Advantages: High quality optics, a very sturdy mount, Built in precise drives & Heavy. Disadvantages: No bubble leveller on mount, No manual & Heavy
Skywatcher Explorer 200 F/5 & HEQ5 Mount
As this telescope comes in two parts (the scope - the mount) and each part is available separately, I've written two reviews, one for each.
Firstly the Scope
***Specifications***
Main Mirror Size = 8" (200mm), generally the bigger the better. But the bigger it is the less portable everything becomes, it's a bit of a balancing act...
Focal Length = 1000mm, the length from the main mirror to the Eyepiece. ... ...you want the scope to do.
Focal Ratio = F/5 (Fast), associated with Focal length above. The lower the F/# the faster the scope which will make photography easier and give bigger field of views. Low F/#'s = good for Deep sky Objects (galaxies, star clusters). High F/#'s = good for Planets. This does not mean that if you have a Low F/# that you can't view the planets, it's just not an ideal telescope for that object.
***Standard Equipment***
Eyepieces, ...
ant_emberson 11.05.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Sky-Watcher Explorer 200 F/5
Advantages: Large aperture, reasonably portable, good optics, dual axis drive on motorised model Disadvantages: Polar alignment scope difficult to use, heavy but necessary counter weights
The large aperture on this scope gives it good light gathering capacity enabling you to the see further fainter objects that smaller aperture scopes don't. It's well built and keeps its collimation if treated right. The optics are great giving sharp clear views although the focuser can be a little tricky for faint objects. The eyepieces are standard so it's easy to get more of different powers to enhance your viewing experience' with the right adaptors ... ...easily attached to this telescope. The tracking motors if you go for that option are smooth and reliable but don't give fast slewing action which is best done manually. The lattitude setting could be better and the polar alignment scope is difficult to use as it can move in it's housing which can mean your tracking isn't as good as you would like it to be. This also means that long exposure photography can be hit and miss and i've had poor results ...
orbiter 21.02.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Sky-Watcher Explorer 200 F/5