33 replies to this topic

[dag55]

Well I thought I had lost my mind when after a getting a Takahashi 128 FS I just couldn't justify the high cost of only 5" aperture , so I sold it. I then saw a Skywatcher 120ED Pro for sale and after some emails and some test that the gentleman performed I decided to purchase it.Now after a few nights of observing and pushing the optics to the limits I am happy to say wow, a great scope for a very reasonable cost. I don't know if Skywatcher's optics are all this good but this sample is a keeper. I saw for the first time six bands in Jupiter, pushed the mag. to 360x and only then did the image start to show less contrast and detail but still the image was good. I then backed down to 270x and that was where I saw the most detail, it could have sustained 300x but I didn't have the EP to get there.The OTA itself is very simplistic, it doesn't have collimation capabilities but the optics are very well aligned, also the aluminum tube is stepped down to just over 4" which cuts the weight down to under 12 lbs.,great for the smaller CG-5 mounts. Focuser is two speed, not a feathertouch but adequit. The rings are simple steel type but good enough. The lens cell and dew guard assy. screws off so flocking the tube is a breeze. One last bonus is the aluminum case for storage and transport. Great scope for under $1200 used , and if you are looking for no frills and great performance then look no farther. Happy camper ,Dane

[george tatsis]

Dane,

Same story here.I purchased a used one for $700 and all I can say is that it's a keeper!

So far I haven't been able to use mags. as high as yours but from 150X to 225X Jupiter rocks! These powers are obtained with either the Nagler zoom 3-6mm or my Radians of the equivalent focal length.

The wealth of detail visible in the scope is overwhelming.What impresses me most is how steady the view remains on the eyepiece,beautifully etched with dark background.

In addition, the Teegul mount that I have compliments the 120ED scope to the point that I don't miss the 10" scope that I have housed in the observatory.

Back in the early 80's I never could have dreamed of having a telescope this good and that inexpensive!

George

[dag55]

I don't want anybody to think that I am saying that the SW is equal to the Tak. their buiild and quality are great,but for a visual observer and someone who isn't going to pile on equipement onto the focuser these refractors are a great buy.The tube was baffled and there is a focuser tube baffle that extends into the OTA tube.For the money they are hard to beat.
Dane

[Mr Onions]

So how do the views compare to your old Tak?
Difficult to judge I know.

[george tatsis]

I don't want anybody to think that I am saying that the SW is equal to the Tak. their buiild and quality are great,but for a visual observer and someone who isn't going to pile on equipement onto the focuser these refractors are a great buy.The tube was baffled and there is a focuser tube baffle that extends into the OTA tube.For the money they are hard to beat.
Dane

I don't think that anyone would ever believe that the SW120 ED is equal to the Tak.,but for someone who is into visual observing on a tight budget it's just perfect!

George

[stevew]

Congratulations.
You cant beat the feeling of getting a good deal on a great scope.

Steve

[dag55]

The views in compared to the Tak. are very close, in fact on equal magnification levels on Jupiter at 270x where a dead heat. The Tak. with its larger aperture a little brighter but contrast and sharp images were so close to the same I couldn't pick a winner.I looked at the Orion nebula and displayed great detail, but Jupiter I feel is about the best test to compare scopes with and the SW did go to 360x with about the same level of sharpness and detail as the Tak. did at 332x. Now that doesn't say a lot because the seeing could have been different even though to me it looked to be about the same.I only wish that SW would offer a upgraded OTA with the same optical performance that this one exhibits and they would be contenders in the mid. range to premium refracters when the much lower price comes into play.
Dane

[BKBrown]

I don't want anybody to think that I am saying that the SW is equal to the Tak. their buiild and quality are great,but for a visual observer and someone who isn't going to pile on equipement onto the focuser these refractors are a great buy.The tube was baffled and there is a focuser tube baffle that extends into the OTA tube.For the money they are hard to beat.
Dane

I don't think that anyone would ever believe that the SW120 ED is equal to the Tak.,but for someone who is into visual observing on a tight budget it's just perfect!

George

Maybe and maybe not George, I have a terrific SW100ED that has been compared very favorably to a Tak 102...they are literally within a hairs breadth of each other with a VERY slight edge in contrast going (maybe) to the Tak

Clear Skies,
Brian

[george tatsis]

I don't want anybody to think that I am saying that the SW is equal to the Tak. their buiild and quality are great,but for a visual observer and someone who isn't going to pile on equipement onto the focuser these refractors are a great buy.The tube was baffled and there is a focuser tube baffle that extends into the OTA tube.For the money they are hard to beat.
Dane

I don't think that anyone would ever believe that the SW120 ED is equal to the Tak.,but for someone who is into visual observing on a tight budget it's just perfect!

George

Maybe and maybe not George, I have a terrific SW100ED that has been compared very favorably to a Tak 102...they are literally within a hairs breadth of each other with a VERY slight edge in contrast going (maybe) to the Tak

Clear Skies,
Brian

I know what you mean Brian. I was referring mostly to the mechanical parts ,and not the image quality which to me is just excellent.Until very recently I had a TV 102 and a TV 85. I sold them both after I had compared them to SW 80ED and the 100ED.To tell you the truth I liked the SW units more. They are lighter and color free. I wish I could say the same for the TV 85.Both TVs are better built, but much heavier with no visible differences in the views provided

[Tank]

Definitly a very nice scope!

[adamsp123]

This scope has surprised a number of people in terms of value for money and performance

[Eddgie]

I did the same thing when I sold an expensive and seldom used Televue 101 for a Vixen 100EDsf (also I think made by the same company).

I just could not justify the investment in the Televue and I rarely used it under really dark skies where the giant true field was unmatched by almost any other scope made, so I sold it.

The 100EDsf was (in my own opinion) exactly on par with the Televue in terms of contrast. Even at f/9, the field was not as flat as the TV101, but otherwise, I never regretted it.

Of course I sold the Vixen too. As excellent as it was, I was not using it much either.

To your point though, this company makes serially high quality ED scopes. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone as compared to any similar aperture scope.

[coopman]

I need to have a shootout between my SW120ED and my Tak FS-102 to see which one I like the best. It is a bit difficult for me to justify keeping both of them. I bought the SW first, and then got the hots for a Tak later on. What do ya'll think?

[dag55]

I don't know if I would do the shoot out, you might end up selling the Tak., just kidding, but myself I do like the light weight and 120mm aperture of the SW, it is my grab and go scope. I did flock the front portion of the OTA I think it helps the baffles reduce the light scatter even more.
Dane

[george tatsis]

I had the TV 102 and the SW120 at the same time and I had the chance to test them side by side.There is an obvious difference in light gathering power, favoring the 120ED of course. After that I sold the TV 102.

I can see your Tak finding a new home real soon .

[kenrenard]

Do any you have a SkyWatcher mounted on a Alt AZ mount? I was wondering with the length and weight of the tube? I have a small 72mm and would like to look into a large 102 or 120 down the road.

[george tatsis]

Do any you have a SkyWatcher mounted on a Alt AZ mount? I was wondering with the length and weight of the tube? I have a small 72mm and would like to look into a large 102 or 120 down the road.

I have been using the Takahashi Teegul Alt/Az mount for more than 7 years now and I couldn't be happier. It carries the 120ED effortlessly with no vibration whatsoever , regardless of the magnifications used (150X-300X).

The same also carries my twin-solar telescope set-up that consists of the SW 80ED (equipped with a Lunt White Light Wedge) and the 60mm Coronado H-Alpha scope at the same time on a custom built bracket to accommodate both. It's a breeze with the Teegul

George

[John Huntley]

I use a Giro-type alt-azimuth mount with my ED120. It holds the scope rock steady. The ED120 tube is around 40 inches long (including diagonal) and weighs around 14 lbs.

Here is mine:

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[kenrenard]

Thank you both for the info they both look like heavy duty mounts. John that looks like a beautiful setup.

[kenrenard]

Is that an aftermarket focuser? Looks like a moonlite. I also like the reticle finder I have one on my astro tech and it works great

[John Huntley]

Is that an aftermarket focuser? Looks like a moonlite. I also like the reticle finder I have one on my astro tech and it works great

Yes, it's a rather old Moonlite. Single speed on one side, 8:1 on the other. I sometimes have an 8x50 RACI finder on the scope but most of the time it's the multi-reticule one

[kenrenard]

Thanks for the info. It looks like one of the best deals out there. I will save up for one.

[Kirk77]

I agree, I have been viewing Jupiter with mine and the views are incredibly sharp and colour free. No aberrations and for the money spent the 120 ED is a no brainer.
Here is a photo of mine..

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[Tank]

Kirk77
thats the exact WO focuser i was looking into getting for my 120!!!
How do you like it for visual and was it a straight forward install?

[Mr Onions]

Love that Zeiss bino-finder.