Review for Bushnell ARES 5in Compact Truss Tube Dobsonian Exclusive Edition Telescope, Black, New

Author: Craig Soderland {!} from Downingtown, PA on Mar 23, 2011
Pros:  Easy to use, highly portable, good optics
Cons:  Focus adjuster, light shroud bit small.
Would recommend:  yes

Craig Soderland wrote:

Received My ares today, the UPS monkeys knocked it about a bit so it was well out of colmination. Luckily I had also ordered the Celestron tool for this. Colmination took less than 20 minutes. Popped on my Celestron 93230 Variable power eye piece, and noticed the focuser does not quite have enough thread depth to bring it into focus. (IE: screwed all the way out.) Also only having a small shroud around the mirror allows for more cross ways light bleed than I would like. But then for the price the shielding issue is forgivable (Bushnell could have easy done this as almost a complete wraparound.) however the focuser leaves a bit to be desired. if someone made one with perhaps another 1/4 to 1/2 inch of additional threading this would make a huge difference. I'll have to try my Seben Variable eyepiece as this seems to have a slightly shorter length (focal wise, at least on my LX90.) and should allow the focuser to be a bit more screwed in. In sum total, it's not bad and for the money it's excellent. well on par with my astroscan albeit with more light gathering ability and a heck of allot easier to target. Hopefully someone may read this ans custom make a focuser for this with just a bit more threading.