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Orion SkyQuest XT8 IntelliScope
| Brand | Orion |
| Part Number | |
| Availability | available |
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Product Info
Overview
Reviews
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Aug 18, 2009
My first scope
Pros:Excellent all round performer, fantastic value for money
Cons:None
Comments:This is a fantastic scope for a beginner such as myself. It's (reasonably) portable, and so quick and easy to set-up. And for someone raised on Patrick Moore's books I knew I had to get at least 6" aperture.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
I particularly wanted to recommend the Intelliscope controller. Reading the internet fora you might be led to believe that computer controls were not for "real observers", and the only way to find an object was to star-hop. While I can sympathise with the sentiment, star-hopping through the pollution of the NYC suburbs, when on a good night only a few stars are visible to the naked eye, would have quickly led to disillusionment. With the Intelliscope it's easy to line up on two of the few stars that are visible, and then swing to scope to whatever is above the horizon.Feb 4, 2008Spectacular View!
Pros:Easy to use! Great Light Bucket!
Cons:Only 8" - No Real Cons!
Comments:I bought this scope during the Christmas sale. I had been saving up for the 6" IntelliScope but the sale price for the 8" was only $20 more. I had some problems with the accuracy of scope the first few days but I had purchased the scope from Starizona in Tuscon, AZ and they fixed it one evening for free.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
What a scope! Great light bucket for the price. Visually my back yard is a disaster. I have a street light about 75 feet from my scope, but I was able to see M31, M32, and M110 with little effort. Whatever I look at in the South-East to the South, I can find it easily.
The included eyepieces, 25mm and 10mm plossls, are good for general viewing. They are sharp through over 75% and not too bad the rest of the way to the edge. The 9x50 finderscope is better than the little 60mm Tasco I had as a kid! I have used the finder scope just for viewing sometimes. The 8" mirror looks sharp throughout with only a little fall off at the edges.
The IntelliScope computer is easy to use and alignment is very easy. I have had 0.0 warp factors many times (that is the best by the way)! I wish the lights were red instead of green but if you are not cruising the entire catalog in one short session, you can turn down the intensity and save your vision.
Overall I have spent many hours easily seeing down to mag 10 or better in my back yard. I spent a night trying to see every NGC object in one constellation and easily found them with the IntelliScope.
The fully assembled scope is easily carried from the house to the yard. For traveling to dark sky locations I purchased the padded carry bag which is very worth the price.Sort by
