Let me first start off by saying hello. This is my first post on this forum. Before we start. I did try and search for 12" dob and got nothing hence my post.

So the question is in your opinion what's the best bang for buck out there when it comes to a 12: DOB and why.

I'd like to upgrade to a 12" DOB there are several options out there but I was wondering if anyone particular brand is better than another. So far I'm leaning towards the Orion SkyQuest 12 with intelesync
http://www.telescope.com/shopping/pr...oductID=276946

I'll be doing mostly deep space viewing with the ocasional planetary viewing. I do have a bit of a light polution issue here in North Atlanta.

Is there a better bang for buck out there? Portability wont be an issue. I've got a big SUV and wont have problems shelping the 80lbs around.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and comments.

The Orion dob should be a great one, but I prefer the non-intellescope versions. IMO learning the sky is half the fun, but to each his own.

As far as other 12" dobs, what is your budget? Bang for the buck, the Orion is a good choice, but there are others out there as well, esp. if you also consider a truss style dob. You might check out www.scopereviews.com there are a few reviews of 12" scopes. You could also check out the 12" offerings from:
http://www.discovery-telescopes.com/scopes.html
http://www.starsplitter.com/index1.html
http://www.starmastertelescopes.com/
http://www.meade.com/lightbridge/index.html

A 12 inch dob is in the border area, when deciding on a tube versus a truss.

The tube for a 12 inch is about as big as most people would want to handle, and too big for some.

So even though you say the size and weight isn't a problem, you still might want to consider some of the truss models.

__________________
"I'm as accurate as any psychic. And I'm a cartoon!" -- Squidward

"Arrrgh, the laws of physics be a harsh mistress!" -- Bender

Other possibilites include a TScope truss-tube Dob or a 12.5" NightSky truss-tube Dob structure with a user-supplied primary mirror if cost is not a major factor.

FYI: Rumor has it that Starsplitter may no longer be in business.

Dave Mitsky

__________________
Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

One more, Obsession makes a 12.5 inch

http://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/

__________________
"I'm as accurate as any psychic. And I'm a cartoon!" -- Squidward

"Arrrgh, the laws of physics be a harsh mistress!" -- Bender

Thanks for the update. I also was going to mention a Portaball, but I see that Mag 1 is now out of business.

That's what happens when I go a few years without shopping for a telescope!

__________________
"I'm as accurate as any psychic. And I'm a cartoon!" -- Squidward

"Arrrgh, the laws of physics be a harsh mistress!" -- Bender

Yes, sadly Mag 1 Instruments is no more. All the American premium truss-tube Dob manufacturers are basically shoestring operations. Pressure from the Chinese, the shrinking market for high-end astronomy gear, and retirement may put them all out of business before too long.

Dave Mitsky

__________________
Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

I have an Orion XT12 Dob and can tell you that I have found it pretty touchy to collimate, as all the bigger mirror scopes are. But I expect that with anything as there are the tradeoffs.

Dew is a bigger problem with XT12s than with the truss models because the secondary has a post cemented to the rear of the secondary which functions to fasten it to the spider vanes, prohibiting the use of a Kendrick heater or any circuit board heater that would need to be adhered to the rear of a secondary in order to supply uniform heat...There is simply no place to put it. So I have to rig something up on my own, some resistors that function with the right amont of applied voltage to provide the precise temperature to ward off the dew while not warping the mirror..The secondaries of most truss models do not have posts cemented to the rears of their secondaries AFAIK.

The big tube is pretty heavy and I do not have much trouble handling it. If you have never had any experience in weight lifting or athletics of some sort, then you might reconsider and buy a truss. I have seen 105 lb people put up a 20 inch Obsession in 5 minutes, barely breaking into so much as a sweat.

The focuser tube is not all that good and Orion even admits it in the owner's manual..Mine needed a serious alignment change from what the maufacturer provided out of the box just to get the red laser to function properly. It still needs realigning since it does not do quite that well in a star test and I have owned it for over a year. I have thought from time to time that the primary might have been mismanufactured.

The scope still draws big crowds despite all its setbacks. Using a binoviewer along with the shorty barlow brings gasps at public star parties when looking at first quarter moon or Saturn or M57 and the many globs. Orion comes in great...Jupiter is too far south for good viewing this year and that takes into consideration that I am at 41.5* north latitude. Last year brought it both red spots and gaseous swirls in the bands..

I am currently debating about getting an upgraded focuser for about $350.