Unfortunately, they weren't truthful about that "aluminium" case. The panels are some sort of dense cardboard, painted over to make it appear metallic. Put my scope in sideways, and it tore through the backside.
I didn’t know, I haven’t really had any issues with the case. Did you find any good alternative in case someone might want to get one? Or are you still using the supplied one regardless?
@@ColinDane Still using the original, I mostly shoot in my backyard. It still holds together, but there are some tears in the backside. Looking to upgrade to something larger though, so I can fit more gear. The included box is just a tad too small, and I rather not have my eyepieces rattle around knocking against the OTA. They sell these type of boxes in various sizes, and with actual aluminium side panels. I'll probably end up laser cutting my own foam for the inside.
I just bought the same telescope ( Aug 2024) with lots of extras on eBay for $445 after taxes. It included the case, Flat field .8x flattner, Apertura Dew heater, 40mm camera adapter and a couple more accessories. I think it was a good deal indeed!!! it’s my turn how to use it and take pics with it! Any advice is very welcome. Thanks for sharing!
I have this 72 ED. Trying to use Celestron 2 inch pieces with the 2” Mirror Diagonal. Celestron kit actually. Problem is, when I attempt to focus in on anything up there, I run out of focus tube ability. It's like my scope needs another inch of tube travel. What do I need? Hate to only use 1.25 pieces, unless that is great enough. Oh, ditto with the 120 scope. It sort of was defective in that the focuser didn't always move the tube. Sent it back, sadly. Kept this 72. Hoping for the best.
Those shots you got look pretty good and is they are better than average! I've just ordered the telescope for it's portability and it can fit into backpack as I'm searching for dark sky sites in highlands of Scotland as I live in light polluted area. I know the Cairngorms national park has alot of areas where it's very dark. What camera settings you use to get shots? You'll get alot better with telescope the more you use and you'll get the shots you want! Keep up the good shots!!!
Thanks! Portability was also one of my main reasons for purchasing this telescope, the case was a really nice addition for it. I use a tracker for my shots and with my DSLR I usually shoot at ISO800, sometimes I up it to 1600. Usually 2 minute subframes but for some less bright targets I might increase this up to 5 min. Have fun with the telescope!
I’ve been a bit busy lately (a lot of overtime on work due to COVID) but I’m planning to make a tutorial series as soon as I have the time for it, with different pieces of software :)
Good evening Mr. Colin Dane, first of all congratulations on the really nice and exhaustive video, could I please ask you a question? Have you ever taken astronomical photos with the skywatcher evostar and 72/420 apo mounted on the star adventurer? If so, how many seconds can you chase without having the micromox? Thank you very much for your cooperation
Hello Sauro, I have not yet taken images with the telescope on the SWSA yet, but you are not the first one who has requested this. My plan is to make a video on this on the next clear night I have. My weather forecast is looking decent next week, so I hope I will be able to try it out and then a video will follow soon after :)
I have no hands on experience with the Svbony, but they are both APO doublet refractors with similar price tags, so regarding image quality I'm pretty sure the difference is negligible :) The 72ED has an F ratio which is a tiny bit faster, which means you gather slightly more in the same amount of time. So you can expose shorter for the same results, but the difference is so small that I think you won't notice it in practice. It's also slightly lighter (without any accessories like a field flattener or extension tubes).
@@ColinDane sounds cool. Will be waiting for it. By the way, if you could make a video on budget tripods for astrophotography. Like 150€ max? I am looking to buy my first setup and I can't seem to find much info on it. Would you say the rolley 6ci carbon would be suited to mount a ioptron skyguider pro with a telefoto lens or a small refractor? 🤔
@@Psyt0s If you want to use a tracker I would go for a nice sturdy tripod instead of paying extra to get a carbon one. You're much better off buying an aluminum tripod for the same price. A nice example for under 150 eu would be the Benro TMA27A MACH3. Its carbon counterpart is double the price. The only downsides are that aluminum is slightly heavier and colder to the touch during cold nights. Hope this helps :)
No problem George :) The one I used for imaging is the is the SkyWatcher HEQ5 Pro, but the one I've mounted the telescope on at my desk is the SkyWatcher Star Adventurer. The Star Adventurer is really pushing it's limits when trying to image with this telescope, I wouldn't recommend getting that mount just to use it with this telescope, but you could give that a try if you happen to have one already. It's just very sensitive to vibrations in the ground and (small) gusts of wind.
It is possible but it will be hard to balance, especially if you also decide to get the field flattener. If you get an extended dovetail for the telescope - so you can mount it close to the camera - then balance shouldn’t be as much of a problem :)
can I use this scope to take wide shots of smaller galaxies like M51 or M104? I've got an ASI585MC pro, and I'm into capturing those wide-angle views of galaxies
I think it's very feasible if you're looking for wider field shots. I'd suggest having a look at the Telescopius website, you can enter you camera and telescope specification and check the framing of your target with the setup you have in mind, really helpful website!
Hi John, getting into focus with a DSLR is not that hard, especially when you use focus aides like a Bahtinov mask for example. Using a bright star or planet in the centre might be necessary depending on the sensitivity of your DSLR. Only downside without using a field flattener is that the curved focal plane will cause the edges of the image lose focus, this is more visible with full frame sensors compared to APS-C sensors. Hope this helps!
I don't know if you already have it but where can you attach a 2" filter if you screw the field flattener to the telescope and the camera to the field flattener?
Hi Sergio, I’ve bought the field flattener a few weeks ago, and will soon be posting the video about it. However, I don’t own a 2 inch filter so I haven’t checked how to attach one. The flattener screws directly into the drawtube of the telescope, I think this is a 2 inch thread as well, so it might fit in between the flattener and the drawtube, but this is just a hunch. I am currently traveling so I’m not able to check for you. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help!
Hi, Thanks for the rgeat review. May I ask you what do you think of the combo star adventurer / evostar 72ED. I read quite a lot that the 72ED is too heavy for the star adventurer. I would like to start astrophotography and I am looking for an easy to use nomad set I could bring outside in the nature to take pictures of DSO combine with a canon 6d. Would you recommand this combo for a beginner? Thanks a lot.
Hi Francois! I misplaced the counterweight bar for my Star Adventurer, but I have on ordered, just waiting for it to be in stock, which can take a while due to the COVID stuff, already waiting for three weeks at the moment :( But I am very curious about this as well, and will be trying this out as soon as I get my replacement counterweight bar. I think it is possible with good balancing and a decent polar alignment, and I have seen other people use that setup. I just don’t know how much effort it will take to get everything up and running, but I will be testing this soon, just not sure exactly when. It was one of the reasons I bought this scope in the first place, because if this works then I can run two rigs at the same time :)
I personally wouldn't put the 72ED on any Star Tracker. Be it iOptron or Skywatcher. But this is certainly intriguing. If you can stretch your budget. Looking at a Ronikon/Samyang 135mm lens will be ideal.
@@Andromeda4482 I wouldn't normally use focal lengths above 200mm either, but I've seen people use comparable setups before and I already have the gear so why not try it out. Received the counterweight last week, I'm just waiting for a clear night now :) That lens has been on my wishlist for a while as well, but I've been thinking about buying a new camera so I'm not sure yet which mounting I want on the lens. Thanks for your input!
@@ColinDane I just ordered mine. Sadly. Will be waiting weeks. Becuase they aren't stocked in the UK. But this is going to be my first tracked setup. And it will need to last me. As I want to buy a full setup using a scope and a Skywatcher EQ6. But thanks for the video!
great choice, I'm sure the lens and the SWSA will last you. Even when you have the full setup you will probably find yourself using it a lot on the side :)
Hey Colin: I have the same scope but I cannot remove the accessory holder in order to screw a field rotator an flattener/reducer directly on the focuser... it is very hard and cannot unscrew: have you had the same problem the first time? How do you suggest me to proceed in order to successfully (and safely) remove it? Thank you
Hello Alessandro, if I recall correctly I also had the feeling it was stuck. I remember googling if it was supposed to come loose or if that would break it. In the end I managed to screw it off. One thing you could try if you don't want to use force is using a hair dryer to heat it up a little; this will expand the metal more compared to the plastic parts which in turn should make the accessory holder become less stuck.
Indeed, the hobby isn’t cheap, but taking into consideration the disadvantages of many cheaper telescopes, that makes this one of the best value for money options out there. Don’t forget you also need a motorized tripod head if you want to take deep sky images, which also come at a price :p
extremely difficult to get planetary images with this scope, I've had to use so many various ways to extend the back draw to get focus , and the wide field leaves Saturn looking like the head of a pin .. But i still like it
Yeah, telescopes of this focal length aren't geared towards planetary imaging. I'll probably stick with the 127mm Mak from my 127 SLT for planetary even if there will be more chromatic aberration.
Thanks for watching! Recently uploaded a new video with a bunch of images taken with this telescope and the flattener -> ua-cam.com/video/-6hrL5F-tdU/v-deo.html You can also follow me on instagram -> instagram.com/colin.dane/
I think that the sensor of the ASI533 is small enough to be able to image without much notable distortion in your imaging plane. However, that camera has quite a tight field of view, so you might want to add it to reduce the focal length and add therefore be able to image a slightly bigger portion of the sky. In the end it's a personal preference, if you think spending the extra money is worth it for your results, then go for it. If you doubt it's worth the money, then just leave it and maybe decide later on to get it.
Hi Owen, the threading on the drawtube of the focuser is M54, so you could use a M54 to M48 adapter for example. You might still need some more length to be able to reach focus if you are not using the field flattener though. Hope this helps!
@@ColinDane Subbed. Thanks for replying Colin. How did you connect the scope to the camera then? Also can you tell me about the back focus distance required? Mine is a sony crop sensor.
@@Joshroses You connect the camera to the telescope with a so called T2 adapter, these are often not that expensive. Sony cameras have quite a short flange focal distance of 18 mm (distance from the camera sensor to it's lens-mounting system) so you will need some sort of T2 extension tube as well, which are not very expensive either. My DSLR has a 44mm flange distance and for me I was able to achieve focus with a 50mm extension, but your Sony's flange focal distance is 26mm shorter so you might need an extension up to 80mm. At 8:40 you can see my astronomy camera, which needed even more distance. You can see the 50mm extension tube on the top, but I had not other extension tubes so I used other adapters instead to increase the distance. Hope this helps :)
I believe I initially used a backfocus of 54mm, which wasn’t sufficient. I honestly don’t know what I ended up using from the combination of the Canon lens adapter and the Canon T2 ring. I’ll check if I can measure this tomorrow and get back at you once I got the numbers
Thanks for sharing. I got the chance to view a rocket launch in 2018. Memorable experience. I posted a pretty fun montage of the journey to my channel.
Appreciate reviews and showing the resulting images are great and only watch those. Thanks you channel is one of my go to channels
Unfortunately, they weren't truthful about that "aluminium" case. The panels are some sort of dense cardboard, painted over to make it appear metallic. Put my scope in sideways, and it tore through the backside.
I didn’t know, I haven’t really had any issues with the case. Did you find any good alternative in case someone might want to get one? Or are you still using the supplied one regardless?
@@ColinDane Still using the original, I mostly shoot in my backyard. It still holds together, but there are some tears in the backside. Looking to upgrade to something larger though, so I can fit more gear. The included box is just a tad too small, and I rather not have my eyepieces rattle around knocking against the OTA. They sell these type of boxes in various sizes, and with actual aluminium side panels. I'll probably end up laser cutting my own foam for the inside.
I just bought the same telescope ( Aug 2024) with lots of extras on eBay for $445 after taxes. It included the case, Flat field .8x flattner, Apertura Dew heater, 40mm camera adapter and a couple more accessories. I think it was a good deal indeed!!! it’s my turn how to use it and take pics with it! Any advice is very welcome. Thanks for sharing!
WoW, great images.
Thanks!
Nice work. Nice looking optical tube. Just subscribed.
Thanks! :)
Great Video..I Have This Scope With The Evoguide On The Eqm35Pro..Getting Ready To Pair It With The Player One Neptune C ii
I have this 72 ED. Trying to use Celestron 2 inch pieces with the 2” Mirror Diagonal. Celestron kit actually. Problem is, when I attempt to focus in on anything up there, I run out of focus tube ability. It's like my scope needs another inch of tube travel. What do I need? Hate to only use 1.25 pieces, unless that is great enough. Oh, ditto with the 120 scope. It sort of was defective in that the focuser didn't always move the tube. Sent it back, sadly. Kept this 72. Hoping for the best.
Those shots you got look pretty good and is they are better than average! I've just ordered the telescope for it's portability and it can fit into backpack as I'm searching for dark sky sites in highlands of Scotland as I live in light polluted area. I know the Cairngorms national park has alot of areas where it's very dark. What camera settings you use to get shots? You'll get alot better with telescope the more you use and you'll get the shots you want! Keep up the good shots!!!
Thanks! Portability was also one of my main reasons for purchasing this telescope, the case was a really nice addition for it. I use a tracker for my shots and with my DSLR I usually shoot at ISO800, sometimes I up it to 1600. Usually 2 minute subframes but for some less bright targets I might increase this up to 5 min. Have fun with the telescope!
Could you also make videos about how to photoshop or use astrophotography program after taking pictures please? :))
I’ve been a bit busy lately (a lot of overtime on work due to COVID) but I’m planning to make a tutorial series as soon as I have the time for it, with different pieces of software :)
Good evening Mr. Colin Dane, first of all congratulations on the really nice and exhaustive video, could I please ask you a question? Have you ever taken astronomical photos with the skywatcher evostar and 72/420 apo mounted on the star adventurer? If so, how many seconds can you chase without having the micromox? Thank you very much for your cooperation
Hello Sauro, I have not yet taken images with the telescope on the SWSA yet, but you are not the first one who has requested this. My plan is to make a video on this on the next clear night I have. My weather forecast is looking decent next week, so I hope I will be able to try it out and then a video will follow soon after :)
@@ColinDane Ok thank you very much to the next
Great review!! Do you think this is better then the Svbony503 70ED ? I can't decide between these two seams so simillar :-??
I have no hands on experience with the Svbony, but they are both APO doublet refractors with similar price tags, so regarding image quality I'm pretty sure the difference is negligible :)
The 72ED has an F ratio which is a tiny bit faster, which means you gather slightly more in the same amount of time. So you can expose shorter for the same results, but the difference is so small that I think you won't notice it in practice. It's also slightly lighter (without any accessories like a field flattener or extension tubes).
@@ColinDane thank you! Then I just go with the cheapest one :D cheers
Dont stop making videos!!! :)
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it! :)
Currently working on a new video about my trip to Tenerife, I hope to finish it soon!
@@ColinDane sounds cool. Will be waiting for it.
By the way, if you could make a video on budget tripods for astrophotography. Like 150€ max? I am looking to buy my first setup and I can't seem to find much info on it. Would you say the rolley 6ci carbon would be suited to mount a ioptron skyguider pro with a telefoto lens or a small refractor? 🤔
@@Psyt0s If you want to use a tracker I would go for a nice sturdy tripod instead of paying extra to get a carbon one. You're much better off buying an aluminum tripod for the same price.
A nice example for under 150 eu would be the Benro TMA27A MACH3. Its carbon counterpart is double the price. The only downsides are that aluminum is slightly heavier and colder to the touch during cold nights. Hope this helps :)
Hi thanks for the video :) I'm going to get one. What mount is that?
No problem George :) The one I used for imaging is the is the SkyWatcher HEQ5 Pro, but the one I've mounted the telescope on at my desk is the SkyWatcher Star Adventurer. The Star Adventurer is really pushing it's limits when trying to image with this telescope, I wouldn't recommend getting that mount just to use it with this telescope, but you could give that a try if you happen to have one already. It's just very sensitive to vibrations in the ground and (small) gusts of wind.
Is it safe to mount this telescope on an ioptron sky guider pro with a small guiding setup plus a DSLR, will it be within the weight limit?
It is possible but it will be hard to balance, especially if you also decide to get the field flattener.
If you get an extended dovetail for the telescope - so you can mount it close to the camera - then balance shouldn’t be as much of a problem :)
Hey . I am very new on the subject I just wanted to know if this scope and Nikon D3100 can work on a Skywatcher Star Adventurer 2i Wi-Fi .
can I use this scope to take wide shots of smaller galaxies like M51 or M104? I've got an ASI585MC pro, and I'm into capturing those wide-angle views of galaxies
I think it's very feasible if you're looking for wider field shots. I'd suggest having a look at the Telescopius website, you can enter you camera and telescope specification and check the framing of your target with the setup you have in mind, really helpful website!
Great review of this scope Colin. You covered allot of good technical points. How is it for focus with a DSLR attached?
Hi John, getting into focus with a DSLR is not that hard, especially when you use focus aides like a Bahtinov mask for example. Using a bright star or planet in the centre might be necessary depending on the sensitivity of your DSLR. Only downside without using a field flattener is that the curved focal plane will cause the edges of the image lose focus, this is more visible with full frame sensors compared to APS-C sensors. Hope this helps!
I don't know if you already have it but where can you attach a 2" filter if you screw the field flattener to the telescope and the camera to the field flattener?
Hi Sergio, I’ve bought the field flattener a few weeks ago, and will soon be posting the video about it. However, I don’t own a 2 inch filter so I haven’t checked how to attach one. The flattener screws directly into the drawtube of the telescope, I think this is a 2 inch thread as well, so it might fit in between the flattener and the drawtube, but this is just a hunch. I am currently traveling so I’m not able to check for you. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help!
@@ColinDane No problem, thanks anyway. I'll wait to see your video and try to figure out where to fit it😅
The tripod on your Sky Adventurer looks interesting. What is it?
It's Sky-Watchers own tripod dedicated for the Star Adventurer :)
www.skywatcherusa.com/products/star-adventurer-tripod
Hi,
Thanks for the rgeat review. May I ask you what do you think of the combo star adventurer / evostar 72ED. I read quite a lot that the 72ED is too heavy for the star adventurer. I would like to start astrophotography and I am looking for an easy to use nomad set I could bring outside in the nature to take pictures of DSO combine with a canon 6d. Would you recommand this combo for a beginner? Thanks a lot.
Hi Francois! I misplaced the counterweight bar for my Star Adventurer, but I have on ordered, just waiting for it to be in stock, which can take a while due to the COVID stuff, already waiting for three weeks at the moment :( But I am very curious about this as well, and will be trying this out as soon as I get my replacement counterweight bar. I think it is possible with good balancing and a decent polar alignment, and I have seen other people use that setup. I just don’t know how much effort it will take to get everything up and running, but I will be testing this soon, just not sure exactly when. It was one of the reasons I bought this scope in the first place, because if this works then I can run two rigs at the same time :)
I personally wouldn't put the 72ED on any Star Tracker. Be it iOptron or Skywatcher.
But this is certainly intriguing. If you can stretch your budget. Looking at a Ronikon/Samyang 135mm lens will be ideal.
@@Andromeda4482 I wouldn't normally use focal lengths above 200mm either, but I've seen people use comparable setups before and I already have the gear so why not try it out. Received the counterweight last week, I'm just waiting for a clear night now :)
That lens has been on my wishlist for a while as well, but I've been thinking about buying a new camera so I'm not sure yet which mounting I want on the lens. Thanks for your input!
@@ColinDane I just ordered mine. Sadly. Will be waiting weeks. Becuase they aren't stocked in the UK.
But this is going to be my first tracked setup. And it will need to last me. As I want to buy a full setup using a scope and a Skywatcher EQ6.
But thanks for the video!
great choice, I'm sure the lens and the SWSA will last you. Even when you have the full setup you will probably find yourself using it a lot on the side :)
Do you think this scope is good with altaz mount for EAA live stacking?
Hey Colin: I have the same scope but I cannot remove the accessory holder in order to screw a field rotator an flattener/reducer directly on the focuser... it is very hard and cannot unscrew: have you had the same problem the first time? How do you suggest me to proceed in order to successfully (and safely) remove it? Thank you
Hello Alessandro, if I recall correctly I also had the feeling it was stuck. I remember googling if it was supposed to come loose or if that would break it. In the end I managed to screw it off.
One thing you could try if you don't want to use force is using a hair dryer to heat it up a little; this will expand the metal more compared to the plastic parts which in turn should make the accessory holder become less stuck.
This telescope comes with 2inch to 1.25inch adapter for regular size eyepieces or diagonals?
i want this setup also. 72ED with a DSLR :D
well DSLR i already have. An Canon 60D and a gitzo Tripod. The 72ED are so horrible expensive
Indeed, the hobby isn’t cheap, but taking into consideration the disadvantages of many cheaper telescopes, that makes this one of the best value for money options out there.
Don’t forget you also need a motorized tripod head if you want to take deep sky images, which also come at a price :p
@@ColinDane Ye will be an AZ GTI in EQ mode or an Sky Adventurer.
Im deciding whether if i should buy it or not hmm
Pretty decent results? You are too modest, sure you pointed out some imperfections, but that image is gorgeous and that’s the key thing that matters
Thanks, much appreciated! I’m always more critical of my own work so I can keep growing :)
extremely difficult to get planetary images with this scope, I've had to use so many various ways to extend the back draw to get focus , and the wide field leaves Saturn looking like the head of a pin .. But i still like it
Wouldn’t planets be easier to focus on.?
Yeah, telescopes of this focal length aren't geared towards planetary imaging. I'll probably stick with the 127mm Mak from my 127 SLT for planetary even if there will be more chromatic aberration.
Have you tried 3 mm telescopic glasses with 140x magnification?
colin was your camera astromoded?
Hey Jerry, I have not modded the DSLR, but I did use the Astronomik CLS clip in filter to suppress some of the light pollution I have to deal with.
Thanks for watching!
Recently uploaded a new video with a bunch of images taken with this telescope and the flattener -> ua-cam.com/video/-6hrL5F-tdU/v-deo.html
You can also follow me on instagram -> instagram.com/colin.dane/
Do you think a reducer would be needed for a ASI533 1" Sensor?
I think that the sensor of the ASI533 is small enough to be able to image without much notable distortion in your imaging plane.
However, that camera has quite a tight field of view, so you might want to add it to reduce the focal length and add therefore be able to image a slightly bigger portion of the sky.
In the end it's a personal preference, if you think spending the extra money is worth it for your results, then go for it.
If you doubt it's worth the money, then just leave it and maybe decide later on to get it.
How can you attach a 2-inch filter to it without a field flattener?
Hi Owen, the threading on the drawtube of the focuser is M54, so you could use a M54 to M48 adapter for example. You might still need some more length to be able to reach focus if you are not using the field flattener though. Hope this helps!
Was all these shot using prime focus then?
Yes, both these images are shot using prime focus, one with a crop sensor DSLR and one with the ZWO ASI 1600MM-Pro.
@@ColinDane Subbed. Thanks for replying Colin. How did you connect the scope to the camera then? Also can you tell me about the back focus distance required? Mine is a sony crop sensor.
@@Joshroses You connect the camera to the telescope with a so called T2 adapter, these are often not that expensive. Sony cameras have quite a short flange focal distance of 18 mm (distance from the camera sensor to it's lens-mounting system) so you will need some sort of T2 extension tube as well, which are not very expensive either. My DSLR has a 44mm flange distance and for me I was able to achieve focus with a 50mm extension, but your Sony's flange focal distance is 26mm shorter so you might need an extension up to 80mm.
At 8:40 you can see my astronomy camera, which needed even more distance.
You can see the 50mm extension tube on the top, but I had not other extension tubes so I used other adapters instead to increase the distance.
Hope this helps :)
How far did you back focus on your 1600
I believe I initially used a backfocus of 54mm, which wasn’t sufficient. I honestly don’t know what I ended up using from the combination of the Canon lens adapter and the Canon T2 ring. I’ll check if I can measure this tomorrow and get back at you once I got the numbers
@@ColinDane ok I'm using the zwo 533 and have 55mm on cam but I think I need another 55 or 60mm for back focus not for sure and dont know what to get
Recomended flatteners?
I use the dedicated x0.85 flattener made by SkyWatcher, does a good job :) haven’t tried others so can’t give you any further advise
How much cost your full setup with this telescope?
Waaaaaaayyy too expensive for a (less than) 3" telescope, especially when you need to buy accessories to get it to perform properly.
@@tonymaguire6475 yeah its a lot cheaper when u doing obervation astronomy and not photography.
@@tonymaguire6475 but the expensive thing is the glas.
Thanks for sharing. I got the chance to view a rocket launch in 2018. Memorable experience. I posted a pretty fun montage of the journey to my channel.
why are you so annoying?
@@mikebenengtouncry3613 he's like all around telescope vids... very annoying
@@astrocactus4097 ikrrr just self promoting. what a faker
@@mikebenengtouncry3613 exactly! How does he have over 600 subs!
@@astrocactus4097 bots
You sound dutch.
you are correct :)
Get a clip on mic
Got one now :) thanks for the feedback!