Review of the Astro-Tech 115mm f/7 Refractor (AT115EDT) - Two Years in the Making!

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After two years I feel comfortable about recommending this telescope. It has been a real performer over the the last couple years producing images of high quality found in much more expensive telescopes.
Telescope:
www.astronomics.com/astro-tec...
ED Lens Element/Glass:
www.amstechnologies-webshop.c...
www.hoya-opticalworld.com/engl...
hncrystal.en.made-in-china.co...
I am now part of the High Point Scientific Affiliate program which means if you purchase anything from High Point Scientific through any of the links listed below, my channel gets a monetary token of appreciation. High Point has price matching and lifetime support on products they sell.
Kurt’s Highpoint Link:
www.highpointscientific.com/?...
Kurt’s links
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BLOG/WEB : astroquest1.blogspot.com/
FACEBOOK : / kurtzepp
TWITTER : / kurtzepp
INSTAGRAM : / astroquest1

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Опубликовано:

27 окт 2020

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Комментарии : 80

@lukesastro2380 3 года назад

Great review Kurt, thanks for sharing.

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers

@AstroSoundscape 3 года назад

Great detailed explanation on your kit. Super looking images at the end there.

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Thanks Ollie! Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers

@dirkfierce2525 Год назад

I have the Meade version of this scope. I find that the Starizona .65 Apex reducer works very well with it also. It's pretty great having one telescope that can handle the Hotech, a .8 reducer, and a .65 reducer so well. Between that and its relatively light weight, it makes for a very versatile imager.

@AstroQuest1 Год назад

Right on Dirk, could not agree more - good to know about the APEX 0.65 reducer. Cheers

@ChucksAstrophotography 3 года назад

Hey Kurt, congrats on all those accolades you're getting with great pics!

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Thanks Chuck, I am trying to slowly follow in your footsteps.

@robertbrowning4888 3 года назад

@@AstroQuest1 Aren't we all :). Seriously, great stuff Kurt. Good review and great recommendations. I could have used some of that advice when I started. Like Chuck mentioned in his video a couple days ago, "...this hobby will take your last dime. It's too late for me." It's too late for me as well, but it's good to see you guys giving some great recommendations for the newbies to the hobby. Cheers

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

@@robertbrowning4888 Thanks Robert. It's too late for all of us...

@robsbackyardastrophotograp8885 3 года назад

Beautiful setup!

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Thanks Rob! I have had a lot of luck with it.

@Pikkakikka 3 года назад

Thank You for sharing!

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Your most Welcome!

@RaysAstrophotography 3 года назад

Very thorough review!

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Thanks Ray. I appreciate the comment.

@RaulRodriguezasteroides 2 года назад

Muchas gracias maestro.. Excelente OTA, y estupenda explicación!!!

@AstroQuest1 2 года назад

de nada gracia!

@jimsullivan668 3 года назад

Great review! I wish you'd covered the finder/guide scopes too, as well as the electronics.

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Noted, good call! You are right, I have not made any about the guide scope or autoguider before. However, I do have some videos about the other electronics under cable management .

@Thunder_Dome45 3 года назад

I bought that in person a few months ago. I used to live a few blocks from Astronomics. One thing I don't like about it is the bottom of the rings is too shallow. Maybe if the dove tail was a tiny bit thicker it would be much better. I use it in the EQ6R pro and it grips the bottom of the ring on one end. Not really a big deal as I can get a bigger losmandy plate, someday. That hotec flattener does work well with that scope. I use it. I also use this scope for solar with a Daystar Quark. If seeing would ever improve it would make some great photos. Mars also came out pretty good through it too.

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Good point about the Dovetail. I use it with my Atlas pro and it just fits. I was pleasantly that the Hotech worked so well. I just got a Daystar Quark a couple of months ago for my old telescope (Orion ED80) which is now my solar scope. Good luck with some clear weather. - Cheers.

@johnbarry5036 3 года назад

As far as the case over the diagonal, most people already have a diagonal while nobody has a custom fit case for a scope they don't own. Makes sense the swap.

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Yes, Good Point!

@shoryureppa4471 3 года назад

great video ! nice !

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Thank you very much!

@chettdavidson1812 3 года назад

Hi Kurt. Thanks for your support and awesome reviews. I finally got my 115mm apo and will enjoy visually as I build a photography train. You mentioned two field flatteners. I heard you regarding the .08 but could you explain the second one please. You don't use both at the same time? The name of the other flattener?

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Thanks Chett. here goes, 1) AstroTech 0.8x Focal Reducer/Field Flattener - it is one unit specifically designed for this scope. 2) HoTech self centering Field Flattener. Here is a video I did on it. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yKoCFQssOwk.html. It works really well. - Good Luck

@markcarugan1969 3 года назад

Hi Kurt, thanks for your videos, very informative. I’m very interested in getting the same setup that you have in the AstroTech 115mm. But I’m thinking I should start out with an Astro Tech 80mm apo and get my feet wet. I’ve been using a Celestron 80 mm refractory since 1989 and want to upgrade since I’m retired with ample time to dig in deeper. I was wondering what you think and did you use a lower mm telescope before your 115mm. And was there a huge difference between the two. And I’m looking to get heavily into EAA astronomy. The funds are available and I know that is a big consideration and not a problem. Thanks.

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Hi Mark, as a matter of fact my first imaging setup was an 80mm Orion ED80 F/7.5 (which means it had a focal length of 600mm). I believe the AT 80mm is 400mm Focal length so you will get less magnification but a larger FOV. The advantage of small Focal Length scope and aperture scopes is they are more forgiving and easier to deal with - not to mention lighter. I really enjoyed the 80mm but wanted to get a little more aperture so I could go after smaller objects so that is why I went with the AT115mm. There is a different. A good program to check out the differences is Astronomy Tools FOV calculator. You can compare the telescopes with cameras or eyepieces. With some objects you may want the larger FOV. I would probably lean towards the 80 mm to really get familiar with everything and then move on. Cheers Kurt

@markn3586 3 года назад

Thanks for the review. Would this scope be suitable for variable star observations? Trying to weigh some options.

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Yes, it resolves individual stars very well. Much better than my old ED80. Of course it would depend on the size and distance of whatever object you are studying.

@deckape67 3 года назад

I have a Sirius and want one day to do some AP but the scope alone is hitting almost half the max payload. I've agonized over purchasing this scope for months and I was shocked to see how much kit you have loaded on this mount. Looks like I worried for no reason. Thanks!

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Yeah, the mount can handle up to 33 lbs. but I would not load it up that much. I think I am somewhere around 23 lbs. - Good Luck

@johnwright291 Год назад

If another telescope is made using the same glass its just as good. It kind of blows me away that a 500 dollar 8 inch newtonian reflector can see much more than this scope. There are a lot of advantages to a reflector.

@AstroQuest1 Год назад

Yeah, Newton was on to something when he used a mirror rather than a lens. I use a Newtonian when I do observing.

@johnwright291 Год назад

@@AstroQuest1 there are huge advantages to reflectors. Without doubt when newton came up with the idea people said it will never work.

@zeitgeist1348 3 года назад

Wow, i am happy! 3 min. Guiding with 1370mm with round stars!

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Awesome.

@foobee2 3 года назад

I just took delivery of an AT115 and was wondering why you have a heater strap in front of the focuser, instead of up by the lens group? Or is that just a velco strap holding the cabling down?

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Good eye, that is velcro. I have lots of it.

@pablocallejo1616 3 года назад

Hi Kurt, do you teach online classes? I would be very interested to learn astrophotography

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

No, sorry - At least not yet. Thanks for the interest. You might want to check out Trevor Jones (Astrobackyard) or Peter Zelinka.

@kenrockelein1931 2 года назад

Hey, Kurt, have you noticed any problems with over/underexposure in the center of the image when imaging LRGB? There are a couple of us (according to conversations on CN) who are having this issue. Could a field flattener help?

@AstroQuest1 2 года назад

Hi Ken, Possibly - I almost always use a field flattener and take flats with no issues - or at least nothing that post processing can't fix. Cheers

@lcxt9 3 года назад

Enjoy the video, thanks.

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Thanks for the feedback!

@MrGp3po 2 года назад

Great video. I just got an AT115 and their 0.8x flattener/reducer. Trying to figure out backspacing to an ASI294MC Pro. Where do you measure from and to?

@AstroQuest1 2 года назад

The ASI294 is just like the ASI1600 and the sensor sits 6.5mm from the surface of the the camera. Usually you use the 11mm coupler to connect the camera to a filter wheel/drawer/ or spacer. The FR is measured from the edge of the shoulder (optcorp.com/blogs/deep-sky-imaging/how-to-set-the-correct-back-focus). - Good Luck.

@MrGp3po 2 года назад

AstroQuest1 okay. So 6.5, 11, 21, 16.5 extensions supplied gives 55mm to the knurled ring M48 to M63 that came with the AT 0.8x flattened/reducer and screws into the reducer where the actual optics begin. Guess I need to do some star tests to see if this is correct or the knurled ring adds to the 55mm. I was able to focus at about 8mm on the AT115 focuser. When I added a Moonlight/Skyglow filter, I was not able to focus. Astronomics sells a IR cut filter but I'm not sure how that would attach without changing back focus.

@AstroQuest1 2 года назад

@@MrGp3po Weird, the moonlight filter should not change the focus that much. Good luck with the adjustments. If I think of anything else I'll let you know.

@MrGp3po 2 года назад

AstroQuest1 It did when inserted as part of the back spacing and adds about 4mm. It also threads inside the knurled ring but then prevents it from fully seating (increasing the spacing about 2 or 3 mm). I will just have to experiment and see what each Star field looks like.

@Alohachett 3 года назад

Thanks for your commitment. Could you give me your opinion on Orion Eon similar 115mm lens?

@chettdavidson1812 3 года назад

The two lens sound identical with different names but I wanted to confirm with an expert.

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

I'm no expert by any means but I think it the the same.

@chettdavidson1568 3 года назад

@@AstroQuest1 You are the Man!!! There are a few guys I rely on for information through RU-vid and you’re on that list. If I was buy three eyepieces for this telescope which ones would you buy and in what order? I want to invest in good quality glass but due to cost I will only buy them one at a time. Thank you and happy new year.

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

@@chettdavidson1568 Hey Chett, thanks for your confidence - eyepieces are a weakness on my part though so take it with a grain of salt. I Like the ExploreScientific brand. I would say the 68 degree Argon filled eyepieces are a reasonable deal and I would 1st go with a 16mm or 20mm size, next would be a 34mm or 40mm size. For the planets they have the 62 degree Argon purged type and I would go with the 6mm or 9 mm - I would avoid sizes below 5mm as the seeing rarely is good enough where those would be useful. Check other people's advice as well. Cheers and Happy New Year!

@chettdavidson1568 3 года назад

@@AstroQuest1 thank you sir. These sizes are right in line with what I had in mind. Everyone has an opinion regarding manufacture but coming from someone that actually owns and uses the same telescope was what I am looking for. You know what works for you and that means more to me than a customer representative. Happy new year.

@peterspatz6918 2 года назад

Kurt, I'm considering adding the 115 (comes from TS, but is the same scope) to my 80mm doublet. I can see you are using the Orion equivalent to HEQ5. As I'm are owning an HEQ5 I wonder how it would work on it, saying the whole thing weights arround 7,5 Kilo with all added equipment (Reducer, Cam, Motorfocus, Guidescope and Powerbox).

@AstroQuest1 2 года назад

Hi Peter. The AT115 works like a charm with the Sirius Mount. With the additional 'stuff' it is 22 lbs or 9.97 kg and the mount handles 30 lbs or 13.6 kg. Good Luck

@peterspatz6918 2 года назад

@@AstroQuest1 Many thanks Kurt!

@peterspatz6918 2 года назад

By the way, do you often photographing at f7? I find there is not too much differ in FOV with 0.79 reducer, but you have much faster optics.

@AstroQuest1 2 года назад

@@peterspatz6918 As a matter of fact most of my images are using the 0.8 FR so I will be imaging at F5.6. - Cheers

@markcarugan1969 2 года назад

I’m in the same position as you in a way. I want to upgrade to a more advanced scope and am looking at the Orion 115mm triplet or the 8” Celestron Edge HD. It’s puts me in the same position that you are in. You have the Astro Tech 115 and were very happy with it but you branched out and purchased the Edge HD. What difference do you see between the two. I am looking to EAA and get into astrophotography. I have the funds no problem. From your experience with both scopes what do you suggest ? Thanks for your help. 😉

@AstroQuest1 2 года назад

Wow Mark. The good news is no matter what way you go. it won't be wrong. It really depends on what you want to image at various focal lengths. I am very happy I have both so it is not one is better than the other - it really depends on which objects do you think you want to image more, small or large. The refractor has the advantage of less going wrong (i.e. collimation and such). - Good Luck

@markcarugan1969 2 года назад

@@AstroQuest1 thanks for your fast reply my friend. I think I’ll go with the 115mm because I’m more into the moon, planets and large DSO’s right now. If I want to go small deep sky DSO’s I’ll get the 8” SCT or the 12” DOB. Thanks again and have a great day. 😉

@AstroQuest1 2 года назад

@@markcarugan1969 Good luck, It has been a real winner for me.

@ebrahemmh 3 года назад

I'm considering this scope and this one (Meade 6000 Series 115 ED f/7)... Meade is costing 1800$

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Thanks for mentioning the Meade. I believe the Meade 6000 115 ED and the Altair 115 ED are the same scope rebranded. It may be easier to get the Meade (of course it is more expensive) as Astro-Tech seems to have a limited supply of these - I had to wait 5 months. Altair is in Europe so it would be more expensive to have it shipped to the U.S.

@johnbarry5036 3 года назад

Agree with everything said, but when the comparison of "are they 5x better images?" comes up, one can play the game and look at - for example- an AT102ED and ask are the images in the 115EDT %220 better? Prob not.

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Yeah, may 111.56% better.

@johnnyhuynh3449 3 года назад

would you consider this a good scope to put into a car and travel with?

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

Yes I would. It is not that heavy and it is quite secure in the box.

@johnnyhuynh3449 3 года назад

Thank you so much for a quick reply! Im thinking about going outdoors with this scope. I was wondering if you have any good mounts without the computerized stuff. I was eyeing the CG4 (because of its decent price) but not sure if that would be a good mount for this scope. Thank you again sir!

@AstroQuest1 3 года назад

@@johnnyhuynh3449 Not sure what your price range is but I use an Orion Sirius with it (~$1100) the equivalent Skywatcher model is HEQ5. Unfortunately, I don't think the CG-4 would do it I would more likely go with the Advanced VX mount.

@anata5127 2 года назад

Are you retired? Those pictures can only be done in dark side with such telescope. If it is dark side, you are waisting you skill and time. Get proper astrophysics Mount, >14” telescope for observatory and top notch CCD camera.

@AstroQuest1 2 года назад

No, I am retired yet - few more years to go. I have Bortle 5 skies directly overhead but they degrade quickly so it is not a dark site. - Cheers Kurt

@anata5127 2 года назад

@@AstroQuest1 Great! When you retire, you can move to Davis Mountains or Gila wilderness. Get 50-100K observatory and crack superb pictures.

@AstroQuest1 2 года назад

@@anata5127 Sounds like a great plan...

@anata5127 2 года назад

@@AstroQuest1 Yes, I would love to do it as well. I just have zero experience with astrophotography.