14 out of 14 people found this review helpful.
Great choice, even for a beginner.
Date of Review: Nov 18, 2004
The Bottom Line: An excellent choice even for newcomers to the hobby. I highly recommend it.
I am new to amateur astronomy and decided on this scope due to it's generous aperture and relatively inexpensive cost.
Ordering:
I ordered my XT10 online and found that it was a very smooth process. I would like to add that the customer service at Orion is outstanding. I had many questions about telescopes and found that they're customer service representatives were friendly, KNOWLEDGEABLE, and prompt. Really, top notch.
Shipping:
I received my scope in excellent condition. Although the outer box showed the obvious rough treatment it had received in transit, Orion double boxed it with foam rings to suspend the tube away from any one side of the box. Thus they're careful packaging was able to negate the carelessness of FedEx.
Setup:
The Base takes about 30 minutes to set up. It's very much like setting up furniture from Ikea, but much more sturdy. In fact I was pleasantly surprised by how sturdy it is. My tube required only a slight amount of collimation upon arrival, but this is probably due again to FedEx's poor treatment of my new scope.
Portability:
It is big, no doubt; however, you DO NOT need a gas-guzzling SUV to transport this thing. I transport mine in a little VW Jetta by laying it across the seat in a carry bag. Check out the physical characteristics on the Orion website and then measure you're vehicle before you purchase to ensure you can move it adequately.
Operation:
The slewing of this thing is very smooth. I am a beginner, but I was very impressed by the crispness of images I have seen. For those of you wondering what you will see, I was easily able to make out the rings of Saturn. The XT10 will bring unbelievable views of the scarred lunar surface that will leave your jaw hanging. I am still working on searching for galaxies and other deep sky objects, but the XT10 offers very inspiring views of the Pleiades and the Orion nebula. Strangely, I quite enjoy looking at some of the brighter stars out there as well. They will remain points of light, however one can make out different colors within them. Vega is quite nice to look at. Also, I would recommend purchasing a solar filter. DO NOT buy a solar filter that fits into the eyepiece, you will hurt yourself. Rather, buy the large mirrored filter that fits over the end of the tube! This will give your scope more usability. The sun is very interesting to look at as its surface is in a constant state of change.
Some might ask, "Why not spend the extra cash and get the Intelliscope with its Go-To ability." First, there is the obvious monetary difference, however, this was not my motivation. I chose the XT10 Classic over the XT10 Intelliscope because I wanted to learn the sky myself, rather than relying on the Go-To function. I find it is very rewarding to gaze upon an object I have searched hard to find. "Sky hopping" is not easy skill to learn, but with practice, it does get much easier, and your eye will become accustomed to picking out faint objects. I would recommend looking at the easiest objects first. It can be quite frustrating to search and not find that faint DSO. A brand new beginner needs some re-assurance, and this is best accomplished with easier targets.
Summary:
I would definitely recommend this scope, even to beginners. It is very easy to set-up and operate. It provides very good images, and is a great hobby to get involved with. For those of you considering the smaller XT8 because it is considered more of a beginner scope, I would say go with the XT10 unless the size, weight, and/or cost are issues for you. Otherwise, the XT10 is an outstanding choice that will not leave you disappointed.
