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United StatesOnce the scope is aligned it offers good images. If I was not an experienced astronomer with a good friend that builds telescopes, it may have been difficult to get it aligned. Scope works well with the 9 mm Nagler , but nobody’s going to use that eyepiece with it. The manual does not include info on the scope... only on the refractor. Once aligned, I am impressed.
Excellent love it! Great Service great scope
Steady focuser does not drift, easily adjusted finder alignment. I too see vibrations from the mount, but these go away quickly. Considering the price a few seconds for vibration to damp out seems like a good trade. With the 20mm eyepiece in I don't notice the vibration as much.
This Telescope gives eye watering views, I take her out on every clear night, and it always impresses. This is no Toy. Just a pure scope that is a joy to own. I suggest a ***** 30 mm Wide View eyepiece plus a 2-X shorty Barlow, and lastly Vixens 8-24 mm Zoom, and you are Good. Lastly, its Pretty with the white paint and red Vix. lettering in my Mancave...
I ordered this scope after the 2012 SCAE event. 2 1/2 days later it was on m doorstep. Now that's service. Scope and tripod came in separate, well protected packages. Owner's manual has no instructions for collimation -- fortunately I know how but a newbie.... When assembled I checked the collimation with a laser and found it was slightly out. Primary mirror adjusts with the common 3 adjusting screws and 3 locking screws. Last Saturday was the official first light. I was surprised bordering on amazed that a scope this inexpensive could produce images as good as I saw. I used various TV Radians and Hyperions, finally settling on the 13mm Hyp for all-round use that night. On axis the stars were classic pinpoints. There was a little coma around the edges but this is an f/5 scope with no Parecor afterall. If there is a weak spot it is the Porta II not the tripod as many have said in vrs. reviews. I don't mean disastrously weak, just that it can take 1 - 3 seconds to settle down after moving the scope or focusing. This can be helped some with anti-vibration pads and judicious use of the plastic R&P focuser, but the mount itself wiggles a bit when you move the scope. Definitely not a deal killer though. If I were to put this scope on my CG5 or my heavy duty SV M3 alt/az there would be NO vibe at all. I'm normally a refractor snob but this ***** definitely impressed me. Bottom line: I would recommend this scope for any beginner or for an experienced observer who wants a decent second or third scope to chuck in the trunk and take to an outreach or for a quick session in the back yard. The mirror in mine is very, very good. I hope all the R130's are as good. Great job *****.
At 130mm this scope yields high definition views when used with quality eyepieces. The apparent brightness and clarity exceeds that of a prior owned 8 scope from a well-known manufacturer. Construction is highest quality. The Porta II Mount and tripod are rock steady and the worm geared altitude and azimuth controls are extremely smooth with perfect motion ratio and no Xbacklash. Portability is excellent when tube and mount are carried and transported as two pieces. This is a much better scope than any of the popular well-known automatic 8 Newtonians, and would be a bargain at twice the price. Have had it more than two years and its imaging and mechanical performance have been unbeatable. This is an honest appraisal - try one and you'll buy one.