On subzero (°C) nights once the telescope cooled down (after 30 to 45 minutes), it exhibited none of the aberration oddities I’ve seen in some test telescopes, effects created by cold temperatures pinching optics. The Skywatcher Evostar 80ED is a doublet refracting telescope capable of chromatic aberration free images. The field flatness and color correction of the Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED is noticeable, even in a single exposure. Even at high magnification with a 3mm eyepiece, star images appeared just as sharp, aberration-free and colourless as the best. at a premium price. But the Esprit 120’s performance matches the best in the business at a competitive price, especially considering the included field flattener. Without it, star images recorded as progressively more elongated outside of a central 16mm-diameter image circle. In short, the Esprit provided first-class optical performance visually and photographically. The focuser should handle most CCD camera/filter wheel combos with no sag or shift. We put the LighTrack II from Fornax Mounts through its paces. The telescope has two hinged tube rings (similar in style to rings from suppliers such as Astro-Physics, Parallax and William Optics), drilled and tapped with multiple holes top and bottom, plus a hefty dovetail plate that is compatible with the Celestron CGEM or Losmandy mounting systems. This matched or surpassed the effectiveness of other telescope/field flattener combinations I\'ve used. Prestige alone won’t justify price, however; performance is all-important. . This new apo refractor provides premium performance . The Skywatcher 120 Esprit is a class act, it does everything a good triplet of it’s aperture should do and very well. With the field flattener, even when using a DSLR camera with a full-frame (24mm × 36mm) sensor, star images were absolutely pinpoint corner to corner, free of any coma, astigmatism or lateral col­our dispersion. The suggested retail price of $4,000 for a 120mm (4.7-inch) telescope (optical-tube assembly only; you supply the mount) makes this a scope for the refractor devotee. Even at high magnification with a 3mm eyepiece, star images appeared just as sharp,aberration-free and, “it exhibited none of the aberration oddities I’ve seen in some test telescopes, effects created by cold temperatures pinching optics.”, “…the Esprit 120’s performance matches the best in the business at a competitive price…”, “Sky-Watcher’s Esprit refractors become very attractive options for anyone looking for the best.”. Review: A New Travel Mount for Astrophotography. Sky-Watcher - The worlds largest telescope manufacturer. While the cost of […]. Screw … “I compared its performance with high-end Officina Stellare and Astro-Physics 105mm and 130mm Apos employing similar premium glass. . achieved with the Sky-Watcher ESPRIT 120 Field flattener which is designed exclusively for this telescope. Canada's magazine of astronomy and stargazing in print or digital. In the March/ April 2012 issue, he writes, “With the field flattener, even when using a DSLR camera with a full frame (24mm x 36mm) sensor, star images were absolutely pinpoint corner to corner, free of any coma, astigmatism or lateral color dispersion. The three-inch focuser is exceptional as well. The Esprit’s large 3-inch-diameter focuser exhibited no looseness, wobble or slipping. My jaw nearly hit the pavement when I saw that first unprocessed image on the Veil Nebula appear on the screen. it’s a bit more weight than a lot of other 120’s but it’s build quality and feature along with loads of included accessories make it one of the best value’s I’ve seen in a … . Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED has performed beautifully compared with the other telescopes of its class, offering a competitive price for the utmost quality. The suggested retail price of $4,000 for a 120mm (4.7-inch) telescope (optical-tube assembly only; you supply the mount) makes this a scope for the refractor devotee. Canada's magazine of astronomy and stargazing available in print and digital editions. While the cost of colour-free apochromatic refractors has certainly dropped dramatically in recent years, there are a select number of brand names offering no-compromise first-class glass. Assuming delivery from stock, and not after months of waiting, as with some brands, Sky-Watcher’s Esprit refractors become very attractive options for anyone looking for the best. Alan Dyer of SkyNews has recently published a review on our Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Super APO Triplet. These are the BMWs and Lamborghinis of the telescope world, commanding prices of $1,000 to $1,500 per inch of aperture. Suggested by the SkyNews team, here’s a range of celestial gifts for the space aficionado in your life. 2. I’m pleased to report that the Esprit 120 really performed. The focuser provides a generous 101 millimetres of travel, more than enough to accommodate every eyepiece I tried, from a 31mm Nagler to an 8mm Ethos, two eyepieces with extreme focus travel demands. A welcome feature is that the rear plate of the focuser can rotate for framing targets. The fine motion of the focuser’s dual-speed action made it easy to nail precise focus. Copyright © 2011- 2018 Pacific Telescope Corp. All rights reserved. A new entry at the high end is the Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Super Apo. “I’m pleased to report that the Esprit 120 really performed!”, Alan Dyer of SkyNews has recently published a review on our Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Super APO Triplet. The included camera adapter and T-ring provided the proper spacing when used with a DSLR camera. In short, the Esprit provided first-class optical performance visually and photographically.”. Description. CCD cameras might need custom adapter tubes, as I was advised by Pacific Telescope Corp. that the flattener-to-sensor distance must be within a millimetre of 75 millimetres for a truly flat field image. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. This is evidence of the Esprit’s excellent lens cell design, the area where aspiring apos sometimes fall short. The Esprit 120 has a triplet objective with one element made of prized Ohara S-FPL53 glass. The holiday season may tempt you to buy a telescope, but our expert advice will help you focus on what’s really important. Installing the field flattener and a DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) camera 1. Yes, its price is high, up there with the top names in refractors. My criticisms are few: The Esprit line does not bedazzle with the carbon-fibre tubes or anodized colour trim of some “designer” apos. The Esprit’s included 28mm eyepiece is best described as “serviceable,” good for public star parties but not for discerning observers. A handy addition to the fittings would be a drilled plate bridging the top of the tube rings to serve as a handle and as a mounting point for accessories such as autoguiders or piggyback mounts.