First time watcher. I always watch Ed Ting. Now have another you tuber to watch. You do a great job! You make things very understandable. Thank you! Never could afford a good scope but you guys keep me interested in astronomy! Thank you again!

Love this video, and what great pictures you showed us at the end! I watched this presentation because I've owned an 8 inch f5 reflector for the last 20 years. Lately, i've been tweaking it in order to improve my images You've given me a few ideas, not the least the improvement I could make by replacing my focuser. I also now have to find a dark beanie for the end of the tube!

Good morning from Windsor, Colorado. I wish to thank you for reviewing this fine telescope and introducing me to FLO - a fine company, I believe. I ordered the 8” f/5 late Sunday evening. It shipped today and will arrive later this week. Regrettably like my new HEQ 5 Pro Mount, it’ll remain in the box while I recover from cancer surgery. But I’ll be ready to rock come the Messier Marathon next Spring. Clear Skies, young brother. 🔭👍

@AstroPilotchannel

7 ай бұрын

Awsome to here! You’ll love it, I wish you the best of health and clear skies my friend!

Keep up the good work Trevor. Enjoying the Channel here in Finland

Best review in youtube. Good information from somebody that actually set up the scope and used it. I am buying one.

If you add the Starizona Nexus 0.75x coma corrector that will turn it into an F3.75 at 750mm, which, while increasing your field of view, will cut your imaging time in half (with the same gain settings). Reducing the focal length and shorter subs are more forgiving of guiding errors which is handy if your under-mounted. Another advantage is that your guidescope, now at F3.75, will find more stars.

Very nice setup and great review Trevor. 👍🏼 Clear skies

Excellent review Trevor, ive been looking at this scope for some time now so your information is great looks like GSO is the way to go

Your images are simply AWESOME!👏👏👏🔭

You are absolutely correct in pointing out the Sky Watcher shortcomings. I recently viewed an Unboxing and Set Up of a Sky Watcher 8” OTA. The Primary Mirror had Black Dust from the tube interior, excessive light leakage around the base of the focused, and sadly the rolled steel seam leaked light down much of the tube necessitating the reviewer having to “seal” the seam before he could use it for imaging. Thank God I stumbled across your channel! What a blessing! I’m looking forward to more reviews, especially on equipment and post processing. Keep up the great work and Clear Skies. 🔭💫

@PeterStaniforth

2 ай бұрын

I've just started imaging with my 200P and have to admit that you can tell these things are made in China. It's a good scope don't gat me wrong, but constant re-collimation, an interior that is not exactly matt black, and numerous light leaks soon become tiresome with the Skywatcher. I'm a child of the 70s' so grew up wanting to produce the fuzzy black and white hypered film images, so the SW is fantastic with what it can do. But. I'm looking to move on to something better.

Very nice. Great piece if equipment.

Fantastic, you have just got me looking at the 6" version.

Great setup !

You are living the life my friend.

Great review and images Trevor! Yes I believe GSO manufacture fine telescopes; not only reflectors but also RC's. And they are very affordable. Keep up the excellent work.

You are right. And the pictures speak for themselves.

Thats an awesome mount and tripod

Like the information thank you I'm going to buy one

Nice review! I also have one GSO 8" F/5, that I must confess I don't use too frequently, but when I take the time to set it up for imaging (don't have an observatory), it gives really pleasing results. What you say is true: reflectors are unbeatable in terms of price per aperture. Economical, big aperture, no chromatic aberration, the only thing is coma, which in my opinion is easier to tame in reflectors than in SCT scopes (I have a C6 which I very rarely use as it is a disappointment when I see comet like stars not too far from the center (no matter how I move the corrector in or out). Thanks for this review, clear skies!

Super interesting Vid. I was able to pick up the Orion rebrand of this scope used for $300 and everything seems to work great apart from the garbage single speed focuser. I've been looking at replacing it with the Omegon 2" dual speed hybrid focuser but was wondering if there was a better option. I was also wondering where to get the TS optics coma corrector. I am having a hard time finding a place to order it.

I do have the Skywatcher 200P in an older version and it works for me as well. Yes, over time I upgraded the focuser as well as the spider vanes but I still think you can get a lot out of the skywatcher ones as well. Also for coma correctors: the GPU is probably on of the best ones out there but the Bader MPCC can do a great job. There were some tests showing the MPCC giving the best correction in value for money and it can work wenn. You just need to make sure it is screwed to your focuser so you don't get ant tilt issues.

Very nice pics - the eagle nebula was razor sharp and deserves to be in a magazine. GSO claims to polish their mirrors to a high degree to give good contrast and since I own a newt with a 10" GSO mirror I agree with their claim. It has outperformed some premium scopes I've looked through.

Buen teléscopio buenas tomas amigo

Good overview but what happened to the defraction spikes in the pictures?

I have a TS .95 Maxfield corrector, very similar to the GPU that you use. I agree that these correctors are very good. I've tried others.

Looks like I have a bit of a wait to get this model from Agena, June timeframe. FLO and others have similar wait time. It is good to see thus far that you haven't had to do any mods to correct any issues other than dew heaters. Your results have been excellent. Thanks for sharing!

@Orionshield1948

3 күн бұрын

Just got my shipping notice from FLO today, eagerly awaiting. Been a long time since I've owned a newt.

Hi, a bit late to the game on this one. Nice review. You commented the you didn't have room for a rotator. On FLO's site they have a corrector for this 'scope which requires around 75mm back focus. Would it help ? Price is good too.

Great review. How have the dew heaters been working for you? Is the heater band at the front of your scope keeping dew off of the secondary? I’ve seen all kinds of videos online and it is getting confusing on what to buy.

@AstroPilotchannel

5 ай бұрын

They have been working great, I've had no more issues with dew or frost as far as I have observed, the best way to go in my opinion.

Awesome telescope

a link and/or text description of the telescope in the information panel for this video would be nice.

@AstroPilotchannel

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for reminding me, I should’ve done that, I’ll be sure to edit it. Thanks!

Great review man! I'm currently thinking in getting an 8 inch fast reflector for imaging. Was looking at the Sky Watcher, but your use of the Stella really got me thinking... Quick question ,you weighted the whole rig to 25 pounds? I'm concerned with the weight since I want to mount it to a gem28, but on the other hand I've already used it with a C8 all geared up and with good balance I got very good guiding.

@AstroPilotchannel

7 ай бұрын

Awesome, it would be pushing it but I’d give it a try

@anata5127

7 ай бұрын

Resolution-wise 8” Edge will get numbers of this Newtonian, and pictures show it. If you need sensitivity and light -weight scope, then the best option is Epsilon 130.

Trevor, maybe you can help me. My StellaLyra 8” is out for delivery. Yay! I’m only using it for visual observations. Do I need an Extension tube to focus my TeleVue eyepieces? I’m hoping not. I just don’t know. Your thoughts, please. Thanks. Bill, Windsor, CO

What is your opinion of the ASI 2600 DUO camera (both an image chip and guidechip) instead or an off-axis guider and what is your opinion on TS Photon Newton telescopes?

Hey Trevor! Nice review of this scope... I have been shopping for a scope with a good focal length to shoot galaxies with. After watching your video I just hit the purchase button for this scope from FIRST LIGHT OPTICS in the UK. I plan on getting the coma corrector you're speaking of in this video. Would it be possible to give a more detailed image train setup. Wanted to understand a little better what's needed to obtain the correct backfocus when the train is added to the focuser.

@AstroPilotchannel

5 ай бұрын

awesome! you won't be disappointed that's for sure, and yes that's a great idea, I will try and get a video of that filmed soon! thank you! clear skies!

@davidcotten3727

5 ай бұрын

Hi Trevor, I should have this scope this Friday. About to pull the trigger on the TS Coma Corrector. Does the focuser have enough length that the coma corrector does not enter the tube assembly? I noticed in your video that you say it does not enter...

@AstroPilotchannel

5 ай бұрын

@@davidcotten3727 that’s great!! And correct the Coma corrector does not enter the tube

I have an 8" f/4 astrograph, and honestly it was one of the best purchases I've made. A HUGE upgrade from my C6 SCT. My mount may be a little underpowered, being an AVX, but I can get close if not up to sub-arc guiding. Focuser tilt was something I really had to fight at the beginning, but I got it close. Collimation needs a little work, and I need a better focuser to combat the weight of my camera, but overall the telescope is great.

@spliter200

3 ай бұрын

What's the weight of your 8”? Do you have any pictures that you have taken with 8” and avx mount?

@joshmccollumastrophotography

3 ай бұрын

@@spliter200 it’s close to 20 pounds with my camera, and if you check my astrobin (just my name) you can find the images I took with 8” and avx in full

@k.h.1587

19 күн бұрын

My first big scope was a Hardin star hoc 8-4 on Orion Skyview pro with dual axis drives. I used an 80mm f11 refractor piggyback with Orion guide rings, and did manual guiding with 35mm film. When I got a dslr it became apparent manual guiding wasn't going to cut it (film won't expose small errors, ccd does, in the form of all stars becoming double stars). So it wasn't long before I was using an asgt mount and an autoguider, which of course made the upgrade route through a gm8g to a g11g

How about the non-photography, plain gazing into the eyepiece? Does it offer a satisfying view? Could you make anything of planets (ie. Jupiter's cloud belts, Saturn's cassini division), or nebulae? I am thinking of purchasing a new scope, but I don't feel like going into astrophotography yet.

@AstroPilotchannel

5 ай бұрын

Yeah I can definitely make a video on visual, I have an 8 inch Dobson I can use, good idea thanks

@vassilisbakosis7732

5 ай бұрын

@@AstroPilotchannel that would be awesome!!!! Thanks!!!

Great video. Where did you get the cover for the back of scope?

@codymoe4986

7 ай бұрын

A few comments down, he mentioned they were for sale from Agena Astro...

Question: I have pretty much the same setup, my camera is the 533 colour, what would you suggest for a filter? I shot pretty much same targets as you do.

@AstroPilotchannel

7 ай бұрын

For narrowband I highly recommend the Optolong L Extreme or L enhance, also for broadband filters the optolong L-Pro is nice but does have some reflections, I’d say the best broadband filter would be the Hutech LPS-D2 or similar

I’m still struggling with my 8” Orion, just will not stay collimated. Every time I move it, even just a little and it needs to be re collimated, poor purchase on my part, (Orion warning to others) Great review, great telescope, keep them coming.

@AstroPilotchannel

7 ай бұрын

That’s the downside of Newtonians for sure, moving them a lot will cause for regular collimation

@michaelbibby8636

7 ай бұрын

Make sure the springs supporting the primary mirror cell are almost completely compressed (to do this loosen the push scews and tighten the pull screws and then re-tighten the push screws and collimate the primary from that position so that the whole mirror cell is under tension, that way it wont easily move after it is collimated). Make sure the four screws holding the secondary mirror veins are tight and make sure when you collimate the secondary mirror all the screws are nice and tight. If everything is cinched down it shouldn't go out of collimation easily.

Hi. Nice review. I’m assuming the focuser is not Zwo EAF compatible out of the box?

@AstroPilotchannel

Ай бұрын

Correct, yeah I had to get a 3d printed adapter.

@noypi75

Ай бұрын

@@AstroPilotchannel thanks your design? Or is that available online?

@AstroPilotchannel

Ай бұрын

@@noypi75 I purchased mine online, the product is from BuckeyeStargazer, I got mine from agena! They make various 3d parts for telescope stuff.

@noypi75

Ай бұрын

@@AstroPilotchannel got it dude , Ty!

Hi. I’m a visual backyard observer and I’m wondering if an 8” f/4 Newt mounted on a SkyWatcher HEQ 5 Pro mount would satisfy my enjoying views of faint grey fuzzies. I was considering an Apertura but they’re not available. Your experienced thoughts? Also, did you have to pay any import fees since your scope came from overseas? Thank you.

@AstroPilotchannel

7 ай бұрын

That’s a great idea, I use an older Orion newt for visual on a Dobsonian and it’s pretty good for some faint stuff, not tried it on galaxies yet but I’d the the F4 would be even better! And no I did not have to pay any import fees

@cigarnationwarriors

7 ай бұрын

@@AstroPilotchannel Thank you for your reply. I’ve spent decades pouring over sky charts and hunting down DSO objects. Now as I near 80 years around our Sun I merely want to slew to objects and enjoy the view. I also like the look of your scope over the plain White tubes from GSO. Again, thanks and Clear Skies🔭

@cigarnationwarriors

7 ай бұрын

My apology for troubling you again, but since I’m using my combat disability dollars I’m extra cautious: Do you think zi would need a Coma Corrector since I’m only using this scope for visual observing? Would the 8” f/5 work just as well for DSO? I’m sorta hooked on the Red Tube Rings. I’m an old sucker for bling. Thanks again. Btw, I really enjoyed your video review. 👍👍🔭

@AstroPilotchannel

7 ай бұрын

@@cigarnationwarriors thank you! Not a bother! Love the comments, the one I use for visual is f5 but I do think the f4 might suck in a bit more light quicker for visual, the coma corrector isn’t really great huge of a deal, but for the f4 I would possibly consider it since the F4 will have a bit more coma

@cigarnationwarriors

7 ай бұрын

@@AstroPilotchannel Thank you once again. I’m going to reach out to FLO for the f/5. It should rock with my TeleVue eyepieces. Best wishes for your astrophotography pursuits!🔭

Welcome to the reflector crowd. Its better indeed. Refractors be damned on aperture.

Mighty fine scope. But, too heavy as is the mount. Being elderly and feeble, my limit is 20 pounds. So, I use a Sky Watcher Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTI 150P Collapsible Tabletop GoTo Dobsonian Telescope and ZWO ASI183mc. Total weight 19.5 pounds. I do EAA with SharpCap.

@woody5109

7 ай бұрын

I’m 65 and have the exact setup, the weight doesn’t seem to be a problem (yet) I have a pier outside so I try to minimize movements. I bought an all weather cover and that helps, never give up.

@AmatureAstronomer

7 ай бұрын

@@woody5109 I have no fence around my house and fear theft. I am only 72 years old, but am in very poor health. I take the telescope outside and set it up. I have a long cable to control the camera and SynScan to control the telescope. I go inside after I have set it up and operate from my PC in the bedroom where it is warm. I have only been in the hobby about 4 months. Everyone said buy a Dobsonian, so I bought a First Light 10" Dobsonian. I was unable to take it out into the yard. It weighed 61 pounds. So, I gave it to a friend and bought a Celestron Omni 150 XLT Newtonian on a CG_4 mount and a motorized go to conversion kit. Weighs 43.5 pounds. I can take it out into the yard, but it takes several trips and I am out of breath long before I assemble it. So, I bought a SVBony SV305 70ED with flattener/reducer and a Sky Watcher AZ GTi mount. Not too heavy, but 70mm not enough to image much in my Bortle 6 town with lots of local light pollution. In other words, not all options available. Would really like to have an 8" or 10" astrograph and EQ-6 mount., but would need to find a very strong and healthy wife first.

Question sir, did you make your own shower cap or purchase it somewhere, if so where?

@AstroPilotchannel

7 ай бұрын

It was just one I had laying around the house, I know that Agena Astro sells fabric caps like that for newts tho

I have one of these and can't get it to hold collimation. What's your experience? I can collimate it perfectly in one orientation with a laser, and then as soon as I slew, the laser dot reflected on the primary stops overlapping and starts to move off-axis by about an inch. Everything is super tight at the back. It's driving me crazy.

@AstroPilotchannel

7 ай бұрын

Possibly some mirror holder issues, wouldn’t hurt to take the back cell off and take a look, I’ve heard that might be a problem with some of these, I’ve never had much shifting, there has been a couple times I’ve noticed some shift in mine, mainly in cold temps, and it might be something with the mirror holder feet or the cell itself, probably worth taking a closer look at in both our cases

@baz_astra

7 ай бұрын

Wow, thanks for the fast reply! I'll disassemble it soon and take a look :) @@AstroPilotchannel

The specs say its 90cm/3 feet long but in your video it looks at least 120cm/4 feet long. Im considering buying this or the TS Photon version, but I didn't know it would be this big.

@AstroPilotchannel

2 ай бұрын

It is actually 3 feet, my observatory is 4 feet and it fits well.

What’s about ridding of this and getting Tak Epsilon 180ED f=2.8? I guess it will be the next step.

@AstroPilotchannel

7 ай бұрын

Not for me lol

@anata5127

7 ай бұрын

@@AstroPilotchannel Never say never.

@AstroPilotchannel

7 ай бұрын

@@anata5127 true😂😂 maybe if I win the lottery😂

@anata5127

7 ай бұрын

@@AstroPilotchannel I didn’t win lottery. Just got good education, became professional and got dissent job. Formula is very simple. Right?

Why have you chosen the f5 instead of the f4 version?

@AstroPilotchannel

6 ай бұрын

I wanted an extra bit of focal length of 1000mm vs 800mm

Neat