138 replies to this topic

[Ar3s701]

ZWO announced it's line of telescopes that are just reskins of the Askar PHQ series. I get that. However I was about to purchase a 130PHQ before the announcement and wasn't thinking too much about it until I was trying to figure out when they were available. Then I found out that pretty much every pre-order is getting the reducer for free ($350 value). Now I'm pretty torn about waiting until maybe July to get one and save $350 on the reducer.

 

So I am asking for CN's experience here. If I pre-order, what site would get them first? ZWO's website or the other vendors with the same offering? I've spent a small fortune on Agena Astro already so I trust them, but I don't mind buying direct. Here are some places I've found offering the free reducer:

• https://astronomy-im...wo-ff130-apo-2/
• https://agenaastro.c...-telescope.html
• https://cloudbreakop...s/zwo-ff130-apo
• https://all-startele...actor-telescope

[rsalva1]

I purchased several items directly from ZWO, which I never had a problem. Ordering from them, might make you first in line than the rest of the resellers. 

[dx_ron]

They're going to sell a bundle with the AM3? That's.... interesting

[coldzero]

I'm in the same position, was about to order the 130PHQ and ended up getting the ZWO version because of the free reducer and red.  I ordered from Woodland Hills since the NEAF code stacked and they didn't charge tax/had free shipping. (I don't think the code is valid anymore)

[Ar3s701]

I'm in the same position, was about to order the 130PHQ and ended up getting the ZWO version because of the free reducer and red.  I ordered from Woodland Hills since the NEAF code stacked and they didn't charge tax/had free shipping. (I don't think the code is valid anymore)

What was the code and how much did you save? I know that you can get $10 off at Agena Astro with code LSTFS10. Because you know $10 is $10

[coldzero]

It was NEAF23 for another 5%.  Found out about it when I was at NEAF and bought some other stuff from them.

[Ar3s701]

Unfortunately you were right, that code didn't work anymore. But I finally bit the bullet and put my pre-order in. Time to forget about it until July.

[BrentKnight]

Anyone else considering this scope or have the Askar version?  Time is running out on the pre-order and I'm still trying to decide...

[Ar3s701]

The only caveat that I know is that the Askar without the reducer is amazing, but there are a lot of complaints about the reducer. I've also read that 60mm backspacing worked better than the recommended 55mm.

 

That said, its still a hell of a value if you were already considering getting the 130PHQ. Why not get the free reducer?

[BrentKnight]

I wasn't planning to use the reducer, but your right - free is free.

 

I tried contacting Highpoint Scientific about the free reducer, but can't get an answer.  Is this deal only with Agena Astro?

[Ar3s701]

I wasn't planning to use the reducer, but your right - free is free.

 

I tried contacting Highpoint Scientific about the free reducer, but can't get an answer.  Is this deal only with Agena Astro?

I have a few others linked in the first post like Cloud Break Optics, ZWO website, and All Star Telescope. There is also Telescopes.net which has the deal. You might be able to Google a few more sites that are honoring the deal. Not sure why Highpoint doesn't seem like want to honor it. Or maybe its just not listed. I've done a lot of business with Agena Astro and they have been good to me so far.

[BrentKnight]

Agree.  Agena is great, I was just going to order some extra counterweights for my mount from them (Highpoint) and would just like to do a single order - they also will have the Askar early May.

[BrentKnight]

Now I'm waiting too.  Pre-order through Agena.

[Ar3s701]

Nice! Now to wait very impatiently.

[sehoon104]

Decided to pre-order one as well. I was waiting for Askar 151phq release at late May, but the free reducer deal is too good for me. It's only about 57mm FL difference and a bit slower speed, so I guess it'll be not much of a big difference.

[BrentKnight]

Welcome to the waiting club.

 

I've read a lot about how the reducer degrades the quality.  I'm willing to try it, but I'm way more interested in great images that are easier to get.

[Ar3s701]

Decided to pre-order one as well. I was waiting for Askar 151phq release at late May, but the free reducer deal is too good for me. It's only about 57mm FL difference and a bit slower speed, so I guess it'll be not much of a big difference.

I was honestly looking at the 151PHQ as well, but just as you mentioned there isn't a huge difference in FL (1057mm vs 1000mm) and f stop (f/7 vs f/7.7). Plus I was worried that the weight of a 151mm scope would we troublesome for my EQ6R. It would put it pretty close to the max capacity of the scope once you add in all the imaging parts.

[BrentKnight]

The EQ6 and the GEM45 are pretty close in payload class (even though they don't look it).  I'm somewhat concerned about the FF130 riding on that mount - no way I'd want to run a 150 on it.

[Obs30]

Same here. Just (pre-)ordered the ZWO FF130. YES!

 

I had been looking at the APO130F7-DEL (FPL53 element) and the TSCFAPO130 (FPL55), both from Telescope service. Then this offer from ZWO came along. I ordered from my Swiss telescope dealer.

 

Finally I settled on the ZWO FF130, because (I fully agree with all of you here) there is no need for a flattener at the native 1000mm focal length. I saw and read the reviews on the identical Sharpstar/ASKAR 130PHQ. All very positive.

 

Now I need to wait and see. Impatiently !

[Obs30]

Anyone else considering this scope or have the Askar version?  Time is running out on the pre-order and I'm still trying to decide...

Yeah… it took me forever to press that “Place Order” button. 

[BrentKnight]

Yeah… it took me forever to press that “Place Order” button. 

By far the most expensive single astronomy item I've ever bought.  Pretty much have to sell all my visual stuff to do it...

[Ar3s701]

By far the most expensive single astronomy item I've ever bought.  Pretty much have to sell all my visual stuff to do it...

Same here, but I got a bit lucky. I came into a small early inheritance that had explicit instructions to "buy something I would enjoy".

 

But also really debating selling my LX200 classic.

[BrentKnight]

I'm replacing a Super C8 Plus, but won't be selling it because I cracked the corrector plate and I don't feel anyone would buy it.  No issues with operations though, so I soldiered on.  But I doubt I'll ever go back to trying to make the C8 work well after the FF130 comes in.

[Obs30]

I hope ZWO had the flattener improved.

The ray diagram on the ASKAR webpage clearly shows the chromatic aberrations for larger sensors:

 

EDIT:

1) Ray diagram of flattener in combination with the 107PHQ

https://www.askarlen...65517555884.jpg

 

2) Ray diagram of flattener in combination with the 130PHQ

https://www.askarlen...65517557493.jpg

 

The latter looks much better… and the RMS values of the imaging circle are almost half in the case of the 130PHQ.

Edited by Obs30, 29 April 2023 - 07:11 AM.

[Ar3s701]

I hope ZWO had the flattener improved.

The ray diagram on the ASKAR webpage clearly shows the chromatic aberrations for larger sensors:

https://www.askarlen...65517555884.jpg

I doubt anything changed at all on the flattener. One thing to note about it though, multiple reviews have said that the CA gets significantly better when adding some backspacing. I believe it has recommended 55mm, but 58-60mm works better.