Home > Consumer Reviews > Orion SkyQuest XT4.5 Classic Dobsonian Telescope

After trying and becoming frustrated with department store telescopes, I spent a lot of time researching on the internet to find a scope that both fit my needs as a beginner and fit my budget. No matter how I looked at it, this scope kept coming out at the top of the list.

I've been using it for over a month now and have not been disappointed in any way! It is ultra-portable, gives great views, and took a rank amateur (me) less than an hour to assemble and align the optics, thanks to a very good instruction manual.

The small size is a plus for me. I keep it fully assembled sitting in the guest bedroom and pick it up and easily carry it out to the yard in one piece. I just lay out a blanket and sit on the lawn and observe - no need for setup, fancy chairs, or tables. The eyepiece is at the perfect height for my 4yr old daughter to look through (she has already gotten a few glimpses of the moon) so it will be a great tool for us to share. When she is a little bit bigger she will easily be able to handle this scope by herself.

A bigger scope will give better/more powerful views, but if you are on a tight budget, want something simple and rugged, or want a very portable scope, this is your ticket!

After your first view of Jupiter (and its cloud bands and moons) you won't regret this purchase.

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Update 1 year later!

I just re-read this review I put up, and can't reiterate it enough - This is a great little beginner scope!

Last fall I bought one of the books I recommended with this scope, "StarWatch" by Phil Harrington. Just last week, I completed the seasonal sky windows in the book - allowing me to see all 110 Messier DSO's all using this little 4.5" scope!

If a goofball like me can figure out how to use this scope and can use "StarWatch" to log all the Messier's in about a year - you can too! Its a great combo!!!

This is, quite simply, one of the best buys in smaller, portable Dobsonian Newtonian Reflector scopes today. Usually, the two terms (portable and Dobsonian) are mutually exclusive, but the 4.5 weighs in at only around 22 pounds, which makes it quite portable, and a pleasure to operate and turn and point with its Dobsonian base. I have owned the XT4.5 and the XT8. Both phenomenal pieces of gear. Both capable of deep sky views. Having used both, I can assure you that the 4.5 is capable of clear views up to around 200x. It was even able to handle the increased magnification of a Barlow Lens and high power eyepiece, for utterly stunning close up views of the lunar surface on a really clear night! Saturn's rings and the 'Cassini Division' was easily discernable as well. Of course it won't rival the views of the larger Dobsonians, but the 4.5 holds its own as a real, well crafted, quality telescope. An adult will have to bend down a bit for viewing, but I solved that challenge by simply putting the scope on a milk crate, or using a small, portable folding gardeners chair, which is low to the ground. No big whoop. All in all, a GREAT tool for viewing the heavens for your kids AND adults!

I purchased this scope almost a year ago as my first scope and love it. It is easy to use and easily portable. At < 20 lbs it is easily carried in one hand using the handle. It gives good views of the moon and planets, particularly if you add a Barlow lense to double the power of the provided eyepieces, but is also big enough (at 4.5") to begin to show the beauty of the deep-sky objects (galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, etc). I have viewed most of the Messier deep-sky list already. Because it is not on a tripod, it is also easy for kids to view through the eyepiece because they do not need to get on a step ladder. Now that I am sure that I will really be into astronomy as a hobby, I am ready to move on to a larger telescope, but I will keep this one and give it to my kids so they can start to enjoy the night sky.

I've had the xt4.5 for a year now, and even though I have since purchased the xt10, I still use the xt4.5 more frequently because you can just pick it up w/ one hand, carry it outside, and begin scanning the sky. Even though a 4.5 inch primary mirror is small for a dobsonian telescope, this is a serious piece of equipment for the money. This is no cheap "department store junk" scope.
Perfect for a quick observing session, or just to check the quality of "seeing" before you drag out the "big one".
One of my nephews who has looked through this scope asked me what I was going to do w/ the little 4.5 now that I have a bigger xt10. Looks like I'll have to buy him one of his own because I'm not parting w/ mine.

This is a great scope for beginning astronomy--and beyond. It is sturdy and simple to operate. It has enough light-gathering power (more important than magnification) to reveal dim star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies and good enough optics to show you the surface of planets like Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars. Affordable as this scope is, there is no reason to give so much as a glance at the trashy 60mm refractors with exaggerated magnification claims that litter the market.

Some advice on selection. Dobsonians come in a range of sizes; the bigger the instrument, the more you will see. A long-focus 114mm (4 ½") like this one is a fine instrument, especially for children and others whose ability to carry large objects is limited. A teen or able-bodied adult should consider going up to a 150-200mm (6-8") scope. Bigger Dobsonians (250-300mm and above) are too heavy and bulky for some people.

Some advice on use. Viewing through a telescope is less like playing a CD and more like playing a guitar. Finding objects takes a little bit of practice. To simplify it, I would suggest supplementing the finder supplied with this scope with a "red-dot" finder to aid in initial pointing. You will also need to buy a star atlas (Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas is the best available), a red flashlight to read it without blowing out your badly-needed night vision, and a guidebook to lead you to interesting objects. These investments will greatly add to your enjoyment.

What more can I say? This is the kind of scope that experienced observers have been trying to steer novices towards for decades. Although, I recommend that you do your homework before buying any scope--learn the sky and get to know experienced stargazers who can advise you--when it comes time to purchase, this scope is a fine choice.

For more advice, see my encyclopedic guide here on Amazon, "So you want to buy a telescope."