Mirror on Orion XT10i 10" dob f/4.7

I really like my xt10i 10" dob f/4.7. Easy setup, great GoTo (spot on), but I want a better mirror :S .

Should I send in the mirror to make it a "better" mirror (if so, where to send?), or should I use it as my wife's makeup mirror and order a great mirror such as a Pegasus, Galaxy, etc???

Or should I sell the xti and get a used Starmaster[can u spell Zambuto?]/ Obsession/ Portaball???

I have that [expensive] "great mirror" thing going on...ugh. I can't really push the aperture beyond 12.5" due to weight/ portability/cost concerns.

Thoughts???

Mark:

What seems to be the problem with your current mirror? Have you identified a problem with it?

Jon

That all depends on the size of your wallet. I have had a few Orion dobs and they are great for the money.
I still have an Orion xt8 that I have done some work to. Flocking the tube, slightly smaller secondary, extending the primary so the focal point is closer to the secondary all helped without spending alot of money and I still have the stock primary mirror. I get better contrast and its much sharper for planetary views.
I also picked up a used 12.5 Discovery and the views are amazing.
My point, I guess, is there is alot in between a stock Orion dob and taking the pludge for an Obsession or real premium mirror.
But if money is no object.............

Thanks.

I guess I want better views. There is nothing wrong per se with the mirror, but I suspect the Optical Certification would fall short: a standard Orion mirror is no where near the specs of a good mirror. I believe I read in one of Todd Gross's reviews that some of his best views were on a 10 inch dob with a Zambuto mirror, and I know his favorite mid size was a 14.5 inch Starmaster EL (Zambuto)... I have a 4 inch TV refractor, and while I love the crisp views, aperture rules. My $$ is limited so a large refractor is not in the mix. Plus I really don't want to deal with a computerized mount. I figure if I can put an expensive ($1200?) high quality mirror in my current dob it might be better than cashing out big bucks for the likes of a Starmaster, etc...

Would it be worthwhile to send my mirror in and get it checked out, and ask for recommendations to improve the specs (new coating, etc?)?

I am someone who actually replaced the XT10 stock mirrors with premium ones. My new primary 10" Pyrex mirror was made by Ed Stevens -- a reputable optician who used to be part of the Zambuto team. My secondary mirror is quartz from ProtoStar. I also replaced my focuser with a Moonlite with tri-knobs. The cost of these 3 upgrades was in excess of $1500 -- 2.5X the cost of my original XT10.

Would I do it all over again? Yes
Would I unequivocally recommend the same upgrades to other XT10 owners? No
I said “No” because the improvement is subtle and might not be worth it to everyone. To appreciate the premium optics, you need to be an experienced observer; otherwise, you will hardly tell the difference. Do not expect a jump in view quality akin to the jump for an old CRT TV to a new High-Definition TV. It is more akin to the difference between a low-end HD TV versus a high-end HD TV.

If you are keen on improving the quality of your views then make sure you have covered your less expensive basics such as flocking and mastering the art of collimation before considering premium optics. A perfectly collimated stock optics might outperform a less optimally collimated premium optics

Bottom line, based on my experience I have more appreciation for premium optics and more respect for stock optics.

Jason