|
Hi,
I have the "Black Diamond" Skywatcher 127mm Maksutov with an EQ3 GEM. I'm a complete beginner so I can't compare it with others but I can tell you a little about it.
I reckon you are better off with a GEM mount rather than an Alt/Az. When you have the planets focused in at high magnifications you want to keep the fiddling and wobbling to a minimum. With a GEM if it's polar aligned you only need to gently turn the RA slow motion control. Also you can step away and go get another eyepiece change it and then just dial back the RA to get the planet back in your view. With an Alt/Az that probably won't be as painless.
Also, although many people don't use them as they aren't super accurate, I find the setting circles on the GEM useful to help me find objects or to take a note of where I am in the sky. Also they are useful in heavily light polluted areas where there are less guide stars to help you find your position.
The BD 127mm Mak only comes with a 2" 28mm "long eye relief" eyepiece so you will need to get a few short ones for the planets and even a longer one for bigger objects. The 28mm (0.928 degrees) is nice but it doesn't fit many objects in, eg. the Southern Pleidades and other Carina goodies. I've got a 10mm, 12mm, 15mm and a 1.25" 2x Barlow . This gives me 99x, 123x, 148x (the 2" 28mm gives me 54x) and when Barlowed 198x, 246x, 296x.
I've had Saturn on 246x quite often and it was a crisp view (It's a shame the rings are 'side on' at the moment). The stated maximum useful magnification is 250x but I've used the 10mm Barlowed, for fun, and it was acceptable. At very high magnifications there is noticeable image shift when focusing, a common SCT/MCT problem which is annoying and tempting me to get a Crayford style focuser at some point.
From what I've read in other reviews the 127mm Mak is a very popular all rounder and has been compared favourably with similar sized refractors (although I'm certain the image isn't as bright as a refractor) on the "Cloudy Nights" forum quite a few people regretted getting rid of their 5" Maks or said it was one of their favuorites in their collection.
So far I've only looked at Saturn, Jupiter (both look great) and a few well knowns, Eta Carinae, Jewel Box, Omega Centauri, a few other doubles etc.
We've just moved and I haven't figured out how to switch off the security light (long story) in the garden so I'm stuck to the south and the eastern horizon. The light pollution is quite bad low so I'm stuck to the high south for the time being. Omega Centauri was a bit disappointing, it's very dull and isn't much better in brightness than my 10x50's binos. With averted vision and the 15mm Plossl I can make out some stars but it's more like a grey cloudy blob. I'm not sure what to expect from a 5" aperture in the light polluted suburbs.
I got this scope to pull out on those nice nights when you feel like having a bit of a look, and when you go camping. Instead I'm out every night there is a gap in the clouds this hobby is taking up a lot of my free time!
As I said before, I can't compare with other scopes and I'm very new to this but feel free to ask me any questions and I'll see if I can answer them.
|