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Date: 21 Aug 2006 01:03:38
From: jdg
Subject: orin xt8
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i just ordered an xt8 from orin an i was wondering if anyone had any
feeling about it being a good grab and go scope. i work 2nd shift so i
have a chance to observe after work every night and i thought that it
would be a good size . i also have a lx 50 10 inch but no ( house )
for it so . enough said just want a thought or two. thanks doug
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Date: 20 Aug 2006 21:15:31
From: Don't Be Evil
Subject: Re: orin xt8
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Joe S. wrote:
> "jdg" <fossildoug@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:9dvhe2pcl1so4ph7kavbasl6rt9j0jm0mk@4ax.com...
> >i just ordered an xt8 from orin an i was wondering if anyone had any
> > feeling about it being a good grab and go scope. i work 2nd shift so i
> > have a chance to observe after work every night and i thought that it
> > would be a good size . i also have a lx 50 10 inch but no ( house )
> > for it so . enough said just want a thought or two. thanks doug
>
>
> The XT-8 is not exactly a grab-and-go scope. I had one until Hurricane
> Katrina destroyed it.
>
> It's a fine scope and I had many very good hours of observing with it. It's
> not that the scope is not portable -- you can haul it around if you want to.
> I kept mine in my garage and could easily pick it up and carry it into the
> backyard but it was a handful.
Joe is certainly correct about the size. But, it does set up very
quickly. If you're up to grabbing 45 lbs, it's a great instrument.
Greg
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Date: 21 Aug 2006 15:35:34
From: jdg
Subject: Re: orin xt8
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On 20 Aug 2006 21:15:31 -0700, "Don't Be Evil" <g626700-gg@yahoo.com >
wrote:
>
>Joe S. wrote:
>> "jdg" <fossildoug@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:9dvhe2pcl1so4ph7kavbasl6rt9j0jm0mk@4ax.com...
>> >i just ordered an xt8 from orin an i was wondering if anyone had any
>> > feeling about it being a good grab and go scope. i work 2nd shift so i
>> > have a chance to observe after work every night and i thought that it
>> > would be a good size . i also have a lx 50 10 inch but no ( house )
>> > for it so . enough said just want a thought or two. thanks doug
>>
>>
>> The XT-8 is not exactly a grab-and-go scope. I had one until Hurricane
>> Katrina destroyed it.
>>
>> It's a fine scope and I had many very good hours of observing with it. It's
>> not that the scope is not portable -- you can haul it around if you want to.
>> I kept mine in my garage and could easily pick it up and carry it into the
>> backyard but it was a handful.
>
>Joe is certainly correct about the size. But, it does set up very
>quickly. If you're up to grabbing 45 lbs, it's a great instrument.
>
>Greg
grab an go for me means from the house to the patio . so alot of
agreement on it being a good scope . also the lx 50 is 65 lbs. just
for the tube and fork ass. so 45 is alot lighter. also thanks for the
input because it looks like i made a good choice.
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Date: 21 Aug 2006 13:19:15
From: Joe S.
Subject: Re: orin xt8
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"jdg" <fossildoug@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:c6kje2pc9c383ge6gr02v11619cki457cm@4ax.com...
> On 20 Aug 2006 21:15:31 -0700, "Don't Be Evil" <g626700-gg@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>Joe S. wrote:
>>> "jdg" <fossildoug@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>> news:9dvhe2pcl1so4ph7kavbasl6rt9j0jm0mk@4ax.com...
>>> >i just ordered an xt8 from orin an i was wondering if anyone had any
>>> > feeling about it being a good grab and go scope. i work 2nd shift so i
>>> > have a chance to observe after work every night and i thought that it
>>> > would be a good size . i also have a lx 50 10 inch but no ( house )
>>> > for it so . enough said just want a thought or two. thanks doug
>>>
>>>
>>> The XT-8 is not exactly a grab-and-go scope. I had one until Hurricane
>>> Katrina destroyed it.
>>>
>>> It's a fine scope and I had many very good hours of observing with it.
>>> It's
>>> not that the scope is not portable -- you can haul it around if you want
>>> to.
>>> I kept mine in my garage and could easily pick it up and carry it into
>>> the
>>> backyard but it was a handful.
>>
>>Joe is certainly correct about the size. But, it does set up very
>>quickly. If you're up to grabbing 45 lbs, it's a great instrument.
>>
>>Greg
> grab an go for me means from the house to the patio . so alot of
> agreement on it being a good scope . also the lx 50 is 65 lbs. just
> for the tube and fork ass. so 45 is alot lighter. also thanks for the
> input because it looks like i made a good choice.
From the house to the patio is no problem at all with the XT-8. You will
see that the scope has a handle on the front of the rocker box. I installed
another handle on mine -- on the flat part of the base on the opposite side
from the existing handle. That way, I could squat by the scope, grab a
handle with each hand, stand up, and go.
Check out this article -- scroll down the page to the photo that shows the
extra handle I added.
http://www.schlatter.org/Dad/Astronomy/xt%208.htm
You can buy a handle and mounting screws at any hardware store -- mount the
handle with bolts, nuts, and washers -- drill holes for the bolts all the
way through the base -- don't try to mount the handle with screws into the
particle board base, they will just pull out. When you drill holes for the
handle mounting bolts, be certain that the ends of the bolts underneath the
scope don't interfere with rotating the scope on the base -- I was not
careful and ended up with an extra set of holes, as you see in the photo.
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Date: 20 Aug 2006 21:09:15
From: Joe S.
Subject: Re: orin xt8
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"jdg" <fossildoug@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:9dvhe2pcl1so4ph7kavbasl6rt9j0jm0mk@4ax.com...
>i just ordered an xt8 from orin an i was wondering if anyone had any
> feeling about it being a good grab and go scope. i work 2nd shift so i
> have a chance to observe after work every night and i thought that it
> would be a good size . i also have a lx 50 10 inch but no ( house )
> for it so . enough said just want a thought or two. thanks doug
The XT-8 is not exactly a grab-and-go scope. I had one until Hurricane
Katrina destroyed it.
It's a fine scope and I had many very good hours of observing with it. It's
not that the scope is not portable -- you can haul it around if you want to.
I kept mine in my garage and could easily pick it up and carry it into the
backyard but it was a handful.
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Date: 21 Aug 2006 13:22:41
From: Don't Be Evil
Subject: Re: orin xt8
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Joe S. wrote:
> "jdg" <fossildoug@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:c6kje2pc9c383ge6gr02v11619cki457cm@4ax.com...
> > On 20 Aug 2006 21:15:31 -0700, "Don't Be Evil" <g626700-gg@yahoo.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>Joe S. wrote:
> >>> "jdg" <fossildoug@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >>> news:9dvhe2pcl1so4ph7kavbasl6rt9j0jm0mk@4ax.com...
> >>> >i just ordered an xt8 from orin an i was wondering if anyone had any
> >>> > feeling about it being a good grab and go scope. i work 2nd shift so i
> >>> > have a chance to observe after work every night and i thought that it
> >>> > would be a good size . i also have a lx 50 10 inch but no ( house )
> >>> > for it so . enough said just want a thought or two. thanks doug
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> The XT-8 is not exactly a grab-and-go scope. I had one until Hurricane
> >>> Katrina destroyed it.
> >>>
> >>> It's a fine scope and I had many very good hours of observing with it.
> >>> It's
> >>> not that the scope is not portable -- you can haul it around if you want
> >>> to.
> >>> I kept mine in my garage and could easily pick it up and carry it into
> >>> the
> >>> backyard but it was a handful.
> >>
> >>Joe is certainly correct about the size. But, it does set up very
> >>quickly. If you're up to grabbing 45 lbs, it's a great instrument.
> >>
> >>Greg
> > grab an go for me means from the house to the patio . so alot of
> > agreement on it being a good scope . also the lx 50 is 65 lbs. just
> > for the tube and fork ass. so 45 is alot lighter. also thanks for the
> > input because it looks like i made a good choice.
>
> From the house to the patio is no problem at all with the XT-8. You will
> see that the scope has a handle on the front of the rocker box. I installed
> another handle on mine -- on the flat part of the base on the opposite side
> from the existing handle. That way, I could squat by the scope, grab a
> handle with each hand, stand up, and go.
>
> Check out this article -- scroll down the page to the photo that shows the
> extra handle I added.
> http://www.schlatter.org/Dad/Astronomy/xt%208.htm
> You can buy a handle and mounting screws at any hardware store -- mount the
> handle with bolts, nuts, and washers -- drill holes for the bolts all the
> way through the base -- don't try to mount the handle with screws into the
> particle board base, they will just pull out. When you drill holes for the
> handle mounting bolts, be certain that the ends of the bolts underneath the
> scope don't interfere with rotating the scope on the base -- I was not
> careful and ended up with an extra set of holes, as you see in the photo.
If you got an Intelliscope, you can grab it by the two cutout in the
sides. This has the advantage of keeping the center of mass very close
to your body, reducing back strain.
Great scope. I added a Quikfinder to mine. Easier to use on a
small-medium dob than a Telrad.
Greg
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