TheSkySearchers

Hello,

I am in the market for a Refractor for both visual and AP purposes, planetary and DSO. I currently have a Skywatcher Skymax 127, as well as a Skywatcher 150P Newton. I have a HEQ5 Pro mount.

I have been tossing up between one of the following:

Skywatcher Evostar 100ED DS Pro OTA (with 0.85 FR) @ £719.00
Skywatcher Evostar 80ED DS Pro OTA @ £464.00 - the FR is extra @ 179.00, bringing total cost up to £643.00

For the difference of £76.00 the 100ED sounds like a good deal. Yes, it would be 'slower' than the 80ED for imagining, but I would gain on the focal length as it would be somewhere in between what I already have with the 150P (150/750) and the Skymax 127 (127/1500). I am also looking to get away from Newtons as less bulky and less messing about setting up. Won't have the cool down period that one has with MAKs too.

So... which one??? Or... are there better options in the £500-£1000 price bracket???

Thanks

jaq1967

Hi jaq1967. I don't have an Evostar 100ED but I do have the 120ED and the 80ED. I picked up the 120 scope first and use it for AP. However, I wanted a scope that had a field of view large enough to image some of the larger DSOs such as M31. I found a used Skywatcher 80ED and .85 reducer which gives me a focal ratio of 6.3 and a much wider field of view than the 120 scope.

I have found that I tend to use the 80mm with or without the FR more than the 120mm. Both scopes are a lot of bang for the buck.

The 100mm as I recall has an F9 focal ratio and with the .85 reducer would be around F7.65 which is very close to the focal ratio of the 80mm without a reducer.
The 100mm scope with a 3x barlow should work nicely on planets.

As you know there is no perfect scope for every application but I think you would be very happy with either the 100ED or the 80ED.
I think if I were to have only one refractor I would go with the 100ED and reducer. Just my 2 cents worth.

I agree with Jerry here. Although I am not an "AP" guy I think that of the scopes you are looking at here the 100 is quite versatile. If it comes with the reducer at that price that sounds very good to me. It is equipped with AP attachments and has very generous focus parameters. You will need the camera adapter of course. The reducer will help for sure.
You will need longer exposure times than the 80.
I have the 100 and have found it to be well a corrected doublet.
DSO will take a bit more work. But if you are looking for a scope in this price point my experience is very good with the 100. It is a good "middle ground" for visual and basic AP.
I have shot the moon with a barlowed camera to good outcomes. It is very light and easy to balance.
That is my 2 cents regarding the choices you have presented.

Don Quixote wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 1:47 pm I agree with Jerry here. Although I am not an "AP" guy I think that of the scopes you are looking at here the 100 is quite versatile. If it comes with the reducer at that price that sounds very good to me. It is equipped with AP attachments and has very generous focus parameters. You will need the camera adapter of course. The reducer will help for sure.
You will need longer exposure times than the 80.
I have the 100 and have found it to be well a corrected doublet.
DSO will take a bit more work. But if you are looking for a scope in this price point my experience is very good with the 100. It is a good "middle ground" for visual and basic AP.
I have shot the moon with a barlowed camera to good outcomes. It is very light and easy to balance.
That is my 2 cents regarding the choices you have presented.

I have the Altair Astro Hypercam 183C Pro as my imager/camera with both the 2" and 1.25" nosepiece adaptors, so should be OK connecting to either one of these Refractors. I am definitely leaning towards the 100ED. As a package it seems very reasonable.