Stu1smartcookie

Hi everyone , I've just bought a Skywatcher 130 pds .. i  have an az-gti mount which ive upgraded the alluminium tripod for a steel one for stability . I've also added a skywatcher wedge and upgraded the firmware of the mount to take advantage of using the set up in EQ mode . So far So good ...but , when i set up this scope for the first time i used the accompanying 28mm (2") eye piece which achieved focus but i have an image of the small black ring (which sits in the middle of the primary mirror and is used for collimation) I don't get this problem when i use my  1 1/4" eyepieces . Its really annoying as it interferes with the view. Maybe someone can advise nme what i have got wrong here . I had to collimate the telescope when i first set it up ...( i collimated my laser collimater  first ) . The scope was quite a way off collimation but im sure its good now as ive had good views of jupiter ( albeit rather small of course ) . 

On ‎10‎/‎03‎/‎2014 at 13:23, Uranium235 said:

Just a few of the goodies ive had from the 130pds over the past few months:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In awe of all the images on here … I am just getting started with astrophotograhy and still don't understand the finer points … and also having trouble with focussing issues , but seeing images like this  inspires me so much . Just got my 130pds (17/7/2019 ) and waiting for a clear night . I already own a small refractor but I chose the 130pds for visual use as well as imaging . What I particularly like about this scope is its weight .

I'm late to this thread but I just wanted to say , Portability is something to consider when choosing the right scope , especially if its to be used for terrestrial as well as night time use . I had a 180mm mak which is a brilliant scope but notice I wrote the word "had". It sat in my wardrobe with my EQ5 for many weeks as setting up and transporting it became a real chore from my light polluted garden . Now I have a very small WO z61 which I use for both visual and Photography ( not that I've had too much success with the latter yet). The point is , I love those short tube refractors that you can just pick up and go. Don't get me wrong , I would also love an observatory in my garden and a permanently mounted giant reflector but that's not an option , so , I choose to have the best scope set up for my needs . And as we all know , the best scopes are the ones we use !

Hi William , did you get everything sorted ?

I have just bought a WO Z61 + Flattener and even with the flat installed I still have to extend it 5mm or so to achieve focus . Not a hardship , but it was a bit puzzling why this is the case . Still , its all good now .

Wow , I've just got my Z61 and I will be imaging (hopefully ) for the first time tonight . I looked at the SW 72ED and was almost swayed but I fell in love with the compactness of the WO Z61 , and visually it gives  fantastic views. We are truly blessed to have these small refractors to choose from and whatever you chose I'm sure you are delighted . I will use the AZ GTI as recommended by Heliumstar … after all these scopes are designed to be ultra portable and a clunky mount really serves no purpose in this case .

By the way , Hennyvenom , that image alone is worth buying the scope for . Hope I can produce a photo as cool as that !

Had the option of getting a Redcat 51 or a Z61 … I chose the 61 only because I intend to do some visual with it and I thought the extra aperture would come in handy .. but , coupling the price of the dedicated Flattener for the z61 , which I had to buy lol , I'm in two minds whether I did the right thing . I love the Redcat because of its size . I cant wait to see some images. I am just getting into(astro) photography  and know nothing about it , other than what I have read on this site and seen on you tube, but that's half the fun , learning and making mistakes, as well as the pure joy of producing your own work .

Sorry to ask such a basic question ,  but , why do people change the exposure times .. is it just to obtain more light ,and does it really depend on light pollution .  Also are single frames possible on DSO or do you need to take multiple shots just to get a good photo?.. as you can tell I really am new to this side of astronomy .

Ok ... i've encountered a problem , which im sure can be sorted very quickly on here... i haven't got a 48mm t-ring so im using a standard canon t-ring with  a Baader 2" nosepiece connected to my WO z61 . The trouble is , i cannot achieve focus .. any ideas would be helpful please . 

Thanks in advance .

Thanks for your input ScouseSpace ...i think its a good call about the ca on the 150mm , and as you say the price difference is there too . Whatever happens it needs tobe a STR(short tube refractor ) . And of course although apperture is important there are other things to weigh up...literally . 

One question , what is the focuser like on that scope ?

I had this scope before i stupidly sold it !!! ( it will honestly be one of my lifes regrets) , im back with WO though in the shape of a z61 . I thought your review was spot on ..its really good to read actual in depth reviews such as this . I never got to image with my 73, but i cant wait to use the 61 for this purpose . One things for sure , the build quality on WO gear is absolutely fantastic .

7 minutes ago, Nigella Bryant said:

Hiya, I've only done a couple of DSOs with a modded Canon 1000d and impressed of what can be done even at 30sec subs at iso800. I'm still learning too. I use the free Deepsky stacker and that does all your stacking, dark and light's calibrations all in one go. Attached are my attempts, but along way to go. I have to image in a light polluted bortle 6 sky cus I've a heavy 12inch f4 Newtonian and neq6 mount. Good luck with your imaging, the results of your own work is rewarding enough. These attached image's are the only ones I've done so far. 

Nigella , those pics look great to me … my camera hasn't been modded … though . I will share my first efforts (honestly) … that's the great thing about this site ...NOBODY judges you ..but EVERYONE wants to help .

6 minutes ago, DaveS said:

The WO scope sounds a good option, but I'm going to be terribly boring and advise you to buy This Book first. It will save you a world of pain and much wasted money. Steve is a mod here, AKA steppenwolf.

Thanks Dave , good advice on the book... i did purchase one on astro photography but its a bit of a "hard " read ( although i think its because i want to run before i can walk ) . i guess the key to this is patience and persistence … ( things that test me greatly lol) but once i get started i will be hooked im sure .

Hi everyone , I've been a bit quiet on this forum over the past 6 months but now I have resurfaced after changing my scope ( not for the first time) . I now have a WO z61 , on a lightweight az-gti mount ( im getting the skywatcher wedge for this mount ) . I love this little scope ...its so portable and , because of the fantastic optics is actually very good for visual , although its main use will be for photography .

I haven't got a flattener for it yet .. so my first question is , do I need to buy the WO one , or are there other (slightly less expensive ) ones out there? I know my mount isn't great for photography but i really don't want a heavy EQ mount , due to lack of space (no pun intended).

My last scope was a skymax 180 p … a really nice bit of kit , but , a bit bulky ...especially with a weighty mount . I have to travel to get truly dark skies so it wasn't practical , for me , at least . After owning a Dob , a couple of cheap refractors and the Mak i have come to the conclusion that  my heart lies with refractor scopes . I want one for visual .. but i really want a short tube refractor … does anyone have any suggestions … i saw a startravel 150mm which looked great , but its good to get advice , especially from people that have used short tube refractors . Any feedback would be much appreciated .

I am nervously going to attempt deep sky photography with my Z61 and a canon 100d … i know absolutely nothing about this area of this fantastic hobby , so it will be a bit hit and miss and i expect many failures , let alone the processing of images which is something ive never done . All in All its exciting times again .

Just seen this thread and , just in case it’s still relevant , I have a 102 , which I bought about 6 years ago . It didn’t get too much use at the time but I’m completely hooked on astronomy now and , although I’ve bought another refractor (wo z73) which is ultra portable , I still use my 102 , with its goto az mount . I think this  scope is one of the most practical I’ve used . Good for DSO and planets (despite the ca) ... i purchased an eq5 mount which now aids stability , I agree about the focuser , mine seemed to “jump” a bit which can be annoying . I also thought about dropping in a Crayford , but , as I now have the z73 I don’t think it’s going to happen . 

A great review 

On 16/08/2018 at 15:32, Selborne said:

Hi Guys,

I thought I would share with you my first hand experience of the Skywatcher ED100 Pro Esprit Telescope, I have only had it a few months, but so far I am extremely happy with the results, it is so sharp and the contrast is very high.

I live in a small town, Stowmarket, Suffolk, UK, where the light pollution is not to bad, but still I have to be cautious with the direction I choose to point the telescope.   All my astrophotography is done from the back garden on my patio.

I have had a few different telescopes over the years, but I always found myself moving more and more into astrophotography, so after some research I selected the Skywatcher ED100 Pro Esprit, as many of the other users had commented on the sharpness and contrast.  As I wanted to focus on more wide field astrophotography the F5.5 speed giving 550mm seemed the right choice, I also use an ED50 Skywatcher Guide Scope with an Altair Astro ASI130mm camera for the guiding and of course PHD2 software, all mounted on my Skywatcher HEQ6 mount.

Here is a shot of the Andromeda Galaxy, 20 x 30s stills at ISO 800 on my Sony A7Rii, no filters just RAW images processed with Photoshop, Stacked Mean option.  I used the Trevor Jones video on his BackyardAstro You Tube page for processing DSO's and it seems to work very well.  What you will see from the image is just how sharp it is, something that really surprised me when I processed the images.

This has inspired me to spend more time outside in the garden to photograph more objects, plus I have recently purchased an Astronomic CLS Filter for my Sony A7Rii, so I am looking forward to using this to see if it improve the contrast.  I will keep you informed.

Also I am looking forwarded to trying my Olympus EM1 MK2 camera, yes I know it does not have the capabilities of the Sony A7Rii for light gathering, but it does have a really clever mode where it can stack the images in camera to reduce noise, so I will also let you know how this went as well.

Best Regards

Jamie

 

Certainly an impressive review , Jamie . I am kicking myself . I bought a flex tube 250 Sky-Watcher dob only 10 days ago and I’m already regretting that I didn’t go for another refractor . Don’t get me wrong , the dob is great , but it’s huge and to be honest I was swayed by the large aperture. In reality I want to get into astrophotography and I should have bought either the model you have or even the 80 mm version . My wife’s gonna kill me when she knows i want to change lol. A great image too , of the Andromeda galaxy . 

Clear skies .