Helios Apollo 150


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Brand and Model:Helios Apollo 150
Price ($USD):$499 (£375 uk)
Type:Newtonian
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:150mm (5.9")
f Ratio:f/6.7
Focal Length:1000mm
Finder:6x30
Electric Power:Not standard
Mount:EQ3 Equatorial
Tripod:Alloy
Weight (lbs):39 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):Same as C150-HD
Description:This telescope appears with a few different brand names on the market. It is identical to the Celestron C150-HD and the Konusuper 150. The Bresser Pollux, however, has a slighly different secondary mirror arrangement.



This is currently the best sold telescope in the UK (according to Dark Star Telescopes) It is very compact for a 150mm Newtonian (catadioptric), the tube assembly is only about 23" long. The "short tube" design has been achieved by a unique secondary mirror arrangement which includes a wide aperture field flattener which is located in the light path between primary and secondary mirros.



Standard equipment includes: 10mm Plossl, 20mm Plossl, 2x barlow, QE3 equatorial mount with polar alignment scope, Alloy tripod with tray.



Optional equipment: single (RA only) or dual axis motor drives ($200, £140 uk)

Vote Highlights Vote
Helios Apollo 150
My first serious scope. Very good. Provides excellent deep sky views. Easy to use, and documentation is good. An excellent first serious scope

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:8 Mount:8 Ease of Use:8 Value:9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=59574


Helios Apollo 150
It has taken a long time to decide which scope to buy. I did not want to spend too much, and I wanted something that I can take with me. After receiving plenty of advice I decided to buy the scope from Dark Star telescopes (+44 (0) 1686 420346).

The scope is easy to set up and gives very pleasing images. I was, however, not exceptionally pleased with it in the beginning. I decided to check the collimation, which appeard to be out. The Apollo is very not easy to collimate, but I was assured by Dark Star that they are hardly ever out of collimation. However, the results of some hours work in the back garden during some good seeing were very good, the images have greatly improved and are now very acceptable.

The mount is sound, with little flexing (only from the tripod). The vibrations dampen in about 2-3 seconds.

The optional drives I bought are expensive and give a lot of problems. Only after making a special bracket, buying an optional part from RS components, and some adjustments to the worms, I managed to get tracking down to an art.

So, some work was required, but the results are very good.

Maarten de Vries
maarten@spacegazer.com

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41042

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