Demystifying Dobsonian vs. Newtonian Telescopes: How to Pick the Best Design for Your Observing Goals

So you‘ve decided to buy your first serious telescope for stargazing beyond casual looks at the Moon? Congratulations on investing in a rewarding hobby that can offer breathtaking views of planets, star clusters, nebulae and distant galaxies when pursued passionately.

But the dizzying array of telescopes available today can leave prospective astronomers baffled on where to begin. Refractor? Reflector? What‘s a Dobsonian anyway?

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know when deciding between two of the most popular telescopes recommended for beginners – Dobsonian and Newtonian models. I‘ll compare and contrast their designs, capabilities, limitations and what they‘re best suited for whether your interests lean towards visual observation or astrophotography.

Let‘s start by quickly defining both telescope types so fundamental concepts and terminology make sense moving forward.

An Introductory Overview on Dobsonians and Newtonians

Dobsonian Telescopes utilize large diameter parabolic mirrors to collect and focus incoming light towards a smaller diagonal secondary mirror that reflects the image out the side of the optical tube and into the eyepiece for viewing. They sit on simple but rugged alt-azimuth mounts allowing easy adjustment of vertical and horizontal orientation by hand to locate and track objects in the night sky.

Key Attributes:

• Large light collection area from big primary mirrors usually 4.5" to 16" in diameter
• Smooth maneuverability on basic mounts to observe visually
• Extremely affordable given unsophisticated components
• Ideal for striking views of star clusters, nebulae and galaxies

Newtonian Telescopes also employ central parabolic primary and smaller diagonal secondary mirrors to gather and reflect images into centered focusers and standard 1.25" eyepieces. But Newtonians utilize sturdier equatorial mounts motor-driven to stay locked on and track celestial objects as the Earth rotates across the night sky.

Key Attributes:

• Equatorial mounts imperative for long exposure astrophotography
• Optional GOTO computerization simplifies aiming and object locating
• Quality optics in more compact, transportable packages
• Breadth of capability ranging from lunar shots to deep field images

Now that you have a basic handle on each design‘s core characteristics, let‘s dig deeper in a side-by-side comparison before weighing their respective pros and cons.

Comparing Key Specifications and Attributes

Dobsonians and Newtonians share similarities but also differ greatly when it comes to optics, mounts, magnification potential, field of view and ideal functionality among other attributes. Here I‘ve highlighted some of the most important differentiators.

Above are just some of the core specification differences that dictate ideal functionality when it comes to Dobsonians being best for visual work while Newtonians excel at imaging. There are of course exceptions, but evaluating the above factors carefully is key to matching prospective telescopes to your goals and budget.

Below I‘ll break down additional pros and cons of each design before getting into some specific starter model recommendations.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Dobsonian Telescopes

Dobsonian telescopes offer tremendous capability at extremely wallet-friendly pricing by eschewing costly components that enable tracking and imaging capability in exchange for maximum light gathering surface area on large mirrors poised to deliver bright, wide-field visual views full of nebulae, star clusters and distant galaxies.

Dobsonian Benefits Include:

• Superior light grasp over any remotely comparably priced alternative
• Unmatched capability to affordably show newcomers mesmerizing deep space vistas through the eyepiece
• Intuitive operation via simple manual altitude and azimuth adjustments to locate night sky treasures
• Naturally stable mounted low to the ground for smooth, shake-free high power observing

Dobsonian Drawbacks Include:

• Lengthy cool down times for primary mirrors to reach ambient temperatures is a must
• Permanent base footprint can be enormous; storage is highly problematic
• Light-polluted viewing sites waste much of their enhanced light grasp
• Distracting to constantly re-point scope manually to keep pace with Earth‘s rotation

The rapid cool down issue has workarounds if waiting isn‘t your forte. Wrapping the mirror when not in use and utilizing sheltered transitional spaces like garages to acclimate gear avoids lengthy dew delays.

As for storage, even smaller 6” models demand substantial square footage year-round. This requirement alone drives some to compact refractors or Newtonians instead to reduce "life impact" when not pursuing dark sky views a few nights monthly.

My core advice? If chasing photography is lower in priority than the richest and widest DSO views feasible per dollar spent, Dobsonians are nearly impossible to surpass.

The Pluses and Minuses of Newtonian Telescopes

Newtonians offer greater versatility than Dobsonians to photographer-leaning amateur astronomers via equatorial tracking mounts that expand capability for long exposure lunar, solar system and deep space imaging along with superb visual use augmented by computerized object location and automatic guidance to keep targets centered.

Newtonian Benefits Include:

• Equatorial mounts excel at long exposure photography absent in alt-azimuth Dobsonians
• Optional push-to computerization simplifies the aiming/tracking learning curve substantially
• Optical tube assemblies breakdown for transport unlike bulky Dobsonians
• Retains respectable light gathering ability in smaller packages

Newtonian Drawbacks Include:

• Multi-thousand dollar unit cost not uncommon for imaging-centric systems
• Rather steep learning curve to achieve polar alignment, focus and guide effectively
• Limited astrophotography success likely in light polluted regions or with inadequate setups
• Outperformed visually by larger Dobsonian apertures in almost all instances

One trap I encourage avoiding is skimping on key components like underpowered mounts to chase savings on Newtonians. The lure of a large primary mirror is enticing visually. But field use frustrates quickly without sufficient counterweights and drives to smoothly track targets photographically when tripods flex and images trail as a result.

Let’s now shift to recommendations across beginner, intermediate and advanced setups well suited to observing goals and budget.

Top Dobsonian Recommendations on a Budget

I‘ll start with several highly recommended Dobsonians that offer tremendous capability without breaking the bank. Prices range from a few hundred dollars to nearly a thousand for the largest ultra premium model shown.

Best Budget Dobsonian:
Orion SkyQuest XT6 Classic – $299

Despite the low cost, Orion‘s SkyQuest XT6 reviewed very well across numerous amateur astronomy publications, praised for its smooth motions, quality components like the 2” Crayford focuser, excellent optics free of aberrations and tube currents along with valuable accessories like a cooling fan, lasers, filters and highest magnification Orion eyepiece.

It‘s 6" f/8 1200mm focal length optics collect impressive amounts of light, resolving 12th magnitude targets to reveal colorful binary stars along with nebulae and galaxies novice DSO viewers will appreciate. The compact form factor keeps the base under 60 pounds for solo set up while retaining the stability required for crisp 300x views on select nights.

Best Mid-Range Dobsonian:
Zhumell Z8 Deluxe – $699

Serious deep sky observers needing more challenging quarry will appreciate the Z8 Deluxe Dobsonian‘s light gathering chops via its 8" aperture and wide fully-coated 1200mm focal length parabola. The large secondary yields a vast 2° apparent field at low powers for brilliant vistas of the Milky Way from remote dark sky sites.

Feature-wise the Z8 also shines including 2" dual-speed Crayford focuser, innovative tube cooling, 10×50 right-angle viewfinder and wide range of eyepieces plus accessories. The adjustable pivoting base offers 30° of tilt positioning versatility. Experts praise the buttery-smooth altitude and azimuth motions for comfortable extended viewing sessions. At this price point, few options beat Zhumell‘s quality and thoughtful Z8 design.

Best Premium Dobsonian:
Obsession 12" Ultra Compact Truss – $995

Demanding deep sky viewers requiring extreme light grasp in compact form have met their match with Obsession Telescopes’ 12” UCT Dobsonian. Weighing just 39 pounds, it transports like smaller instruments but unveils globs, galaxies and nebulae as if peering through an urban observatory hatch. Owners praise Obsession’s sensibly executed open truss design using carbon fiber tubes that maintain collimation and cooling exceptionally well.

Premium accessories complete the package including finely machined aluminum rack and pinion focuser, mirror fan ventilation, custom padded carry bags and carbon fiber truss cradles offering buttery smooth push-to manipulation under velvet skies. If you seek massive aperture in a highly portable visual package, this 5 star performer warrants your consideration.

Recommended Astrophotography Newtonians Under $2000

Equatorial mounted Newtonians built for lunar, solar system and deep space imaging typically start around $1000 at entry level with fully-loaded computerized systems often reaching into the multi-thousands. I’ll outline great starter options below the $2000 price point.

Best Budget Astrophotography Newtonian:
Sky-Watcher Traditional 8” Imaging Newtonian – $519

Seeking a basic yet capable imaging Newtonian? Sky-Watcher’s manual 8” 1200mm focal length f/5.9 Newtonian reflects immense value at just over $500 including a very solid EQ-3 equatorial mount, stainless counterweights, dual-axis drives and portable field tripod ideal for long exposure photography. Users praise the flat field optimized mirror set’s sharp star images across wide fields along with included cooling fan and tube rings at this reasonable starter price.

Best Intermediate Astrophotography Newtonian:
Celestron NexStar 8SE – $1199

Celestron‘s hallmark orange tube creed takes a great leap forward photographically in the 8SE Newtonian. The 2032mm f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain optical path and heavy duty single fork arm mount combine to track subjects smoothly for minutes enabling images impossible for Dobsonian owners to achieve. 40,000+ object GPS database, wi-fi smartphone control and powered 1.25” star diagonal add functionality pushing the versatility envelope at this still affordable pricing tier.

Best Advanced Astrophotography Newtonian:
Sky-Watcher Esprit 120mm ED Triplet APO – $1799

Demanding astroimagers wanting a perfected optical path free of coma and color aberration meet their match in Sky-Watcher’s Esprit 120mm. The air-spaced triplet apochromatic (APO) refractor optics and revolutionary carbon fiber twin speed 3.5” focuser combine on an ultra-precise computerized GoTo equatorial mount to enable intricate broad and narrowband imaging of nebulae and galaxies along with worlds within our solar system. If your imaging goals demand uncompromising results, this Esprit 120mm leaves little else to wish for dollar-for-dollar.

Frequently Asked Questions on Selecting & Using Dobsonians and Newtonians

Below I’ve compiled answers to some of the most common novice questions that come up when evaluating Dobsonian and Newtonian telescopes.

Can a Dobsonian telescope be used for ANY astrophotography?

Basic lunar and planetary imaging is possible with Dobsonians by mounting smartphones directly to the focuser. But deep space imaging requiring long exposures is essentially impossible given manual tracking mounts. Dobsonians excel overwhelmingly as rich-field visual instruments.

What telescope offers better views for the money: Dobsonian or Newtonian?

Given similarly sized objectives, Dobsonians will outperform on visual deep sky observing nearly every time. The cost savings from simpler mounts gets allocated towards more aperture and light grasp. Newtonians compete only when photographic capability is paramount.

Can a Newtonian telescope be used effectively for visual observation?

Absolutely! Newtonians, particularly those with push-to computerized mounts using databases and hand controllers, can locate thousands of objects from backyards and dark sites. Their capability to then automatically track subjects is a huge asset to visual use.

Are imaging-capable Newtonian telescopes difficult to master?

Equatorial Newtonians do require some steep initial learning around aligning (polar aligning) their mounts accurately to enable motorized tracking. Using autoguiders adds further complexity. So astrophotography Newtonians are far more challenging than simple Dobsonians to use out of the box. But capabilities scale up commensurately.

I hope you’ve found this introduction to Dobsonian and Newtonian telescopes useful. My goal was to comprehensively compare attributes relevant to picking the best design aligned with your stargazing passions and budget. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Clear Skies!