---
product_id: 1161501
title: "Flextube 200 Dobsonian 8-inch Collapsible Large Aperture Telescope – Portable, Easy to Use, Perfect for Beginners (S11700)"
brand: "sky-watcher"
price: "1535109CFA"
currency: XOF
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 4
category: "Sky Watcher"
url: https://www.desertcart.sn/products/1161501-flextube-200-dobsonian-8-inch-collapsible-large-aperture-telescope-portable
store_origin: SN
region: Senegal
---

# 8-inch large aperture for bright views 94% reflective borosilicate mirrors Collapsible strut design for easy portability Flextube 200 Dobsonian 8-inch Collapsible Large Aperture Telescope – Portable, Easy to Use, Perfect for Beginners (S11700)

**Brand:** sky-watcher
**Price:** 1535109CFA
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🌌 Unlock the Universe Anywhere with the Ultimate Collapsible Dobsonian!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Flextube 200 Dobsonian 8-inch Collapsible Large Aperture Telescope – Portable, Easy to Use, Perfect for Beginners (S11700) by sky-watcher
- **How much does it cost?** 1535109CFA with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sn](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/1161501-flextube-200-dobsonian-8-inch-collapsible-large-aperture-telescope-portable)

## Best For

- sky-watcher enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted sky-watcher brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Pack & Go Innovation:** Unique collapsible tube design reduces size by 36%, making transport and storage effortless for the on-the-move stargazer.
- • **Stellar Aperture Power:** Experience vivid, bright celestial views with an 8-inch large aperture that outshines typical beginner scopes.
- • **Complete Ready-to-Use Kit:** Includes dual wide-angle eyepieces, 8x50 right-angle finder, and 2-inch Crayford focuser—everything you need to start exploring the night sky immediately.
- • **Precision Movement Control:** Patented tension handles and smooth Teflon bearings ensure silky-smooth, accurate tracking without the hassle of perfect balance.
- • **Durable & Lightweight Craftsmanship:** Robust yet portable at just 40 pounds fully assembled, built with premium borosilicate mirrors and a sturdy base for lasting performance.

## Overview

The Sky-Watcher Flextube 200 Dobsonian is a professional-grade, 8-inch large aperture telescope featuring a patented collapsible strut design that reduces its size by over a third for unmatched portability. Equipped with 94% reflective borosilicate mirrors and smooth Teflon bearings, it delivers bright, crisp views with effortless maneuverability. This all-in-one kit includes premium eyepieces, a Crayford focuser, and a right-angle finder scope, making it perfect for beginners and enthusiasts who demand high performance and convenience in one sleek package.

## Description

For years, Dobsonian telescopes have provided astronomers with the most bang for their buck using a large aperture and simple design. Viewing with a large aperture can provide a stellar experience, however the size of large reflector telescopes can pose problems for users looking to either store or transport their telescope from one location to another. The Sky-Watcher Collapsible Dobsonian solves this problem with a unique collapsible design using three retractable steel struts, allowing for easy storage and transit. Transport Anywhere, Anytime Dobsonians are known for giving users a large aperture reflecting telescope at a low price, however they often lack portability. Sky-Watcher has innovated this classic telescope design by integrating a collapsible tube system, addressing users’ portability concerns. Sky-Watcher Collapsible Dobsonians feature a strut system carefully designed to ease setup time in the field while delivering consistent optical performance. Each strut has preset indentations which place the optics in the same position time after time, maintaining collimation. Unlike Dobsonians using a truss-tube system, Sky-Watcher’s Collapsible Dobsonian does not need to be disassembled. The strut system is comprised of three 1” steel poles, joining the bottom and top portion of the optical tube. When extended, three chrome locking screws hold the instrument in place. Unlike truss tube Dobsonians, Sky-Watcher’s Collapsible Dobsonian holds collimation extremely well, forgoing the need to collimate each time it’s used. The retracting design can shorten the optical tube up to 36%, making storage and transit much easier. Borosilicate? Gesundheit! At the heart of any Sky-Watcher telescope are observatory-grade optical components. The Collapsible Dobsonian is no exception, using components that yield exceptional contrast, 94% reflectivity and minimal vignetting. Mirrors are constructed with borosilicate glass, then coated with quartz, titanium and silicon dioxide to ensure an unparalleled viewing experience. Combining these superb optics with a large Dobsonian aperture helps ensure you’ll have bright, bold views of faint deep sky objects. To ensure Sky-Watcher Dobsonians remain easy to use, all Collapsible Dobsonians include a mount base that is so smooth, it can be rotated with the push of a finger. 8” and 10” models come complete with Teflon™ bearings, while the larger 12”, 14” and 16” models use steel needle bearings to ensure smooth and easy movement.Upgraded Pro ModelsSky-Watcher’s 14” and 16” Collapsible Dobsonian Pro models offer a few additional upgrades. Pro models also use a conical parabolic mirror to help reduce the weight of the primary and for faster cool-down time. Additionally, a 10:1 dual-speed Crayford-style focuser offers users a more precise method for focusing and needle bearings produce smoother, quieter movement. Pro models also include Sky-Watcher’s premiere collapsible mount which uses an easy-breakdown base for enhanced portability. Normally, these larger aperture scopes would be extremely difficult to transport but with Sky-Watcher’s innovative design these telescopes can be used anywhere. Accessories and More At Sky-Watcher, we want you to feel confident in your purchase, knowing that your telescope will come with all required accessories to start using your telescope. All Sky-Watcher Dobsonian telescopes include a 2” Crayford focuser and a 1.25” adapter, allowing you to utilize both 2” and 1.25” eyepieces. Also included, are two 1.25” eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), a 8x50 finderscope and eyepiece tray.

Review: Perfect for a beginner to Amateur - I have never owned or operated a telescope before but I began looking for a beginner scope for over a year now. Upon several reviews and forum ratings, I originally went with the Celestron 127EQ (Big Mistake) So I immediately returned it. Not only was the mount hard to maneuver but darn near impossible to collimate. So I started my search over and the term Dobsonian (Type of Mount) kept popping up from amateur astronomers. So naturally I being researching and came across this magnificent scope!! Not only is The dobsonain mount easy to maneuver, lock and keep track/move with the sky. It's easy to assemble!! (All needed tools are in the box) Now to the scope it self.. When you first unbox the unit you can immediately tell it is very well crafted.. (no cheap plastic bits) The 2" focuser is very smooth (it does come with a 1.25" adapter) and the x2 - 1.25" plossl lens it comes with are very decent quality (only wish it came with a Barlow lens) The finder Scope is excellent quailty and accurate as well I was skeptical about the whole collapsible thing, but it transitions very smoothly making it much easier to store and carry. So very glad I went this way. Plus it keeps the primary mirror and secondary mirror in completely different tubes.. (Just in case you drop a tool or 2 down the tube it doesn't bust up your primary mirror.) After my horror story with the 127EQ I bit the bullet and purchased a hotech 2"/1.25" laser crosshair collimator..seriously collimation is a snap (2 mins Max) ...A must have !! After every is ready to go and it's all collimated.. And you finally sit down..on a clear night.. And look through the lens for the first time at the moon (HDTV has Nothing on this scope) it's beautiful, everything you wished for..(even in the city) My 3.5 year old son and my wife are also always wanting to use the scope.. I am seriously considering buy 2 more. So if you are on the fence of buying a scope.. STOP and get down and press Buy Now!! You won't regret it.. I know my family and I don't..
Review: Great Dob scope for star hopping - I purchased this after getting a cheap scope with an unstable tripod. Reading the reviews the Dobsonian mounts were easy to use and great for the backyard. The telescope arrived in two boxes like described and I had already watched YouTube videos on assembling. It really was easy and anyone who has assembled furniture can figure it out. The telescope was also updated based on some of the feedback from other customers. Mine came with a 90 degree finder scope. The main OTA can accept both 1.25” and 2” lenses. The altitude movement was very smooth, however the azimuth movement was sticky. There is a modification for the scope where you install a 12” lazy Susan bearing between the two circular base pieces and I highly recommend it. The lazy Susan will make the azimuth adjustments very smooth and easy. I also removed the 3 feet that came with the telescope and replaced them with 4 x 2.5” locking casters making it much easier to move the scope to the backyard. The scope is a star hopper so you need a basic understanding of the night sky. I took an Astronomy class almost three decades ago. That and a sky application for the phone helped me pick out Jupiter and Saturn. Even in the suburbs with a light pollution of 5 I am able to see the two gas giants easily. You don’t have to wait for astronomical twilight to fade before taking in Jupiter. Once I got my bearings I went for my first nebula and found the Lagoon. It was really a matter of practice with this scope and hopping. If you are looking for a scope to find stuff for you then go for the go to version. The lenses are ok for beginning with. They are both 1.25” but the kit lacks a Barlow. I borrowed the 2x Barlow from the cheap kit, but you can really tell the difference in lenses quality. A zoom lens would also be a good addition to someone buying this kit. I got the laser collimator and moon filter offered by desertcart as a package. The collimator is necessary and I recommend watching a video on how to align your mirrors. I have not found use of the moon filter yet. Here I would recommend a good quality Barlow or Zoom lens. I also wished desertcart carried a light shield for the open truss. You can find one from another reseller and for the backyard with lots of stray light, I’d recommend one. The last thing I’d recommend is a good set of star charts and Left turn at Orion to help you search the night sky.

## Features

- LARGE APERTURE: Get a bright, bold viewing experience at a fraction of the cost of other optical designs.
- INNOVATIVE COLLAPSIBLE DESIGN: Unique strut design allows for optical tube to collapse for ease of portability while keeping collimation.
- PROPRIETARY TENSION CONTROL HANDLES: These patented handles allow for accurate movement without the need for perfect balance.
- 94% REFLECTIVE MIRRORS: Fully multi-coated borosilicate primary and secondary mirrors deliver exceptional views.
- TEFLON BEARINGS: Proprietary Teflon bearings ensure smooth azimuth movement.
- COMES COMPLETE: All accessories such as, 2-inch Crayford-style focuser with 1 1/4-inch adapter, two super wide-angle eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), and 8x50 right-angle finder scope are included with purchase.
- STURDY AND LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN: When fully assembled, the Dobsonian weighs only 40 pounds fully assembled (24 pound tube, 26 pound base)

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B004Q78OII |
| Best Sellers Rank | #2,363 in Camera & Photo Products ( See Top 100 in Camera & Photo Products ) #43 in Telescope Reflectors |
| Customer Reviews | 3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars (97) |
| Date First Available | June 22, 2010 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Weight | 27 pounds |
| Item model number | S11700 |
| Manufacturer | Sky-Watcher |
| Product Dimensions | 29.5 x 20 x 36 inches |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** Sky-Watcher
- **Eye Piece Lens Description:** Plossl
- **Finderscope:** Reflex
- **Focus Type:** Manual Focus
- **Item Weight:** 27 Pounds
- **Model Name:** Flextube 200 Dobsonian 8-inch
- **Objective Lens Diameter:** 203 Millimeters
- **Power Source:** Adapter
- **Product Dimensions:** 29.5"D x 20"W x 36"H
- **Telescope Mount Description:** Altazimuth Mount

## Images

![Flextube 200 Dobsonian 8-inch Collapsible Large Aperture Telescope – Portable, Easy to Use, Perfect for Beginners (S11700) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61ercbtk5fL.jpg)

## Questions & Answers

**Q: Is there any electronic GO-TO kit available for this scope. I know that you can buy one with go-to, but how about adding it to it?**
A: I'm pretty certain there is no upgrade, but from my personal experience of you want something specific, like a go-to dob, then buy a go-to dob... Don't waste your time or money on one scope if you're already dreaming about the next one!!

**Q: Can this telescope (as-is) see things like the Andromeda galaxy with any detail?**
A: At a dark site andromeda should look stunning and fill the field of view with a low power 35 or 40mm eye piece with this 8" scope. In town with light pollution, it will look like a faint smudge.

**Q: Can I mount a camera to it**
A: No, a dobsonian mount telescope is not well-suited for photography. You need an equatorial mount that can be accurately polar aligned to do photography well.

**Q: Why is this listed at $1049.99 when the same telescope sells on the company website for $699? I also have found other dealers selling it for $699.**
A: The $1049.99 price is for the 12" not the 10."

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Perfect for a beginner to Amateur
*by K***C on May 23, 2013*

I have never owned or operated a telescope before but I began looking for a beginner scope for over a year now. Upon several reviews and forum ratings, I originally went with the Celestron 127EQ (Big Mistake) So I immediately returned it. Not only was the mount hard to maneuver but darn near impossible to collimate. So I started my search over and the term Dobsonian (Type of Mount) kept popping up from amateur astronomers. So naturally I being researching and came across this magnificent scope!! Not only is The dobsonain mount easy to maneuver, lock and keep track/move with the sky. It's easy to assemble!! (All needed tools are in the box) Now to the scope it self.. When you first unbox the unit you can immediately tell it is very well crafted.. (no cheap plastic bits) The 2" focuser is very smooth (it does come with a 1.25" adapter) and the x2 - 1.25" plossl lens it comes with are very decent quality (only wish it came with a Barlow lens) The finder Scope is excellent quailty and accurate as well I was skeptical about the whole collapsible thing, but it transitions very smoothly making it much easier to store and carry. So very glad I went this way. Plus it keeps the primary mirror and secondary mirror in completely different tubes.. (Just in case you drop a tool or 2 down the tube it doesn't bust up your primary mirror.) After my horror story with the 127EQ I bit the bullet and purchased a hotech 2"/1.25" laser crosshair collimator..seriously collimation is a snap (2 mins Max) ...A must have !! After every is ready to go and it's all collimated.. And you finally sit down..on a clear night.. And look through the lens for the first time at the moon (HDTV has Nothing on this scope) it's beautiful, everything you wished for..(even in the city) My 3.5 year old son and my wife are also always wanting to use the scope.. I am seriously considering buy 2 more. So if you are on the fence of buying a scope.. STOP and get down and press Buy Now!! You won't regret it.. I know my family and I don't..

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great Dob scope for star hopping
*by S***D on October 24, 2019*

I purchased this after getting a cheap scope with an unstable tripod. Reading the reviews the Dobsonian mounts were easy to use and great for the backyard. The telescope arrived in two boxes like described and I had already watched YouTube videos on assembling. It really was easy and anyone who has assembled furniture can figure it out. The telescope was also updated based on some of the feedback from other customers. Mine came with a 90 degree finder scope. The main OTA can accept both 1.25” and 2” lenses. The altitude movement was very smooth, however the azimuth movement was sticky. There is a modification for the scope where you install a 12” lazy Susan bearing between the two circular base pieces and I highly recommend it. The lazy Susan will make the azimuth adjustments very smooth and easy. I also removed the 3 feet that came with the telescope and replaced them with 4 x 2.5” locking casters making it much easier to move the scope to the backyard. The scope is a star hopper so you need a basic understanding of the night sky. I took an Astronomy class almost three decades ago. That and a sky application for the phone helped me pick out Jupiter and Saturn. Even in the suburbs with a light pollution of 5 I am able to see the two gas giants easily. You don’t have to wait for astronomical twilight to fade before taking in Jupiter. Once I got my bearings I went for my first nebula and found the Lagoon. It was really a matter of practice with this scope and hopping. If you are looking for a scope to find stuff for you then go for the go to version. The lenses are ok for beginning with. They are both 1.25” but the kit lacks a Barlow. I borrowed the 2x Barlow from the cheap kit, but you can really tell the difference in lenses quality. A zoom lens would also be a good addition to someone buying this kit. I got the laser collimator and moon filter offered by Amazon as a package. The collimator is necessary and I recommend watching a video on how to align your mirrors. I have not found use of the moon filter yet. Here I would recommend a good quality Barlow or Zoom lens. I also wished Amazon carried a light shield for the open truss. You can find one from another reseller and for the backyard with lots of stray light, I’d recommend one. The last thing I’d recommend is a good set of star charts and Left turn at Orion to help you search the night sky.

### ⭐ 1-star AF
*by S***H on November 10, 2019*

If you’re looking for tons of practice collimating telescopes but none of the reward of a clear image of the night sky, this is the telescope for you. I’ve owned this scope for about a month and a half now and I haven’t gotten one single clear image out of it. I’ve tried everything: collimating it countless times, checking the alignment of my collimating laser, buying a NEW laser in hopes that I hadn’t wasted $700 on a bunk telescope. I’ve heard people online say that length from the primary mirror that the secondary mirror snaps to is too close or too far to get a clear image and that you have to tweak this or that, none of which has made any difference for me. Either I’m using it COMPLETELY wrong, which I don’t find terribly likely, or it’s just extremely user-unfriendly. Either way, it has earned every bit of one star in my experience.

## Frequently Bought Together

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*Product available on Desertcart Senegal*
*Store origin: SN*
*Last updated: 2026-02-03*