Mark Harry
Vendor
Reged: 09/05/05
Loc: Northeast USA
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: Goodchild]
#5549868 - 12/02/12 07:06 AM
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Mine was an OTA, and was -BLACK-.
One complaint with mine- I wish the dustcap for the end of the glareshield came with an apertured cap that was around 3" diameter, instead of the stock one just under 2". That's mighty small, imo.
M.
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newtoskies
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/15/12
Loc: SE Ma.
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: Mark Harry]
#5550107 - 12/02/12 10:34 AM
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From all the info gathered here from you all I now know the limits of this scope adn would it's good for. This one, the 120ST, is my first choice. I figure that later on I can get a porta mount for it, after I've learned to use an EQ.
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richsvt
sage
Reged: 01/09/09
Loc: North Shore of Boston
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: newtoskies]
#5550230 - 12/02/12 12:03 PM
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Sent you a pm
I Have a ST120 that you may be interested in seeing...
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newtoskies
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/15/12
Loc: SE Ma.
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: richsvt]
#5550247 - 12/02/12 12:17 PM
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Rich, pm back at you.
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Sky Muse
sage
Reged: 10/26/12
Loc: De Soto County, MS
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: Goodchild]
#5551246 - 12/02/12 11:10 PM
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That's the 120mm f/5 achromat for $329. It's the 90mm f/10 achromat that's not available as an OTA. I guess they make a better profit selling it in a package deal.
Edited by Sky Muse (12/03/12 01:39 PM)
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Goodchild
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/31/08
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: Sky Muse]
#5551566 - 12/03/12 06:39 AM
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Quote:
That's the 120mm f/7 achromat for $329. It's the 90mm f/10 achromat that's not available as an OTA. I guess they make a better profit selling it in a package deal.
Alan,
Don't know if your above reference is a typo but I'm referring to the 120mm f/5 scope for $329.
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Sky Muse
sage
Reged: 10/26/12
Loc: De Soto County, MS
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: Goodchild]
#5552073 - 12/03/12 01:41 PM
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...corrected. I suppose it was wishful thinking on my part. 
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RussL
Music Maker
Reged: 03/18/08
Loc: Cayce and Lancaster, SC
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: waso29]
#5552712 - 12/03/12 07:57 PM
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Forgive me for not having read all the replies, but thought I'd add a comment or two. I love my 120ST. But, it all depends on what you're after. Then, you must understand what the scope does best. It is a richfield scope, intended for low power, widefield views. It serves best when looking at clusters, some doubles, and brighter galaxies, nebulae, and globular clusters. Planetary views of, say, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus are not as good as what would be seen through a scope designed for that purpose, that is just the facts. But, it can do ok for casual glimpses. I have done pretty well on Jupiter, but of course I am limited to under 200x.
Chromatic aberration can be quelled fairly well by using an aperture mask, including the one supplied in the end cap. But, also remember that beyond mag 5 or so chromatic aberration is not a problem. Most stellar views are fine except where a bright star might be in view. But, most views are not concentrated on bright stars anyway.
I bought mine as tube only, and put it on an eq2. Yes, an eq2! It works. It's a bit spindly, but it's stable. Hey, I'm 62 and hurt a lot, so while I want the aperture I can't handle much weight.
Hope that helps. Cheers.
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Sky Muse
sage
Reged: 10/26/12
Loc: De Soto County, MS
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: RussL]
#5552740 - 12/03/12 08:15 PM
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The Orion EQ-2 appears exactly identical to the Parks PRT-813 equatorial mount I once had. I wouldn't be surprised if the EQ-2 is either made in Japan as well, or made from the original molds. I remember it well...seemingly of cast iron, and sturdier than it looks.
Alan
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newtoskies
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/15/12
Loc: SE Ma.
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: RussL]
#5552759 - 12/03/12 08:25 PM
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Quote:
Forgive me for not having read all the replies, but thought I'd add a comment or two. I love my 120ST. But, it all depends on what you're after. Then, you must understand what the scope does best. It is a richfield scope, intended for low power, widefield views. It serves best when looking at clusters, some doubles, and brighter galaxies, nebulae, and globular clusters. Planetary views of, say, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus are not as good as what would be seen through a scope designed for that purpose, that is just the facts. But, it can do ok for casual glimpses. I have done pretty well on Jupiter, but of course I am limited to under 200x.
This is exactly what it would be used for. If I want to just view the moon and planets, then I have my 6" Dob for that. I still have lots of time to get a refractor and don't want to rush into it. I would hate to spend lots of money on one for it to just sit somewhere because I end up not caring for refractors.
Now will some one get rid of the darn clouds.... I can barely make out Jupiter.
As always, thank you all for the help and support, CN is the best.
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newtoskies
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/15/12
Loc: SE Ma.
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: newtoskies]
#5552763 - 12/03/12 08:27 PM
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All great info. There is always a good and bad to most things, so I will not rule out the EQ2, after all, it's to start with.
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Crow Haven
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/09/09
Loc: Betwixt and Between
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: newtoskies]
#5552915 - 12/03/12 09:43 PM Attachment (19 downloads)
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I'm late in posting but I think the ST120 will do what you want. I still have fun with mine -- not only for the wide views but also with a Baader solar film filter it was fun for the portions of the Venus transit I was able to view and sunspots. It's light enough to take nearly anywhere and sets up in no time. I've been using it on an Astro Tech Voyager alt/az mt.
---Maya
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newtoskies
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/15/12
Loc: SE Ma.
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: Crow Haven]
#5553676 - 12/04/12 10:11 AM
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Thanks for the support on this scope scope Maya. Love the image btw. If I get this scope I will get a Porta mount for it and invest a bit more than planned. I may just get a cheap 80 or 90 mm refractor first, just to test the waters and gain experience with refractors.
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terraclarke
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/29/12
Loc: Over the river and thru the wo...
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: waso29]
#5554275 - 12/04/12 04:57 PM
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I love to use my long focus refractors on eq mounts at home when I have time to set them up and take them down under adequate light. When I go out to our clubs dark site however, I like faster scopes (f/stop wise) and alt az mounts. My favorite dark sky grab and go set up is my ST120 (I've upgraded the focuser to a duel speed GSO) with a 2 inch dielectric diagonal and a suite of 2 inch ep from 40 to 10 mm on a vintage wooden Professional Jr tripod and pan head. I can spend many happy hours cruising the skies and star hopping to whatever I want to find. All of this and I leave the Ouija board at home.
Get the ST120. You'll love it. (And remember, the dust cap comes with an aperture stop that takes it down to around 100mm if the CA is getting the best of you- a polarizing filter will also help here.)
A much bigger question is getting a mount you will be happy with. There are lots of alt-az mounts out there. I have the Porta MountII and I have to admit, it is not my favorite. My televue panoramic can run circles around it even without slo-mos as long as its well balanced. I also like my Universal Astronomics Unistar. Eqs are the best if you have the time to mess with them but they are not my first choice of weapon in a duel.
Clear skies.
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Locoman
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/09/09
Loc: Abilene, Kansas
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: Mark Harry]
#5554309 - 12/04/12 05:17 PM Attachment (13 downloads)
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Get It! 
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newtoskies
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/15/12
Loc: SE Ma.
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: Locoman]
#5554370 - 12/04/12 06:02 PM
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Well that's two more for the ST120....LOL. Love the moral support, thanks. I am checking around for a new or used diagonal for that scope, and on craigslist for a cheap mount, EQ2 or so for now. I don't have a ton of cash to spend on this scope....X-mas and all...so I won't rush into getting it just yet.....but man I really love that scope..lol
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DoctorNoodle
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/14/07
Loc: Lawn Guyland, NY
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: newtoskies]
#5554553 - 12/04/12 08:03 PM Attachment (15 downloads)
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I love mine, also. Put a 90mm aperture mask on it and it's pretty good on planets.
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chapleau
member
Reged: 11/01/05
Loc: Gorman, California
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Re: AstroView 120ST EQ....good or bad.!
[Re: waso29]
#5562006 - 12/09/12 08:42 AM
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I have owned my 120ST for six or seven years and love it. It mainly goes on a Vixen PortaMount and then defines "grab and go." The stars are sharp as tacks to my eyes. Yes, CA is sure noticeable on bright objects. My 8" dob beats it on grabbing DSO'sm but the 120 beats the dob on splitting doubles.
I also use it for my limited AP work. Then, it goes an Atlas.
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