Thinking of buying Orion GoTo XT 8g

Greetings Everyone; I am thinking of buying a Orion GoTo XT 8g and was wondering if there any trustworthy unbiased reviews on this GoTo 8 in. Dob? Also does anyone know who makes there mirrors as I think its Synta of China but I could be wrong. Another thing that I would like to ask is if anyone has tested these mirrors to see there RMS and Strehl with Knife Edge Peak to Valley Wavefront Standards are or the Calibrated Ronchi Autocollimation test and Interferometery test standards / specks are on these mirrors. Also I was wondering about if the drive and or stepper motors could handle me doing some minor upgrades like adding a 9 X 50 finder, Telrad finder and heavy duty eyepieces like a 31 mm Nagler Type 6 that weighs by itself 2.2 lbs?
Thank's in advance for your help,
Mike White
Long Beach,
CA. 90805-3530
U.S.A.
N 33* 51' 46.3
W -118* 10' 39.4
Affiliations,
The Planetary Society
<<>>http://tinyurl.com/b2ksg>>
Sidewalk Astronomers
<<>>http://tinyurl.com/352zap>>
Board of Directors
Los Angeles Astronomical Society
<<>>http://tinyurl.com/yrk4pd>>

I dont think optical perfection is a critical feature on a mass-produced, entry level scope, nor is it to be expected. It possible, but unprobable.
This scope's strengths are price, tracking/goto, Orion's customer service and return policy, and simplicity of build.

Here's a suggestion: if the mirror is not to your liking, replace it with an old Meade Starfinder mirror, new Zambuto or Waite among others.

My first real astro telescope was an Orion XT6 when I was a beginner, optical perfection was the last thing on my mind. I had cheap, portable aperture, and that worked fine for several years.

Good luck!
JOhn

Michael White said:

Another thing that I would like to ask is if anyone has tested these mirrors to see there RMS and Strehl with Knife Edge Peak to Valley Wavefront Standards are or the Calibrated Ronchi Autocollimation test and Interferometery test standards / specks are on these mirrors. Thank's in advance for your help,
Mike White
Long Beach,
CA. 90805-3530
U.S.A.
N 33* 51' 46.3
W -118* 10' 39.4
Affiliations,
The Planetary Society
<<>>http://tinyurl.com/b2ksg>>
Sidewalk Astronomers
<<>>http://tinyurl.com/352zap>>
Board of Directors
Los Angeles Astronomical Society
<<>>http://tinyurl.com/yrk4pd>>