Need advice Mak-Cas scope (2 Viewers)

[totoro_ita]

I was looking for a cheep spotting scope as the ETX-90 RA (200 us dollars) but I could not find any left...
the spotting scope version of the etx-90 seems to be out of stock in all the on-line sotre i check on the web. Know i live in Italy, here the ETX-90 spotting scope cost 600 euro... a bit too much against the 350 US dollars.

So i have the opportunity to buy a second hand Mak-Cas Synta SkyWatcher 127 (1500mm FL - 127 mm aperture) here in Italy.

SKYMAX-127 (EQ3-2) MAKSUTOV*
470 euro market street price for the a brand new one (only scope - no mount - no tripod)
680 euro for scope+tripod+mount
300 euro estimated for second hand scope
Specs:
127mm (5") f/1500 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification Range: x60,* x150
Diameter of Primary Mirror: 127mm
Telescope Focal Length: 1500mm (f/11.81)
Eyepieces Supplied (1.25"): 10mm & 25mm)
Red Dot Finder
90° Diagonal
EQ3-2 Equatorial Mount
Built-in Polar Alignment Scope
Aluminium Tripod with Accessory Tray

The SKYMAX-127 (EQ3-2) MAKSUTOV* is nearly the same as the ETX-90 but it offer a bigger primary mirror (more light) and a focal lengh similar to the ETX-90 (1250 for the ETX Vs 1500 for SkyWacther SkyMax)

The ETX-125 cost too much and it's a 1900mm focal lengh!!!

The C5 is the best choice but it cost nearly 800 euro in Italy (600 US dollar in USA) and i could not find it second hand.

Is there something wrong with the MC SkyWathcher 127mm?

PS: I'm going to use the DCL-28 24mm eyepiece to get nearly a 65x zoom (f 2300mm) at nikon wide angle (1x) and a 188x (f 7000mm) with the nikoon zoom at 3x.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Happy new year,
Francesco Cerqui

 

[Art Thorn]

Good luck with that. I had a C5 and used Televue eyepieces (Nagler). It was by far the best scope I have used, but large and heavy. I have a Swarovski ST80 that is no where close to the C5/Nagler combination. I bet you will be pleased.

 

[Leif]

I was looking for a cheep spotting scope as the ETX-90 RA (200 us dollars) but I could not find any left...
the spotting scope version of the etx-90 seems to be out of stock in all the on-line sotre i check on the web. Know i live in Italy, here the ETX-90 spotting scope cost 600 euro... a bit too much against the 350 US dollars.

So i have the opportunity to buy a second hand Mak-Cas Synta SkyWatcher 127 (1500mm FL - 127 mm aperture) here in Italy.

SKYMAX-127 (EQ3-2) MAKSUTOV*
470 euro market street price for the a brand new one (only scope - no mount - no tripod)
680 euro for scope+tripod+mount
300 euro estimated for second hand scope
Specs:
127mm (5") f/1500 Maksutov-Cassegrain
Magnification Range: x60,* x150
Diameter of Primary Mirror: 127mm
Telescope Focal Length: 1500mm (f/11.81)
Eyepieces Supplied (1.25"): 10mm & 25mm)
Red Dot Finder
90° Diagonal
EQ3-2 Equatorial Mount
Built-in Polar Alignment Scope
Aluminium Tripod with Accessory Tray

The SKYMAX-127 (EQ3-2) MAKSUTOV* is nearly the same as the ETX-90 but it offer a bigger primary mirror (more light) and a focal lengh similar to the ETX-90 (1250 for the ETX Vs 1500 for SkyWacther SkyMax)

The ETX-125 cost too much and it's a 1900mm focal lengh!!!

The C5 is the best choice but it cost nearly 800 euro in Italy (600 US dollar in USA) and i could not find it second hand.

Is there something wrong with the MC SkyWathcher 127mm?

PS: I'm going to use the DCL-28 24mm eyepiece to get nearly a 65x zoom (f 2300mm) at nikon wide angle (1x) and a 188x (f 7000mm) with the nikoon zoom at 3x.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Happy new year,
Francesco Cerqui

Francesco: I suspect that neither scope is very portable. For walking any distance with a scope you really need a more compact and robust birding scope. However, they are said to give superb views of birds. I presume that you will use it from your garden, or from near to your car?

Reviews on the web suggest that the Skywatcher is a very good performer for the price. Obviously it is not in the Questar league. At least that is what amateur astonomers say. A quick search in Google should get you some good reviews.

 

[Jay Turberville]

Is there something wrong with the MC SkyWathcher 127mm?

PS: I'm going to use the DCL-28 24mm eyepiece to get nearly a 65x zoom (f 2300mm) at nikon wide angle (1x) and a 188x (f 7000mm) with the nikoon zoom at 3x.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Happy new year,
Francesco Cerqui

I suspect that these Synta scopes are the same scopes marketed by Orion under the Apex name. Using the Apex specs, the 90mm weighs about 4 pounds, the 102mm weighs about 5 pounds, and the 127 weighs about 8 pounds.

I'd strongly recommend you consider the lighter, more mobile, and less expensive 90mm or 102mm versions.

I've use a 95mm LOMO Mak, a 70mm LOMO Mak and a 100mm Rubinar lens in the field. I find all of these to be about as portable as a Swarovski ATS80HD. Though the Rubinar and LOMO 95 are certainly a pound or two heavier that the very lightweight Swaro.

I routinely take one of these scopes for hikes of a few miles in the desert. I suspect the Synta isn't as rugged as the LOMO 95, but probably as rugged as the 70mm LOMO or the 100mm Rubinar lens. You'll have to be the final arbiter of how rugged the Synta is and how much abuse you think it can withstand.

If I understood your post correctly, you intend to digiscope with the scope. Be forwarned that lofty magnifications you mention often yield poor results. It is only on the clearest of days that such magnifications and the distances that they imply won't cause rather soft and fuzzy images. Modest scope magnifications of 30x or less and overall 35mm equivalent focal lengths of 3000mm or less are where you will find your equipment providing the sharpest images. And don't be afraid to use magnifications much lower than 2000mm equivalent. The shorter focal length and lower overall magnifications that result from it are another reason to favor the 90mm or 102mm scope.

 

[jvanoyen]

I suspect that these Synta scopes are the same scopes marketed by Orion under the Apex name. Using the Apex specs, the 90mm weighs about 4 pounds, the 102mm weighs about 5 pounds, and the 127 weighs about 8 pounds.

I'd strongly recommend you consider the lighter, more mobile, and less expensive 90mm or 102mm versions.

I've use a 95mm LOMO Mak, a 70mm LOMO Mak and a 100mm Rubinar lens in the field. I find all of these to be about as portable as a Swarovski ATS80HD. Though the Rubinar and LOMO 95 are certainly a pound or two heavier that the very lightweight Swaro.

I routinely take one of these scopes for hikes of a few miles in the desert. I suspect the Synta isn't as rugged as the LOMO 95, but probably as rugged as the 70mm LOMO or the 100mm Rubinar lens. You'll have to be the final arbiter of how rugged the Synta is and how much abuse you think it can withstand.

If I understood your post correctly, you intend to digiscope with the scope. Be forwarned that lofty magnifications you mention often yield poor results. It is only on the clearest of days that such magnifications and the distances that they imply won't cause rather soft and fuzzy images. Modest scope magnifications of 30x or less and overall 35mm equivalent focal lengths of 3000mm or less are where you will find your equipment providing the sharpest images. And don't be afraid to use magnifications much lower than 2000mm equivalent. The shorter focal length and lower overall magnifications that result from it are another reason to favor the 90mm or 102mm scope.

Jay is the Lomo 70mm usable with the Nikon 995? I need to know as I'm looking for a Lomo 70mm.
Thanks
jvanoyen

 

[Jay Turberville]

Jay is the Lomo 70mm usable with the Nikon 995? I need to know as I'm looking for a Lomo 70mm.
Thanks
jvanoyen

Yes, it should work fine. Though I'd recommend a Rubinar lens instead for overall quality of image. The LOMO 70 will be more "turn key" though and will do well at moderate magnifications and is nice and compact. The biggest negative for the LOMO 70 is that the set screw that holds the eyepiece isn't very robust.

You will probably want an eyepiece that is between 30mm and 40mm in focal length. I'd suggest the Maxview 40 or the TeleVue 32mm Plossl. No doubt others would work, but those are good choices of high quality.

 

[jerryvanoyen]

Hi Jay and Wanda,
I finally found a Lomo 70. The Max view 40 that you recommend, does it give clearer imiges than the lens that came with the scope?
Also, what is the minimum and maximum magnification of the Lomo eyepiece. I am sorry to bother you with this question but I have no manual and I know you have a Lomo 70.
Thanks!
Jerry