27 replies to this topic

[Wolfwatcher]

Thanks!

[Wolfwatcher]

Another brief update on the EvoLux 82. This evening I had about 30 minutes of very clear, transparent skies before clouds began to roll in. But that allowed me to check to make sure the focuser problem I recently experienced and described fixing above was solved. It is. I was able to compare two scopes, both refractors, on Saturn and Jupiter (one advantage of daylight savings time: the planets right now "rise earlier" than a few weeks ago, with nice, dark skies much earlier). Anyway, I compared the Evolux 82 with an old Orion Astroview 120 that I've got. Aside from the obvious aperture difference, both scopes are essentially short tube, wide field scopes, the Evolux at 530mm focal length, and the Orion at 600. Both doublets, both with 2" focusers. On planets, the Evolux blows away the Astroview. (If your favorite color is purple, you'll enjoy the older Orion scope). 

 

Of course, neither scope is really meant to be optimum on bright objects like the planets, moon, etc. But the Evolux displayed virtually no fringing color on Jupiter. With its ED glass element (and a secret one at that, since Skywatcher won't reveal what that special glass is), Jupiter is nice and sharp, with bands easily visible at relatively low power (66x). I did not get the same view with the older Orion scope, but I did get, as I said, a purple light show. And even though its aperture is larger, oddly I could not really detect much difference between the two in light gathering, at least from my city backyard setting. (I will say that the Orion scope does a bit better with the Orion Nebula from my backyard).

 

Bottom line: the Evolux seems to be a pretty good all-around scope so far, in a very small portable package. It has quality optics. Now if only I can get the night skies in Colorado to clear up a bit so I can get away from the city to see how it really does in better viewing conditions...

[Wolfwatcher]

Continuing the discussion of EvoLux 82ed matters. I learned from Surveyor 1 above that the focuser is a rack and pinion design, not Crayford. Many thanks for that correction. I should have realized that was the case when disassembling the focuser, but because of the fine focus knob, I had assumed that it was a Crayford style. That is because I didn't really understand the difference between the two designs. Embarrassingly, now I do.

 

Also, I must say that the detailed specifications provided for the SkyWatcher EvoLux line of scopes per manufacturer material (online) are excellent (to a point). I own some other brands and struggle to find even the most basic details (i.e, weight and length of OTA, any reference to glass used, even whether or not it's parabolic in the case of reflectors, etc.). Frustrating! So, just wanted to point out that some brands of scopes, although they may be ultimately sourced from the same manufacturer, are more upfront about what they are selling. Still, even EvoLux hides some details, like the exact ED glass type, for  example, even though other brands must be using the exact same thing, given published specifications that appear to be identical.

 

Then again, I learned years ago that a particular American brand of automobile might in fact have an engine or other essential components manufactured elsewhere. Or they were, in fact, no longer even an American company, having been acquired by a foreign entity, but otherwise not changing the brand.

 

In the end, most cars run and most telescopes work as advertised, in spite of all of their supposed branding distinctions. I happen to own a camera with a famous red dot, suggesting it was made in Germany. But, in fact, it is made in Japan under a special licensing agreement with a manufacturer of another well-known camera brand. Whatever. Wonderful camera! I still regard telescope eyepieces made in Japan as among the best I've owned.

 

Sometimes, I'm reminded of what the revolutionary firebrand Thomas Paine once said: "Trade I do not understand."

Edited by Wolfwatcher, 21 November 2022 - 08:40 AM.