| This Explore Scientific ES127 refractor has:
• 127mm f/7.5 fully multicoated triplet optics using a Hoya FPL51-equivalent ED element
• dual-speed 2" Crayford focuser with 10:1 ratio fine focusing
• 2" dielectric star diagonal with 2" and 1.25" brass compression ring eyepiece holders
• 8 x 50mm illuminated erect-image/right-reading finderscope
• dual split mounting rings with dovetail for installing on a Vixen-style altazimuth or German equatorial mount
• flight-ready travel case
• lifetime transferrable limited warranty
With a 5" (127mm) aperture, this Explore Scientific ES127 ED triplet refractor gathers 55% more light (with nearly 25% higher resolution) than the more common size 102mm (4") doublet and triplet refractors that often cost nearly as much as the ES127.
The Explore Scientific ES127 uses a premium Hoya ED glass element and state-of-the-art optical multicoatings in its apochromatic air-spaced ED triplet optics. The result is images that are essentially free of the annoying halo of unfocused violet light (chromatic aberration) that mars the view of bright stars and solar system objects in lesser scopes, despite the scope’s relatively large aperture, and even at very high magnifications.
The 127mm Explore Scientific triplet optics are even more appealing when you consider that this Explore Scientific apo is loaded with features other manufacturers charge extra for (or don’t even have available) – such as an illuminated 8 x 50mm finderscope with erect right-reading images, a 2" dielectric star diagonal with 1.25" and 2" compression ring accessory holders, and a flight-ready carrying case.
The Explore Scientific ES127 is a natural on an equatorial mount as the heart of your primary observing system. In addition, it’s an excellent astrograph for serious wide field imaging, as well as crisp solar system imaging. Considering its surprisingly reasonable price for a 5" apochromatic triplet, adding in the extra features you get at no extra cost, and in view of the great optical performance that comes as standard equipment, the 5" Explore Scientific ES127 is a terrific buy!
Features of this Telescope . . . - ED triplet refractor optics: 127mm (5") aperture, 952mm focal length, f/7.5 focal ratio three-lens air-spaced optical system. The optics use a center lens element of Hoya FCD1 (Dense Fluor Crown) glass, the Hoya equivalent of FPL-51 ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass. This ED element produces superior sharpness and color correction by minimizing the chromatic aberration, the “false" color fringing seen around bright objects when light rays pass through standard crown-and-flint doublet objectives, particularly those with apertures in the ES127 class. The result is to reduce spurious color halos and fringing to vanishingly low levels.
- Fully multicoated optics: The ES127 triplet objective lens has EMD™ (Enhanced Multilayer Deposition) antireflection multicoatings on all air-to-glass surfaces for high light transmission, minimal light scatter, and excellent contrast.
- Internal light baffles: Contrast-enhancing internal light baffles and a specially darkened tube interior provide dark sky backgrounds and high terrestrial contrast.
- Collimatable optics: One of the bonuses of owning a refractor is that, compared to standard reflector telescopes, they almost never require realigning of the optics (collimation). However, any air-spaced refractor telescope may require optical recentering if the lens elements are knocked out of alignment by a heavy blow during shipping or use. Removing the dew shield will give you access to the lens centering screws in the sides of the lens cell, which you can then adjust yourself by referring to the supplied instructions. You can also send your scope to Explore Scientific’s Service Center for precision alignment. A standard service charge applies for factory realignment.
- Dew shield: The supplied retractable dew shield slows the formation of dew on the lens in cold weather to extend your undisturbed observing time. It also improves the contrast, similar to the effect of the lens shade on a camera lens, when observing during the day or when there is excessive ambient light at night, such as a neighbor’s backyard security light. A slip-on metal dust cap is standard.
- Dual speed 2" Crayford-style focuser: The precision-made no-backlash focuser has dual-speed focusing. There are two coarse focusing knobs. The right knob also has a smaller concentric knob with a 10:1 reduction gear microfine focusing ratio. This provides exceptionally precise image control during high magnification visual observing and critical 35mm or CCD imaging. The large focus knobs have ribbed gripping surfaces so they are easy to operate, even while wearing gloves or mittens in cold weather. The focuser drawtube has a scale marked in centimeters and 1mm increments. This lets you note individual focuser positions for easy return to the correct focus when switching between visual use and photography. Two knobs underneath the focuser lets you adjust the tension on the drawtube to accommodate varying eyepiece/photo accessory loads, as well as firmly lock in a photographic focus.
- 2" dielectric star diagonal and compression ring eyepiece holders: The supplied standard equipment 2" mirror star diagonal of the ES127 slips into the focuser drawtube’s 2" eyepiece/accessory holder. The 2" diagonal has 99% reflectivity dielectric mirror coatings for high light transmission. The star diagonal uses a non-marring soft brass compression ring to hold 2" eyepieces in place. The compression ring won’t scratch the barrel of your 2" eyepieces as an ordinary thumbscrew can. A supplied 1.25" accessory adapter slips into the 2" diagonal to let you use 1.25" eyepieces in the 2" diagonal. The 1.25" accessory adapter can also be inserted into the 2" accessory holder on the focuser drawtube to let you use a 1.25" image erecting diagonal, or 1.25" photographic accessories. Like the 2" eyepiece holder on the diagonal, the 1.25" adapter also uses a non-marring soft brass compression ring to hold 1.25" star diagonals and accessories in place.
- Finderscope: The Explore Scientific ES127 comes with an 8 x 50mm straight-through finderscope with a wide 6° field of view. It is mounted in a quick-release bracket using dual-ring six-point collimation. The finder is fully-multicoated to insure maximum brightness and contrast. A precision-polished roof prism in the finder produces images that are right-side-up and left-to-right correct. In other words, the sky is not upside-down and backwards as it is in most straight-through finders. You can independently focus both the finderscope objective to make the stars pinpoint sharp and sharply focus the crosshairs in the finder’s illuminated reticle eyepiece. The unique illuminated reticle has crosshairs with an open circle in the center (so you don't mask the object you are centering with the crosshairs). There are scale markings on the crosshairs for 1.5°, 3°, and 4.5° fields (the edge of the field of view is the 6° boundary).
- Mounting rings and dovetail: The ES127 has dual split mounting rings with a dovetail plate that fits the Vixen-style dovetail slot on the head of many of the most popular medium capacity German equatorial mounts. Such mounts include the Celestron Advanced Series go-to equatorials, the Meade LXD-75 go-to equatorial, and the Vixen Sphinx and Great Polaris Deluxe equatorial mounts, among others. A spacer/stabilizing bar on the top of the rings provides a carrying handle that makes it easy to transport the optical tube and install it on your equatorial mount.
- Five year warranty: This individually serial numbered Explore Scientific product is backed by a limited one year warranty, which will be extended to an Explore Scientific STAR lifetime transferrable limited warranty when the product warranty card is registered with Explore Scientific within 60 days of purchase. For full details on this unique transferrable lifetime warranty, click on this link.
|
Printer friendly version
Email page link to a friend
Do you have a question about this product?
Terestrial Photography
Lunar Photography
