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Sky and Telescope
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| Date: |
9-25-2001 |
| Price: |
approx.
$500 with mount |
| Design: |
120mm
refractor operating at f/5 |
| Description: |
Very large
short-tube refractor. |
The Review
This is a review of the Skywatcher 120mm f/5.
For the last 3 months I have had this telescope for testing. It is the very same telescope reviewed on 'Cloudy Nights'. I agree with David's review 100%.
I made comparisons with my MN56 MakNewt, which I have found to be top-notch
Recently, I had gone camping at Eastern Washington State. The skies were a '10'.
It did well on nebulas and galaxies, but showed excessive blue fringing on stars down to the 3rd magnitude. With a MV1 filter, I was able to resolve the double-double at 150X, but not without the filter.
This telescope is not advertised as a medium-hi power scope. Using an Edmunds 32mm Erfle, the blue fringes were still excessive at 19X. With the same eyepiece the MN56 showed crystal clear, pinpointed stars of the same field at 24X. Contrast was compromised with any bright object.
It did do well on galaxies and nebulas, but there are so many finer
instruments out there. Perhaps the new Orion 127mm Mak would be a good alternative.
In short, I don't like this telescope.
Submitted by Al Misiuk - WA
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