73 replies to this topic

[houndsbourgh]

Added a removable grab handel to mine as well. Bar is drilled for multiple locations for the handel and finder mount. Steel thumb nuts make it easy on and off. I will admit it is a bit on the hefty side but I like it. Especially when mounting the scope on my SV M2C.

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[SeaBee1]

Houndsbourgh, I have searched for a handle like that and come up empty. Is yours off the shelf or did you make it?

 

Thanks

 

CB

[houndsbourgh]

I got it from FarpointAstro.com. Very well made and more than reasonable in price.

[SeaBee1]

I got it from FarpointAstro.com. Very well made and more than reasonable in price.

 

Many thanks houndsbourgh! I will be checking that site, it is the one site I missed in my search!

 

Clear skies!

 

CB

[Victor Martinez]

[nahadot]

Hi all, I recently bought the Skywatcher ES 120ED. I want to give it some improvements and other than 2 rings (planning to use them to attach a handle with finder support), want to buy a new focuser. 

 

Is this the Moonlite compatible focuser? Does it require collimation after the sawap? 

 

https://www.teleskop...on--black-.html ?

 

Thanks

[Jeff B]

Hi all, I recently bought the Skywatcher ES 120ED. I want to give it some improvements and other than 2 rings (planning to use them to attach a handle with finder support), want to buy a new focuser. 

 

Is this the Moonlite compatible focuser? Does it require collimation after the sawap? 

 

https://www.teleskop...on--black-.html ?

 

Thanks

With the SW adapter, my ML focuser did not require any additional collimation tweaking at all, much to my surprise and delight.  The laser beam I use for collimating focusers shot right through the middle of the paper mask I put over the objective.  I chose the model with the shorter, 3" long focuser draw tube version to maximize the filly illuminated FOV over the stock focuser.  The baffles in the stock focuser's draw tube, its length and its 2" diameter all combine to limit the fully illuminated FOV to only a few mm.   Configured with the 2.5" ML with 3" long draw tube, the fully illuminated FOV is about 15mm +/-, depending on the diagonal you use.  

 

Well worth the upgrade.  

 

I like the handles some have added too, another nice upgrade.

 

Jeff

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[nahadot]

Thanks Jeff. Thanks for the fast reply. When you reffer to the SW adapter, you mean the adapter that the telescope came with attached to the original focuser? Sorry i am a bit new to the refractors and i never took mine apart yet to see what goes where exactly. Nice setup btw. 

[junomike]

Be sure to get the rotating Flange. I sent my in my ML for my Meade 152ED and had Ron swap out the Flange for a rotating one.  Way more convenient with a GEM.

 

You'll need the appropriate flange (seen here).  Get Ron to confirm If unsure.

[Jeff B]

Thanks Jeff. Thanks for the fast reply. When you reffer to the SW adapter, you mean the adapter that the telescope came with attached to the original focuser? Sorry i am a bit new to the refractors and i never took mine apart yet to see what goes where exactly. Nice setup btw. 

Yes, it's the off-white tail piece you see in my and the other owner's pictures bolted to the rear of the main tube, right behind the stickers on the tube.  The ML focuser was quite literally "plug & play" for me.

 

Jeff 

[aa6ww]

My latest upgrade to my amazing Skywatcher 120ED is the addition of an Astro-Tech 9" top handle Model ATH2:

 

https://www.astronom...t-at130edt.html

 

(First Photo)

 

Also replaced my standard AVx tripod with a black Avalon T-130 tripod using my 12" Losmandy 6" diameter pier. There were two bolt-on Astro Physics adapters I had to purchase to allow the Losmandy Pier to bolt directly onto the base of the Avalon tripod but the transition was very clean and the results are stunning.

 

(Second Photo)

 

Part numbers for the Astro Physics adapters are the following:

 

ADATRI:

 

https://www.astro-physics.com/adatri

 

LM2APT:

 

https://www.astro-physics.com/lm2apt

 

 

As always, the Sky-Watcher 120ED continues to impress me with excellent optics in a very lightweight package.

 

 

Ralph

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Edited by aa6ww, 21 September 2021 - 10:18 AM.

[sw196060]

I cant tell but, is that a vixen bar or D-plate on your scope?

[aa6ww]

The mounting bar is an ADM Vixen Style Universal Dovetail Plate - 11" Long - VDUP11

 

https://www.highpoin...-11-long-vdup11

 

The top handle is 9" long so the bar extends past the tube rings about an inch at each end.

 

.. Ralph

[chaoscosmos]

Hoping to get mine soon now… Made the mistake of selling the Orion EON version last year, but I seem to have read the Skywatcher version is a bit lighter? Is it?

 

I would have preferred the 'Sky-Watcher' graphic on the side be less tacky looking (to me) or not there at all, as the EON lettering was more refined and less noticeable, but I suppose it's not that bad and I'll get used to it. I think the whole OTA would have to be re-painted to get rid of it, but I won't go to that length………..  

 

I'll probably leave the scope stock and see first if the focuser is decent, although I've already planned to use a better star diagonal, using the TeleVue diagonal from my TV 101 for awhile first.

Edited by chaoscosmos, 05 September 2023 - 03:09 PM.

[25585]

My 120 Equinox has a black Moonlite focuser and I have it on a long black Losmandy 3" ADM bar.

[akdwivedi]

I acquired a used 120ed with reducer. So far using it only for visuals. The only change I have made is to replace the original vixen dovetaoil with a 30cm losmandy dovetail. I m going to attach the original vixen tube to act like handle.

[RAKing]

Hoping to get mine soon now… Made the mistake of selling the Orion EON version last year, but I seem to have read the Skywatcher version is a bit lighter? Is it?

 

Yes, it is.  I finally got around to weighing my new one after I sold my 120EON, and my modded SW120ED only weighs 12.9 pounds.  That is 2.75 pounds less than my 120EON weighed (with a MoonLite focuser).

[chaoscosmos]

Yes, it is.  I finally got around to weighing my new one after I sold my 120EON, and my modded SW120ED only weighs 12.9 pounds.  That is 2.75 pounds less than my 120EON weighed (with a MoonLite focuser).

In what way is your SW120ED modified? Are you weighing it with the stock focuser? Also, is the scale you’re weighing it with accurate? My understanding up to now is if the focuser is replaced with a GSO or Feather touch focuser, it brings the weight back up to what the EON was.

[RAKing]

In what way is your SW120ED modified? Are you weighing it with the stock focuser? Also, is the scale you’re weighing it with accurate? My understanding up to now is if the focuser is replaced with a GSO or Feather touch focuser, it brings the weight back up to what the EON was.

My original SW 120ED was modified with a Feathertouch focuser and I weigh all the components on one of my wife's jewelry scales, accurate to 1 gram.  To give you some comparison weights (all with Losmandy dovetail plates):

 

Takahashi TSA-120N - 16.1 pounds - The "N" model has a fixed dewshield and is lighter than the regular TSA-120.  Mine also had PrimaLuce rings and dovetail.

 

Orion 120EON - 15.65 pounds - with A-P top handle and MoonLite focuser. 

 

SW 120ED - 12.95 pounds - with FT2025 focuser, A20-288 adapter, and A-P handle.

 

Since I now use binoviewers almost 100-percent of the time, I made another mod to my newer SW 120.  I replaced the Starlight A20-292 adapter with an A20-288 adapter.  This adapter fits just as well and shortens the OTA by 50mm.  The photo shows the old 292 adapter in front of the new setup with the 288 adapter.  

 

 

And this is how my scope looks now, with the Ft focuser and A-P handle.  Sorry, I should have pulled the black Hoodie before I took the picture.  It makes the dewshield look shorter than it is.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Ron

[chaoscosmos]

My original SW 120ED was modified with a Feathertouch focuser and I weigh all the components on one of my wife's jewelry scales, accurate to 1 gram.  To give you some comparison weights (all with Losmandy dovetail plates):

 

Takahashi TSA-120N - 16.1 pounds - The "N" model has a fixed dewshield and is lighter than the regular TSA-120.  Mine also had PrimaLuce rings and dovetail.

 

Orion 120EON - 15.65 pounds - with A-P top handle and MoonLite focuser. 

 

SW 120ED - 12.95 pounds - with FT2025 focuser, A20-288 adapter, and A-P handle.

 

Since I now use binoviewers almost 100-percent of the time, I made another mod to my newer SW 120.  I replaced the Starlight A20-292 adapter with an A20-288 adapter.  This adapter fits just as well and shortens the OTA by 50mm.  The photo shows the old 292 adapter in front of the new setup with the 288 adapter.  

 

SW120 - 288v292.JPG

 

And this is how my scope looks now, with the Ft focuser and A-P handle.  Sorry, I should have pulled the black Hoodie before I took the picture.  It makes the dewshield look shorter than it is.

 

SW120ED 091523.jpg

 

Cheers,

 

Ron

Thanks for that, Ron. So you’ve got the stock rings on a Losmandy plate? Not having the scope, I wasn’t sure if the stock rings would need to be replaced if using a Losmandy dovetail. To switch out the Evostar with my TeleVue on a DM4 mount, I’d have to attach or remove a DM4 adapter to the saddle each time switching scopes on the mount if I had a Vixen plate on the 120… Those stock rings look a little slim, but apparently they’re sufficient. 

[Jeff B]

Well done Ron!

 

With the advent of high quality 3D printing, it's now rather easy to custom make adapters for the SW ED's and even some of the Orion faster achromats to make them directly bino-frendly as long as you use a quality lower profile focuser with a shorter draw tube.  The 2.0" and 2.5" FT focusers are ideal choices.  But be prepared for a bit of sticker shock, even used.  However, that passed for me on the very first use.

 

Jeff  

[RAKing]

Jeff,

 

I have had a few FT 2-inch focusers for years, so the cost has been fully amortized.  I have had the 292 adapter since my old Celestron 4-inch achromat days, but just got the 288 adapter in a swap earlier this year.  It was designed for the old Celestron and Vixen 4-inch fluorite doublets, but I thought it might also fit the Sky Watcher ED since it uses the same old tube and castings.  Sure enough, it slipped right in!  

 

Even the longer FT2025 drawtube is shorter than the stock SW focuser drawtube, so there is still no chance of vignetting with the focuser 50mm closer to the lens.

 

 

Thanks for that, Ron. So you’ve got the stock rings on a Losmandy plate? Not having the scope, I wasn’t sure if the stock rings would need to be replaced if using a Losmandy dovetail. To switch out the Evostar with my TeleVue on a DM4 mount, I’d have to attach or remove a DM4 adapter to the saddle each time switching scopes on the mount if I had a Vixen plate on the 120… Those stock rings look a little slim, but apparently they’re sufficient. 

Ray,

 

The stock rings are not the greatest, but they work fine with this lightweight tube.  Each ring uses a single bolt, which is fine for the light loads we get with this scope.  I snug the bolt down - then I add a jam nut on top for added security.  There is enough room under the tube for the jam nut without interfering with the tube. 

 

You can buy nicer (and better) 116mm rings if you wish, but I have not felt the need to spend the extra money, yet.

 

Cheers,

 

Ron

[chaoscosmos]

Anyone know if there’s a nicer option for the plastic dust cover cap, other than a LensCoat Hoodie? 

[chaoscosmos]

Thanks Ron, I’d probably replace the stock rings except the replacement rings likely add more weight.

[RAKing]

Anyone know if there’s a nicer option for the plastic dust cover cap, other than a LensCoat Hoodie? 

 

You might be able to 3D print something.  I switched to the Hoodie eight years ago.  That stock plastic cap scrapes the paint off the inner surface of the dew shield.  Yuck!      The Hoodie is soft and fits well.

 

Ron