When it comes to telescopes, Orion produces a number of different lines, each aimed at a slightly different corner of the market. The SkyQuest (and more recently, the SkyLine) range has been their flagship Dobsonian for some time, and has always been a best-seller. However, no scope is perfect, so we turned our eyes to the skies and put the XT6 through its paces.
Our Score for the Orion XT6 Dobsonian Telescope
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Overall Expert Rating What we like: |
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| Ease of Assembly | |
| Ease of Use | |
| Image Quality | |
| Accessories | |
| Value for Money |
All Photos Credit: Richard J. Bartlett
About the Orion XT6 Dobsonian Telescope
Packaging & Accessories
The XT6 (and its larger variants) is not a small scope. The optical tube measures 44 inches in length, while its base is another 29, and when fully assembled and pointed directly overhead, the entire assembly stands nearly 53 inches tall.
When you also consider its weight – almost 12 pounds for the scope and another 19 for the base – it soon becomes apparent you’ve got a pretty hefty tool in your hands. This being the case, it will probably come as no surprise to learn that it’s delivered in two separate boxes; one for the scope, and another for the base.
(You may even need to enlist the help of a second person to get the boxes inside, but on the plus side, the dimensions and weight of the packaging should be enough to deter any porch pirates you may have sailing through your neighborhood!)
The shipping boxes are sturdy and should do a good job of protecting your scope while in transit. Open the boxes and you’ll find another plain brown box in each, and its these two boxes that contain the telescope and accessories.
When it comes to astronomical equipment, it seems reasonable to assume that most people would like to have their new kit arrive safely and intact, rather than have it shipped in a pretty box, and Orion have obviously chosen the former option.
Besides the telescope and base, you’ll also find the following inside:
- 25mm eyepiece (1.25”, 47x)
- Red dot finderscope
- Instruction sheet, plus the relevant parts and tools for assembly.
Quality & Durability
With nearly fifty years in business, Orion aren’t a flash-in-the-pan company, and the SkyQuest Dobsonians didn’t become a flagship product by being shoddily constructed. You can therefore rest easy in knowing that the components of both the scope and the base are both sturdy and solid. Both feel as though they could withstand a knock or two and remain unscathed from the experience.
Unfortunately, it’s not quite the same story with the supplied eyepiece and finderscope. Unlike many manufacturers, Orion will only provide you with one eyepiece to get you started. This is a 25mm Kellner, which will produce a magnification of 47x, but it isn’t the best quality (and you’ll need a much higher magnification to properly observe the planets.)
The eyepieces supplied with a scope are only meant to get you started – they’re more like freebies than anything – so you’ll want to invest in some better quality eyepieces, if you haven’t already.
It’s a similar story with the finderscope, as you’ll find the scope comes with the standard “red dot” finder. These are inexpensive and can be a little problematic to use. The reason for this is because the dot (a red beam of light projected onto the finder’s lens) is typically too large and bright to make targeting stars easy. Essentially, the dot has a tendency to obscure the very star you’re trying to target.
Again, like the eyepieces, the finder is merely meant to get you started, and a replacement (such as the highly-rated Telrad) is relatively inexpensive.
Assembling the Scope
Printed instructions are provided (you can also download them here), but while they state assembly takes about thirty minutes, you’ll most likely find that it’s closer to two hours.
For starters, there’s a lot to unpack and assemble – the telescope tube, the components of the base (in a separate box) and the finder – not to mention a lot of tools and screws – and you’ll need to take everything out of their plastic bags before you begin. On the plus side, you won’t need to go searching for a screwdriver or other tool, as everything is provided for you.
Assembling the scope isn’t necessarily a challenge, but it might be advantageous to have a second person helping you, as it can sometimes be a little tricky to keep everything together. That said, I was able to assemble the scope on my own (which might explain why it took two hours rather than the stated 30 minutes!)
For example, attaching the two baseplates was problematic as the bottom bolt needed to be held in place while the top bolt was screwed in. This was definitely one situation where a second pair of hands would have been useful.
That said, the instructions were easy to understand and you shouldn’t have any problems following them. Despite being a little fiddly, assembling the telescope didn’t prove to be too much of a frustrating experience and you should be up ‘n running without too much stress.
Be sure to align the finderscope during the day; it helps to use a stationary target that’s easily seen, such as a landmark, telegraph pole or side of a building. Attempting to align the finderscope at night can be a frustrating experience, especially if you’re using the Moon or bright star.
That’s because the Moon, planets and stars all rise and set and therefore appear to move across the sky. Even a short timeframe of just a few minutes can result in your target moving out from the center of the finderscope’s field of view.
Ease of Use
Given its size and construction, the XT6 is on the very cusp of easy portability. It has a handle attached to the base that you can use to lift the assembled scope, but at a total weight of nearly 35 pounds, it’s heavy and cumbersome to lift and move.
(If done correctly, it’s reasonably easy to lift, but walking with it can be awkward.)
If you’re careful, moving the scope outside or around your yard isn’t necessarily a huge issue, but if you want to take it to a more remote location, you’ll need to detach the telescope tube and transport it and the base as two separate components. It’s too large and heavy to be relocated intact from one site to another.
Beyond that, Dobsonian mounts are designed to be super easy to use, and that’s certainly the case here.
Rack and pinion focuser – smooth, very little vibration.
Performance
Target Audience
The Zhumell Z100 is really designed to be a family’s first telescope. Its size and weight make it portable and easy for young children to use, while older children and adults can easily locate potential targets with the Dobsonian mount. This makes it a great option for casual stargazing at family events and celebrations, with views that are sure to leave a lasting impression.
Specifications
- Type: Newtonian Reflector
- Mount Type: Alt-Azimuth
- Base: Dobsonian
- Computerized or Manual: Manual
- Aperture: 100mm (3.9”)
- Focal Length: 400mm (15.8”)
- Focal Ratio: f/4
- Included Eyepieces: 2
- Eyepiece 1: 17mm (24x)
- Eyepiece 2: 10mm (40x)
- Finderscope: Red dot
- Highest Useful Magnification: 200x
- Lowest Useful Magnification: 14x
- Limiting Stellar Magnitude: 12.7
- Resolution (Dawes): 1.2 arc-seconds
- Optical Coatings: Fully coated
- Optical Tube Length: 368mm (14.5”)
- Mount Height: 279mm (11.0”)
- Total Weight (Assembled): 6.2 pounds (2.8 kg)
- Warranty: Two Year Limited Warranty
What We Liked
- Excellent optics for the money
- Easy to use
- Very little assembly required
- Relatively lightweight
- Relatively wide field-of-view eyepieces
What We Didn’t Like
- Instructions had to be downloaded
- Lacking accessories
- Unable to collimate the mirrors
Final Verdict
Zhumell’s stated goal is to “put high-performance products in the hands of our customers” through “field-tested, precision-crafted optics at the best possible value.” For the most part, the Z100 succeeds, as you’ll find it hard to find such quality optics elsewhere for $100 or less.
That said, its short focal length of 400mm means its usable magnification is probably only between 100x and 150x. This is fine for large, bright objects, such as Jupiter, Saturn, multiple stars, and open star clusters. It could also be used for larger nebulae, such as the Orion Nebula, but many planetary nebulae, galaxies, and globular clusters won’t show well.
So if you want to upgrade your first scope and are looking for a solid, inexpensive, all-around scope that’s capable of producing fine views of almost everything, you might want to consider something larger (such as its big brother, the Zhumell Z130.)
If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a good quality, inexpensive, entry-level telescope the whole family can enjoy, then the Z100 will more than satisfy your needs – and with the Moon, planets, and hundreds of other celestial objects within your reach, you won’t be disappointed.
Recommended Accessories
- Zhumell 1.25″ Eyepiece and Filter Kit – if you’re looking for an all-in-one expansion kit for your Z100, then this is it. It includes four eyepieces, a 2x Barlow lens and five colored filters to help bring out details on the planets.
- Zhumell 2x Barlow Lens – a 2x Barlow will double the magnification of any eyepiece you attach to it. It’ll provide magnifications of 47x and 80x if used with the Zhumell Z100 and the eyepieces supplied with it.
- Celestron 1.25″ Moon Filter – pretty much an essential accessory, this filter reduces the glare of the Moon and allows you to observe it without being dazzled. It’s also “neutral density,” meaning that it produces a natural color view of the Moon, and is compatible with the Z100.
- Celestron PowerTank Glow 5000 – a red flashlight is also essential if you’re using star charts and books as it will protect your night vision. The PowerTank has three brightness levels and a USB port to charge your smartphone or tablet.
- Celestron Lens Cleaning Kit – dust can get everywhere, and it’s important to keep the optics of your telescope and eyepieces clean. This kit has everything you need to ensure you get the best views possible.
If you’re looking for additional resources to improve your stargazing experience, we have a number of articles that you might find helpful.
First off, we’ve answered a number of important questions from how much does a telescope cost?, to how do you use a telescope?, to what do I need to know before buying a telescope?. We’ve also created as series of helpful guides, such as our list of cool astronomy facts (which any kids or beginners will no doubt find interesting), our guide to beginners guide to astronomy, and our kids astronomy guide.
We’ve also created a series of buying guides, including our lists of the best tools for astronomy, the best telescopes for beginners, and the best astronomy binoculars.
In addition to those guides, we’ve also created a series of in-depth reviews of a variety of telescopes and astronomy binoculars. You can check them out before you buy to find out the best accessories, pros and cons for different models, and even to see what they look like unboxed. Check them out if you’re considering buying any of the following models check out these reviews: our Orion XT6 Dobsonian Telescope review, Sky-Watcher Heritage 130 Telescope review, Zhumell Z100 Telescope review, Celestron ExploraScope 114AZ Telescope review, SkyGenius 10×50 Binoculars review, Orion Scenix 7×50 Binoculars review, Orion Astronomy 15×70 Binoculars review, Opticron Adventurer II 10×50 Binoculars review, Celestron Travel Scope 80 Telescope review, or our Celestron SkyMaster 20×80 Binoculars review to really be able to dive into the different telescope and astronomy binocular models in-depth.
Born in England, Richard J. Bartlett has had a passion for astronomy since the age of six. Besides being featured in Sky & Telescope magazine and previously having his own monthly column in Astronomy magazine, he’s written and published a number of books (US Amazon and UK Amazon) including several for Orion Telescopes. Now residing in southern California, Richard never misses an opportunity to stare at the stars.
