any opinions on...

... Hardin Optical's 8 inch Deep Space Hunter? I'm looking for a good scope at the smallest possible price (yes, I know that's hard to get), and I saw an ad for this scope at a really low price. But it's so low--$299--that I'm a little leery of just going for it. So... anyone know anything?

~Denise

If UPS does their part, (something I'm always very dubious about), then I should have one in hand tomorrow eve.
I doubt if I'll get a chance to actually use the thing for awhile, since it seems like my nightskies have been replaced by cotton candy. But, I'll definitely be posting impressions of it as I get a chance. All reports that I've read on these DSHes indicate that this is one heck of a bargain for a decent scope. Supposedly, they're made in Taiwan by the company that used to make them for Orion, before Orion switched to mainland Chinese scopes. Newsgroup reviews and comments tend to very slightly favor these Taiwanese scopes.
Honestly, with an 8x50 finder and (2) eyepieces worth about $100 combined, I don't see how far wrong one can go ordering one of these for $299. Even with shipping across the US, the total for mine was only $343. That's cheaper than I can build an 8" reflector. So, I'm pretty eager to see what I get, even if the skies in NC aren't cooperative for a bit.

More later...
Mike Swaim

I started out with an 8" skywatcher .. and now have moved up to a 10".

The 8" in my opinion is almost the perfect scope to start with... Very easy to use.. light enough to carry around, no learning curve in regards to the mount..etc etc..

They also show decent views of the planets and also gives great views of DSO.... It lets you get a taste of everything...

When you find yourself liking a certain type of object then you can move to a scope that will suit you better to that type of seeing... Ie: Bigger dob for the galaxies if that's what you like... But that's for much later..

The 8" is a lot of scope and will give you views to last a lifetime... and you may never need to buy another scope again..


just my .02

Mark V

I have never looked through one of these per se. However these are made by the same manufacturer that made the original Orion XT-8. I have one the original XT-8s and it is a fine scope. It was highly reviewed by Sky and Telescope a few years ago and has been upgraded since then, a 4 vane spider, a 2 inch focuser and an 8x50 finder a rew of the upgrades.

When Orion switched vendors, Hardin, OPT, Hands on Optics and a few others picked these scopes up.

This scope at $300 is the best value currently available for a serious scope capable of doing some serious deep sky and planetary work.

Jon

Buy it. You'd be hard pressed to find another scope that can provide the views that this one will provide for $300. There are many folks on the Skyquest group that have taken advantage of this deal on the 6", 8" and 10" and their scopes look to be every bit as good as my Orion XT10. I wish this deal was around when I bought mine. No doubt which one I would buy.

Clear skies,

Tom

Thanks a million, everyone who responded! I'm currently working my way through all those links, although it's going to take a lot to get me away from the idea of a reflector. I wasn't thinking very clearly last night, or I would have thought to mention that I had a small refractor (all of three inches) for about eight or nine years, although I haven't had even that little guy for a long time. Yeah, it was tough and able to survive all the crap I put it through, but I've wanted a bigger one for a very long time now. And plus, I just spent quite a while at the Grand Canyon Star Party getting hooked on the big scopes. True, I'll look at just about anything up in the sky, but I have a thing for nebulas. And as far as seeing goes, I'm pretty lucky in that department, since I live in Arizona.
So things are looking pretty good for the Deep Space Hunter. Thanks again for all the input!

~Denise