There is coma and astigmatism, and there is also some field curvature and edge distortion going on with my simple eyepieces (widescan, konig, plossl) but on the included barlow lens, these problems vanish. My 20mm Widescan is just like my 9mm nagler when barlowed. And speaking of how Naglers and UWA's do in this fast scope, they are sharp 90% of the way out and stars come apart in elongated fashion usual in a fast scope without a coma corrector.
As far as planetary images are concerned, Mars showed a crisp disc with surface detail and perhaps the polar cap but the seeing was kind of bad where Mars was, low in the sky. My C102 by contrast, which has been spherically adjusted (lens air spacing) and collimated to have basically a perfect star test, shows probably three times as much detail on Mars due to the Skyview's 33% (2" secondary mirror M.A.) central obstruction. But I am talking obscure low level detail that requires observing skill to pick up. The Orion is not as bad as my (1/3 wave foucault tested) 10" f/4.5 Meade Starfinder was on the planets. Ironically, with deep sky objects such as M51, M101, M82-2, M14, M3 (galaxies and globulars) I seem to be able to see just as deeply with the 6" Orion as I remember seeing with my 10" (no longer with me). I had M14 up to 300x last night with the 6" Skyview and it was definately resolved to the core. Every power over 50x gave this same impression. I had M82 at this same power and could pick up the mottling and dark rift down the center of the galaxy. I couldn't see the eyes in the owl nebula like I could with my 10", but could see the 13th mag. star next to the ring nebula, which was eerie and beautiful. M51 and 101 gave up their spiral structure in my 20mm widescan and 16mm Konig. I haven't even see the spiral in 101 in a 12.5" Orion dob when attempting to before, so there is definately great contrast on faint fuzzies with the 6" skyview.
The mount is solid but the legs do not dampen vibration. If I decide to hang onto this scope, I will get some 2x4's and make legs for the mount. You can lock the mount after finding an object with the lock levers and then slew in a very precise fashion with the slow motion cables (even at 300x). I had all my eyepieces in the scope, from my 1.5lb 14mm UWA to my light orthos and the locked mount did not lose its position. It is not like a dobsonian which will have its balance disturbed by switching eyepieces.
The combination of a solid mount and great deep sky performance, but not quite refractor sharp star images (I have been spoiled by refractors) warrants my score of 8. The scope is reasonably priced for the equipment supplied, as the barlow, plossls, mount, finder scope, and OTA construction are of good quality. By the way, a 10 score to me is given up to a scope with a perfect star test, solid mount, and great contrast. Perhaps that is why all of the AP refractors up the page have scores in the upper 9's. Look through a Takahashi or Astro Physics refractor at a star party if you ever have a chance; it will change your outlook of what is possible with moderate aperture.
Jeff Quinn

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38696

Orion Skyview Deluxe 6"
I've been using my SVD 6" for almost 4 months now. It's a good scope for the money. The mount is reasonably stable (vibrations dampen in a couple seconds). Precise focusing is a challenge because the image moves too much. But when well focused and colimated, I get very nice views of the moon and planets and brighter deep sky objects.

I generally can get quality images of planets up to about 150x. Anything higher than that gives more magnification but no additional resolution. Even with pretty good seeing. This is probably normal (25x per inch) but it would be nice to be able to get more out of it on better nights.

I added flocking paper to the inside of the tube, and use a dew shield to help keep out stray light (I have street lights within 50 feet of my backyard). With those enhancements I have seen M81 and M82, M65 and M66, a hint of M51, and M3 from my decidedly not dark sky site.

Colimation seems to hold well when the temperature is warmer. During the winter, it required adjustment every night I used it. Lately, I often check it and barely need to do any adjustments. The Howie Glatter laser colimator seems much better than the Orion one in my experience.

I have taken some photos of the sun, moon, and planets using my SVD. They can be seen online at:

http://www.visi.com/~dethier/astrophotography.htm

Overall, I'm quite satisfied with the SVD 6" reflector.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38695

Orion Skyview Deluxe 6"
I find the scope very exceptional. The tripod seems very stable, I have added options to it, ie. Dual Axis drive system, which works very well. The finder scope left a little bit to be desired so I replaced it with a right angle 8 x 50. I also added a telrad. I have heard others state that it would not stay collimated, I DO NOT find this to be true with mine. After fine tuning with a laser collimator, I take it in and out of the house with no problem, I do not seem to have any problem with cold weather changing it either. After collimation and the star test was perfect, the views of deep space are excellent and the planetary viewing is perfect. All in All it's a beautiful piece of equipment and with proper care it seems to stay that way.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38694

Orion Skyview Deluxe 6"
After doing lots of research, and making sure I did not spend more than $500 dollars on a scope... finally bought the Orion Skyview 6" EQ reflector.
It is well built, has a stable EQ mount, comes with good quality eyepieces and a moon filter.
Sure, I would love to own a bigger and more expensive scope... but until I can afford one of those I'm sure this one will do just fine... it is a great scope!
Price $499.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38693

Orion Skyview Deluxe 6"
I have been very pleased with this scope. This was my first telescope and I have enjoyed it. The only problem I had was a defective coating on the mirror. Orion has top notch customer service and fixed it in one day (not counting shipping). The skyview EQ mount and tripod is sturdy and does not shake much at all (even at high powers). Eyepieces are good quality. I recommend it.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38691

Orion Skyview Deluxe 6"
star test - ok but you need to collimate it quite often,
it seems to have good light gavering and the mount is average to above average
depending on your magnification.
I had no problems with the motor, and feel if push came to shove, I could
use this to take prime focus or projected pictures.
Not sure how well it will perform with a CCD, I should borrow one and
check it out.

stay tuned.!!!

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38690

Orion Skyview Deluxe 6"
crummy hard to align optics.focuser wobbles.motor drive interferes with mount movement at 25 degree latitude and below.not recommended.

Overall Rating: 2
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=38689

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