40 replies to this topic

[Wow!]

Should never of had to but I “Fixed” my Esprit 150 dew shield by simply placing a couple white rubber bands behind it. Hasn’t slipped even when pointed at zenith with my large Lights flat panel on top.
My Esprit 150 also slid in the tube rings at first. Sky-Watcher was quick to supply additional felt to fix it. But since that experience, I placed another white rubber band behind each tube ring so it can’t slip.
I wasn’t done there. I have trouble turning the Blocking Ring & Adapter Ring on the Focuser Drawtube when framing an object on my camera sensor. One more rubber band on each ring and I can now easily grip and turn the rings to reframe.

FYI, my Esprit 150 also had pinched optics. I contacted Sky-watcher and they didn’t hesitate to replace it. Sky-Watcher was amazing to work with and due to my service I wouldn’t hesitate to buy again.

(Tried uploading before/after images of pinched optics but the resolution of the image in this post seemed unviewable to me).

I had the same issue with the tube rings. Nearly had a heart attack and caught it just in time before it slipped out of the rings. 

Sky-Watcher locally (Australia) is also great to work with. It's actually another company that contract out for SW, but they're great.

 

My fix for the dew shield was to add some felt on the tube itself so the dew shield could ride on something thicker. Seems to help but it's not perfect.

[dgg99]

Another thing SkyWatcher should aim to improve is the tube weight of the whole Esprit series. I considered the Esprit 120 for some time but discarded it for this reason. 9.5 kg for a 120 always seemed too much to me, when most 120 triplets are around 6-7.5 kg.

[Drothgeb]

I loved using the sharp optics esprit150 offers, but there's certainly a thread regarding flaws of Esprit 150.

 

1. Severe pinch optics, I seen the issue myself and I think it'll vary depending on the environment. The owner reported the issue gone after exchanging with SVX152T

2. Flappy Dewshield. I didnt care about this at all in Esprit 100, but Esprit 150 is quite flimsy. This can be adjusted for some user customization, but I'd expect something better from a premium scope.

 

Should never of had to but I “Fixed” my Esprit 150 dew shield by simply placing a couple white rubber bands behind it. Hasn’t slipped even when pointed at zenith with my large Lights flat panel on top.
My Esprit 150 also slid in the tube rings at first. Sky-Watcher was quick to supply additional felt to fix it. But since that experience, I placed another white rubber band behind each tube ring so it can’t slip.
I wasn’t done there. I have trouble turning the Blocking Ring & Adapter Ring on the Focuser Drawtube when framing an object on my camera sensor. One more rubber band on each ring and I can now easily grip and turn the rings to reframe.

FYI, my Esprit 150 also had pinched optics. I contacted Sky-watcher and they didn’t hesitate to replace it. Sky-Watcher was amazing to work with and due to my service I wouldn’t hesitate to buy again.

(Tried uploading before/after images of pinched optics but the resolution of the image in this post seemed unviewable to me).

I have two 150s, made many years apart. They both had pinched optics. And neither was temperature dependent. I’d get spikes even at 75 F. It was worse with the older one, which also had a gap in the O-ring against the lens that caused diffraction spikes.

 

I replaced the O-ring on the old one, and adjusted the centering screws on both of them. Now they both have clean star images. Considering my newest one is one of the last ones, and it still had issues, maybe it’s part of the reason they’ve been discontinued. 

[25585]

Perhaps, but my Esprit 150 has provided all the imaging performance I could have asked for. It is odd that they have just withdrawn it without there being a replacement ready to announce. People like me who need a 120mm right now have to go elsewhere as there is no indication of what is coming. My FSQ 85 does keep asking for a big TSA 120 sister however.

Get a TSA! A reducer is made for it.

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[Tyson M]

Since almost everything on the market is about imaging these days I suspect whatever they have in mind for changes will cater to that crowd directly more than those who do visual observing.

seems unlikely, given the market trend and peoples buying habits. Besides that's what the evostar line up is

Edited by Tyson M, 17 April 2025 - 01:00 PM.

[lumos]

Get a TSA! A reducer is made for it.i am looking to image 

 

Get a TSA! A reducer is made for it.

 

I intend to image at the native focal length, is there just a flattener, I could not spot one on the system chart. 
 

I see now that I need the TOA-35FL FIELD CORRECTOR

Edited by lumos, 18 April 2025 - 10:15 AM.

[Pandosey]

SW will soon introduce the Esprit EDX line that includes new 120EDX & 150EDX.

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[Refractor6]

  Shorter F/ratio imaging based scopes it appears with larger focusers......see what Skywatcher has to say when officially released.

[saemark30]

Anyone with Espirit 150 stock or want to sell me one can PM me.

[Oldfracguy]

I hope they're revising their line to stay competitive.  It would be great if they updated and improved the Evostar line too.

Don't get your hopes up.  Take a look at these:

 

https://agenaastro.c...tor-s11195.html

 

https://agenaastro.c...tor-s11130.html

 

https://agenaastro.c...tor-s11120.html

 

https://agenaastro.c...tor-s11400.html

 

https://agenaastro.c...tor-s11180.html

 

They didn't have that "Reckless Refractor Sale" for nothing.

[WorldSwirl]

This link is to Agena Astro’s Discontinued Products page.

 

Lists more Sky-Watcher products than just refractors.

 

https://agenaastro.c...t_list_limit=72

[skyward_eyes]

Much of the discontinued product is old and has been there a while. The Evostar ED and Esprit has been discontinued. When we are in a place when things are not so chaotic and have all the info ready we will share what’s coming.

[K.K]

We’re looking forward to the release of a full-frame compatible flattener reducer that will work with previous Esprit 100ED models as well.

[25585]

Much of the discontinued product is old and has been there a while. The Evostar ED and Esprit has been discontinued. When we are in a place when things are not so chaotic and have all the info ready we will share what’s coming.

I notice the 80 ED Evostar has gone, but there are 100, 120 & 150mm still on sale new.

[Refractor6]

I notice the 80 ED Evostar has gone, but there are 100, 120 & 150mm still on sale new.

   In Canada I checked various online dealers and most of the scopes are sold out and listed as discontinued this includes various popular Skywatcher achromats too. Looks like whole lines of  their scopes are gone.

[drprovi57]

sounds like its time to sell my Esprit 150 scope - been sitting too long in its storage case