5 replies to this topic

[jrussell]

I picked this up the other day but can't say I really know anything about it. I've tried the ol' google search but it doesn't come up with anything other than an old deal on Woot. It's definitely all plastic (OTA, focuser, clamshell) and I did take it out briefly last night and optically it wasn't terrible from what I could tell under my Bortle 9 sky. I mainly bought it for the mount and RA drive so if the OTA is optically a horror story it's no big loss. I'll have a chance to try it under darker skies this weekend but wanted to see if there was anyone that knew about the strengths/weaknesses of this brand/model OTA. I know I'll be keeping everything else, but I could see maybe keeping the OTA for star parties.

 

Sorry about the sideways pictures. I can't remember how to get them to post right side up.

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[RichA]

I picked this up the other day but can't say I really know anything about it. I've tried the ol' google search but it doesn't come up with anything other than an old deal on Woot. It's definitely all plastic (OTA, focuser, clamshell) and I did take it out briefly last night and optically it wasn't terrible from what I could tell under my Bortle 9 sky. I mainly bought it for the mount and RA drive so if the OTA is optically a horror story it's no big loss. I'll have a chance to try it under darker skies this weekend but wanted to see if there was anyone that knew about the strengths/weaknesses of this brand/model OTA. I know I'll be keeping everything else, but I could see maybe keeping the OTA for star parties.

 

Sorry about the sideways pictures. I can't remember how to get them to post right side up.

I figure ES bought Bresser as a cheaper alternative.  I had 2 of the Bresser 102mm scopes.  f5 or something.  The one had a fibre-phenolic dew hood.

[jrussell]

Yeah I wasn't sure who owned who since a little of what I did find looking for this particular scope was that ES and Bresser appear to be branches of the same tree. The mount and tripod are definitely the same as the EXOS Nano EQ3.The OTA is very similar to the ES FirstLight 80mm except for the focal length being 700mm vs 640mm on the FirstLight.

[kgb]

I think this OTA might still be in production under a different name (different paint job and mount).

https://tejraj.com/p...actor-telescope

That mount looks like it may be decent. Does it have any nomenclature on it?

[kgb]

Yeah I wasn't sure who owned who since a little of what I did find looking for this particular scope was that ES and Bresser appear to be branches of the same tree. The mount and tripod are definitely the same as the EXOS Nano EQ3.The OTA is very similar to the ES FirstLight 80mm except for the focal length being 700mm vs 640mm on the FirstLight.

Are the First Light refractor focusers plastic or pot metal?

[jrussell]

That one does look a lot like it and same specs. I haven't found any kind of markings on the mount but comparing it to the EXOS Nano they're identical from what I can tell.

 

Apart from online I haven't seen a FirstLight so I'm not sure.