AstronomyUkraine Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Hello everyone, my name is Brian, I'm an expat from the NW of England, now living in Ukraine. My interest in astronomy goes back 15 years. I started in astrophotography in 2007, but had a break for a few years due to circumstances. I returned to this great hobby last year, and found technology had moved on tremendously. After a lot of research in forums, youtube etc. I finally got back into the swing of things. I'm currently awaiting an Esprit 120 from Skywatcher, but due to the virus situation, that wait has been 4 months. If all goes to plan, I will receive the new scope next month, and improve my setup.Brian 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carastro Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Welcome Brian, I have just got myself an Esprit100, I was told a 3 month wait but in fact it arrived in just over a month, but deliveries could be different in the UK. It's taken longer to get the focal reducer for it.Look forward to seeing some of your results.Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted October 10, 2020 Author Share Posted October 10, 2020 @Carastro Thanks Carole. Most Skywatcher products seem to be on backorder until November in Europe. Have you had chance to use the Esprit yet, or will you wait for the reducer? Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoflewis Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Welcome Brian, I look forward to hear from you and seeing your images on here.Geof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted October 10, 2020 Author Share Posted October 10, 2020 @geoflewis Thanks Geof, just posted my first image on here. Still getting my head around Pixinsight, but I'm getting there slowly.Brian 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoflewis Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 @AstronomyUkraine Yes, I think I saw it earlier.Geof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carastro Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Posted by: @AstronomyUkraine Most Skywatcher products seem to be on backorder until November in Europe. Have you had chance to use the Esprit yet, or will you wait for the reducer?I have just received the reducer that took a good couple of months or more after I had the scope which has been sitting idle all that time, and am now in the process of imaging my first light, I should be posting it up either today or tomorrow, but it looks like there may be some more clear sky tonight, so might add to it.Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted October 10, 2020 Author Share Posted October 10, 2020 Posted by: @Carastro I have just received the reducer that took a good couple of months or more after I had the scope which has been sitting idle all that time, and am now in the process of imaging my first light, I should be posting it up either today or tomorrow, but it looks like there may be some more clear sky tonight, so might add to it.What are your first impressions on the Esprit, and it's optics/focuser etc.?Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carastro Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 @astronomyukraineIt's much heavier than I expected, twice the weight of my SWED80. Comes in a huge unnecessarily too big case which is at least 1/3 bigger than you need, because they expect it to house all the accessories as well, most of which I don't need for imaging and could carry separately anyway. Then they tell you not to use a substitute case because the scope needs proper protection. Has a better focusser lock than other telescopes I have had and a screw fit focusser. The dovetail is far too short, and in anycase I changed mine for a Vixen style dovetail, no way could you get balance with one so short, no idea why they sell it with such a short dovetail. The dew shield seems a bit flimsy in comparison to how the rest of the scope is so solid but it does have locking bolts so it won't slide down, though it can't anyway where I have placed the mounting rings on the new dovetail. I haven't yet finished my first light image so can't comment on performance and not 100% sure I have the spacing spot on yet.Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carastro Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 This is it mounted on my HEQ5 with my Samyang lens mounted on top. I chose the SWEsprit100 because of the decent mounting rings to I could mount a smaller scope on top. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jkulin Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Welcome Brian, another lover of the Esprit 100.Please enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted October 10, 2020 Author Share Posted October 10, 2020 Posted by: @Jkulin Welcome Brian, another lover of the Esprit 100.Thanks. I have the Esprit 120 on order. It was a toss up between that and the ES 127, both scopes have great reviews, even though the Skywatcher is slightly more expensive than the ES 127, the Skywatcher won the day.Brian 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted October 10, 2020 Author Share Posted October 10, 2020 Posted by: @Carastro The dovetail is far too short, and in anycase I changed mine for a Vixen style dovetail, no way could you get balance with one so short, no idea why they sell it with such a short dovetail. Luckily the 120 has a decent sized dovetail on it, but I have a longer Vixen style dovetail anyway. What does slightly annoy me, the US versions of the Esprit come with an included flattener instead of the included eyepiece. I have the same eyepiece that come with my ED 80, I only used it once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carastro Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Posted by: @AstronomyUkraine What does slightly annoy me, the US versions of the Esprit come with an included flattener instead of the included eyepiece. I have the same eyepiece that come with my ED 80, I only used it once.ditto 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick_H Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Welcome Brian, I hope you enjoy it here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gina Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 Hi Brian, welcome aboard ? I have an Esprit 80ED Pro amongst other scopes and lenses. Looking forward to seeing your images. I'll look for the one you've posted. I to use PixInsight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted October 11, 2020 Author Share Posted October 11, 2020 @swb Thanks Mick, I hope so too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted October 11, 2020 Author Share Posted October 11, 2020 @Gina Thanks Gina. The Esprit series seems to be very popular amongst astrophotographers, that's why I chose it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisWright Posted October 13, 2020 Share Posted October 13, 2020 Welcome to the forums Brian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AstronomyUkraine Posted October 13, 2020 Author Share Posted October 13, 2020 @ChrisWright Thanks Chris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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