What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

Discussion of optical systems and their characteristics.
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What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#1

Post by Lady Fraktor »


3-4 years ago you could not go a day without reading postings about how great Explore Scientific telescopes are.
Now you hardly see them mentioned, what has changed over the last few years?
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#2

Post by Gordon »


I think much of it has to do with the lack of availability during the last couple years. It seems to have impacted quite a few companies.
Gordon
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED80CF, Skywatcher 200 Quattro Imaging Newt, SeeStar S50 for EAA.
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#3

Post by Bigzmey »


ES had very aggressive pricing campaign a few years ago. You could buy their products at very attractive prices when they went on sale a few times per year. This generated a lot of traffic and a lot of interest.

Now they are just one of mid range astro venders, still a solid company with good products but in terms performance to price now more in line with others.
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
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EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#4

Post by SkyHiker »


I love Explore Scientific! They gave me a 127 mm Apo triplet for free on the RTMC 2015. And I can't recommend their Comet Hunter enough. Just look at JThommes' images! Too bad it was discontinued, more people need to buy the good stuff. I also love their little Nano EQ3 that I got for $90 way back.
They have a lot of bargains for the beginning amateur astronomer. Also, their affordable essential Apo line is the one that many use for their first Apo.
... Henk. :D Telescopes: GSO 12" Astrograph, "Comet Hunter" MN152, ES ED127CF, ES ED80, WO Redcat51, Z12, AT6RC, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Mounts and tripod: Losmandy G11S with OnStep, AVX, Tiltall, Cameras: ASI2600MC, ASI2600MM, ASI120 mini, Fuji X-a1, Canon XSi, T6, ELPH 100HS, DIY: OnStep controller, Pi4b/power rig, Afocal adapter, Foldable Dob base, Az/Alt Dob setting circles, Accessories: ZWO 36 mm filter wheel, TV Paracorr 2, Baader MPCC Mk III, ES FF, SSAG, QHY OAG-M, EAF electronic focuser, Plossls, Barlows, Telrad, Laser collimators (Seben LK1, Z12, Howie Glatter), Cheshire, 2 Orion RACIs 8x50, Software: KStars-Ekos, DSS, PHD2, Nebulosity, Photo Gallery, Gimp, CHDK, Computers:Pi4b, 2x running KStars/Ekos, Toshiba Satellite 17", Website:Henk's astro images
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#5

Post by Juno16 »


I really like my ED102 Essential Series APO. I purchased it new in 2018 for the very good price of $836.

Very sharp view (when I used it for visual (been awhile). Now I use if for AP and with a 0.8 FR/FF I have a focal length of 571mm at F5.6. It makes a really nice imaging scope with no noticeable CA.
Jim

Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
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Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), Orion 50mm Guide Scope, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#6

Post by jrkirkham »


I have no complaints with my ES refractor.
Rob
Telescopes: 50mm refractor, ED80 triplet, 90mm makcass, 10" dob, 8"SCT, 11"SCT
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#7

Post by pakarinen »


I've not priced them lately, but somebody wrote the prices on their EPs have gone up substantially. Maybe a big deal to people, maybe not.
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#8

Post by Lady Fraktor »


I know that when the USA/ China tariffs came into effect Explore Scientific was hit quite hard by it.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#9

Post by helicon »


My AR152 is fine. Anyway, I bought it used from lowjiber (John).
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#10

Post by Nakedgun »


~

In my view, we see the result of the impact that the world-wide economic lockdown has had on production, along with the (now) inflation-driven rapid rise in the cost of what is being produced leading to a diminished enthusiasm, in general.


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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#11

Post by Mike Q »


I have a few ES eyepieces and there isn't a bad one in the bunch. However i will say the competition has caught up and in some ways past them. The 24/82 is a good eyepiece, but the Long Perng 20/80 appears to be better and is priced at least 100 bucks less.
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#12

Post by JayTee »


I now own three ES scopes. I was concerned that if I kept professing my love for these scopes I'd start to sound needy. :lol:
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
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∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#13

Post by Mike Q »


I was wondering about a couple of their eyepieces. Seems like they have a 4.5 and a 6.7 82 degree eyepieces. Anyone have experience with them in a F4.4 dob? Just curious as to how they do
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#14

Post by helicon »


I still have my AR152. Long story short when I moved my Twilight II got damaged which I didn't realize. So now it only holds one scope. In December of last year I bought a Celestron 102 XLT which now is getting used a bit. My AR152 is still in the packing box (sad to say). I am probably going to buy a new mount for the 102 which wouldn't be as hard to lug around. I'll keep the Twilight II as an observatory mount for the AR152 (have plans to eventually build an obsy - either a dome kit or roll-off shed type.)
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#15

Post by Ylem »


:?: Competition from sVbony?

If you call that "competition".
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#16

Post by Lady Fraktor »


Ylem wrote: Thu Oct 19, 2023 9:03 pm :?: Competition from sVbony?

If you call that "competition".
Ummm no, no I do not...
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#17

Post by pakarinen »


Jut saw this over on CN:
You are fortunate that you have a Synta. The focuser problems that people have with explore scientific leave me feeling pretty sad.
I've not read anything about focuser problems, but it might be a factor in the lack of love. :think:
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#18

Post by SkyHiker »


pakarinen wrote: Fri Oct 20, 2023 11:42 am Jut saw this over on CN:
You are fortunate that you have a Synta. The focuser problems that people have with explore scientific leave me feeling pretty sad.
I've not read anything about focuser problems, but it might be a factor in the lack of love. :think:
There were complaints on CN about the type of focuser on my ES ED127CF. I found an in-depth fix analysis on CN and tried that myself. You have to know where the various little adjustment screws are hidden and tighten them. You may have to get an extension ring in order to get a part of the inner focuser tube under those screws.

That fixed it for me, and the focuser felt rock solid ever since. So, the complaints that you read about may be due to a lack of knowledge. ES has never been big on documentation.
... Henk. :D Telescopes: GSO 12" Astrograph, "Comet Hunter" MN152, ES ED127CF, ES ED80, WO Redcat51, Z12, AT6RC, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Mounts and tripod: Losmandy G11S with OnStep, AVX, Tiltall, Cameras: ASI2600MC, ASI2600MM, ASI120 mini, Fuji X-a1, Canon XSi, T6, ELPH 100HS, DIY: OnStep controller, Pi4b/power rig, Afocal adapter, Foldable Dob base, Az/Alt Dob setting circles, Accessories: ZWO 36 mm filter wheel, TV Paracorr 2, Baader MPCC Mk III, ES FF, SSAG, QHY OAG-M, EAF electronic focuser, Plossls, Barlows, Telrad, Laser collimators (Seben LK1, Z12, Howie Glatter), Cheshire, 2 Orion RACIs 8x50, Software: KStars-Ekos, DSS, PHD2, Nebulosity, Photo Gallery, Gimp, CHDK, Computers:Pi4b, 2x running KStars/Ekos, Toshiba Satellite 17", Website:Henk's astro images
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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#19

Post by messier 111 »


I think Gordon hit the nail on the head.
I LOVE REFRACTORS , :Astronomer1: :sprefac:

REFRACTOR , TS-Optics Doublet SD-APO 125 mm f/7.8 . Lunt 80mm MT Ha Doublet Refractor .

EYEPIECES, Delos , Delite and 26mm Nagler t5 , 2 zoom Svbony 7-21 , Orion Premium Linear BinoViewer .

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Re: What has happened with the Explore Scientific love?

#20

Post by Lady Fraktor »


pakarinen wrote: Fri Oct 20, 2023 11:42 am Jut saw this over on CN:
You are fortunate that you have a Synta. The focuser problems that people have with explore scientific leave me feeling pretty sad.
I've not read anything about focuser problems, but it might be a factor in the lack of love. :think:
There have been various complaints about the hex-focuser for a while.
Sometimes things reported on that other forum turn into silly trends that really do not matter at times.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
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