Thanks for the excellent review, Angus. I've been window shopping scopes in this price and size range for grab-n-go visual observing. This is probably not the scope for that, but I enjoyed your video. Clear skies!
Great review. You are spontaneous and human and manage to cover the facts that are lost in many reviews. I am considering one of these and I really appreciated the comparison at the end to show CA images versus the clean images from the AT102EDL. Well done👍
I am so happy to find your video as I was just getting ready to purchase the AT102ED but will now upgrade to the AT102EDL. I am more of a visual style amateur astronomer but I like the idea of having the potential of using a larger telescope for astrophotography. I currently have the little brother Astro-Tech AT72EDII to expand and begin with astrophotography. Also, you do a great job with your videos. It is like being there and discussing astronomy/astrophotography with you. So just keep doing what you are doing because it rocks and yes I subscribed. Clear skies!
Great review. Very interested in your thoughts on how the 102EDL compares to the AT115EDT from an "operational/user" perspective (weight, handling, cooling time, mount stability, etc.). Thanks!
Really cool choice for inexpensive corrected doublet. This is great information for people getting started. I feel like 750mm is the magic number. It’s not far from that but as you say it’s versatile. I think the range is useful throughout the year. I hope you get lots of clear skies. I enjoy your content.
Your reviews continue to feel like genuine reviews and not a sales-pitch. You cover both "what is it suited for" and "how is the raw image quality". We all know that processing is a different beast than equipment used to image and your focus in this video was the telescope itself, not the final result. Well done - again. Keep up the good work.
You're too kind, you forgot about my editing error though, hahahaha. But yeah, if I do a review, I want to try and address things people can't find on a spec sheet, or in the marketing material. Otherwise, I don't see a reason to do these reviews other than "oooOooOoo look what I got" hahaha (I don't really care for that)
Great review, youve got me interested in AstroTech. I enjoyed your speaking voice, music, and overall video. You should do lectures or audiobooks, great authentic and relaxed speaking voice. Thanks for posting video!
Astro-Tech buys many parts from Taiwan and Japan and assemble them in Norman Oklahoma. I looked at my AT 102 ED and cannot find anything that says where it is built. If you go to their office it is not a store, it is a workshop and factory. Mention the rack and pinion awesome focuser that goes out to 93mm or 3.66". You want a 1/10th wave diagonal to go with that .95 Strehl ratio, means a 99% mirror that's flat.
This is an excellent scope, I actually think my EDL has better color correction than my 130 EDT, and that's a good scope. Astrotech is a great value in astronomy.
Hi Angus I've recently bought the Altair Astro 102 EDR second hand for a steal, which is very similar to the Astrotec 102. I've yet to give it a first light but hoping to soon. Mine does state that it has the FPL53 glass lens cell so if the results by yours are anything to go by I think I'm going to have some fun imaging with it. Great video as always clear skies!!
That makes me happy, the goal of these reviews is to hopefully alert people about "lower" cost options that can still yield outstanding results in this expensive hobby of ours. I am really glad you are happy with your telescope!
Stuck my toe in with a shorttube 80 ota for $85 open box…saw Jupiters cloud bands, it’s moons and now I’m hooked. $20 eyepiece. $6 thrift store mount. 1 year with my current rig - straight to this scope.
I was really hoping that you would compare it with your AT115 since they are so close range in price, focal length and aperture… not a comparison video per se but just a small section of your impressions since you have the AT115 in high regards…
With a focal reducer you do have some control over focal length and focal ratio. Indeed a field flattener is necessary for most refractors,(if it isn't built into the telescope), and most come combined. So you can purchase a reducer/flattener that will both flatten the field and shorten the focal length and make the focal ratio go down as well and make the scope faster.
A guide scope can be mounted to the handle that comes with that scope; you just need some additional hardware; if that guide scope you're using uses the common finder dovetail, all you need is a dovetail base for a finder scope which you can mount to the handle that comes with the scope - it has holes and slots.
Thanks! That's awesome to hear. I figured that's why the holes were there on the handle bar. But my spare WO handle/saddle bar was a simpler solution, so I just went with it.
I like have you've replaced the scope holder on the EQ5 with a better ADM one. Scope is nice, i'm looking at getting this one or the 125. Update I got this one: AT102EDL.
As always, great and instructive video : the astrotech brand isn’t available here in Europe but we can find those scopes under the brand ts optics and in the same price range. Really good bang for the bucks. I think I would go for this type of scope, if didn’t already own a 150mm reflector. It’s always a pleasure to follow your « Astro journey » on yt : keep on the good work buddy !
I think the equivalent of the Astro-Tech brand maybe Altair Astro. You should check and see if they have a similarly spec'd "102" in their line up. 😁 And thank you for your continued support!
I believe Synta makes these scopes for different companies so Skywatcher, Orion, Meade and Celestron use the same basic scopes and do their own modifications and re- branding. At least that's what I've read. The real thing is what glass do they use for the objective lenses. OHara fluorite FPL-53, 55 and Hoya FCD 100 are the most desirable and best synthetic fluorite glass. This makes even doublet refractors have fantastic color correction. Not as good as triplets but very good and much less expensive.
First of all amazing review man, you were sharing the experience and analysis, which is enabler for ppl like us to decide which scope to choose from. I have a two questions, which stand are you using or what is called? Secondly difference between AT102EDL and AT102ED? Can you shed some light? Thanks man appreciate your effort goood work
Thanks buddy, I'll try to keep the videos coming! I've got one coming next to talk about why galaxies are so difficult. 1) I'm not what you mean by "stand"? The thing I rest my laptop on or my mount? 2) EDL model uses FCD-100 glass + Lanthanum. ED model uses an older FK-61 glass only. Optically, the EDL is superior than the ED model.
Well that Optolong 3nm would last you a long long time. Especially with how well it performs and being halo free. If you look at the market, I think those Optolong 3nm are underpriced to be honest... Same with this AT102EDL! Nevermind that it's a doublet, with its FCD100 and Lanthanum, no one would know it's only a doublet! Another Astro-Tech scope that punches way above its price point.
That's NOT the same scope as the Svbony 102mm SV503. That scope is equivalent to the AstroTech AT102ED which sells for $649 ($50 cheaper than the Svbony) . Those scopes use FK-61 glass. The AstroTech AT102EDL uses better ED glass, FCD-100, as well as Lanthanum glass for the other element.
@@videotrexx have to agree with you here. Which is why I thought highly of this AT102EDL. It's pretty amazing for them to offer both FCD100 and Lanthanum at this price point.
@@nocturneastro2539 The SV503 102 is the same scope. Multiple testers on cloudy nights confirmed this. So the focal reducer from SVBONY would work with the AT102ED
@@TheNarrowbandChannel I believe the focal reducer would work. (As long as the fitment is fine, most are universal) But please know that the SVBONY 102 is NOT the same as this Astro-Tech AT102EDL. At the very least, the SVBONY doesn't use the FCD100 glass, nor does it have lanthanum.
FWIW: I think of the Strehl ratio as roughly representing the fraction of light from a point source (like a star) that's landing inside the lens's theoretical/ideal "airy disk" (i.e: landing inside the lens's diffraction limited point spread function). With respect to figuring lenses, the Strehl ratio is completely independent of seeing conditions...
Yeap , it's the amount of light in the centre of a airy disk, the rest is scattered into diffraction rings/patterns all relates to surface accuracy of the lens and the smoothness of the figure..0.95 is great!
I would say, about the handlebar, that if it has slotted holes and or threaded holes it is designed to attach a guidescope bracket using nuts and bolts or threaded bolts to it. Essentially you would have a stack of both the handlebar and the guidescope bracket.??? Not sure. If you would hold the handlebar up to the camera and let us have a look at it. Good video though. I'm just discovering the quality and advantages of doublets. Cost for one. Availability also. With the pandemic astrophotography has exploded in popularity so many of the popular refractors are out of stock and or, in the case of the Redcat 51mm, is being re-designed. William Optics Zenithstar 61mm Doublet on its way the day after tomorrow. It uses FPL-53 as it's primary objective lens. Clear skies.
@@nocturneastro2539 thanks! I have a 3.9F 800 focal length Newtonian which has worked really well but I’m keen on a refractor (something less heavy and big).. I was hoping to get something around 500-600mm docs length to complement the newt.. do you know if I can use a 0.8x reducer for it? Or would you recommend any other scopes?
@@Durrani1984 unfortunately I'm not too familiar with the market in the 500-600mm range. Seems like there's a bunch of stuff before 500mm, and a bunch of stuff after 700mm. But not much in between. 🤔
@@nocturneastro2539 Great. I'm off tomorrow just in case but in the future I will know I don't have to be. As for the scope My impression from everyone is that its great especially for the money and to get one while they are still available is a smart move.
liked the video but why do YT people always crank up that stupid annoying music ? The music is ok at lower volumes but it was a good 3-4 db above your talking voice so when it kicked in, it was too damn loud. Just saying.
@@nocturneastro2539 it being super loud and annoying sounded good to you ? I guess if all the other YTers jumped off a bridge you would do that to ? People with earphone DO NOT like having the sound get super loud all of a sudden nor do many other people in general. I have sen many comments about too loud audio so there are many like me as well. I am not against the music, but the fact it was very much louder than the voice level just before it.
@@batsonelectronics I edited the video on headphones and it was fine for me. So I left it as so. If it's too loud for you, then that's you. Unfortunately I can't hear what you hear. And no, I won't be jumping off the bridge and I hope you realize how insensitive that is to say. So if you can't tolerate the music and how I use it, then move on.
@@nocturneastro2539 you literally made a comment about "following the crowd" and then say I am insensitive about the age old comeback to " following the crowd" ( mothers across the country use that to teach kids not to just do what others do ) You could have just acknowledged the complaint and said that is how you edit, and all would have been fine. But nope, you had to insult and attack me instead. Yes, I will move on.
@@batsonelectronics no, I said for you to go ask the other TH-camrs. It's your problem, I'm not responsible for what is considered as loud to you as I don't hear the same. And yeah, I'm also no obligation to listen to you or do what you want me to do with my own content. And after that comment, I damn sure won't even listen to some douchebag online says. So, you can keep watching if you want, but if not, bye! You must be delirious to think I should do exactly what you say. Make sure you go onto all of the other TH-camrs and complain about their music too, across all genres.
Thanks for the excellent review, Angus. I've been window shopping scopes in this price and size range for grab-n-go visual observing. This is probably not the scope for that, but I enjoyed your video. Clear skies!
Great review. You are spontaneous and human and manage to cover the facts that are lost in many reviews. I am considering one of these and I really appreciated the comparison at the end to show CA images versus the clean images from the AT102EDL. Well done👍
I am so happy to find your video as I was just getting ready to purchase the AT102ED but will now upgrade to the AT102EDL. I am more of a visual style amateur astronomer but I like the idea of having the potential of using a larger telescope for astrophotography. I currently have the little brother Astro-Tech AT72EDII to expand and begin with astrophotography. Also, you do a great job with your videos. It is like being there and discussing astronomy/astrophotography with you. So just keep doing what you are doing because it rocks and yes I subscribed. Clear skies!
Great review. Very interested in your thoughts on how the 102EDL compares to the AT115EDT from an "operational/user" perspective (weight, handling, cooling time, mount stability, etc.). Thanks!
You do a GREAT job with your reviews.
I love your sense of humor and you are very talented.
Joe D
Really cool choice for inexpensive corrected doublet. This is great information for people getting started. I feel like 750mm is the magic number. It’s not far from that but as you say it’s versatile. I think the range is useful throughout the year. I hope you get lots of clear skies. I enjoy your content.
Your reviews continue to feel like genuine reviews and not a sales-pitch. You cover both "what is it suited for" and "how is the raw image quality". We all know that processing is a different beast than equipment used to image and your focus in this video was the telescope itself, not the final result. Well done - again. Keep up the good work.
You're too kind, you forgot about my editing error though, hahahaha. But yeah, if I do a review, I want to try and address things people can't find on a spec sheet, or in the marketing material. Otherwise, I don't see a reason to do these reviews other than "oooOooOoo look what I got" hahaha (I don't really care for that)
Great review, youve got me interested in AstroTech. I enjoyed your speaking voice, music, and overall video. You should do lectures or audiobooks, great authentic and relaxed speaking voice. Thanks for posting video!
Astro-Tech buys many parts from Taiwan and Japan and assemble them in Norman Oklahoma. I looked at my AT 102 ED and cannot find anything that says where it is built. If you go to their office it is not a store, it is a workshop and factory. Mention the rack and pinion awesome focuser that goes out to 93mm or 3.66". You want a 1/10th wave diagonal to go with that .95 Strehl ratio, means a 99% mirror that's flat.
This is an excellent scope, I actually think my EDL has better color correction than my 130 EDT, and that's a good scope. Astrotech is a great value in astronomy.
That's great to hear! Never had the chance to try the 130.
Hi Angus I've recently bought the Altair Astro 102 EDR second hand for a steal, which is very similar to the Astrotec 102. I've yet to give it a first light but hoping to soon. Mine does state that it has the FPL53 glass lens cell so if the results by yours are anything to go by I think I'm going to have some fun imaging with it.
Great video as always clear skies!!
Props to Astronomics for sending you a sample. They've been supporting the amateur community for years. Waving a hand..from SoCal :)
Of the 4 Astro-Tech that I've used (1 I personally own), they have all exceeded my expectations. I have had nothing but fantastic experience.
Thanks for the video, I have this scope and agree, probably the best scope you can buy at this price point
I bought one of these after watching this video several times. I am not disappointed👍
That makes me happy, the goal of these reviews is to hopefully alert people about "lower" cost options that can still yield outstanding results in this expensive hobby of ours. I am really glad you are happy with your telescope!
Another very informative video, thank you and clear skies
Thank you! Appreciate it! Come back for more! Clear skies buddy.
Stuck my toe in with a shorttube 80 ota for $85 open box…saw Jupiters cloud bands, it’s moons and now I’m hooked. $20 eyepiece. $6 thrift store mount. 1 year with my current rig - straight to this scope.
I was really hoping that you would compare it with your AT115 since they are so close range in price, focal length and aperture… not a comparison video per se but just a small section of your impressions since you have the AT115 in high regards…
Agree, very interested in Angus' thoughts on using each from an "operational" perspective (weight, handling, cooling time, etc.). Thanks!
@@jimcummings1085 Im even more interested on image quality, specially color aberrations and fringes
Hey Angus Great vid. Leo triplet doublet scope single night. 3-2-1-Go!!😀
Thank you! :) Hope you liked it! Oh man, I wish astrophotography was as easy as "3-2-1-Go!!!" though... hahhaaha
Oh man, I need to check my edits better. 😬😅 Sorry about that brief editing mistake!
With a focal reducer you do have some control over focal length and focal ratio. Indeed a field flattener is necessary for most refractors,(if it isn't built into the telescope), and most come combined. So you can purchase a reducer/flattener that will both flatten the field and shorten the focal length and make the focal ratio go down as well and make the scope faster.
A guide scope can be mounted to the handle that comes with that scope; you just need some additional hardware; if that guide scope you're using uses the common finder dovetail, all you need is a dovetail base for a finder scope which you can mount to the handle that comes with the scope - it has holes and slots.
Thanks! That's awesome to hear. I figured that's why the holes were there on the handle bar. But my spare WO handle/saddle bar was a simpler solution, so I just went with it.
And where did you get the info about the Lens coating and the glass used?
You can see them on astronomic's webpage
I like have you've replaced the scope holder on the EQ5 with a better ADM one. Scope is nice, i'm looking at getting this one or the 125. Update I got this one: AT102EDL.
As always, great and instructive video : the astrotech brand isn’t available here in Europe but we can find those scopes under the brand ts optics and in the same price range. Really good bang for the bucks. I think I would go for this type of scope, if didn’t already own a 150mm reflector.
It’s always a pleasure to follow your « Astro journey » on yt : keep on the good work buddy !
I think the equivalent of the Astro-Tech brand maybe Altair Astro. You should check and see if they have a similarly spec'd "102" in their line up. 😁 And thank you for your continued support!
I believe Synta makes these scopes for different companies so Skywatcher, Orion, Meade and Celestron use the same basic scopes and do their own modifications and re- branding. At least that's what I've read. The real thing is what glass do they use for the objective lenses. OHara fluorite FPL-53, 55 and Hoya FCD 100 are the most desirable and best synthetic fluorite glass. This makes even doublet refractors have fantastic color correction. Not as good as triplets but very good and much less expensive.
First of all amazing review man, you were sharing the experience and analysis, which is enabler for ppl like us to decide which scope to choose from. I have a two questions, which stand are you using or what is called? Secondly difference between AT102EDL and AT102ED? Can you shed some light?
Thanks man
appreciate your effort
goood work
Thanks buddy, I'll try to keep the videos coming! I've got one coming next to talk about why galaxies are so difficult.
1) I'm not what you mean by "stand"? The thing I rest my laptop on or my mount?
2) EDL model uses FCD-100 glass + Lanthanum. ED model uses an older FK-61 glass only. Optically, the EDL is superior than the ED model.
I watched your Optolong video last week and ended up buying a set, now I'm feeling an itch for the AT102. My wallet's crying😂
Well that Optolong 3nm would last you a long long time. Especially with how well it performs and being halo free. If you look at the market, I think those Optolong 3nm are underpriced to be honest... Same with this AT102EDL! Nevermind that it's a doublet, with its FCD100 and Lanthanum, no one would know it's only a doublet! Another Astro-Tech scope that punches way above its price point.
You mentioned using a mini computer in one of your videos. Could you tell us what you use or perhaps even do a video on it?
You should try the SVBONY dedicated focal reducer with it. It is the same scope as their 102mm ED SV503.
I would, but unfortunately I don't have access to that scope.
That's NOT the same scope as the Svbony 102mm SV503. That scope is equivalent to the AstroTech AT102ED which sells for $649 ($50 cheaper than the Svbony) . Those scopes use FK-61 glass. The AstroTech AT102EDL uses better ED glass, FCD-100, as well as Lanthanum glass for the other element.
@@videotrexx have to agree with you here. Which is why I thought highly of this AT102EDL. It's pretty amazing for them to offer both FCD100 and Lanthanum at this price point.
@@nocturneastro2539 The SV503 102 is the same scope. Multiple testers on cloudy nights confirmed this. So the focal reducer from SVBONY would work with the AT102ED
@@TheNarrowbandChannel I believe the focal reducer would work. (As long as the fitment is fine, most are universal) But please know that the SVBONY 102 is NOT the same as this Astro-Tech AT102EDL. At the very least, the SVBONY doesn't use the FCD100 glass, nor does it have lanthanum.
Do you have the flattener for it?
How does it perform as pure visual telescope?
FWIW: I think of the Strehl ratio as roughly representing the fraction of light from a point source (like a star) that's landing inside the lens's theoretical/ideal "airy disk" (i.e: landing inside the lens's diffraction limited point spread function).
With respect to figuring lenses, the Strehl ratio is completely independent of seeing conditions...
That's information I am not familiar with and happy to learn more!
Yeap , it's the amount of light in the centre of a airy disk, the rest is scattered into diffraction rings/patterns all relates to surface accuracy of the lens and the smoothness of the figure..0.95 is great!
I would say, about the handlebar, that if it has slotted holes and or threaded holes it is designed to attach a guidescope bracket using nuts and bolts or threaded bolts to it. Essentially you would have a stack of both the handlebar and the guidescope bracket.??? Not sure. If you would hold the handlebar up to the camera and let us have a look at it. Good video though. I'm just discovering the quality and advantages of doublets. Cost for one. Availability also. With the pandemic astrophotography has exploded in popularity so many of the popular refractors are out of stock and or, in the case of the Redcat 51mm, is being re-designed. William Optics Zenithstar 61mm Doublet on its way the day after tomorrow. It uses FPL-53 as it's primary objective lens. Clear skies.
Great video, really appreciate it. Can I ask did you use a corrector/reducer with it? If not do you know which one works best with the 102?
I used the Hotech SCA 1:1 field flattener. It's been universal fit for me.
@@nocturneastro2539 thanks! I have a 3.9F 800 focal length Newtonian which has worked really well but I’m keen on a refractor (something less heavy and big).. I was hoping to get something around 500-600mm docs length to complement the newt.. do you know if I can use a 0.8x reducer for it? Or would you recommend any other scopes?
@@Durrani1984 though I haven't had the chance to personally use it, but have you considered the William Optics FLT91?
The Williams optics options do look tempting.. a little pricey but definitely tempting!
@@Durrani1984 unfortunately I'm not too familiar with the market in the 500-600mm range. Seems like there's a bunch of stuff before 500mm, and a bunch of stuff after 700mm. But not much in between. 🤔
Like
What kind of mount are you using?
The mount in the video was a Sky-Watcher HEQ5.
Mine comes tomorrow. Did you have to sign for yours? Fedex is stating I do. Just wondering if that is the case.
Nope, and congrats on your new telescope!
@@nocturneastro2539 Great. I'm off tomorrow just in case but in the future I will know I don't have to be. As for the scope My impression from everyone is that its great especially for the money and to get one while they are still available is a smart move.
One fcd-100 element, one lanthanum element
Or you want to do visual
Ｐｒⓞм𝕠𝕤𝐌 🙌
liked the video but why do YT people always crank up that stupid annoying music ? The music is ok at lower volumes but it was a good 3-4 db above your talking voice so when it kicked in, it was too damn loud. Just saying.
Because it sounded good when I was editing. You should go and ask all of the other people on TH-cam why they do it.
@@nocturneastro2539 it being super loud and annoying sounded good to you ? I guess if all the other YTers jumped off a bridge you would do that to ? People with earphone DO NOT like having the sound get super loud all of a sudden nor do many other people in general. I have sen many comments about too loud audio so there are many like me as well. I am not against the music, but the fact it was very much louder than the voice level just before it.
@@batsonelectronics I edited the video on headphones and it was fine for me. So I left it as so. If it's too loud for you, then that's you. Unfortunately I can't hear what you hear. And no, I won't be jumping off the bridge and I hope you realize how insensitive that is to say. So if you can't tolerate the music and how I use it, then move on.
@@nocturneastro2539 you literally made a comment about "following the crowd" and then say I am insensitive about the age old comeback to " following the crowd" ( mothers across the country use that to teach kids not to just do what others do ) You could have just acknowledged the complaint and said that is how you edit, and all would have been fine. But nope, you had to insult and attack me instead. Yes, I will move on.
@@batsonelectronics no, I said for you to go ask the other TH-camrs. It's your problem, I'm not responsible for what is considered as loud to you as I don't hear the same. And yeah, I'm also no obligation to listen to you or do what you want me to do with my own content. And after that comment, I damn sure won't even listen to some douchebag online says. So, you can keep watching if you want, but if not, bye! You must be delirious to think I should do exactly what you say. Make sure you go onto all of the other TH-camrs and complain about their music too, across all genres.