Skywatcher EVOLUX line

that_guy (Tony) · #1 07-02-2020, 06:37 PM

Skywatcher just announced a new line of ultra wide portable refractors.

The two that were announced is the 61ED f/6.5 and the 82ED f/6.4.

The prices are $750 and $1499 accordingly.

Link to the site here: 61ED and 82ED.

The dedicated reducer/flattener they talk about are $499 (confirmed by skywatcher staff). the 61ED looks interesting but if its anything like all the other 60ish ED doublets, it won't be useable without a flattener. Whether or not you want to opt for the VERY over priced skywatcher dedicated flattener or go for a third party will depend purely on your wallet size.

In my opinion, there's no point in getting the 82ED and flattener for $1500 + 500 when you can get an ESPRIT 80ED for a few hundred bucks more and you get a triplet f5 system with a better build and optics.

The one thing that's been drawing all the astronomers to skywatcher is that their prices have always been competitive. Now, I'm not so sure.

anj026 · #2 07-02-2020, 08:00 PM

Prices will probably be less once in the hands of the dealers for a few months.

that_guy (Tony) · #3 08-02-2020, 04:27 PM

Looks like astroanarchy has an introductory price.

Premordial (Max) · #4 08-02-2020, 07:43 PM

The Aussie ruble exchange rate is also not helping at the moment...

ab1963 (Andrew) · #5 08-02-2020, 10:12 PM

I am pretty sure that they have Rack and Pinion focusers which is a massive move forward from those nasty things on the BD100/80 etc.....

anj026 · #6 08-02-2020, 10:36 PM

Andrews has them discounted already but not available until April.

Ukastronomer (Jeremy) · #7 08-02-2020, 10:47 PM

Ok what IS the difference between the Evolux and Esprit apart from a name change ???? !!!!

ab1963 (Andrew) · #8 08-02-2020, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ukastronomer

Ok what IS the difference between the Evolux and Esprit apart from a name change ???? !!!!

Evolux are doublets and Esprit is a triplet there's one huge difference there

that_guy (Tony) · #9 08-02-2020, 11:12 PM

The focal length is also different. Shorter than the BD ED line but longer than the esprit

Ukastronomer (Jeremy) · #10 09-02-2020, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ab1963

Evolux are doublets and Esprit is a triplet there's one huge difference there

Prat, that will teach me to read

Thanks

gregbradley · #11 09-02-2020, 09:16 AM

New ED glass is nice and vague. So not FPL53 or FPL55 otherwise they would promote that probably.

It looks like an evolution of the ED80. I like the green.

Greg.

Camelopardalis (Dunk) · #12 09-02-2020, 09:56 PM

Yeah I’d be bagging an Esprit 80 about now

Ukastronomer (Jeremy) · #13 09-02-2020, 11:36 PM

For the price surely the Esprit Triplet is better

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/esp...o-triplet.html

Also they never said what glass is in the 72mm ED I have same here, why ????

.

ab1963 (Andrew) · #14 10-02-2020, 12:36 AM

[QUOTE=Ukastronomer;1462420]For the price surely the Esprit Triplet is better

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/esp...o-triplet.html

Also they never said what glass is in the 72mm ED I have same here, why

????

You have to compare the Evolux 82mm f6.4 480mm with a Esprit 80mm f5 400mm, Build will be better as should the optics be in the Esprit i would think but the Evolux will make a better dual scope being at f6.4 even though an 80mm refractor is better suited at f7+ IMO for visual , Esprit is $1,000 more and there seems to be no talk whatsoever about glass used in the Evolux.
Will be interesting to see comments on the Evolux from both sides of the hobby.....

The_bluester (Paul) · #15 10-02-2020, 10:07 AM

Having an Evostar 72 with the "Apochromatic" claim made on it (Originally at least, not sure if their glossy still claims that) I would want to see some raw results before I would buy one, such as some OSC images to see how consistent the focus is across the visible spectrum. Perhaps the reason they are slower than the Evostar line, to help improve in that respect.

I bought the ED72 with my eyes open that I was diving in at the very cheap end of the pool so it does not bother me much that it is an achromat at best, but I have moved on from there having decided that I like imaging at that sort of FL and have a shiny new Stellarvue SVX80T on order that will hopefully ship this week.

RugbyRene (Rene) · #16 10-02-2020, 11:47 AM

I think SW missed a trick with this one. Why would I waste my money on a doublet and flattener when i can spend a bit more and get a Meade 6000 70mm quadruplet?

MortonH · #17 10-02-2020, 12:29 PM

[QUOTE=ab1963;1462423]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ukastronomer

For the price surely the Esprit Triplet is better

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/esp...o-triplet.html

Also they never said what glass is in the 72mm ED I have same here, why

????

You have to compare the Evolux 82mm f6.4 480mm with a Esprit 80mm f5 400mm, Build will be better as should the optics be in the Esprit i would think but the Evolux will make a better dual scope being at f6.4 even though an 80mm refractor is better suited at f7+ IMO for visual , Esprit is $1,000 more and there seems to be no talk whatsoever about glass used in the Evolux.
Will be interesting to see comments on the Evolux from both sides of the hobby.....

Skywatcher's adverts say the Evolux are designed specifically for imaging and yet they are fast doublets with unspecified ED glass. I suspect they won't live up to the marketing but will be interested in the reviews when people start buying them.

ab1963 (Andrew) · #18 10-02-2020, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RugbyRene

I think SW missed a trick with this one. Why would I waste my money on a doublet and flattener when i can spend a bit more and get a Meade 6000 70mm quadruplet?

Good point i have a 65mm quad and i only do visual but it's a fantastic little thing that with a 12.5mm 84deg ep i can get the whole of M42 in the FOV with a perfectly flat field and razor sharp.......

RugbyRene (Rene) · #19 10-02-2020, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ab1963

Good point i have a 65mm quad and i only do visual but it's a fantastic little thing that with a 12.5mm 84deg ep i can get the whole of M42 in the FOV with a perfectly flat field and razor sharp.......

Haven't used a quad yet. Only a triplet (my lovely SW Esprit 100). I'm in the market for one though and it was Trevor Jones' review on YouTube which convinced me.

Rene

ab1963 (Andrew) · #20 10-02-2020, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RugbyRene

Haven't used a quad yet. Only a triplet (my lovely SW Esprit 100). I'm in the market for one though and it was Trevor Jones' review on YouTube which convinced me.

Rene

After looking through the one i have i am thinking a Tak FSQ106 would be the only scope i need there's one in the classifieds i think but just wouldn't be able to convince the wife that i needed one