Celestron Astromaster 130EQ Vs Skywatcher Explorer 130

[Astro_Baby]

Stee, I wish I could have kept mine but at the time ai had noweher to store two scopes. The 130p is an amazing little scope and I couldnt rate it highly enough. Its got all the bits to introduce a beginner to the concepts of EQ mounts etc before they move on to more complex kit. But its not just a beginners 'toy' its a very fine scope in its own right. Lord years ago I would have given my eye teeth for a scope as good as the 130p.

It has its faults but they arent many and for the money its not much short of miraculous. I loved mine.

[Space Dragon]

Astro Baby.........is that the Central Scrutiniser in your signature?

[ronin]

Either that or Airplane.

Think with Mel it could be either.

Spent 2 minutes trying to get the word "surely" in to this reply and couldn't. Rats!!! :mad:

[DonRemus]

Actually theres quite a lot of difference between the Celestron Astro Master and the Skywatcher 130P and I would always tell people to get the Skywatcher version - heres why.......

Focuser

The Skywatcher 130P has a plastic focuser that can be tuned toi be quite nice. The astromaster has a horrible clunky focuser that looks the part but is very dog like, it might well be tunable but....well I couldnt be bothered to find out because....

Spider Vanes

The Skywatcher 130P has very thin metal spider vanes - the Celestron Astromaster has horrible thick plastic ones (so does the current skywatcher 130 non-P although I am sure the older version of the long tube 130 didn't)

Secondary Holder

The Skywatcher 130P has a decent holder with adjustment screws for tilt - The Astromaster has horrible over long screws with no adequate secondary mirror support. Its a pig to collimate. The sceondary mirror just dangles on the end of some long screws with little to give it support.

Primary Mirror Adjustment

The 130P has/had philips screws at the back end for adjustment - the Celestron has more professional looking thumb screws BUT they are hideous and ususally so tight you have to take mole grips to them to adjust them. They lack feel and add to the horror of learning to collimate the thing.

Finder & Finder Shoe

The 130P comes with a red dot finder mounted on a standard Vixen accessory shoe. The red dot is fine, its a bit plastic but this is a beginner scope after all. If you cant get on with the red dot the scope has a standard Vixen accessory shoe so you can always swap it out. The celestron has a hideous built in finder where the red dot is waaaaay too bright and the finder is hopeless mechanically. To get a decent finder you have to fit an accessory shoe - not a hard job but scary for those who may be not good at DiY and lets face it no one wants to drill holes in their new toy.

Mount

The Astromaster mount looks strong but in reality is so full of plastic its about as steady as a jelly trifle. The Skywatcher EQ2 looks a bit Meccano but it does actually work and its plenty strong enough for a 130P.

Collimation - General

The Skywatcher 130 has a collimation spot installed at the factory - the Astromaster doesnt. Again a bit of mirror spotting is not hard stuff for the hardened newt owner but its all bit unnerving for the beginner.

I have had two Astromasters to mess with and both were horrible - I am also the ex owner of a 130P and the 130P was a superb small scope to start with. A far more polished product wnad why Skywatcher ever stopped selling it with the RA motor is a mystery to me because the packagae price for a decent scope with good optics on a basic EQ2 with tracking was such a good deal.

Its a mystery to me why Celestron keep the Astromaster going when Celestron are owned by Synta who own the SKywatcher brand and the 130P is so capable. Perhaps someone at Synta likes the Action Man orange colors of the AstroMaster.

Sorry if any Astromaster owners are offended by this.

Just what forums are for!

[Astro_Baby]

Astro Baby.........is that the Central Scrutiniser in your signature?

Both really but maybe more leaning on Zappa . I change my sig often, when I get bored, or when i i amuses me to have something else. Sometimes philisophical, sometimes profound, sometimes stupid or just weird.

Bit like me really though I incline to stupid or ( being kind to myself ) weird

Rr ro go off ropic, tired and not with it today.

[Space Dragon]

Both really but maybe more leaning on Zappa . I change my sig often, when I get bored, or when i i amuses me to have something else. Sometimes philisophical, sometimes profound, sometimes stupid or just weird.

Bit like me really though I incline to stupid or ( being kind to myself ) weird

Rr ro go off ropic, tired and not with it today.

I haven't heard Joes Garage for maybe 30 years but the Central Scrutiniser must have lodged in my memory.

I was a Zappa nut when I was younger, saw him live in 78 and then bought all his vinyl, good to see there's some other weirdos on here.......actually there's probably quite a few.

Cheers

[Artfactial]

Hello there, sorry to revive an ancient topic like this, but I am having the same dilemma as was proposed here.

Although it is clear from this thread that the Celestron Astromaster is inferior to the Skywatcher, I’d still like to have a final assurance.

For the deals I can get now, I could either get a basic 130p or an Astromaster 130Eq with a Celestron Astromaster accessory kit (barlow-lens, filters, 6 and 15mm eye pieces). Both would end up at around the same €260 price.

I am assuming that starting out with the 130p and later adding upgrades would get me further than getting the Celestron with more options but lower quality?

Finally, any comparable scopes for the same price?

[Astro_Baby]

Well the 130 comes , at least as far as I know, with a 10mm and 25mm eyepiecelus a Barlow, filters will be of little use on such a small scope though a moon filter is always handy.

I dont know what quality the eyepieces are with the Celestron but the truth is neither scopes standard eyepieces are really anything that should sway the decision. Decent plossl types are relatively inexpensive anyway.

I am being honest as I can here, having played with Celestron 130EQs because their owners were in tears was enough to make me curse the scope and even I found the collimation horrific on them to carry out. Witha ll the other headaches I would prefer to pay a bit more and buy the Skywatcher and just pay out for a few decent Plossls once you hakve had a bit of rime to decide what you want....get some eyetime in before you make a choice.

[Artfactial]

Thanks for the reply! in the meantime I've read your 130p review and fiel a bit mor enlightened and more sure of the cause!

The sale’s page does not mention a barlow being included with the kit, but I suppose that that’s of noo great impact and can be added when I have familiarized myself with the basics of the equipment and soared around the sky for a good time.

I’ll sit on it for a bit more but I think it’s pretty clear now.

Thanks again, I’ll report back when I have made a decision and have had some time to play around!

[IckleImp]

Not sure why there is so much hate fot the Astromaster. Yes the materials used in some components may be inferior to the SW but the scopes are manufacture to different price points.

The AM is my first larger scope and I am more than happy with the views I get with it.

I found the collamation surprisingly easy once I placed a ring binder reinforcing ring in the centre of the primary. I also find the eq mount a real bonus as I can track objects so easily. Yes it is a little wobbly but again I realise it is manufactured to a price and accept what it is. None of the issues have detracted from the pleasure the scope gives me. Maybe I would feel it inferior if I used a SW, but I haven't, so I don't.

I notice there is becoming a degree of snobbery regarding equipment particularly within some astronomy clubs and anyone with an AM 130 always seems viewed as the poor relation, which seems a little sad.

In my limited view the AM 130 is an inexpensive scope that gives great views for the money. Just don't take it to a Starparty unless you fancy spending the evening alone

[goose35]

I love my astromaster. Yes its my first scope and i do agree it has its issues and ive made mods to it. Ive also stripped and re greased the mount which mad so much slicker. Im looking at upgrades all ready after 2 months but not due to quality or comparison with other scopes but because i know its a starter scope and its got me hooked on this game hook line and sinker.

[goose35]

In hindsight knowing what i know i would have gone the skywatcher route. But, i wont get rid of the astromaster

1 because its got me here now

2 mg GF got it me and shed kill me to death

This is the real order of importance lol

[Clear Skies!]

On 27/03/2012 at 22:07, Beardy30 said:

i would go for the SW 130M the motar is a better option than th 130p which only has a very little impact ona scope of such apature, the RA motar on the 130M will allow you to track moving onjects such as planets , i have one and it's a first class scope, First Light Optics are selling it for £169.00 you wont be disappointed:)

And what about Celestron scope on the Skywatcher EQ3 mount?

[Gabibs]

Hi everyone! I'm looking for buying my first scope and I have chosed the AstroMaster 130eq MD but then I read this topic and gave a step back. 

But since this topic started on 2012, I feel sorry to bother, but I have to ask: the AM 130p still better over the 130eq MD? Or in this years something have changed? 

Thanks in advance! 

Edited December 18, 2019 by Gabibs
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