Let's talk 8" Newtonians

Hey Astro Gang,

Let's have one of our patented free-for-all discussions on what we think the best 8" Newtonian reflector OTA is (EQ mountables only please, no dobs, and for the moment let's say if price weren't too much of an object)!

Is it an offering from Parks or Discovery? Or perhaps it's the Vixen R200SS or the New Orion with Pyrex optics?

Let hear it guys (and girls of course as well)!

:v)

I just picked up my 8" f/6 Discovery PDHQ today and it is very well made with real plywood base and not the back breaking compressed/particle board. I especially like the Crayford focuser with the metal knob rather than plastic focuser. It was stiff to me (I'm so used to my buttery smooth Tele Vue focuser) but after I loosen the two tiny hex screw just a little, it's now quite smooth. The mount seems very smooth and balance quite well with my heavy 6mm Tele Vue Radian eyepiece.

I also asked Bill Larsen the owner today and he told me that Discovery buys the blanks and then grind it off first with machines. From then on, the mirror gets only hand treatment which I suppose is why the delivery time is so unpredictable ;-). Discovery sends out the mirror to be coated though and the PDHQ gets me enhanced coating. So you can see that Discovery really makes custom scopes. I even got my focuser on the left hand side instead. I'd go with Discovery over any brand, short of those premium ones like Starmaster, Mag 1, etc.

Ron B[ee]

Hi Bill,

Well those certainly look nice, but $3150. (plus another $169. for the rings) for an 8" Newt OTA?

When I said price is no object, I was just kidding!!

Alan

Teleport 7" or Portaball 8".