Skywatcher (RVR Optical)


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Brand and Model:Skywatcher (RVR Optical)
Price ($USD):430
Type:Achromatic Refractor
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:120mm (4.7")
f Ratio:f/8.3
Focal Length:1000mm
Finder:6X30mm
Electric Power:
Mount:N/A
Tripod:
Weight (lbs):lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
Skywatcher (RVR Optical)
I bought just the OTA, but it is a fantastic value, comparable in quality to Celestron and Meade scopes of the same aperture at a much lower price. Holds up nicely to 200X and able to view many DSOs that were too faint for my 80mm Celestron f.5 WA short tube. The Skywatcher has a 2" focuser which allows use of eyepieces that really take advantage of the medium focal length and large (for a refractor) aperture. It works best with a 25 to 40mm Erfle or Plossl. At 200X, it cleanly splits doubles, but exhibits moderate false color on the Moon and bright stars, as might be expected. Excellent value for the money.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40291


Skywatcher (RVR Optical)
I recently purchased this unit as a tube assembly only and use it in tandem with a 2 inch mirror diagonal and several average to above average eyepieces. I mounted it on a CG5 mount with sturdy oak legs that I constructed myself. I have owned several refractors in the past; mainly a Celestron SPC-102, a Telehoon 120mm, and a Photon 127mm. The RVR has them all beat in color correction. It may be due to the coatings or luck of the draw, but only a faint purple halo is visible around bright stars and is hardly noticable unless you look for it. The next best in color correction was the Photon, followed by the Telehoon and the Celestron. In the area of in-focus image sharpness, the RVR is the best, followed by the Telehoon, the Celestron, and the Photon. The RVR is also the best of the four in fit and finish followed by the Celestron and Telehoon with the Photon in last place. Internal baffling is excellent. The star test looks very good inside of focus and soft outside of focus, but this could be due to atmospheric turbulence or temperature variance and I haven't had sufficient opportunity to thoroughly test it under ideal conditions. There is no astigmatism that I can detect; out-of-focus diffraction rings appear perfectly round. There is no evidence of pinched optics. The focuser works smoothly with no flat spots, but is a bit stiff. Image brightness is good and objects appear in sharp focus to the edge of the field. I have not had the opportunity to do planetary observation yet, so I am basing my evaluation on star images only. The size of the OTA is just right, in my opinion. It can be carried outside by one person still attached to the mount. The Celestron and Telehoon OTA's were about the same size, but the Telehoon was much bigger and heavier and therefore was used less. I am sure the 6 inch RVR model does very well also, but they are also bigger and heavier and would probably not get used as often by most observers. They also require a sturdier mount with extra counterweights. In my opinion, the 120mm RVR OTA is an excellent value. It is large enough to show most of what's out there and still small enough to be reasonably portable. Recommended.

Overall Rating: No Vote
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40292

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