Orion SkyQuest XT6 (Intelliscope) Dobsonian


 Info  Votes  Messages  More Stats  Up One Level
Switch to Subject View
Post Message



Page 1 of 1


Subject: Moved Message
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.83.93)
Date: 02/14/2001 12:39:34 pm PST
The secret of this scope is it's long focal length and the small secondary mirror. The secondary mirror is 20% of the overall apperature. Obstructions 20% or smaller have almost no effect on the resolution of the scope. Verses the 8" scope with its 2" secondary at 25% of the overall apperature. When the secondary is larger than about 20% of the overall apperature of the scope, you can subtract the size of the secondary from the overall apperature of the scope to determine its resolving capacity. So the 8" scope minuse the 2" secondary can not resolve any better than a 6" clear apperature scope or a 6" scope with a smaller than 20% obstruction.


Reply
Post Un-related Message


Subject: Re: vote by percy_smogg
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.150.130)
Date: 09/14/2002 02:49:41 pm PST
I must say I'm surprised at the lack of quality of your XT6's focuser (image shift). I went through three products before purchasing my XT6, and returned them all with the focuser being extemely poor in all three. One was a Celestron refractor, and two were from Meade, both reflecters. All three of them had an EXTREMEM amount of image shift when I focused in or out, and the Meade focuser was obvious after thought cheap plastic junk. The instant I first focused with my XT6 is was so overwhelmingly obvious it was better than my previous purchases I knew (or assumed) the rest of the scope would prove as nice, which it did. Granted I'm an extreme amateur, I still can spot obvious differences in workmanship. I'm willing to bet if you called Orion they would be happy to exchange your scope.



>Optics provide good resolution; but my other six-incher, the Celestron CR150HD refractor, shows slightly more detail (albeit with a purple halo around bright objects). The XT6 does a good job on double stars, but getting any significant detail out of the larger globular clusters with the XT6 is a bit dicey under "typical" city observing conditions. In a semi-dark location, clusters such as M13 and M22 yield a few resolved stars with typical conditions. I suspect it would take exceptional conditions to dig any stars out medium clusters such as M92 and M15. The XT6 splits the double-double with Orion's 15mm Ultrscopic combined with their Ultrascopic barlow. And in the moments of clear viewing, it can be seen that the split is quite clean. A star test looks good. I think the optics on this scope will make it a good planetary and double star scope, but I can't verify its planetary abilities at this time since the only view I've had of Saturn has been low in the sky on a so-so night.
>
>I do have some complaints about the mechanical qualities of the scope.
>
>The mount is rather stiff, probably because the spring tension supplies a little too much tension. When adjusting altitude, there is a tendency of the bearings to initially resist movement then suddenly break loose causing you to go past your target (I think this is called "stiction".). I haven't gotten around to it yet, but I intend to move the teflon base pads a bit closer in to the center to make azimuth movements a little easier; either that or do the milk carton thing.
>

[snipped by webmaster]


Reply
Post Un-related Message


Subject: Re: vote by percy_smogg
By: percy_smogg
In Reply to: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.150.130) (Original Message)
Date: 09/16/2002 04:06:39 am PST
You're surprise? I was surprised!
As far as Orion's response: It was actually rather disappointing. They just blew it off and told me to tighten the tensioner -- which just made the focuser tube rock around more. My experience with service from Orion has been very bad so far. Right now, I am going 'round and 'round with them just to get them to replace a broken O-ring (a one-dollar part) in an Apex 127. I tried to get them to send me one so I could replace it myself which would save everyone time and shipping money. But they insisted I send in the scope (at my expense); then they just put the defective ring back in the scope (it had fallen out because it was broken) and tried to charge me for the labor and the return shipping (totaling about $45) even though it is still under warranty. As long as I was required to return the scope, I asked them to check the optics since the scope has never been better than mediocre. They didn't even bother to respond to that one.

From your message, it sounds like some maker of crappy focusers has managed to sell a bunch of junk to scope makers recently.

>I must say I'm surprised at the lack of quality of your XT6's focuser (image shift). I went through three products before purchasing my XT6, and returned them all with the focuser being extemely poor in all three. One was a Celestron refractor, and two were from Meade, both reflecters. All three of them had an EXTREMEM amount of image shift when I focused in or out, and the Meade focuser was obvious after thought cheap plastic junk. The instant I first focused with my XT6 is was so overwhelmingly obvious it was better than my previous purchases I knew (or assumed) the rest of the scope would prove as nice, which it did. Granted I'm an extreme amateur, I still can spot obvious differences in workmanship.


Reply
Post Un-related Message


Subject: Re: vote by xxx.xxx.253.69
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.253.1)
Date: 01/09/2004 03:28:03 pm PST
>got my xt6 yesterday took 50 min to put together and set up . WOW what a beautiful scope . unfortunatly i cant use it today because i have PINK EYE :(


I hope your eye is healing, even though I have a Celestron
8" Dob, I'm thinking of buying an Orion XT6-Classic from their website for a second easy to transport planetary
scope. Is that a good idea? The XT6-Classic is only
$299 with free planetary filters!


Reply
Post Un-related Message


Subject: My XT6 comments
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.198.126)
Date: 03/11/2004 11:31:10 pm PST
I'm not qualified enough with telescopes to vote. I've only worked with department store grade stuff, generally. With that in mind, I have to say I am _super_ impressed with my XT6. I put it together last night and I am just amazed at the quality of construction and optics. I've only tested it on terrestrial targets but the images are so clear and large. The telescope movement is good, the finder scope is so easy to calibrate. It is a crime to sell department store refractors! I've worked with another decent reflector for some time, maybe a 4.5", but this blows that away as well.

So my executive summary - this scope is WORTH the 300 dollars (current price, not 330 as shown above). I almost wish I'd gone with the XT8 now, since it apparantly uses the same mount and isn't much heavier.


Reply
Post Un-related Message


Subject: Re: vote by xxx.xxx.1.161
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.57.193)
Date: 09/01/2004 08:55:02 am PST
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!


Reply
Post Un-related Message


Subject: Re: vote by xxx.xxx.212.119
By: brightstar
Date: 12/22/2008 03:22:33 pm PST
>Simple, if your in the market for a telescope GET THIS ONE. I purchased a 6" Meade Dob in 1995, returned it. Thinking that all dobs must be like this, I decided to jump right in and get an 8" SCT. I have used that scope ever since. From about $499 to $1899! Last week I picked up one of these Orion's Intelliscope used. Now thats 13 years of using an 8" SCT, and many many nights observing with 4 different astronomy clubs, so I think I am qualified to say that this scope gives me better images then my 8" SCT! Star images are tighter, and it takes power better too (6mm Ortho and nice star images). Hell, I even glimpsed 6 stars in the Trapesium! Glimpsed yes, I could hint on the 6th, 5th was there averted in moments of good seeing. The Intelliscope accuracy is ok, 6 out of 7 objects, I don't think I found the 1 triple star that I was hunting. I had to train it twice to get it within the accuracy guidelines, but very simple. I have only used it once so far however. Mount movement is a bit stiff in azimuth, but there are a number of after market upgrades <$40 to improve the motion. Altitude movements very smooth. What a wonderful scope. So I recommend NOT buying an 8" SCT and getting this scope with accessories such as Televue Eyepieces, a Red-Dot finder, finder charts just for reference, and a nice observing chair. DON'T do what I did and spend $$$ on a scope, this is going to keep you happy for a very long time. My 8" SCT is going to be collecting some dust for quite some time.
>
>jk

Direct comparison to my 8" SCT. Oh yes, 8" Celestron Ultima 8 PEC, considered by many to be the finest 8" SCT ever made.

Last night I observed, I mean really took in and observed every minute detail of the nebula with the Orion. The view was stunning. Compared to my 8" SCT, I loved the tight star images and the amount of detail was equal if not better in my opinion because of the wider field of view of in the 6". I used the same eyepieces btw. Oh, and I barlowed a 6mm Ortho in the Orion and it STILL held up the image.

I viewed directly, thats DIRECTLY 6 stars in the Trapesium with the Orion, my 8" SCT I could see the 5th, but only very very hints of the 6th. Again the tight star images of the 6" impressed me. I had a level of simplicity and comfort viewing that I had never had with my 8" SCT. Just a $17 folding stool and 3 eyepieces w/barlow and I was happy. Maybe my old 8" SCT friend is out of collimation, but it sure looked aligned to me. Maybe something else going on with it, don't know but it was simply bested by the 6" Orion Intelliscope. HIGHLY Recommended!


Reply
Post Un-related Message


Page 1 of 1

[Click Here to Login]
Don't have a login? Register!