Skywatcher 102mm dual speed guidescope?

[catburglar]

Anyone seen one of these in the flesh? Skywatcher 102mm Dual Speed Guidescope | Telescopes | Rother Valley Optics

Looks a startravel 102 in equinox clothing! However at F6, aberrations might be a bit better controlled than at F5.

Thoughts or opinions sought.

[SiriusB]

Yeah i've cast an eye over those, was hoping someone else would buy one & review it.

FWIW,it does seem a bit pricy for a 4" achro with no accessories, an 80ed bare bones ota isn't that much more, & probably more versatile.

[Whippy]

Anyone seen one of these in the flesh? Skywatcher 102mm Dual Speed Guidescope | Telescopes | Rother Valley Optics

Looks a startravel 102 in equinox clothing! However at F6, aberrations might be a bit better controlled than at F5.

Thoughts or opinions sought.

Abberations don't really mean a great deal in regard to guide scopes. I've seen people guiding with old camera lenses, £10 junk scopes, even lenses out of binoculars in a tube! As long as the camera can see stars in focus you should be alright.

Have to say I agree with you, it looks like a bog standard achro with posh clothes on. For that money, you could buy a small APO like the M72 secondhand and use it for guiding and widefield imaging.

Tony..

[johninderby]

How about one of the Opticstar 80mm achros with crayford and retractable dewshield for £149.00. Nearly half the price of the SkyWatcher 102 guidescope.

http://www.opticstar.com/Run/Astronomy/Astro-Telescopes-Opticstar.asp?p=0_10_1_1_52

John