10-inch Dobsonian Reflector Telescope – Large Aperture for Crisp, Bright Images – Solid Base Construction with Handle for Easy Transport – Ideal Astronomical Telescope

Its huge at 12". Be sure you really want to haul it before you get it. This is my 2nd reflector. The first is a 5 inch on an equitorial mount im going to use for imaging. The ota weighs 50 pounds but 40 of it is easily the mirror. It is easy for me to pick up and manuever the 20 feet from the garrage to the driveway or even up a 30 foot hill to put it on the road behind my house. I imagine carrying straps would also help, but at 34 and 120 pounds i am fit enough to manuever everything. Just be sure you arent going down stairs repeatedly or atleast have a star buddy to help you carry it. For the price, you get the same ota orion has (come from same factory) same mirrors but a better focuser and additional accessories. With just the lenses that come with it you can easily make out the rings of saturn. Adding a barlow lens takes the 9mm to 333 zoom, only achievable on amazing nights when planets are perfectly above, but then wow. Saturn feels almost 3d, as well as seeing several moons I couldn't with my 5inch. Jupiter is easy to make out every band and the grs is actually decent sized compared to the 5 inch. Star clusters explode. Its a lifetime scope easily, and there is still a list of modifications to make to it. With that being said a review mentioned the lid didnt fit and they sent out felt tape. They seem to have just cut to the problem because both my lid and the place the ota fit on the base have felt. Also I got my boxes (both) 2 days after ordering. If you know anything about scopes and you can pick up and move 50 pounds easily (the base is 27 soo dont move both at the same time) then you wont be sad, expecially jumping from 5 inch to 12inch. Dont expect astrophotgraphy without a goto base though, this light bucket is just for the personal viewer most the time, moon maybe with a cellphone mount zoomed way out. If you dont know scopes I would get the smaller 8 inch version first for sure, and probably the goto version by orion (same optics, better customer support). That way you have 3 doors open, personal use, astrophotgraphy of planets and astrophotgraphy of deep space objects. The two astrophotgraphy types require different camera types, but it is a way to test all the water quickly, just not in depth into any but dso imaging. So for a first scope, do that. If you want a light bucket, get this now. I hear they arent destined to exist much longer at this price, rumors say they are going to drop them to 10 max but one never knows if this is true. I would buy this again in a heartbeat but i take it at most 50 feet from where it is now, i live deep in the country with barely any light pollution also, making this the best choice for me because i dont have to load it up or worry about transport. Keep one last thing in mind, the tube itself is not 12 inches because it houses the 12 inch mirror. The tube has atleast an inch on each side, so your looking at a 14 inch tube atleast. If your not sure, go smaller and look forward to getting a 12 inch next year.

I purchased this telescope from Amazon LLC. I’ve read a few reviews of people missing items, but I received everything as described. Was easy to put together and took me about 45min. The alt-az action is super smooth! I read some reviews that the included laser collimator needed collimating itself, but mine came dead on out of the box. Telescope needed collimating out of the box, which was to be expected. It was my first time collimating a telescope and I had only watched YouTube videos about it. That being said, it took me about 5 minutes to have the telescope perfectly collimated; it was super easy. It’s not rocket science. Spotting scope is of decent quality and was really easy to get dialed in and aligned with the telescope. Once it got dark enough, holy cow, the views through this thing are amazing! The included eyepieces are decent and more than sufficient to get you started. The 30mm has a nice wide FOV and the views are crisp and amazing. The 9mm eyepiece allowed for some really close up views of the moon’s craters and surface detail like I’ve never seen before. I also saw Saturn and it’s rings along with the Cassini division, Jupiter with its moons, and Mars. Last night was too bright for me to look at any deep space objects so I’ll save that for another night. The focuser has a tiny learning curve to it if it’s your first telescope. There are basically 2 thumbscrews on the bottom of the focuser that aren't for securing eyepieces. One of them allows you to push and pull the focuser tube in and out with your hand. The other allows you to use the focusing dial to fine tune the focus. You can lock the focus in place so it doesn’t get bumped out of focus. There’s a bit of a learning curve as to which one to have tightened down vs loose, etc. but once you read about it and then fiddle a bit with it, it’s easy. The only thing I would recommend is to also pick up a telrad sight. You don’t NEED it, as the included finder scope works well, but it makes it much easier to find things in the sky then a magnified finder scope does. Other than that, if you are on the fence about getting one of these, do it. You won’t be disappointed.

Great scope offering so much more than others in the same category for nearly the same price. 1. Comes with an excellent laser collimator. 2. Includes a 2" eyepiece along with a 1.25 eyepiece. 3. Has bearings in the AZ base. 4. Includes micro focus adjustment. 5. Hefty steel alt. clutch to control resistance. 6. Adjustable steel weight control for large eyepieces. 7. Included right angle finder scope. 8. great customer service provided by celestron 8. Fit and finish. 9. Only 8 days from first order to delivery. 10. Mirror cooling fan included. Scope arrived nearly perfectly collimated. If I have to name one area for improvement it would be that there were no instructions included. This is where the YouTube Videos come in handy. I did not need printed instructions but some might find them helpful. I had a 10" Orion dob about twenty years ago. The problems I had with it were jerky movement, the straight through finders scope (I had to buy RACI separately) cheap eye cap collimator and none of the great accessories included with this telescope. Zhumell seems to have corrected all of the Orion shortcomings without increasing the price to any great extent. I would definitely buy it again. Whether the Zhumell, or any of the other various badges this scope is presented by, it is a great product. The Orion I bought about 20 years ago was priced about the same as this far superior product.

First let me calm you about the reviews that had issues with shipping - the boxes had tape and stickers plastered all over them stating this is a two box shipment, I don’t see how it could get screwed up now. I have a feeling this had happened too many times and they are now overcompensating. This is not my first scope, it is my reentry into the hobby after a several year hiatus. I’ve worked with several scopes of different designs and different levels of build quality over the years, this one stands out to me. For the price you aren’t going to find better, though I will say that these days you really can’t go wrong with any of the common brands of consumer dobs (they mostly come from the same manufacturer anyways). The “goodies” are better than anyone else is offering, the full size finder scope, collimator, dual size and speed focuser, and the 30mm 2” eyepiece is the real clincher. The design of the side bearings results in great control and steadiness, I was skeptical initially as I’m used to seeing large friction bearings, and these looked undersized to me initially, but these are roller bearings and work very well, it does take a few tries to get the initial balance correct as you have to remove the tube to make lateral adjustments to the pivot point. The friction knobs are great for adjusting between eyepieces, but I would recommend a moveable magnetic weight to balance for cameras and heavy eyepieces. The base is almost too smooth, I’m even considering adding some sort of friction blocks to the lower sandwich to make it less prone to unintentional movement. For the 12” I would also recommend making or buying some carry straps for the tube (I picked up a pair from Farpoint) as it will make moving this around much much much easier. I also suggest replacing the collimation springs for the primary mirror, they are undersized for the 12” and make collimating a bit fiddley. But none of these suggestions are necessary to start right in using this scope. The mirror performance is as expected with these budget scopes, when properly collimated everything is sharp, clear, and bright. The two speed focuser is solid and precise. Eyepieces are actually useable, good even which doesn’t happen very often with budget scopes. Movement is one of the smoothest I’ve ever experienced for a larger dob.

The Zhumell is a brilliant and well known line of telescopes manufactured by GSO, a Japanese company. However, the line has been discontinued. I ordered this telescope three weeks ago and only got the wooden base. I got a replacement and the same thing happened. Trying again, I got another replacement and got a third wooden base, still no telescope. Do not order this telescope. Either buy the Orion Skyline from Orion, or back-order the Apertura AD8 from High Point Scientific (available in August 2018), but do not order this telescope. It doesn’t exist.

I've owned the Z8 for a month now and I am happy so far. It is my first telescope so I am not an expert by any means. I am also on a tight budget so no premium eyepieces and accessories for me. My initial impressions: + The telescope arrives in two boxes and is pretty well packed. One of the base side boards on mine has a noticeable cosmetic blemish on the surface likely from factory assembly but it doesn't affect functionality. + The PDF manual is short but clearly written and provides useful information on collimation and general use but I found the 2010 online assembly video instruction more helpful. It took about 30-40 minutes to assemble including a couple of mistakes that required minor backtracking. + The 9mm and 30mm eyepieces included are quite good to my unexpert eyes. The 30mm provides spectacular wide space views. + Focusing with the Crayford is easy and smooth. I mostly use the gross focus knobs for stars and distant objects but the fine focus knob is helpful. +Comfortable viewing requires good posture. Sometimes sitting down makes sense and others standing and stooping slightly is better. Having a chair nearby to lean on or to sit down is essential. Using a Dobsonian telescope is a push and nudge exercise and it takes a little practice. A really nice feature of the Zhumell Z8 that isn't often mentioned (as well as the Aperturas which I think are the same telescope), is that you can easily adjust the optical tube (OTA) up or down on the base to balance it. A balanced OTA makes for much more comfortable viewing as you won't be pushing and pulling the tube as much to keep an object in view. You simply slide the OTA on the base up or down a numbered scale on the sides. One thing that threw me off at first was the laser collimator included with this telescope. It turns out these need to be collimated too (fancy word for aligned or calibrated). Mine was way off center and online instructions are confusing. As it happens, I was tightening the adjustment screws far too tight. If your laser needs collimation, start by loosening all three screws and gently turn them to get the laser centered. Key word is gently. Once you figure this out it's quite easy and you won't have to adjust very often. Speaking of collimation, it may seem confusing at first glance, but there are several nice videos out there that explain how this works. You simply ensure the two mirrors are centered and aligned and only takes a couple of minutes once you understand the steps. I do it during the day and, if needed, you can adjust in the dark with a star later, but I don't usually need to tweak it at night. Anyone considering a Dobsonian telescope needs to think of size. They capture light really well but can be large above 8 inches (but not especially heavy). You will have to take out the OTA and the base separately, and in my case that involves going down three steps and I often worry about banging doors or tripping down the steps as I cradle the OTA like a giant baby in my arms. Setting it up outside literally takes 10 seconds as you gently place the OTA on the base and tighten the two side knobs. That's all. They don't take up more room than a tripod set up and can be stored in vertical position but they are bulky. + A trip to the library to check out some star gazing books is recommended as is getting a planisphere (~$19) to better understand what you are pointing at. I recently bought a 12mm Agena eyepiece to compliment the 9mm and 30mm pair included with the scope and a 2x Barlow lens but you do not need these to enjoy this telescope out of the box, they add some versatility down the line. Overall I'm very satisfied with this telescope. The views are often breathtaking and while I'm just learning its capabilities, I enjoy the learning curve and getting outside. One pleasant surprise is how much of a social experience a telescope can be. People are curious and I get a lot of wows when they look through it the first time. Update: Two years later I still love this telescope. It is easy to use and modify. Highly recommended.

I spent some time researching which telescope I would get. I quickly settled on a Dobsonian. Deciding on aperture took some time, finally deciding that I would be satisfied with the 200mm. I wanted to avoid issues with "coma" distortion that arise with a 10 inch. I made the right choice getting an 8 inch. A 8 inch is easier to carry and less expensive. One slip or bang could wreck it. A 10 inch aperture just extends your range by 1/2 magnitude, I will just live with distant blurs being a bit smaller and less bright. It was not difficult to cullimate. I was concerned at first because I was not able to get anything to focus (during daylight). At night I figured things out. I got nice images of the moon. The filter was essential for that viewing. However the wide angle 30mm lens could not be brought into focus. At length I discovered that it needed to be extended further than the focus mechanism allowed. Other versions of this scope provide an extender adapter for this purpose, but the Xhumell did not provide this item. As a temporary fix I just don't insert the 30mm lens in all the way, leaving a 10 mm space to extend it that much further. That allows me to focus the 30mm lens. You can buy a 40mm extender for less than $20 on Amazon. Anyway, I am satisfied with the telescope. I am trying to figure a way to carry it easier, the surface of the tube is slick, and one slip, it would not even be good for a door stop then. I am thinking a velcro scuba tank carrier will work, if it allows for a 8 inch diameter. Oh, I bought this from Amazon, and I did receive both boxes. Earlier I tried to purchase a Sky Watcher but they only sent the base, so I had to send that back for a full refund. I see that Amazon had this issue with Xhumell in the past, maybe they have sorted it out. There is a vender who sells this Xhumell a bit cheaper and with no tax. However it does say on Xhumell's site that the manufacturer's warranty is only valid when purchased from an authorized dealer, be aware of that. There are only three listed, Amazon being one of them.

So first of all I did receive my Z8 in a timely manner and actually ahead of the original schedule. I wasn’t expecting it for about eighteen days and I ended up receiving it on day nine after ordering. Both boxes arrived together and it did appear as though they had been taped together at the warehouse as a set. I was incredibly concerned about this based on other’s experiences but it worked out for me which was great. As for the scope itself, it’s fantastic. This is coming from someone new to the hobby but I chose the Zhumell based on quite a bit of research on Cloudy Nights and really saw that with the included upgrades it beat the socks off the competition. The Crayford focuser is solid and uses compression rings to keep the eyepieces dead center. The RACI is useable but I found it limiting (a common complaint) and added a Telrad finder which has practically eliminated the need to use it. The tube itself is solid and the optics, to my amateur eye, seem far better than the Bird-Jones based optics in the PowerSeeker 127 I was using up until now. The base was easy to assemble and is also very solid. Balancing is something I just figured out a few days ago and really helps. For those who don’t know, this is basically the same scope as the Apertura line and I used their user manual to help acquaint myself with the features of the scope like balancing. Apertura’s guide recommends settings to start with (Zhumell’s does not include this) and I’ve tweaked them since. In my opinion, don’t balance the scope to be motionless while it’s level with the ground, you’re probably never going to use it in that position. Instead, get it motionless (perfectly balanced) while at a 45-60 degree angle which is more how you’re going to use it regularly. This makes the bearings need less “cranking down” to keep the scope still which in turn means aiming and tracking are both easier tasks. The only minor negatives (not enough to “ding” the score) are these: 1) no included instruction manual, not even assembly. Solution: reference the online Zhumell and Apertura guides. 2) if you have to “crank down” on the side bearings to lock in altitude control, moving the scope can lead to the bearings “rocking” ever so slightly (maybe 2mm) in the base. This may not sound like much, but it’s enough to almost feel like “gear lash” in your bearings when you’re trying to move just a bit to get a better view of that ever-so-faint Crab Nebula (M1) under city skies. I plan to shim the bearing cutouts in the base with 8mil polyvinyl (vapor barrier from the hardware store) until I get a super tight fit to resolve this. Additionally, balancing the scope helps a ton here since you don’t have to crank down as tight, but the scope is only balanced in a limited range. Once you find yourself pointed straight up at 85 to 90 degrees, you’re going to be out of balance and encounter this issue. Solution: mod the base a bit to tighten the fit (not yet implemented). The scope is great under even heavily light polluted skies and the views seem razor-sharp to me. Being an amature who doesn’t have a lot of time, I suspect this thing will keep me more than busy for years to come!

Producto excelente todo muy bien y puntual. El paquete del Zhumell 12 viene en dos cajas las dos muy bien protegidas y empacadas. El telescopio es grande y muy luminoso. Excelente producto para la astronomía visual. Felicidades. 5 Estrellas.