Sky-Watcher · Dobsonian · 10 inches and up
Sky-Watcher Flextube 10 GoTo
The 10-inch Flextube GoTo, sold in the US as the Flextube 250P SynScan, puts a 254 mm mirror at f/4.7 in Sky-Watcher's collapsible three-pole tube. The focal length matches the 8-inch at 1,200 mm, so it's no longer, just wider and brighter, and it collapses to 31.5 inches for transport. The SynScan AZ hand controller with built-in Wi-Fi drives the motors and finds objects from its database, and Freedom Find encoders let you push it by hand without losing your alignment. It weighs 33 lb for the tube and 39 lb for the base. At f/4.7, collimation needs more care than on the 8-inch. For a GoTo scope with real light grasp that still fits in a car, it's a good balance.
Flextube 250P SynScan (US)Skyliner 250PX FlexTube GOTO (UK)
Spec at a glance
- Brand
- Sky-Watcher
- Type
- Dobsonian
- Aperture
- 254 mm (10 in)
- Focal length
- 1,200 mm
- Focal ratio
- f/4.7
- Design
- Collapsible Dobsonian on three poles, parabolic borosilicate mirror
- GoTo
- SynScan AZ hand controller with Wi-Fi; Freedom Find encoders
- Power
- 12 V DC, center positive
- Weight
- Tube 33 lb, base 39 lb
- Also listed as
- Flextube 250P GoTo, Skyliner 250PX FlexTube GoTo, Sky-Watcher 10 inch collapsible GoTo Dobsonian
The full kit
What should come with it
- Tube with its three poles and base
- SynScan hand controller and coiled cable
- 12 V power supply or battery pack
- 9x50 finder
- Eyepieces
Check the listing photos against this list, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. Plenty of listings are the tube alone or the mount alone, and a missing hand controller, power supply or counterweight should come off the price.
What to check
Missing hand controllers, cables and power supplies are the usual problem. The motors and encoders need testing. The f/4.7 mirror shows poor collimation quickly, and its coating dulls with age.
- 01Hand controller: Check the SynScan controller and cable are in the photos. Ask for a photo of it powered on.
- 02Slew test: Ask for a short video of both axes moving under the hand controller. The motors should run smoothly.
- 03Power: Ask what power supply is included. It should be 12 V with a center-positive plug.
- 04Poles: Ask the seller to extend and lock the tube. All three poles should lock solidly.
- 05Mirror: Ask for a photo of the main mirror with a flashlight. It should be bright and even.
- 06Pickup: Plan for a 33 lb tube and a 39 lb base. Local pickup lets you watch the GoTo work before you pay.
New to used telescopes? How to check a used telescope covers optics, mounts, power and shipping, and what a complete kit looks like helps with tube-only and mount-only listings.
Find one on eBay
We haven’t been through this model’s listings yet. Search eBay and run every listing through the checklist above. Ask for a photo looking into the optics with a flashlight and one of everything included, and pass on any seller who won’t send them.
Search “Sky-Watcher Flextube 250P” on eBay ↗eBay searchCompare with
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Specs and what to check →
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- Years made
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- Key spec
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