Inexpensive scopes with upgraded optics?

Your opinions please... I am looking at getting a nice planetary scope for the planetary observing season that has just begun... I'm looking at something in the 8" to 12" range.

I see that DBA Astronomy Products is offering Hardin Optical Deep Space Hunter dobs with upgraded optics from the likes of Steve Swayze and Woden Optics. He is calling them "DBA Enhanced" scopes. Seems like these scopes would scream on planets and deep space...

Prices start at $999 for a 10" and roughly $1499 for a 12". Does this sound like a good deal? It seems like a very nice price for what is really a very respectable scope... am I missing something? Yes I know is has a melamine/ particle board base... but I do like the looks of the metal tubes on these scopes.

Should I get one or do you have another direction I should look in this size class?

Hi Joe,

If you have steady skies, the more quality aperture the better. Although I suppose tracking the higher powers in a dob may be tiresome after a while. If you get the 10" you might still be able to mount it on an EQ mount later. The 12" not as ea$ily. Tracking platforms may work also.

Steady skies, and a cooled down, collimated Newt. with a killer mirror should give awesome views. Floyd makes a good point about the diagonal, it should be high quality as well. There are lots of stories pro and con about plate glass mirrors, maybe I'm just being naive, but if someone like Swayze was able to figure the glass to his specs, then I wouldn't be too worried, since he surely has seen enough glass to know when he can use it or not.

I think if you have documentation, a Swayze dob should hold it's value.

The biggest problem is the scopes mirror is plate glass not Pyrex. This combined with the fact that the focuser and the secondary mirror is not that great, means that it will not likely hold it's value that well. It might also means the performance will not be as good as it seems it might be.
The price is not that bad though and the loss, if any, when sold will not break the bank. A good 10 mirror is $1000, so it cold be worth a try.

Joe Bruessow said:
I see that DBA Astronomy Products is offering Hardin Optical Deep Space Hunter dobs with upgraded optics from the likes of Steve Swayze and Woden Optics. He is calling them "DBA Enhanced" scopes. Seems like these scopes would scream on planets and deep space...

Prices start at $999 for a 10" and roughly $1499 for a 12". Does this sound like a good deal? It seems like a very nice price for what is really a very respectable scope... am I missing something? ...

Should I get one or do you have another direction I should look in this size class?

There are not a lot of mid-priced options, so this looks interesting, but I'd ask a few questions first.

What is DBA doing that you couldn't do just as easily yourself? What would keep you from buying a Hardin Dob and having a good mirror maker refigure the mirror? What other mods are done by DBA? How much, both in terms of time and money, would it cost you to do the equivalent job?

In other words, does DBA add enough value that you're willing to pay what they're charging? (Different people will come up with different answers to that question for different reasons.) If so, go for it. If not, consider doing it yourself.

Joe,

I would echo a few of these guys with a few caveats.

If you want to scream on planets, you need tracking, 2 good mirrors, a good 2 speed focuser, and good contrast.

I did what you are proposing. If I had to do it all over, I would build from new. Flock the tube, get a CR2 or Feathertouch focuser, get a Swaze/Spooner/Harry/Woden or similar primary, and Antares top notch secondary (1/25th pv quartz or better) and depending on location, a spider with a dew heater built in. Then put it all on a Eq Mount.

The big mirror gathers the light, the little one turns the concentrated light (small mirror doing a big job), the focuser lets you find the sweet spot and the GEM makes it sit still while you stare in awe.

Ed