Skywatcher Viewmax 127


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Brand and Model:Skywatcher Viewmax 127
Price ($USD):£430.00
Type:Maksutov-Cassegrain
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:127mm (5.1")
f Ratio:f/12.1
Focal Length:1560mm
Finder:6x30
Electric Power:optional
Mount:EQ3/2
Tripod:Aluminium
Weight (lbs):OTA 9 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:For the serious astronomer who values performance and quality optics but wants portability and easy set-up, the Viewmax 127 EQ is ideal. Credit its light-folding Maksutov-Cassegrain optical design and big 127mm (5") aperture for delivering high-resolution imaging performance in a tube only 14.5" long! And with the included EQ-3 equatorial mount providing more than ample support for high-magnification study, this telescope will turn a stargazing pastime into a passion.

The Viewmax 127 EQ will quickly become the most frequently used telescope you’ll ever own!

Vote Highlights Vote
Skywatcher Viewmax 127
Excelente para planetaria, deja mucho que desear para cielo profundo por su focal larga.

Overall Rating: 7
Optics:8 Mount:6 Ease of Use:6 Value:7
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=599664


Skywatcher Viewmax 127
I bought my Viewmax in March and have used it frequently since. When compared to an ETX125 or Celestron C5, it represents incredible value. What you pay for this scope will only buy an ETX90RA. If visual use is the only purpose, then perhaps a large dobsonian represents better value.
The build quality is impressive, the little scope feels solid and very well made. And its physically very small, so should prove a good scope for holidays. It's also relatively light and on the supplied EQ5 (I paid for the upgrade from EQ3/2), it is rock steady. Mine didn't come with the Red Dot EZ finder pictured above but instead your typical 6x30 job and I quickly replaced it with an Antares 9x50 right angle finder. The supplied eyepiece's are 25mm and 10mm plossls, which aren't too bad. Although I won't be using them much, as I already have a mixture of better eyepeices. The diagonal is also satisfactory but I wouldn't mind replacing it with a Tele Vue 1.25" Everbright. Overall a good package!

Performance
A mixed bag here. Lets get the deep sky done first as it won't take long. Useless! That just about sums up it's deep sky capabilities. 5" aperture and f12.1 focal ratio are not the recipe for a good deep sky experience. There's not enough FOV for open clusters or large objects like M31. And there's not enough light gathering power for viewing fainter objects or resolving globular clusters. A good job I didn't buy it for this role.
On the Moon and planets its whole different story. The Moon is awesome and on nights of good seeing, the magnification can really be cranked up (400x +). The planets are sharp and show a good amount of detail, more than I was expecting from a 5". One thing of note here is the focuser. The mechanism is the same as an SCT, whereby the primary mirror is moved to focus, but it works far better than any Meade (LX10, LX90, LX200) or Celestron (Celestar 8, Nexstar 8i) I have used. Zero image shift, no mirror slop. The focus is dead smooth and images just snap into focus. When I recently observed Mars the Polar cap and surface markings were easily seen. Of course top performance from this scope, as with any MCT or SCT, is hugely dependent on proper cool down time. I reckon a couple of hours with one of these. The good views of Mars were obtained after leaving the scope out all night. I tried observing Jupiter after 45mins cooling and the view was appalling.

To sum up:

Pro's - Superb on the Moon and Planets. Great for imaging the Moon and Planets. Small, light and portable. Excellent build, great focuser and nice accessories. Good price when compared to ETX and C5. Doesn't overstress the EQ3/2 or EQ5. Comfortable to view through, no funny angles as with an F10 refractor.

Con's - terrible deep sky performance. Very narrow field of view. Poor light gathering ability. Very long cool down time. More bang for the buck with a dobsonian if photography isn't on the cards.

Bottom line - This a great planetary scope, which is well made and very portable. It won't overstress any mount and is rock steady on an EQ5. However if deep sky is your thing, then avoid this telescope. Or do as I did and buy a second rich field telescope (Orion ST120 F5 refractor) to satisfy the wide field observing.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:9 Mount:9 Ease of Use:9 Value:10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=264742


Skywatcher Viewmax 127
I posted a review on this scope under the StarMax 127 after owning the scope for a couple of months.

Two years on.
The optics remain the best one point about this scope. No colour. Some scattered light. pin point sharp. Can chek out some images here.
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/smallscope/

Its robust. I've had it in bits, knocked it, dropped it and generally abused it. But I havent broke it YET !

Collmination is not so difficult and one done sticks I've only ever had to collminate the scope three times once when I bought it and twice when I took it apart.

Focusing is smooth and acurate. I added a bigger section with a plastic lid with a whole cut into to slip over the main knob. Critical focus is easy nothing vauge about it.

Like most blackned surface in cheap telescopes there is some internal glare I might flock mine to see if it will make any difference.

Doesnt perform on visual deep sky but is good for astrophotgraphy sharp colour free optics. Needs a good tracking mount for this mind. Globulars are a bit of a disapointment needs more resolving power.

Planets and moon are great doubles are fantastic colour again.

Personally I think an EQ3/2 on a pedastal will perform better than an EQ5 on a tripod. This is a high power scope with a small FOV to much vibration in my EQ5 with the tubular legs.

A sound purchase on either and EQ3 or EQ5. Planets moon doubles great, Bright deep sky OK, Astrophotgraphy would be great as long as you can guide your mount.

After two years I'm ready for an upgrade I think it will be

Overall Rating: 6
Optics:7 Mount:4 Ease of Use:7 Value:7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=366860

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