Reviews & Ratings for Sky Watcher 8in. Flextube 200P Collapsible Dobsonian Telescope S11700 — 8 reviews — Page 1

I have another 8 inch Dobsonian telescope that has a solid tube and does not readily fit in car. So I got this model since the tube folds down and it is much easier to transport.

It is well made; however, I do have some concerns.

First, one reviewer stated that he could see nothing with this scope. Please be aware that the secondary mirror is wrapped in tissue which is held in place with a rubber band. Unless you remove this protective tissue, you will indeed not see anything.

Secondly, the locking screws for the primary mirror adjustment require a 2.5mm Allen Wrench which was not included with my scope.

Third, no matter what I have tried, I have still not got the primary mirror to be properly aligned (collimated). I think it might be "close enough" but I prefer to have it exactly lined up with the secondary mirror. I am going to try removing the primary mirror with its holder, rotating it one-third or one-fourth turn and then reinstalling it to see if this makes a difference. WARNING: Never touch the surfaces of the two mirrors.

Fourth, in another review it was mentioned that a 4mm eyepiece which is one of the two that comes with this scope is not appropriate for a scope of this size. However, a "rule of thumb" is that the maximum "power" of a scope is about 50 to 60 "power" per inch of diameter of the objective lens or the mirror. In theory then, an 8 inch mirror could achieve a power of 400 to 480X under ideal conditions. Since the focal length of this mirror is 1,200...
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Delivered fast and safe. Assembly was easy but an extra pair of hands was helpful to hold base parts straight when screwed together. Scope is very impressive and movement is smooth. The right angle finder is large and gives an easy to use view. But to answer the big question of the scopes performance, it's been to cold to use outside. [for me anyway]. I'm sure it will work just fine though!

This is a well built piece of equipment. It is a little on the heavy side when it comes to carrying it to its location. I will be gradually upgrading the lenses for sharper views of astronomical targets.

This telescope is a great entry-level tool to view deep-sky objects like the Jovian planets and nebulae that a smaller scope can't capture. Assembled, it is a bit big & heavy for one person to move around, but that's the nature of Dobsonians. Two people can move it easily.

I bought this Sky Watcher 8 inch Dobsonian Telescope as an upgrade to my first real telescope, a Celestron 130 EQMD Astromaster. The 8 inch dobsonian is a significant upgrade with respect to the views you will get on deep space objects, and the resolution at high magnification on planets. My 130EQ Astromaster would really never provide great resolution about 200X, but I found with proper collimation, I get good resolution at 400X on this Dobsonian. I was also able to see the Ring nebulae on the first night out (I have found it before so I knew where to look), and I could actually tell it was the ring nebulae. On the Astromaster it was just a blur. I also saw the Orion Nebulae like never before. I could see the Cassini division of the rings on Saturn on my first night. I could never see this on the Astromaster. The Dobsonian mount is also very easy to use and rock solid. Yes, it doesn't track, but the 130Eq mount is so sensitive to the least vibration, it makes viewing of the planets difficult. The fact that it doesn't track is not really that much of an issue. With the wide field of view you can still focus and view your object at higher magnification. I had purchased Celestron Xcel eyepieves for my Astromaster (trying to get everything out of it that I could) and they work great on the Sky Master. I have not yet tried 2 inch eyepieces, it can only get better with those. Lastly, I would say for the price, it's hard to beat. 1200 mm focal length for $400. Be ...
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This was my first telescope in a long time.I am a relative beginner as I haven't been interested snce the Space race. It is definitely the best scope I've owned or used. When I received it, it came in two boxes. I was able to easily assemble it. The collimation was slighty off out of the box but easily adjusted according to the instructions.
On our first night of using it I got the spotting scope lined up. Then I adjusted the mount so the friction was a little easier and started searching. Saturn was easily found. It was clear and my family got excited about the moons that we could see. The moon was a crescent and crystal clear. It had a 3-D quality to it through the telescope.
On a later night when there was no moon I started seeing galaxies and nebula. You need a dark sky to see but they are visible. We spotted M51, M81 and M82. Before it went below the horizon I viewed the Orion Nebula. I am very anxious for this to be in view again this fall.
In all, this is a good telescope. For the money, I am pleased. Once you get used to the mount (lift and nudge) it easy to use. It's very heavy so prepare to get a cart to assist in getting it around. I would suggest getting a X2 Barlow with this. It gives twice as many options for viewing.
Pros: Good Quality for the money
Cons: Ambient light can affect image through truss tubes-Heavy

Very nice product, especially for the price. For me, it was an upgrade from a beginner scope (4.5" reflector), and the improvement is profound. I especially like the fact that it takes 2" eyepieces.
Pros: A lot of telescope for the money
Cons: Very few - Just those inherent in a very basic design