Ouch! Stop it! Don't do that!

[Charlie in Dayton]

While I have a serviceable 3" reflector that I'm learning to use (astrophotography etc), there is what looks like the deal of the century on Orion's website.

While they last, their SpaceProbe 130mm scope on an EQ-2 equatorial mount...tax, title, shipping, bribes, and all, $208 to my front door...

...ooooh...the pain...they're twisting my arm...

Quick, someone talk me out of this with legitimate reasons, otherwise I'll have a new scope by this time next week.

Opinions on this beast, be they good/bad/indifferent?

[kilopi]

I took a look at their site (telescope.com) and it looks like that scope is in the clearance section, and is a refurbished ("second") scope. Plus, it was another $20, and I don't think it included shipping. Still, that seems to be a nice bargain.

[Charlie in Dayton]

I called 'em on another matter, and asked specifically about that one. The quote including tax, title, shipping, bribes, and all the rest -- $208 to my door.

Didn't see anything that would make me think that this beastie was a factory second (not that that's a problem - if it works right and has the warranty, hey, so it ain't pretty...neither am I... :-? ).

Where did you catch that reference? I'm interested.

[David Hall]

That sounds like a great bargain. If I was in the US, I'd probably take them up on it. I doubt very much that it's $208 to my door. :-P

[aurorae]

That sounds like a great bargain. If I was in the US, I'd probably take them up on it. I doubt very much that it's $208 to my door. :-P

For almost the same money, you can get a 6 inch Dob.

http://hardinoptical.com/dsh6.html

For you metric types, that is 152mm.

[Charlie in Dayton]

True. BUT - the 130 comes on an equatorial mount, and I already have the drive motor to make it track for astrophotography.

...they got a heck of a twist on me, that shoulder's really starting to ache... #-o