New Skywatcher "Equinox" range - very nice.

[Omaroo]

These new scopes from Skywatcher look very nice indeed. Their APO optics have always, reputedly, been very good but their mechanical nastiness (after owning one) has always let them down IMHO. Now they have taken the lead from Long Perng and William Optics so it seems.

Cheers
Chris

http://www.sky-watcher.net/swtinc/product.php?class1=1&class2=101


EQUINOX 66 OTA
D: 66 mm F: 400mm
(http://www.sky-watcher.net/swtinc/product.php?id=28&class1=1&class2=101)

EQUINOX 80 OTA
D: 80mm F: 500mm
(http://www.sky-watcher.net/swtinc/product.php?id=29&class1=1&class2=101)

EQUINOX 100 OTA
D: 100mm F: 900mm
(http://www.sky-watcher.net/swtinc/product.php?id=124&class1=1&class2=101)

EQUINOX 120 OTA
D: 120mm F: 900mm (http://www.sky-watcher.net/swtinc/product.php?id=123&class1=1&class2=101)

[iceman]

Have you ordered 2 yet, Chris? :D

What sort of price bracket will they come in at?

[Omaroo]

LOL! Not yet Mike. I am now going to wait a bit, though, before I go ahead and order a William Optics FLT132 as this 120ED may fit the bill if it's competitively priced. I think that these new Skywatchers are going to give W.O. a run for their money - and will probably force W.O. to move even further up-market if they want to maintain a differentiator. After having the little W.O. Petzvals for a little while now, I'm an absolute convert to the heavier, machined alloy OTA/crayford design. They're just a beautiful thing to hold.... and the optics aren't bad either. I had the 66mm out for first light in dark-ish skies the other night at the Oaks and its views were fabulous for such a small scope. I guess that the 120ED will be substantially heavier than the current design.

Price? Haven't heard yet.....

Cheers
Chris

[leon]

Well Chris, I hope they are better than the Skywatcher ED80 I bought two weeks ago, sadly disappointed, however it was not the model you are showing.

Leon

[Omaroo]

Wow Leon! What don't you like about it? I must say that I'm dissapointed with my new Saxon (Synta) 120mm as it's mechanically..well...challenged. The focuser is awful as is the fit and finish of everything. Cheap though.....

[leon]

You Got it first go Chris, the focuser is crap and the and finishing is crap, but it is only going to be a finder scope so i suppose i can live with it, it was brand new as well.
That is why i posted a thread asking if all brands of ED 80 were the same a little while ago.
Leon

[casstony]

Equinox is a tad more expensive, the 80mm is $1550 at http://www.myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-068

Hmm....googled it - $1049 at http://www.kirkscameras.com.au//component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,1233/category_id,111/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,26/

I guess the prices will take a while to settle down.

[leon]

Well they reckon that the Orion ED 80,and this Sky Watcher are the same, and only painted different, well i can assure the Orion I had, which I hastily sold, :screwy: would run rings around this one, and dosn't come close as being the same.

leon :thumbsup:

[matt]

Yes. Shop around.