Coulter Optical Odyssey 8 Questions

[seeplain]

Hey everybody,

A friend has an old Coulter Optical "Odyssey 8" telescope and he said I can use it if I want. Is this scope any good? How does it compare in image quality and function to something like an Orion XT8?

Thanks!
Charlie.

[SEmert]

It's worth trying out. I don't have any direct experience with them, but I've heard their optical quality could be somewhat variable. The mount and mechanics are pretty simple and low tech, unless an owner has upgraded components - a common occurrance. In its unmodified form, I would expect it wouldn't compare favorably to a modern XT8. But shucks, it's worth a try.