Review of the Orion Short Tube 120 Refractor Optical Tube Assembly!

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A review of an amazing bargain from Orion's catalog. Check it out!
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Thanks for watching!
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Jupiter image specs: ZWO ASI120MC planetary imager, best 80% of 1000 frames captured in SharpCap, stacked with Autostakkert and processed in Registax 6 and Photoshop 6.
Deep sky images:
HuTech modded Canon EOS5D Mk3, no light pollution filter
25 frames @ISO1600, 25 seconds each, stacked with darks
Celestron AVX Mount
SBIG STi-c autoguider, PHD2 guiding
Images stacked and processed in PixInsight, final touchup in Photoshop
Note: I don't know why the outside walkaround video is so "jagged" looking. I need to look into this.

Опубликовано:

28 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 139

@goldni4429 7 месяцев назад

I picked up a ST120 with dielectric 1.25" diagonal and orion zoom eyepiece, complete with finder and 2 plossels and the Orion EQ mount w/tripod for $115....for that price it could be missing the objective and I'd be happy! Good scope is great on the early fall Milky Way objects,M27 was great,too bad they don't make it anymore.

@edting 7 месяцев назад

You scored an amazing deal!

@kellytaylor3915 5 месяцев назад

I suggest the SemiApo filter the threads into the star diagonal or the eyepiece. Plus a IR/UV filter. This does wonders on these short FL refractors. I have several refractors 6 inch F/5 6 inch F/15 8 inch F/9 a few other smaller ones. Also I asked Steven James O’meara how he managed the CA on Harvard’s 9 inch refractor while using it. He said a #11 yellow filter the semi apo filter is a game changer. The IR/UV filter also made improvements. This conversation with has stuck with me all these years. My favorite planet scope is my 6” F/15. I also have a Bresser 102mm F/13.2 rare refractor I bought from Germany as it was not know here when the introduced it at an Astronomy show in Germany. I also had the 120mm F/8.3 great scope and 120mm in a refractor really starts to bring in the light.

@3dfxvoodoocards6 3 месяца назад

How good is the 6 inch F5 achromat on DSO, specifically galaxies?

@bowrudder899 3 года назад

Thank you! I really like the no-snobbery approach.

@luisrosa5533 Год назад

Thank you Mr. Ting! This review made me buy this OTA...again!. Your quote "4.7 inches of unobstructed refractor goodness" was the perfect sales pitch! I had the original AstroView bundle a few years back but sold it to fund a truss tube dob. Now I got this OTA mounted on a SkyViewPro EQ. Love to pair it with a set of type 4 Naglers. Aloha!

@edting Год назад

Wow, that's the phrase that got you, eh? Once at a trade show I kept walking past a piece of equipment at this one table. Eventually the vendor looked at me and said, "You know, you should really get one of those." That phrase was enough.

@radioparisment628 7 месяцев назад

Yessss !!!! And It's possible to do deep sky astrophotography, nebulas only, narrow band only, mono caméras only but with excellent results. With a William Optics x0,8 corr-red you get a F/4 refractor and well corrected field !!! Just replace the focuser to one which allows autofocusing. Some pictures on astrobin...

@ScrapYardDog64 2 месяца назад

The sleeper in the Celestron refractor range is the 102/6.5 Achro. Incredible for value money.

@palmereldrich Год назад

Comparison are always brutal but i was pleasently surprised at the 120s potential for budget refractor goodness.

@copper12heavy69 3 года назад

"Yikes", I love it when people catch their own mistakes and find the funny in it. We all have done it, we might as well laugh about it. Great video.

@MFlightBP 3 года назад

Ed: The reviews from your website got me into the hobby more than any other factor. I still enjoy going back and reading them. The videos are going to be even better. Thank you.

@evertonporter7887 11 месяцев назад

I just bought the Skywatcher Startravel 120 complete with rings. I added a 2" mirror diagonal and dovetail bar to go on to my Az4 mount. Indeed, there is some false colour especially at higher magnifications, but I find it's not objectionable. For low power use stars are pin sharp, with the brightest stars being quite 'meaty'. At higher magnifications above 75x, stars are still sharp, but there is a little false colour on the Moon, but it's not an issue for visual observing. My Skywatcher 102 mak and Equinox APO refractor give me views of the Moon and planets that are free of false colour of course, along with tighter stars, but this achromat is just so much fun to use and performs better than I expected.

@Guido_XL 3 года назад

I have the Sky-Watcher Startravel 120T (two-element 120/600), which comes in the same price range as this Orion tube. It indeed shows quite some purple halo when watching Venus and Sirius, but even as a beginner, I already expected this and I was not disappointed at all. As Ed rightfully said: you get a whole lot of scope at a bargain, so you cannot do anything wrong with this. It works, you get decent images at a fraction of the cost of an apo tube, which a beginner will not consider for quite some time (unless money is no issue at all).

@Astronurd 11 месяцев назад

You can greatly reduce the blue halos with a Baader semi apo filter.

@AmatureAstronomer 8 месяцев назад

I just bought the Sky-Watcher Startravel 120, an Orion 120/600 clone. I like it.

@drde4010 3 года назад

Ed it’s so good to see you in the saddle! Keep up the great work my friend!

@mycarolinaskies 3 года назад

I have one of these 120mm I got as part of an estate purchase. It had been upgraded with a GSO 2-speed focuser making it a nicer operating telescope. Mounted on my LX65 it was reasonable for visual use. Sure it won't compete photographically with an APO especially with bright targets causing CA, but on a budget it's a no brainer.

@Trminton42 3 года назад

Awesome review. I am glad you have a channel now. I have read through many of your reviews on your web page in the past. Well Done!

@opponoastos 2 года назад

I got one this year and upgraded the focuser to a Crayford and also added a Baader Clicklock. With a Baader diagonal and a APM 30mm UFF eyepiece, it gives spectacular views.

@darrenhennig7550 5 месяцев назад

Great video Ed! Well done on the review! I have to also second your comments regarding these 120mm f/5 short f-ratio doublets! Tremendous value for the $$, and also a very versatile instrument. With a bit of creative minus-violet filtering (and BTW,the APM 2" PRISM diagonal is a nearly ideal match with this and a SA Baader filter combined, it cuts around 90-95% of the haloing you mention and show there (esp. visually). Now, you have a say $800 REALLY versatile planetary and wide field RF Telescope - in a nice compact format! I truly urge new observers to seriously consider this optical tube with Ed's comments in mind, and my above comments. I am serious - 50+ years myself at the eyepiece, and I am still impressed by this scope - and i have a few of the $4-5k APOs similar to Ed's also! DH - Alberta Canada

@togray619 3 года назад

I have one of these Orion scopes and have enjoyed it for years. I've also learned much from all your articles and information Mr. Ting. Thank you!

@jjohnson 3 года назад

Hi Ed, So glad I stumbled on to your videos! I have the Orion 120. Owned it for almost 4 years now. Fun scope for visual on very clear nights. Thank you for the great You Tubes!

@marhabanet 2 года назад

I've become addicted to you videos. Amazing production and great quality and super presentation. Thank you Ed!!

@MichaelEdelman1954 3 года назад

Ed, I’ve been a fan of your web site since the early days, and I’m really enjoying your videos.

@neoweeern7296 3 года назад

Excellent review. Actually I like the pics from the Orion tube!

@Michaelcaba 3 года назад

I have one, and I really like it. You are totally correct in your assessment, namely, the good price, needed accessories, mount and so forth. My additions include an upgraded dual focuser, a 9x50 right-angle finderscope in a dual holder with a laser pointer, an Orion StarSeeker IV GoTo Altazimuth Mount/Tripod and a correct image diagonal that I use with a set of Orion Stratus eyepieces. The Stratus eyepieces work great for casual viewing (3.5mm & 5mm for planets [e.g. Saturn's rings, Jupiter's moons], 17mm for DSOs). All in all, lots of fun; and it can split the Double-Double with a 3.5mm Stratus eyepiece. Grandkids love it too, and only one person has ever mentioned the CA. In summary, a great scope and an excellent spot-on review by Mr. Ting. (PS: I also use a manual Explore Scientific Twilight I Mount & Tripod at times, and it works great too.)

@tommyvanpelt2408 2 года назад

I have has one for about eight years now. I did upgrade the focuser to one from moonlight and it made it much more pleasurable to use. I use it when I don't have much time to be outside and it works.

@knightclan4 3 года назад

I am waiting on a SkyWatcher 120 doublet refractor set was a AZ3 mount. My first scope. Plan on visual only for the first year. Thanks for confirming my purchase. It was $425 for everything.

@bennybooboobear3940 3 года назад

How was it?

@johndangelo3989 3 года назад

Hi Ed, another fantastic review! Keep up that great work.

@paulgracey4697 3 года назад

I bought one of these with the aim of using it for the school outreach programs I was doing quite regularly with my astronomy club members. It worked fine for that purpose. As you mentioned, most beginners will not notice, and quite a few students would gasp in awe, liking the colors they sometimes saw when the sky to the eye is only black and white. I would mention the aberration to them, as being an artifact but for most it did not matter. With the end of that program due to the pandemic, I gave it to a grand nephew who showed a great interest in astronomy. I spent the bigger bucks for a similar sized APO and the astrophotography I wanted to use the 120mm with using monochrome narrow band filters to clean up some of problems is no longer necessary.

@captgbakos1291 3 года назад

Thanks for doing this video Ed. Well done. I ended up ordering one after watching it. I first bought a good mount (HEQ-5 Pro) and wanted to start with an affordable wide field scope that would be good for visual and would allow me to try astrophotography with my full frame DSLR. Of course the accessories cost more than the scope, but I'll always have them. Looking forward to delivery and clear skies. I'll show up with it at a Skywatch in NH when they resume, and hope to bump into you.

@tomcaron9113 3 года назад

Thanks Ed! I use my ST80 a lot because of its size. Time to upgrade!

@CarlosGalliath 3 года назад

Thank you for the excellent review. I have this telescope, and I use it a lot for casual visual astronomy in a light polluted city. I simply love it! The chromatic aberration doesn't bother me at all. I think my brain learned to cancel it out. It is also a fantastic spotting scope for day time use due to the large aperture (more resolution), compared to a 90 or 70mm. You can push the magnification and get a lot of detail on far away mountains for example.

@Cosmo12a 2 месяца назад

I’ve had one of these scopes for about 19 years I believe. I think I bought it in 2005. During the International Year of Astronomy, in 2009, it saw a lot of use on street corners. Love this scope and I won’t ever get rid of it.

@brentjablonski3730 3 года назад

Excellent review, as always. Thanks!

@masterblaster2796 2 года назад

Hey brother, I always enjoy your reviews. You always have a balanced viewpoint, and you always keep things in perspective. I had the Orion 120 three times over the years. And now that I have a better mount (Stellarvue) I decided to go back to the short boy 120, but this time the much nicer looking Sky-Watcher version. Super bright Milky-Way sweeping with an Agena 26mm 2 incher and totally sweet when Barlow'd. And as to the "purple haze" when looking at the Moon and Jupiter? I just throw on my home-made cardboard 75mm (or 80mm) hole mask in the front dew shield and POOF! Nearly all CA gone. Yep, the 120 F/5 is a huge bang for the buck! Thanks again Bro-migo!

@davidd.vanhoose3867 Год назад

I have had exactly this tube for about 3 years now, which I actually use on an Orion Starblast, SynScan-GoTo tabletop mount placed atop an old, adjustable, dental tripod table that I purchased at an antique store. This is an excellent and very good review, and you are exactly right in all your comments, pro and con. The telescope is a super buy for viewing virtually all Messier star clusters and many of the brighter NGC clusters, and the way to make the views even better is to obtain reasonably priced wider-angle eyepieces. I enjoy simple iPhone photography using the telescope and have been amazed at the quality of many of the images I can obtain. Seeing in your video the quality of the photos one can obtain with much better equipment was a bit shocking and tempting, but I am not sure I have the patience for astrophotography at that level--or care to spend that much. Instead, I supplement this scope with a 127mm Maksutov-Cassegrain for more certain clusters and particularly for the Moon, planets, and double stars in which the 120mm refractor's achromatic aberration is more bothersome.

@davidmuth4571 3 года назад

I had a Celestron ST 90, the most fun and most used. When I recently restarted Astronomy, an equatorial short tube 80 was my first purchase.

@deweybarker6157 3 года назад

I have the 100 mm f/4 with the same basic focal length and I use a minus violet filter for lunar or planetary viewing to eliminate the blue halo. I've never really noticed the halos around the stars.

@martingoodman3300 3 года назад

Ed: Your presentation is extraordinary in terms of the exceptionally knowledgeable and balanced OVERVIEW of the subject. Bravo! I'm a very occasional observational astronomer, who trots out his beloved Orion Short Tube 90 (yes, 90, the "rare and only briefly made" one) for solar eclipses, transits of Venus and Mercury, and such, pretty much. And I LOVE that grab and go achromat! I was not acquainted with the 120mm Orion Shorty achromat. Durn... you've temped me. I've a bunch of spare diagonals and finders and dovetail bars and an unused alt az mount that will probably hold that thing...

@Megawatt 3 года назад

This guy cracks me up. “The last 95 seconds of video took about twelve and a half hours of work.” Love it! I had the Sky-watcher version. Pretty good scope but the CA was rather annoying.

@ChrisWard-ul1sl 4 месяца назад

I use the Skywatcher 120mm f5 (UK version of the one in this video) for EAA with a ZWO asi224mc camera and it is amazing.

@leatherindian 3 года назад

I really like the comparison without photoshop. It allows us to decide what we can tolerate. Thanks.

@joemuire5250 2 года назад

I brought one of these in March of 2021 I have enjoyed using it, lots of great photos and views though it, it’s a keeper in my book and The chromatic aberration can be reduced in post production, so not a issue. I did find out that you can’t take long shutter speeds on single shot photos, you get star trails after 8 seconds. However I owned a Astro view 90, gave it to my son when I bought the 120, and I missed it a lot, they are hard to fine the 90s, However I located one within 100 miles of my location, picked it up right away only use one time, the same Orion pictures with the 90, Push the shutter speed to 20 seconds and no star trailers. I like the 120, but I love my 90!! Clear Skies

@johnnysager8899 3 года назад

For the money I don't think anyone could complain but some would pick it apart!! I'd buy one !! Good review!!

@ohwell2790 3 года назад

Got the telescope and waiting for the mounting rings and will be happy with it and have a fringe killer that will help.

@NOLASkaGuitarist 3 года назад

I considered this scope for a long time, but many years ago they ran a great Black Friday special at Explore Scientific and I wound up with an ED102. Never looked back after going apo, though I'm sure I would have had good times with a scope like this enjoying wide field low power views.

@cryptojihadi265 3 года назад

You were my hero 18 users ago when I first got back into this after a 20 year hiatus after my childhood telescope ruined me on this hobby. Lol. I got the orion XT8 and it's been an amazing scope. I've wanted a Starmaster 16 or 18 but they shutdown before I could afford one. Got my name on the Astro Physics list a few years ago, so hopefully one day! But all that to say I've enjoyed many hours perusing through your reviews on your site. You're a true credit to the community. You've made a huge impact. And I'm glad you have expensive eyes. Some of us REALLY appreciate that.

@terjeb5721 3 года назад

Hi Ed, I have the similar telescope from Skywatcher, and I like it a lot, even producing some decent photographs with it (but must admit that my 80 mm ED refactor is better for that). For visual I am not that bothered with the blue fringes. For planets I am using a designated filter which works fine.

@richardvonreichestein6920 2 года назад

You know i gotta say i quite like the short tube photo better. It just seems to me that the blue hue makes the brighter stars stick out where as the stowaway looks like a white wash with darker tones. While i am new to all of this and i might be looking at it with newbie eyes and some one with more experience might say i am blind, If those photos were a painting i would pick the short tube to put on my wall 10 times out of 10. Thankyou for this video, now i know what i want for my first real telescope. Richie.

@andreasoberg2021 3 года назад

Great video as always. Clever insight with chromatic aberration. I personally deeply hate chromatic aberration but I also totally understand that others may not have a problem with it.

@patrickdenning5986 3 года назад

I have this scope. Right now it's my primary imaging rig. Yes the CA is horrible. For that reason I use it mainly on dso. Ed what you failed to mention is the focuser. Imo it's a train wreck. I have since upgraded to a gso linear bearing focuser. Yes it cost more than half of what I paid for the scope. It was worth every penny. I get spot on focus without any image shift. I have it on an AVX and as long as you stay away from bright shinny things the CA is manageable. Great review on a great budget scope Patrick

@ObltKG4 3 года назад

Great, informative review. Thank you.

@ChrisinOSMS 3 года назад

Thanks. I think it’s funny that the biggest blue halo in the video is around Ed. I appreciate your reviews and have used your advice to get my middle child into the hobby with the Orion ST80.[arriving Jan/21 🤞🏽] I have also looked at our local library system and found that the HA Rey book and the Cambridge Star Atlas are available. I am also looking for a copy of the Binocular Astronomy but haven’t had luck yet. My 15 yr old has been observing the sky using on old pair of 10x50 binoculars, but isn’t able to steady the image and asked for a telescope for Xmas. I remember my disappointment at my department store telescope I received as a kid, it was good for spying on the kids down the street and looking at the moon, but that was about it. Hopefully following your advice will help his interest in astronomy to thrive.

@Megavoltamper 2 года назад

I have this from SkyWatcher. One of my favorite scopes, I call it the Comet Hunter, it never disappointed me. Someone says, that "even the darkness is like rainbow" in these, but man, those people never looked through one.

@justushartzok6950 3 года назад

I am so glad you made this video review, Ed. I really like refractors, and I wanted to find a reasonably good one that doesn't cost as much as a car. The Orion 120 seems to fit the bill. I need a scope that is easy to load up and take to my dark site. I just can't be lugging big bulky dobs around! So thank you for the in-depth overview; I think I'll get this scope, although currently it is on backorder. Ugh!

@iamsokyut 3 года назад

i ordered mine from amazon, way back in 12/25. they just shipped it today. not sure when i will get it. it says, 2/24.

@oconano 3 года назад

Look at all those freaking stars!!

@Vic-pz5oh 3 года назад

Great video Ed.Bought the st120 skywatcher used in uk.Upgraded the focuser to dual speed.Will have to try astrophotography with it. Just need a gem next😉

@Guido_XL 3 года назад

Same here. The Sky-Watcher Startravel 120T, bought at First Light Optics. Very nice scope at the sweet spot for both beginners and advanced amateurs (as far as I can tell, being a beginner myself). If you can tolerate the chromatic aberration, that is. For not too bright objects, this does not seem to matter that much, I guess. For astrophotography, I intend to use my 190/1000 Mak-Newtonian. It will have to wait until I can afford buying a decent tracking mount. The EQ5 is a good mount, but it is still quite static, unfortunately.

@PetCactusA_HarmlessLittlePrick 2 месяца назад

I have one, I like it. If I had two, I would build a binoscope and I would like that 4 times as much.

@emrahavatar 3 года назад

Your very professional

@EricFullwood 3 года назад

Very high value review. Great job.

@JAKOB1977 3 года назад

how? no live views what so ever, just two highly cherrypicked long exposure DSLR cam-footage suited with affiliate humping links. . so actually not a good review when all is said and done, unless you have a very low "review" standard.

@Guido_XL 3 года назад

@@JAKOB1977 Ed clearly said that this was not going to be quite scientific here. All he wanted to point out is that you can get a decent refractor at the fraction of the cost of an apo, doing a pretty good job, if you can tolerate the chromatic aberration. Yes, we all knew from the start that this was the big issue with cheap two-element refractors, but that does not disqualify Ed's review here.

@Petenz81 2 года назад

Hi Ed, Great video and encouraging for me as I had already bought the 120 F5 Orion and was wondering if I had made a bad error. Wii lookaround for a Baader semi-apo filter. Might be difficult to find in NZ in these lockdown times.

@actros_l8567 2 года назад

7:25 I literally was thinking of asking you what this camera was, now I know :)

@Dirk1Steele 3 года назад

Another great video

@andymiller2485 3 года назад

I've had my Orion120 f5 for a long , long, time. I only use it for deep sky viewing, visual only, and love it. On the second focuser. Loved your review site. I now own all the type 2 Naglers. lol. Any plans on reviewing eyepieces?

@stevenwarner9156 3 года назад

I've got basically the Sky-Watcher version of this, and paired with a Baader Semi-APO filter attached to the upgraded diagonal, it really made visual astronomy an absolute pleasure. The moon gets a faint blue rim, and Mars looked ever so slightly off, but not really noticeable. No barlow used. Unfortunately living up at 59.9 degrees latitude North, the gas giants are just not viable for viewing for another couple of years. Jupiter and Saturn barely poke their heads over the horizon. I got my Sky-Watcher version on the Norwegian version of Craigslist for approx $200, but had to add the filter, a much better William Optics prism diagonal, and some better eyepieces, and I am very impressed. I can go hiking with this telescope in a guitar gigbag, accessories in a back pack, and just carry the alt-az mount. This is rather important as I can't drive! The supplied mount was garbage, so will be getting a Sky-Watcher AZ-4 mount which can take a fair amount of weight, and use it mainly for widefield viewing at dark sites. Think the Orion comes out of the same factory as the Sky-Watcher, so either of them will perform similarly well. For an eminently portable 120 mm refractor, it is a bargain. Just make sure to upgrade the diagonal, eyepieces, and mount if supplied, and maybe look into the semi-APO filter which manages to retain natural looking colours. The Baader Fringe Killer works even better, but gives an overall yellow tone, so if you can stand living with a smidge of CA on bright targets, get the Semi-APO filter instead. I love the crisp views this 'scope gives. Much more portable than my old Tal-1, too!

@Astronurd 2 года назад

I have the Evostar 120 and I also changed the focuser and diagonal to a dual speed and a dielectric. My Evostar is the 1000mm focal length . I bought a 2” semi apo filter and thought it was good but I was told that the Baader contrast booster filter is even better. I bought one myself and found it better indeed.

@stevenwarner9156 2 года назад

@@Astronurd Good to know! Will need to get one myself to compare. Just wish that we'd get clear nights more often up here! Clear skies to ya.

@runfree1361 3 года назад

I have a short tube 120 and its been really great for learning this hobby.

@matifibrahim 3 года назад

Waiting for the day when you will go to star party with your friends and interview other people and share their equipment/experiences with us. I loved the images part but I more kind of like the live view. I mean what actually a human eye can see through these telescopes. ( these images are as much as I know are processed images if I am correct ). But nevertheless great effort by you. Thanks.

@magicnala5538 3 года назад

Thanks

@terryjones8360 2 года назад

I bought one of these from Orion (through Amazon). Orion sent me a used one. I sent it back.

@patrickdenning5986 3 года назад

Hi Ed. I just seen your review of this scope. I own one. The 250 price was a primary factor. The scope you reviewed doesn't appear to have the same stock focuser mine came with. I have upgraded it to a gso linear bearing with dual speed. It was almost impossible to lock focus with the factory unit. The image shift was off the scale. Did you change it or has Orion figured out there stock unit was a train wreck. Enjoying your reviews. And yes I use mine for DSO. AVX mount. Zwo 120 mc guide Canon 20D DSLR astro modded and a Canon 2000D DSLR standard are my primary imaging cams

@kellytaylor3915 5 месяцев назад

Sorry for a few typos.

@RaulRodriguezasteroides 2 года назад

si me quedo con el orion 120 mm, que pasa estimado si tengo además un filtro Baden semi apo ???????? muchas gracias

@hugopritchard8455 3 года назад

I use a V-block filter to get rid of the chromatic aberration. Yes, this scope is a bargain.

@jcpulp4320 Год назад

Ed, great vido, but I was wondering, would you ever recommend a fringe-killer filter to remove the CA from the Orion? I saw your videos and, CA aside, I was a little impressed with how close he images were between the Orion and the AP. I know you mentioned photoshopping out the CA, but wondered if the Baader filter would help. Also, I asked you this before, and you answered, but I can't find that exchange or whihc video it was under. Did you tell me that you sometimes use the Tak Prism 1.25 diag? I bought one and I really like it. I also have the TV, and I think mentioned you have that one, too.

@ohwell2790 3 года назад

Excellent review and might get me one.

@patrickdenning5986 3 года назад

You will like this scope. Just be aware that orion cut costs on the focuser. It's plastic shit

@ohwell2790 3 года назад

@@patrickdenning5986 mine has been on order for 4 months and they say it will ship 3/30/2021 and looking forward to getting it the rings are 36 dollars US. Have everything else.

@ohwell2790 3 года назад

@@patrickdenning5986 You guys that use those words to describe anything is just showing who immature they are and as long as the image does not shift is does not matter what the material is.

@patrickdenning5986 3 года назад

I said that from an experienced pov. Focus was impossible with that train wreck.

@joemuire5250 2 года назад

I have about the same set up as you show here, camera at all I have never gotten as good of pictures as you have here however I have gotten some good pictures of Saturn a little blurry, however I bought a find tune dual focuser from Orion I’m hoping that’s going to cure that. However I haven’t had the scope what about eight months and I have enjoyed it immensely, it’s a great scope and I am learning so much the chromatic aberration doesn’t really bother me I can remove some of it with my photo editing program. Thanks for reviewing however I do have a question how many pieces of glass does this have in it?

@lornaz1975 2 года назад

Seems that it is no longer sold individually on the Orion website. It is sold as a package deal with an EQ mount for $679.

@knightclan4 3 года назад

Is it good to put a 2x Barlow lense with this scope?

@tomcocchiaro3997 10 месяцев назад

Hi Ed, continuing to peruse through your videos, and like you, I feel like I own, or have owned "everything" including the Orion Short Tube 120. I was surprised during your discussion of chromatic aberration that you didn't mention the ways you can temper or get rid of it all together without having to resort to Photoshop --(violet filter) and...just leaving the lens cap on but popping that smaller cover off. When I do that with the moon...no chromatic aberration and sharp views. Same with the brighter planets. What you are effectively doing is reducing the aberration effects of the larger aperture...but then, if you are viewing bright stuff--you don't really need it...right? I still have mine and use it for Messier Marathons. I did make one physical change to it though--I replaced the somewhat sloppy stock focuser with a Moonlite. Sadly you can only get the Moonlites now with motor focusers. Ron stopped making the motorless two-speed models. Sadly too, Orion has stopped selling the 120 Short Tube and one of my other favorite Orion scopes--the 180mm Maksutov.

@ayaye1918 2 года назад

Dear Ed, would using a blue light filter at eye piece end remove the halos?

@ohwell2790 3 года назад

They are $ 281.05 shipped from Orion and the rings shipped are $ 51.00 and mine is coming this week 3/27/2021 been on order for over 3 months because of this c-19 problem.

@jonbottoms8988 11 месяцев назад

The correct term for the Chinese metal is Chinesium

@fernelcruz6423 3 года назад

Hi Ed how are you are you going to see Jupiter and Saturn on 21 December at 5 pm don't forget it for hour

@jongoldsby 3 года назад

But how would the ST120 perform in astrophotography if you used a monochrome camera and filter wheel?

@user-st7hd1bb3y Год назад

i have omni xlt 120 (120/1000) is good affect to work

@jeffblazey612 3 года назад

Ed, I really enjoy your reviews and this one is no exception. I like that you challenged the paradigm that fast achromats are not suitable for astro-photography. When I freeze the North American Nebula comparisons, I find the color balance differences between them interesting and I think I see more red detail in the achromat's image. There are a few things I was surprised you did not comment on such as the spherical correction of this sample in green using a filter, if you saw any astigmatism at higher powers and comments on its mechanical construction and operation. Those comments would have made for a more complete review IMO. But well done and thanks.

@danieljohnkirby9412 Год назад

You mention have a sky quality meter. Where does one get one of those?

@xe1zlgg Год назад

Hi Ed... have ever tried the Chromacor FROM Aries ?

@nomadsempirebuilder9461 8 месяцев назад

Is their an old version and newer revision of the optical Tube?

@rickc661 Год назад

obviously late here. great stuff. of course price is everything. Ya'd probably have to spend more than the tube to get even a decent tripod. IF I was to do it, ( 4 inch refracted, 8 " Newton- Dob ). I'd try building my own ' easy' Dobsonian recognizing time lapse photos don't fly. but that's another $500. + anyway. a sheet of 5 /8 plywood, the 2 vixen type mounts ( tube and base ). 2 inch d. thick tube for the pivot. short 1/2 " or more bolt for base pivot..... presto.

@jimconnoy6133 2 года назад

Is it a good telescope all things considered?. Orion has it for $700. It's complete with an equatorial mount that has a built in polar finder scope

@3dfxvoodoocards6 22 дня назад

Like! There is something I don’t understand about refractors and DSO. If I use for visual observations for example a 150/750 mm F5 achromat and a 150/1200 F8 FPL53 APO, I understand that with the APO the Moon and planets will look 10x better and sharper but how about galaxies ? Will the galaxies look better in a high-quality APO than in a same-aperture short F5 achromat ? (For visual observations only, not astrophotography). Also is the contrast on galaxies better in the APO than in the same size achromat ? Thank you!

@MR.MR.88 2 года назад

Is that a Tube amp on the left Ed ?

@edwardkaneshiro6437 3 года назад

Did you say they made a Brazilian of these telescopes? Now ED, is that more or less than a billion?

@samsheri_michael 2 года назад

Wish i had one😪

@eterenostalgia5088 2 года назад

Here Italy , one question please : for the Moon and planets is better this "Orion Short Tube 120" refractor or the Skywatche heritage 130-650 (newton with parabolic mirror) ?

@edting 2 года назад

If you don't already have a mount for the 120, get the Sky-Watcher because you will spend less. I have a video review of the 150 Sky-Watcher Heritage on this channel.

@genjim100 3 года назад

Thanks for the video! Would you get this scope or the Orion StarMax 127mm? Or is there a third option anyone would recommend? Needs to be smaller and portable. Thanks for the help!

@chadsmith7840 3 года назад

This reply is a little late, but I would get the the 120 refractor instead of the StarMax 127mm, especially if this is your first scope. The 1540mm focal length on the Mak makes it difficult to learn the night sky and find things with, especially when dealing with light pollution. I wish I would have started with the 120 instead of the 127, which was my first scope. Also, the Mak will require a dew shield and doesn't work with 2" eyepieces.

@Guido_XL 3 года назад

@@chadsmith7840 I probably made the same "mistake". As a beginner (which I still am) I first bought the Sky-Watcher 90/1250 Mak because I just wanted to see Jupiter and Saturn. Then, I bought the 120/600 refractor from Sky-Watcher, which opened up the skies for me, combined with some binoculars. I practiced finding M31 Andromeda right away with my Celestron 20/80 binoculars by looking for Cassiopeia (the big "W"), identify Mirach and then slowly move back towards Cassiopeia to find the galaxy. Looking to M31 with the small Mak is not doing much at all. These DSO's are meant to be seen through fast scopes with small focal distances. It does not matter whether you take a Newtonian or a refractor, as long as it is optically fast and it magnifies moderately. For Jupiter and Saturn, you want a Schmidt or a Mak, or a long Newtonian. I am now at a point where I am not unclear anymore about what is technically possible, but what is financially possible.

@BennyKleykens 3 года назад

Does it really require an EQ5 mount? The EQ3 I have on order claims to support up to 17 pounds (8kg) so should support this, right? I've been using a Reflector (8") in a Dobsonian base for some years now and wanted to go to an EQ setup but without the price hike that comes with going EQ5/6... Seems a refractor is the next step but if even this 120mm requires an EQ5 then I'm at a bit of a loss where to go next.

@mitrovarr 3 года назад

I purchased mine used with the Astroview mount it is sometimes sold with. That mount was sufficient, but it's a little shaky and my AVX provides a superior experience. So, I wouldn't say you need an EQ-5 tier mount, but if you have one it will be better.

@bngr_bngr 3 года назад

I have a 400 mm 2.8 and a 600 mm 4.0 for my Canon camera. How would they perform as telescopes?

@Ben_the_Ignorant 3 года назад

Not great. No eyepiece can take an f/2.8 beam so you would have to stop down the 400. The very best and most expensive wide-angle eyepieces can take an f/4 beam but it's at the very limit of what they can accept. Average price wide-angle eyepieces such as Explore Scientific can go as low as f/4.5 but affordable ones (like Telescope Service or OVL-Nirvana) only f/5. That's only one of many factors, to learn about the others check the Cloudy Nights forum, biggest and best astro forum. You'll find all your answers and also answers to questions you didn't think of. Good learning!

@Rich-hy2ey 3 года назад

The f/2.8 forget it. But, it would be interesting to put an eyepiece behind the 600mm too see if it's capable of forming a good image. If it is, then a (what it would be as a telescope) 6 inch f4.0 apochromat would be impressive. IMO, neither lens would likely approach diffraction limitation, but you never know till you try. The only problem is that you won't be able to use a diagonal, only an eyepiece and then only certain eyepieces, the ones that can achieve infinity focus putting them behind the lens. You'd have to fabricate an eyepiece holder, which you can do using a 1-1/4" I.D. piece of tube and a rear lens cap. Put a set-screw (holds an eyepiece) in the tube and cement the tube to the rear lens cap (which you need to drill a hole in it). To determine if the lens is suitable, you'll need at least a medium-power eyepiece, about 100x (so a 6mm eyepiece for the 600mm lens) and there is no guarantee it will come to focus, but it's worth a test.

@GordinhoTube 3 года назад

I wonder if when shooting with a monochrome camera sensor and using RGB filters it is possible to suppress such chromatic aberration? Thank you.

@edting 3 года назад

Hi, the problem is, chromatic aberration is a just a symptom of a larger issue with any achromat. The colors just don't "stay put" either within or away from the visible spectrum. The latter actually causes more problems in imaging. One immediate thing you notice when you start using an apo is how "tight" everything looks. But don't let me stop you, give it a shot!

@GordinhoTube 3 года назад

Thank you very much. :-)

@Omapk 3 года назад

Would this be a good scope just for visual observing?

@Michaelcaba 3 года назад

Yes. See my Comments for more info.

@Guido_XL 3 года назад

Yes! And don't forget the Moon. I have the Sky-Watcher 120T, which is similar to this Orion. Put a 2" 15mm eyepiece on the diagonal or prism, and you can view the Moon in almost the entire field of view with this scope. Of course you can use 1.25" eyepieces, but once you have experienced 2" ones, you don't want to step back to that.