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Explore Scientific ED127 127mm f/7.5 Carbon Fiber

ZWO AM5 ZWO EAF Equipment Refractors
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SouthWestAstro avatar
SouthWestAstro avatar
I'm relatively new to Astrobin. I recently bought an Explore Scientific ED127 127mm f/7.5 carbon fiber refractor. I didn't think I would ever own a 5 inch APO because most of them are really quite heavy and those that aren't are outside my budget. But just this week I found that the ES ED127 carbon fiber triplet was on sale at about 25% off so i took the plunge. In addition to its fine optics it weighs only 14lb. This is outside a 12lb limit I had previously imposed for any item in my gear but not by much. I'm 68 and I don't like lifting stuff.

I'll mount it primarily on my ZWO AM5 and sometimes on my Stellarvue M2C for visual.

I'll be putting a ZWO EAF on it and I believe that should ameliorate issues with the focuser that have been discuss. I have the ES 0.7 reducer/flattener and also the HoTech 2" SCA Field Flattener for imaging in prime focus or with Powermates.

I look forward to any comments/suggestion/observations that you may have.

Clear Skies !


ps. Boy, is this scope front heavy !
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F. Londe avatar
F. Londe avatar
I got one for Christmas, used a couple times , and I am really impressed with the quality:

here are the images I got with it:

https://www.astrobin.com/37t595/C/

and

https://www.astrobin.com/sk22uy/

and here is the monster

 https://www.astrobin.com/s581dd/



Clear Skies,
F.
Oscar avatar
Oscar avatar
You chose a very nice refractor. You can load 10lbs of equipment onto the 2.5" focuser! Very good choice, fair price too. For the 5" aperture make sure you have dark skies if you want to do visual.
George M. avatar
George M. avatar
Congratulations on your new Explore Scientific ED127 refractor! It sounds like a great choice, and the lightweight carbon fiber construction should help make it easier to handle.Using a ZWO EAF to focus the telescope should help with the focuser issues you mentioned. It's always a good idea to have a smooth and reliable focuser when imaging or observing.The ES 0.7 reducer/flattener and the HoTech 2" SCA Field Flattener are both excellent options for reducing the focal length of the telescope and providing a flat field for imaging. Just make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for their use and setup to ensure the best results.One thing to keep in mind with a refractor of this size is that it can be front-heavy, as you mentioned. This can be a challenge when it comes to balancing the telescope on the mount. Make sure to take the time to carefully balance the telescope, as an imbalanced setup can cause tracking issues and other problems.Overall, it sounds like you have a great setup for both visual and imaging use. I hope you have clear skies and enjoy your new telescope!
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Paul Puntin avatar
Paul Puntin avatar
Congratulations on the new scope! I bought this scope last year and it is very good. Lightweight as you say but front end heavy. To get balance I added a long adm Losmandy dovetail https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adm-losmandy-type-d-series/adm-losmandy-style-universal-dovetail-bars.html and counterweight kit https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adm-counterweight-kits/adm-dovetail-counterweight-kit-d-series.html.
I have an EAF attached and have had no problems with the focuser. I also use an ZWO OAG which works great. Better than a guidescope I think.

I also use the Hotech flattener and it works really well on this scope. Haven’t had a chance to use the reducer as I found so many targets to image at the full FL.

One thing to be aware of is not to tighten the front clamp too tight as this can cause pinched optics.

It is my favourite scope next to my Redcat and the one I always take out first.

You can see some example images on my Astrobin page https://www.astrobin.com/users/Paul.Puntin/
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SouthWestAstro avatar
SouthWestAstro avatar
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SouthWestAstro avatar
SouthWestAstro avatar
You chose a very nice refractor. You can load 10lbs of equipment onto the 2.5" focuser! Very good choice, fair price too. For the 5" aperture make sure you have dark skies if you want to do visual.

Thanks. I'm a Bortle 5 location so visual is challenging for DSO's but solar system objects are easily observed. I don't to stay up past midnight but my sky is gets pretty good then.
SouthWestAstro avatar
SouthWestAstro avatar
Paul Puntin:
Congratulations on the new scope! I bought this scope last year and it is very good. Lightweight as you say but front end heavy. To get balance I added a long adm Losmandy dovetail https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adm-losmandy-type-d-series/adm-losmandy-style-universal-dovetail-bars.html and counterweight kit https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adm-counterweight-kits/adm-dovetail-counterweight-kit-d-series.html.
I have an EAF attached and have had no problems with the focuser. I also use an ZWO OAG which works great. Better than a guidescope I think.

I also use the Hotech flattener and it works really well on this scope. Haven’t had a chance to use the reducer as I found so many targets to image at the full FL.

One thing to be aware of is not to tighten the front clamp too tight as this can cause pinched optics.

It is my favourite scope next to my Redcat and the one I always take out first.

You can see some example images on my Astrobin page https://www.astrobin.com/users/Paul.Puntin/

Thanks very much for your comments. I have a longer handle and dovetail coming from Astronomies. I got one these previous for my Tak 100mm. The longer handle allows me to use two hands. I'll look into the counterweight kit as well.

Your images are really good. Something to aspire to !
SouthWestAstro avatar
SouthWestAstro avatar
George M.:
Congratulations on your new Explore Scientific ED127 refractor! It sounds like a great choice, and the lightweight carbon fiber construction should help make it easier to handle.Using a ZWO EAF to focus the telescope should help with the focuser issues you mentioned. It's always a good idea to have a smooth and reliable focuser when imaging or observing.The ES 0.7 reducer/flattener and the HoTech 2" SCA Field Flattener are both excellent options for reducing the focal length of the telescope and providing a flat field for imaging. Just make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for their use and setup to ensure the best results.One thing to keep in mind with a refractor of this size is that it can be front-heavy, as you mentioned. This can be a challenge when it comes to balancing the telescope on the mount. Make sure to take the time to carefully balance the telescope, as an imbalanced setup can cause tracking issues and other problems.Overall, it sounds like you have a great setup for both visual and imaging use. I hope you have clear skies and enjoy your new telescope!

Thanks for your comments. I'll be balancing the scope on a table before mounting, with all the rear end accessories (eyepiece, diagonal, cameras etc) attached. I routinely do this for all my scopes with the AM5 already.

I've used the ZWO EAF for visual as well as imaging with my Tak 100mm and my C8. I've been very happy with the results.
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SouthWestAstro avatar
SouthWestAstro avatar
F. Londe:
I got one for Christmas, used a couple times , and I am really impressed with the quality:

here are the images I got with it:

https://www.astrobin.com/37t595/C/

and

https://www.astrobin.com/sk22uy/

and here is the monster

 https://www.astrobin.com/s581dd/



Clear Skies,
F.

Thanks for your comments. Great images.
Oscar avatar
Oscar avatar
You chose a very nice refractor. You can load 10lbs of equipment onto the 2.5" focuser! Very good choice, fair price too. For the 5" aperture make sure you have dark skies if you want to do visual.

Thanks. I'm a Bortle 5 location so visual is challenging for DSO's but solar system objects are easily observed. I don't to stay up past midnight but my sky is gets pretty good then.

I'm also bortle 5 (Supposedly, but I think it is mostly bortle 5.5 until about 2 or 3 AM). What can you see in your bortle 5 location? I just got my new 8" telescope and don't know what to expect.
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SouthWestAstro avatar
SouthWestAstro avatar
I'm a bit of a novice at this.

My image gallery gives a guide to what I can image with my gear. Most were shot between sunset and midnight. The DSO's were all processed just with ASI Studio and I assume better processing and more integration time will reveal more.

I've been unable to do much for 6 weeks due to recovery from foot surgery but I was out with my 7 x 32 and 15 x 75 binoculars a couple of nights and got good views of the Orion nebula, the double cluster and andromeda galaxy.
Eddie Bagwell avatar
Eddie Bagwell avatar
Congrats on your new ES127! I also have the ES127 but the aluminum version and I use it for all of my DSO photography. After you put the ZWO EAF on it you will not have any problems with the focuser. I paired it up with 36mm filters, a ZWO 7x36mm EFW and the ZWO 2600MM. I keep a .8x flattener/reducer on it to make it a little faster at f/6 for imaging and your .7x will make it a speedy f/5.25! My main focus lately has been planetary and emission nebulas.

You can check out my images here:

https://www.astrobin.com/users/Starman609/

Best of Luck!  -Eddie
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SouthWestAstro avatar
SouthWestAstro avatar
Thanks very much. 

I'm thinking to put  Losmandy dovetail on it, primarily to make it easier for my M2C mount but also for more solid mounting in general.

Your images are excellent. I was especially interested in the solar shot. I have a Lunt Ha 50mm which is very nice but you have me thinking with what you get with the ES127 and the daystar.
Nick Grundy avatar
Nick Grundy avatar
You can't beat that weight/aperture ratio in a triplet! I'm constantly eyeballing the EC152 and ED127. Great choice
Pierre Konzelmann avatar
Pierre Konzelmann avatar
This looks like a fantastic scope! I hope to get one someday, to upgrade my Newtonian. 

I recommend you to check out Wissam Ayoub's fantastic pictures, most of them are taken with the ED127. That will give you an idea of what you can achieve with this great telescope -- not to mention Wissam's excellent processing techniques.

https://www.astrobin.com/0l6rbr/
https://www.astrobin.com/ckobje/
https://www.astrobin.com/58cuqx/
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SouthWestAstro avatar
SouthWestAstro avatar
Nick Grundy:
You can't beat that weight/aperture ratio in a triplet! I'm constantly eyeballing the EC152 and ED127. Great choice

Thanks very much.

If it wasn’t for the weight issue I might have gone with one of the Astro-Tech offerings.

I have the AT60ED and AT70ED which are both excellent.
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SouthWestAstro avatar
SouthWestAstro avatar
This looks like a fantastic scope! I hope to get one someday, to upgrade my Newtonian. 

I recommend you to check out Wissam Ayoub's fantastic pictures, most of them are taken with the ED127. That will give you an idea of what you can achieve with this great telescope -- not to mention Wissam's excellent processing techniques.

https://www.astrobin.com/0l6rbr/
https://www.astrobin.com/ckobje/
https://www.astrobin.com/58cuqx/

Thanks very much. This is very helpful.