Sky Rover Telescopes

avalonastro (Jackson) · #1 06-10-2023, 06:30 PM

Hello everyone, I was recently looking online at Sky Rover Telescopes from Astronomy Alive Melbourne. The seller claims these particular these scopes have triplet japanese fpl 53 optics and are on par with companies such as Astrophysics and Takahashi. Yet I see some significantly similar scopes on chinese websites and it looks like the Sky Rover Brand is Chinese. Can people please tell me if these Sky Rover Telescopes from Astronomy Alive are in fact legit and not the same as the Chinese ones that are advertised for half the price. I just want some clarification as I am new to the hobby before I go spend my hard earned money

tks avalonastro

Atmos (Colin) · #2 06-10-2023, 11:23 PM

Hey Jacob,

I’ve owned two Sky Rover telescopes in the past and I’d say they are good quality but I personally wouldn’t say they’re at the same level as Astrophysics or Takahashi.
They do use FPL53 Japanese glass which Takahashi does along with a dozen other companies. Sky Rover is largely built by Kunming Optics as far as I’m aware which is a Chinese company. Honestly, almost all telescopes these days come from China.

From what I’ve read, a big cost difference can come from the quality of the FPL53 blanks; companies like Astrophysics and Takahashi pay a premium for the higher quality glass. Whether or not Sky Rover is a higher quality line than other Kunming Optics telescopes, I have no idea.

MortonH · #3 06-10-2023, 11:35 PM

Same scopes as on AliExpress, etc. They're good but not premium like AP or Takahashi despite marketing hyperbole.

avalonastro (Jackson) · #4 07-10-2023, 07:34 AM

Ok, thanks for everyone’s replies I appreciate it heaps.
Tks avalonastro

Rainmaker (Matt) · #5 07-10-2023, 08:06 AM

My recommendation is to buy elsewhere and save yourself a lot of $$$

Gabriel.V (Gabriel) · #6 07-10-2023, 10:36 AM

I can tell you for a fact that Sky Rover scopes do not use S-FPL53, but the Chinese equivalent. They are probably the most common brand of scopes sold in China and do produce good images depending on the sample you get, but are certainly not in the same class as true premium brands. What AA is saying is at best deceitful marketing.

For the price, either buy them direct from AliExpress or check out the Sharpstar/Askar scopes which get a lot of great reviews here.

avalonastro (Jackson) · #7 07-10-2023, 12:28 PM

Yes thanks for enlightening me to this fact. However the seller claims he puts in a fully Japanese triplet lens set from canon with Fpl 53.
Is what you’re saying refuting these claims? Am I being deceived by the seller ?
Tks Avalon astro

Gabriel.V (Gabriel) · #8 07-10-2023, 12:51 PM

Yep, the seller is quite infamous in the astronomy community for claiming these sorts of things. It's a miracle he's still in business!

Calling these telescopes "ultra premier Bespoke Hand Crafted Limited Edition" as well as inferring that these are not Chinese scopes on his product pages is just incredible.

Rainmaker (Matt) · #9 07-10-2023, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avalonastro

Yes thanks for enlightening me to this fact. However the seller claims he puts in a fully Japanese triplet lens set from canon with Fpl 53.
Is what you’re saying refuting these claims? Am I being deceived by the seller ?
Tks Avalon astro

Whilst S-FPL53 is also made in China, I doubt that Canon have anything to do with making it. That seller also claimed that he designed the optics for Takahashi and StellarVue scopes etc etc, he is rather loose when it comes down to telling the truth…..

Nikolas (Nik) · #10 07-10-2023, 06:25 PM

This might help you understand about skyrover scopes.

avalonastro (Jackson) · #11 07-10-2023, 07:36 PM

All right everyone, thanks for your advice as I appreciate it so much

.
I have decided to not get a sky rover from Astronomy alive but instead possibly a Tak fc100dc or df or dz from first light optics.
Does anyone have any of these experiences with these scopes. And is the longer focal ratio model worth it because of the reduced aberattion?
Tks avalon astro

Rainmaker (Matt) · #12 08-10-2023, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avalonastro

All right everyone, thanks for your advice as I appreciate it so much

.
I have decided to not get a sky rover from Astronomy alive but instead possibly a Tak fc100dc or df or dz from first light optics.
Does anyone have any of these experiences with these scopes. And is the longer focal ratio model worth it because of the reduced aberattion?
Tks avalon astro

Have you considered a used Tak from right here on IIS, perhaps post a WANTED ad you might save yourself quite a bit of time and money……. The Fc100DF is a very nice scope…

avalonastro (Jackson) · #13 08-10-2023, 04:15 PM

Yes i have considered that rain maker, however i am unable to place ads because i havent met the criteria of being on the forum for 30 days yet. I am open to offers from anyone regarding a 4-5 inch takahashi.
Tks avalonastro

avalonastro (Jackson) · #14 06-11-2023, 06:21 PM

Hi all, so i understand that the sky rover telescopes are Chinese scopes. Is there a more well known brand that are of comparable quality to them ?
Kind regards Jack

gregbradley · #15 07-11-2023, 09:42 AM

I can't comment on any of the Chinese scopes but the usual tier of quality is:

1. AstroPhysics - it's not just the perfect optics it's also the solid perfect construction, robust focuser and the fact everything works out of the box.
They run production off a wait list so you are limited to waiting a long time or buying second hand.

2. Takahashi - Tak has a large range of scopes and usually not that long of a wait list, FSQ106 excepted. I have had several Tak scopes and they are delightful but you have to add the cost of rings and a case as they are extra.
Similar prices to AstroPhysics but Tak has had some quality issues with their focusers over the last decade. Like the FSQ106EDX, they released 4 versions before they got the focuser right. AP would never do that. So to my mind Tak has a bit of a minor question mark hanging over it. They also pulled the FSQ130ED off the market but personally I have never had a dud Tak.

A Tak fluorite doublet though is not good enough for imaging. I had a Tak FS152 fluorite doublet and was unhappy to find out that whilst it was an excellent visual scope it lacked in colour correction for imaging with blue halos around bright stars.

3. TEC - mostly a range of flourite triplet optics and Feathertouch focusers.
Many happy owners. I had a TEC180FL for many years. I believe they have a wait list as well.

4. APM/LZOS - Russian optics and done to a high standard. Not sure if they are currently being made or not. Often highly regarded.

5. CFF - done to a very high standard. Feather touch Focusers. Optics are extremely high end, up there with AstroPhysics and Tak. My CFF105 F6 has optics tested in green at 99.4 strehl. That's about as good as it gets.

6. Stellarvue - They make a range of scopes and some of these are high end.

7. Skywatcher Esprit scopes. These are good value and come with flatteners and perhaps reducers and a case for less than their competitors. Lots of good images from these.

They are the top scope makers that I am aware of. There are other scopes that probably are quite good like Sky Rover, ZWO, Sharpstar, Astronomics.
Teleskop Services. The Petsval scopes from Askar look interesting.

There is a lot of rebranding of Chinese scopes so you'd have to find out if there are any differences between some brands or if the only difference is the brand name. Not sure.

I suspect there may be sample variations with these lower brands so it may be prudent to buy from someone who has a good return policy.

Generally speaking you want an FPL53 or FCD100 triplet lens, often these are air spaced. Oil spaced is better for thermal equilibrium.

Greg.

Nikolas (Nik) · #16 07-11-2023, 09:42 AM

Most scopes are Chinese brands unless you go the high end route like the takahashis

shennian0130 (Yanwu) · #17 14-11-2023, 06:54 PM

Sky Rover ED APO/APO PRO and SA series used S-FPL53 in the past, and now they have changed that into FCD100.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabriel.V

I can tell you for a fact that Sky Rover scopes do not use S-FPL53, but the Chinese equivalent. They are probably the most common brand of scopes sold in China and do produce good images depending on the sample you get, but are certainly not in the same class as true premium brands. What AA is saying is at best deceitful marketing.

For the price, either buy them direct from AliExpress or check out the Sharpstar/Askar scopes which get a lot of great reviews here.

shennian0130 (Yanwu) · #18 14-11-2023, 07:00 PM

If you want to buy a Skyrover telescope, it is best to buy it from a Chinese website, or you can also ask a friend in China to bring it over. I am going to return to China next month and can bring cheaper Skyrover and Sharpstar/Askar scopes.

HowellObsy (John) · #19 15-05-2025, 10:16 AM

Sky Rover telescopes are manufactured and marketed in China, we are welcome to purchase from the Chinese webpage supplier. I reviewed the pricing of the Chinese with an Australian supplier who stocks these same telescopes, and I found the prices are the same.
I consider that purchasing with local Australian backup from someone that I find a very knowledgeable supplier a benefit against dealing with a Chinese webpage supplier, as you may need to ask in purchase/ after sales questions, and the Chinese aren’t great at answering technical astronomy questions.
However this is NOT my reason for posting here.
I have two Sky Rover’s, my units share one thing in common with the Chinese webpage units - its tube. This is where the similarities end.
My units are from a different series of this portfolio from the Australian supplier. These are higher spec bespoke hand crafted units, not Chinese mass produced units. My units use the same tube (only) made by United Kunming. The Australian supplier outfits this tube with a different focuser and bespoke hand crafted lens cell & optics. My units are claimed to use SFPL55 and Strehl 0.98+, and tests (conducted @ Carl Zeiss Jena) confirm exactly that glass spec & Strehl.
I queried one of the people on this thread who made extremely damaging comments regarding the Australian supplier, he didn’t bother to respond to me. I call him on that - two weeks later - and no reply to my Private Message (hey man, not good).
I spoke to the Australian supplier of this portfolio and he didn’t recognise this person’s handle and was unaware of his existence, he said he didn’t know him and hadn’t met or had any conversations with him. Interesting ?
I just thought I would somewhat re level this thread - as I thought the comments in this thread are inappropriate.
The Australian supplier of my two Sky Rover’s - I have known him from working in the same profession (global auto, but for competing mfgr’s) for decades. I know him quite well. I studied alongside him together doing my optical physics & metrology degree 25 years ago, but he’s cleverer than I am. But I am not here to market him, if you have questions do your own homework.
My approach was to discuss with him in depth his designs & gear, and as both being metrologists & physicists we had a very robust discussion, most illuminating. Having done this I was impressed enough to invest in a bespoke Sky Rover 130 and 155 with hand crafted SFPL55 optics (tested @ CZJ at 0.988 & 0.986), both fitting Starlight FTF3535 focusers, which focusers I recognised instantly as that’s what I run on my AP 130 and 160 that I have had in my obsy in the states for two decades. I have been into astronomy for five decades.
I won’t discredit the person who wrote the damaging claims about the Australian supplier, I will instead leave it up to you the reader to reach your own opinion. As a yank I don’t like unlevel playing fields, thereby my authoring this here, and recommending to those considering any product - do your homework.