More than a starter telescope: the SkyWatcher Star Discovery 150P

[@robinenhorn2990]

Thanks for the review, it absolutely sold this for me as the first telescope I've bought, just a minute ago 😅. Not being (easiliy) collamatable is something that's positive to me as I'd more worry about accidentally touch any screws and make it go "off", as I don't have the knowledge (yet? 😇) to fix it if that would happen.

[@mookhok1mookhok140]

I am a complete noob at telescopes, but i do know physics (mech. engineer by trade) and i own the same set. Don't touch the primary mirror (bottom end); you can adjust it a little bit but only if you are very experienced or the manufacturer. The secondary mirror IS adjustable, in fact, my set came with a "blind eye piece" with a tiny hole. meant for collimation. However stick with the saying; "don't fix it, if it isn't broken". E.g. do the star check; 1. Find a random bright star. 2. Intentionally zoom out of focus. 3. This should look like concentric rings with the star still in the center; like a nice spider web or a shooting target. When it looks like 3. describes; don't touch anything and keep observing. When the star isn't in the center and the rings look more like water droplet in shape; now you should adjust your secondary mirror. Check "collimation of reflector telescope" or similar on YT when this occurs.

[@mookhok1mookhok140]

Furthermore, the red dot finderscope is easily put out of alignment by mistaking the on/off knob for any other knob in the dark. At least i did. This is fixed in daytime way easier than after it happened in the dark. I used the moon first to roughly put the finder scope in the general area again. And then a star to adjust it well enough to finish the unaided goto session because of dead batteries.

[@voitekokrzesik4151]

Your movie made me understand the complexity of the system. I see the benefits (and cons) of the new design. To me its better. I watched your movie and just ordered this telescope. Thank you.

[@paulhoward4161]

Nice to see you back and making videos. Your videos have been more help than you could ever possibly know.

[@MyImageEdit]

I just bought this scope purely on this video and all I can say is---Wow what a great scope for a budget entry level instrument. First light showed me tenuous structure to M42, a plethora of stars in the double cluster, mountain peaks inside the craters of the moon and I have not had chance to catch Jupiter yet due to weather but so far....beautiful. The 2 star alignment was a doddle and everything staying in view all night plus every object was centered perfectly. I am only using batteries at the mo but the same 8 are powering this unit for 3 nights now at over 11 hrs of tracking among some lazy slewing lol can't recommend this scope enough. Think some people's expectations are unrealistic...its a £350 scope remember !!! Including some SW or Revelation super plossls the view is breathtaking !!!

[@MyImageEdit]

+MyImageEdit ImageEdit Scope update. I just purchased a VITE collimator..(£17.50 eBay) yer i know...a cheap one, BUT i made a jig for it and tested its alignment and it was pretty much SPOT ON, easy to adjust anyhow, these are the same make as branded ones you pay 4x as much for !!!!! don't be fooled. So i collimated the scope.....now, whether it was a Friday scope or just a rough arsed delivery man, my scope was a mile out. BUT no worries, i plumed the diagonal in in seconds, but the mirror i couldn't move so i decided to take it out to see why, the plastic mirror holder / cell is also lightly stuck in place so inhibited any adjustment, once this glue was cracked and released by gently pulling the cell out i could then replace the cell and collimate with ease. Even though its a 4 screw procedure it was painless. Even out of line i could still see 2 belts on Jupiter but not crisp. Star test also showed alignment was out but had to wait till collimator came which confirmed it. Cant wait now to get back out and test it. I will update asap.

[@Andrew37363-r]

What is the best eyepiece for planets? Like saturn

[@40-50_FIT]

Just ordered this telescope after months of consideration (and saving up!). It will be my first telescope, and I will be sure to post my opinion of it. Great informative video as always. Thank you for picking this telescope, which I've had my eyes on for some time, for review.

[@Paladin966]

Do you still enjoy using it?

[@zirklutesKerpa]

any update? :D

[@doriscanham6929]

i really enjoy your reviews you speak well and in terms i understand (almost) thank you very much

[@magrathean0]

Mine arrived today - and it's a clear night here tonight in the uk :)

[@bigbrain8100]

Is it good?

[@40-50_FIT]

I've used this telescope for 9 months now, and I am really happy with it. I have had some issues with the GoTo feature, however, where the telescope isn't finding the second star when aligning and is considerably off target. I have checked the set up settings, position, time, date, timezone, daylights savings, but haven't discovered the problem. I am now thinking that perhaps the scope needs to be leveled before turned on, but I'm not sure. I have been able to find the targets I want manually, and the tracking works fine, but it is annoying. The telescope offers great views even with the starter lenses.

[@panstantzos3013]

same problem here my friend , but i just discovered that my telephone that i use as remote control has the gps setting off , so the sensor dosent work , i fix it and i will go to the roof to check it if it works , for your own case you find any clues to solve the problem ???

[@starsnstuff842]

23:38 I bought this scope a few months ago its now over £500,which is understandable considering high inflation recently but there are hidden increases to consider as the mount is now fitted with internal WIFI so no hand controller or cables and the Barlow is no longer included. I have tried to use the WIFI on my phone and tablet and found it to be frustrating and unreliable ,but luckily I had a spare handset and cable. The system works well with the hand controller, tracks well and is light enough to be a grab and go telescope and is easily lifted to differant parts of the garden. The collimation was off out of the box but this was easily rectified adjusting the secondary.

[@danniiffxi]

Buying one tomorrow, thanks for the informative review, my 7 year old son has been asking me about the planets and stars for a while now, 13:14 had me sold, great review.

[@julianhumphrey4843]

Very good review, I have this mount but with a Maksutov telescope, a good package, thank you for putting this together

[@dreadnoughtus2598]

Hi, I've just watched a video on KZbin where you show a few Skywatcher Goto telescopes. I've been using a £80 telescope to learn and teach myself the night sky. I am now admitting to myself that I am completely hooked and would like to upgrade and mabey start photography. I've got my eye on the Skywatcher 127 Goto wich in your video you gave a good review on. Is this a suitable telescope for someone like me who is far from a professional but also not a beginner to Astronomy. Eg, can it be fitted with camera, Filters, laptop etc? My thinking was to buy something that I can grow into rather than have to buy again in the future. My observations are normally in a garden but I go to dark places as well. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you can message me back with some advice.

[@edanderson4263]

An excellent review. Thanks so much for doing this.

[@amitpshesh]

Since there are no collimation bolts on the primary, how would you move the primary to get a dslr to focus for prime focus astrophotography? Is there a way to achieve this without using a barlow or cutting the tube?

[@AGAMEDPCELARSTVO]

Haw can I conect SynFiAZ to SkySafari 6 plus? What to write in settings? I have star discovery with wifi adapter... Tnx

[@plymouthwelshboy]

outstanding presentation - thank you - would you still recommend this telescope for beginners in 2021?

[@calimintedaniel94]

Hi, I got the same telescope for my wife as a Christmas present, it`s the wifi mount but the problem is , it has no instructions on how to install it, how to use it. It came with the manual , but the manual was for the version with the remote, we have no remote. I checked all the boxes, called the retailer, he told me everything is done thru the app and connectivity. We can manually look at the moon thru the two eye pieces that were delivered with the box, but nothing more. Can`t seem to figure out how to allign this machine or make it use so we can see some amazing stuff. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[@RocketPlanet]

Hi there, yes it's common to most of the Star Discovery 150Ps that we have seen that the instruction booklet included is for the version with a SynScan hand controller. But the small (8x4x4cm) brown cardboard box containing the WiFi dongle should have a single sheet set of instructions folded up inside the box that will help to get you going. All the other information you need is in the app. If you don't have this sheet you should first go to your retailer for help. If this fails you could go directly to the importer in your country (you don't say where you are). I hope this helps. KR A&NTV

[@marcusraptus]

Excellent review. I hope you want to answer my question. I'm cravitating towards this one with WiFi however the f /5 is a consern in a sense of watching planets in detail. I'm sorta a newcomer. I'm comparing it to the Celestron Astro fi 127 or the 102 with has high f ratio, thank you

[@pspaces]

Hi, can anyone tell me if the mount motor noise is quite acceptable because I'm thinking about my neighbours reactions

[@Taipans]

Old post, but is there a version of this scope sold in the US? I can't find it here.

[@zlata-uk2134]

Hi again, Couple of questions. 1) You say Skywatcher thought hard about the design and upgrades to the mount, tube and tripod including the non collimatable primary cell. 2) You say Skywatcher patented the duel encoder "freedom find" technology. My query is this....Orion supply the EXACT same scope professing the exact same patents etc, so are Skywtcher and Orion sister companies and if so why are Orion always hundreds of pounds dearer for the same product when all are imported ? Both systems use the Chinese company Synta for the optics which lead me to ask who makes the synscan hand set that both Orion and SW use ? Thanks for this info :)

[@poruatokin]

Very old reply, but it is my understanding that Skywatcher is a direct sales channel from Synta, whereas Orion is a licensed re-brand only in certain territories. They may have added some specs, or may have put together certain packages of parts. The reason I am saying this is because I don't live in the USA or Europe and it is impossible for me to purchase an Orion branded scope - they simply refuse to ship them outside their territory, probably due to their contract with Synta. I can, on the other hand buy the Skywatcher counterpart.

[@DoomWalker42]

It costs £529 now and VGA ports are more dead then ever with most graphics cards or PCs having only HDMI or display port. Is there a more modern up-to-date scope with these features around this price point?

[@waynegarrett1614]

Hello, if i purchase the goto mount would it be ok to fit a Skywatcher Telescope N 150/750 PDS Explorer BD which is around 5kg?

[@ruzeenfarsad367]

I find myself getting more and more addicted to telescopes and now I want to own my own observatory/telescope shop like you have! how can I get started?

[@Jahthinker]

Hi there. I just bought an used one, and it´s my first time with telescope. Just wondering. Why is the image 45 degree insteed of upsidedown ? Is there any wrong with mine or it is normal ? Do you have any tip of an forum for this telescope ? /Magnus, Sweden..

[@jgroub1]

Robert, as far as I'm concerned, the fact that this scope does not need to have the primary collimated is a huge step forward in ease of use. Any idea how they've been able to accomplish this? And more to the point, if they've been able to accomplish this feat in this scope, why can't they spread this idea to all other newtonians?

[@RocketPlanet]

+jgroub1 Hi there. It's not the first time this has been done for sure. But it may well be the first use of this idea on a larger telescope (an exhaustive historical search would be difficult to do). SkyWatcher has had a lot of experience in simplifying structures and employing modern materials to do it. They are relying on a couple of strategies with this idea. Firstly on the simplicity of the primary cell itself - there are no adjusters so the movement of the mirror is sufficiently delimited that it cannot move to a new position and therefore needs no adjusters. The next step is a robust assembly procedure that relies on a secondary mirror mounting system designed such that there is the absolute minimum of positional options relative to the main tube itself. The primary axis is adjusted by test and fixed permanently in place and the secondary's final tilt position is then completed (but not permanently - it can be user adjusted). By eliminating the adjustment screws on the primary a whole layer of alignment risk is removed from the instrument. The secondary mirror's tilt axis can be adjusted in the normal way but not the mirrors relationship to the tube. So does that mean the telescope will never need adjustment? Well, not quite. The secondary system support in the centre of the spider is quite normal and as such perfectly capable of moving out of proper alignment with the focuser and the primary mirror due to seasonal changes in temperature etc. And it is conceivable that rough handling or a blow from a fall may dislodge the primary mirror from its permanent anchors. However, in the later case we are now talking about a broken telescope and of course the Discovery 150 is, in principle, no more immune from damage than any other any good instrument. But the factory alignment has been fixed such that with normal handling the optical axis of the primary mirror should never need adjustment by the user. As regards other even larger telescopes employing this idea, I wouldn't hold your breath. There are a lot of good reasons why we won't be able to resolve away the need for collimation adjustment on larger aperture telescopes. I think we can cautiously look forward to a few

[@sanjaymandla7626]

Excellent review. Thank you.

[@peterrusling936]

Thanks for this excellent video. A quick question - does the base of the mount head have a central M10 socket as well as the 3 that fit the standard tripod? I'm looking to use an HEQ5 tripod instead. Thanks

[@johnmichalopoulos687]

Great video. So you can't collimate this telescope? Mine wants a Collimation for sure! How can I do it? Thank you

[@RocketPlanet]

Hi John, The Star Discovery, as supplied in the UK, and all markets serviced by the UK, has a collimatable secondary. And this can be checked and adjusted in the normal way for Newtonian telescopes. However if the optical alignment problem cannot be resolved be correcting the secondary position, then it is likely that the instrument is damaged in some way. The primary mirror of UK version of the Star Discovery is not mounted in an adjustable cell. If the main mirror is out of position then ether the tube structure or mirror mount is damaged in some way and this will need to be resolved so that the primary mirror can be restored to the position dictated by the manufacturers specification. There is no provision for user adjustment as such, however, you can make sure that the mirror has not moved from it's correct position (making sure screws holding the mirror cell to the tube are secure and correctly positioned etc). If you believe the instrument has not been damaged in use, and it is still under warranty, I strongly advise you to consult with the retailer for a solution. I hope this helps. KR RJD A&NTV

[@tigpot1]

I’m torn between this 150p discovery scope and the 127 skymax. Unfortunately the skymax is currently bundled with the original az Mount. With me been new to this. I can’t decide which of the 2 scopes will give me more pleasure! Help anyone

[@zlata-uk2134]

You suggest upgrading the 10mm MA EP ! what would you recommend is a worthy 10m EP for this scope or what 2 best EP's would best suit this scope if i were to upgrade both ? thanks and great vid.

[@RocketPlanet]

+Zlata-UK Hi there, the included 10mm MA is simply not to the same standard of performance as the telescope and needs replacing - a basic 10mm Plossl will do nicely. In truth the 25mm MA is no better, but as the focal length is quite long you are less likely to confront its shortcomings. So rather than upgrade this serviceable eyepiece, I'd recommend a 15mm or 17mm Plossl. This length (either of them) will give great views with this scope and they will work well with a good 2x Barlow (also recommended). I hope this helps. KR RJD

[@Riloo]

+Astronomy and Nature TV can u guys update the channel(upload) ?

[@zlata-uk2134]

+Astronomy and Nature TV Thank you so much for your feedback, its appreciated. Best wishes for Xmas 2015 and clear skies ;)

[@johnholmes125]

can you use this for astrophotography and prime focus? thanks and great videos

[@Freespoons1]

Hi I know this is an old video. But I have a Meade lxd75 which basically has died. I have a chance to buy a synscan mount for cheap enough. But it's mount only. Would it take the lxd 75 scope(size and weight wise).

[@RocketPlanet]

Hi there. The Meade LXD75 is a mount, you dont tell us what tube, reflector, refractor, or aperture, was mounted on it. And to complete the set, you haven't informed us which SynScan mount you have in mind. So within those limitations, my answer is "Hello axe handle". KR RJD A&NTV

[@Freespoons1]

Sorry. It's a 152/762 reflector and the mount is a synscan alt-azimuth with synscan az controller. It exceeds the said max load but wondering if it will hold it if I upgrade the legs

[@RocketPlanet]

Hi there. Okay, whilst the tube dovetail will fit, the instrument will have a restricted view in the overhead position as the diameter of the tube and rings is greater than the accomodation of the mount, and the tube will collide with the mount in some overhead positions. The mount was designed for instruments with tube diameters with a maximum diameter of about 14cm. There's also the problem of weight. The issue is not the legs. The difficulty you will face is the setting of the slipping clutch on the altitude axis. The weight is too high for this mount, and it will be stressed most of the time when moving. Taken together, these are not ingrediants that are likely to lead to a happy marriage . There are too many ifs and buts to recommend this mount and tube combination. The tube really needs an LX75 equivelent like the SkyWatcher EQ3 synscan, or better yet the EQ5 Synscan. I hope thus helps. KR RJD A&NTV

[@GaryMcKinnonUFO]

What's the Werner Von Braun rocket academy? I know who the person is but didn't know there was an acedemy. Looks like a nice scope, got my eyes on one for next year, thanks for another great review.

[@meumeu9376]

Thanks for this review, for Xmas I will have mine and I would like to know what eyepieces are good with it ? I saw eyepieces from the brand Sky-watcher. I will buy 2.5 mm, 4mm, 6mm and a last between 15 and 25. Is it a good idea ? (sorry for my english written)

[@ioanros]

Miam cuparat si eu un asemenea telescop dar cartea este in engleza , as dori daca se poate o carte de instructiuni de folosinta in limba romana . Va multumesc

[@audiotecmark]

Man, I wish I had one of these for my first telescope.

[@johnbaker3584]

Hi there. Could it handle a Nikon D600 (850g). Im afraid of it having difficulties with tracking subjects if the camera weights too much.

[@AdailAntonio]

Hi there! I know that this is a relatively old scope, but I bought one recently and I wish to know if there is a way do image guide it with a Zwo Asi 224MC for example. If there is can you give me some tips of how to do it?

[@cingole]

hi, is a good telescope? with a Nikon d5000 have any problem for the weight?

[@DrDiamondSt]

Amazing review sir! Do you know if I can put my Celestron Astromaster 130 EQ on this tripod?

[@primarc1525]

Which rail do I need to buy to atach my camera to this mount?

[@martinavarratta6713]

Thanks for this review! This telescope really gets me and I'd like to buy it very soon. I have some questions though. Is it possible to use it also manually or is it strictly usable in the motorised way? Also, I already have an ASI 120mc which I'm using on my dobsonian, but since I have to chase the objects manually it is a little bit tricky. Do you think that with this telescope things will be easier? Someone with some experience with it can tell me how do you manage to get focus and how long your exposures can be? Thanks in advance!

[@alisongleeson8529]

Hi, I just bought the WiFi version this week, and as you mentioned there is no barlow or handset included! Is there a barlow lens in particular you would recommend?

[@allnamesaretaken]

The handsets for these are expensive second hand and not easy to get brand new. As for a barlow, avoid anything made of plastic, too many people buy them based on the marketing BS and then realise they have been scammed by the seller.

[@ColdWarWarriors]

Wouldn't you love to have had this as your first telescope?

[@felipemurakawa8544]

Nice review, I have one of this and sometimes when I'm tracking some stars on planets the telescope may keeps knocking on the mount. Why this happen and how can I prevent that?

[@dedskinprodcerdj4273]

there is a problem there, why would you need a red dot finder if is GO TO scope , you dont need it , but does this give clearer images then 90mm Refractor ? Anyone ?

[@RocketPlanet]

Hi there, the red-dot (RD) finder is vital for the initial star alignment routine each time you use the telescope. It's too difficult finding alignment stars without some form of finder unless the main instrument has a very short focal length (say

[@dedskinprodcerdj4273]

Yes indeed , had to get some and compare , i was skeptical about 2x mirror plus lens vs 2 lenses , turns out very capable, but i do have some trouble with blurry 100x magnification . Basically it looks blurred , like a nebula . Seen with my good eyesight even on 30x magnification but hardly , on 50x limits are visible , on 100x obvious , ghosting , loss of contrast and sharpness , simply blurred . If we take jupiter , i can see main features and imagine the rest , but i dont know why it is so blured , even Venus hardly shows its phases . Dont know whats going on , i know ghosting is due to reflecting surfaces in optics , blur i would know . Thanks for response .

[@popeye5989]

with regards to the primary not being collimatable- I have just got this scope and when I took it along to a meeting for other more experienced astronomer's then my self to check out one of them suggested that it might be a idea to look into just replacing the mirror with another one that can be collimatable-would you recommend going down this route it just leaving as is? cheers. oh-great video by the way, this is the reason I bought this scope!!

[@RocketPlanet]

Hi there, sorry to be slow in reply - I'll answer your question but assume you've got on with your life by now! Well as you say, changing the mirror is certainly an idea - just not a very good or even an intelligible one. There is no justification at all for changing the mirror. Imagine people were, without evidence of any particular fault, advising you to change the engine of your car all because they personally have never seen a car with electronic ignition and can't imagine how the car could be serviced successfully without periodically replacing the distributor points? You would, I'm sure, feel it would be a foolish imposition to follow such ill founded advice - at least until some positive evidence of failure of the system was revealed? That Newtonian reflectors 'must' have primary mirror collimation is little more than a superstition and is driven by a simple safety in numbers logic. All the rest have primary collimation, therefore this one should have it too! How would any new innovation fair if this rule was adopted generally? The Discovery 150P isn't the first high quality telescope to have limited primary mirror adjustment and it certainly won't be the last. The tube and optical supports of the Discovery 150P have been designed for simplicity and stability over time. Its worth noting that the species archetype for yours and all other 'Newtonian' telescopes - the one actually born in the hands of Sir Issac Newton - didn't have the means of collimating the primary mirror either - it was collimated by adjusting the secondary mirror - just like the Discovery 150P! So you are in good company - in fact that's probably as good as company gets. I'm sure, if you have the reckless temerity to repeat any of the above in front of the experienced astronomers you mentioned, there will be a great caterwauling and rending of garments when the heresy of the fixed primary is heard in the land. When your telescope shows you views that are impoverished due to the lack of ability to collimate the primary mirror of the instrument - you may at last have some cause to consider a radical substitution of the main mirror - until then, enjoy the night sky with your great modern Newtonian telescope. KR RJD A&NTV

[@ipedros7]

Really detailed review, thanks. I imagine the mount supports just over a kg more than the actual tube to allow a DSLR (even full frame) within its weight limits.. In simplistic terms, for a beginner, how would this compare to the Orion SkyQuest XT8 PLUS? For context, my only experience are some observations with the Celestron SkyMaster 25x70 binoculars as well as some moon photography with a DSLR Nikon 7100 + Tamron 150-600mm lens. Thanks in advance.

[@szaki]

Mount supports up to 13 lb!

[@ParaglidingManiac]

There's no level bubble. How the hell do I level the mount?

[@szaki]

Buy a carpenters level, Dummy!

[@Wolfie6020]

Thank you very helpful.

[@NIKOinIRL]

Thanks for the promp reply, i really need to watch the spelling, i blame the phone keyboard 😁, i was thinking years down the line for the cleaning, how easy is the primary adjustable & how is it done on this scope ?

[@RocketPlanet]

+NIKOinIRL Hi again - the adjustment of the primary - or rather the lack thereof - is covered in some detail in the video. Basically there is no provision/requirement for user adjustment of the primary mirror. However, the mirror can be nudged to collimation via the crude tilt-and-tip positioning of the mirror cell allowed for by the over-sized holes in the tube that accommodate the screws securing the cell. This is how the manufacturer accomplishes collimated assembly. KR RJD

[@MyImageEdit]

+NIKOinIRL As an old avid astronomer getting back into it, i have just bought this scope and wow, its really incredible for its price tag (£344 @ 365astronomy, delivered) I read more and more about people getting hung up on collimation !!! when the scope first gets dropped off by the courier then yer, check it, adjust it whatever, its not that complicated but then unless you are dropping it and mistreating it on a regular basis, FORGET about it. its a visual scope and good for fast snap shot photos so collmination only ever has to be near enough in my opinion. Super accurate alignment would probably not be noticed over a good eyed in approach. Look after it and you will have years of great viewing, put the cap on and dont worry about a bit of dust ;) Enjoy, its a fantastic bit of kit. Clear skies.

[@starman5992]

is it for sale in the u.s.

[@NIKOinIRL]

Is it pissible to remove the primary mirror for cleaning ?, it will get dirty over time.

[@RocketPlanet]

+NIKOinIRL Hi there, first a general point; I don't as a rule recommend urinating on telescope mirrors - unless they are very poor. Moving swiftly onwards and upwards, you can remove the primary easily enough, just four screws hold the primary cell in position (the same goes for the one-piece secondary cell as well). If you watched the video you will see that the holes are ob-round; and oversized so steps must be taken to ensure the the mirror is restored to exactly the same position. And - exactly - is a lot easier to say than do! It's worth noting a general point here, telescope mirrors should not be subjected to any form of routine cleaning - treat it like a leaky roof - if there is a problem, fix it - otherwise leave it alone. KR RJD A&N TV

[@kris860]

+Astronomy and Nature TV This caught me off guard I can't breathe :')

[@jmac5579]

Hello.can the 11/4 EP holder be changed out for a 2” ??

[@RocketPlanet]

Hi J Mac, Short answer: no, not easily. Long answer: the hole in the tube and the holes for the fasteners are only suitable for the 1.25". It's one of a number of economies visible in this instrument that are not easy to reverse. As a build project, DIY skills permitting, it would be easy enough to do. A sheet metal 'nibbler' could be used to open the hole in the tube to accommodate a 2" focus unit. But you would need to move the secondary mirror and spider further down the tube to be a bit closer to the primary mirror (to provide sufficient back focus for the higher 2" focuser) and this means fitting a new secondary support as the spider is molded into the front cell. And part of the old tube hole might, or might not, show near the focuser base and look a bit bodged up if you're not careful. Which takes us nicely back to the short answer I started with. I hope this helps. KR RJD A&NTV

[@jmac5579]

Astronomy and Nature TV yes it does thank you. Unfortunately I have been told this design has been took off the market and the synscan version replaced with a WiFi version. Back to the drawing board.

[@RocketPlanet]

Hi again. Yes, that's right, they have discontinued the version with the handset. Everything about the scope and mount is the same, it's just the handset that's gone (oh, and the Barlow) and a WiFi dongle that's added. The dongle just plugs in and it can be replaced by a handset and cable if required - but the smartphone app is very good though and works well. I'm not 100% sure why they have done this - my guess would be cost saving. KR RJD A&NTV

[@jmac5579]

Astronomy and Nature TV yes I think it was to good value for the money. I’ll prob just pay the extra cash for the Orion starseeker which is basically a carbon copy but more expensive and doesn’t have the Barlow either. Life is all about timing 😀

[@jmac5579]

The WiFi version also only has 10,000 celestial objects in comparison to the previous versions 40,000

[@davzrobaichjukes]

thank you for the grate video very informative

[@vdiitd]

Hi, great review! I am planning to buy this telescope. Would you recommend any specific eyepieces to buy in addition to the ones provide with it?

[@jgstargazer]

I would add a 19mm and 6mm eyepiece. The 19mm is a medium power eyepiece that gives great views. And the 6mm would be for lunar and planetary observation. A nebula filter would also be another choice in improving the views of nebulas. Don't forget a sun filter if you want to see ever changing sunspots.

[@panstantzos3013]

@@jgstargazer thanks a lot my friend , and for his account

[@LJ45Chimera]

Great review, Thanks

[@NETTY436]

sync scan are okay for the people who have done all the stargazing they can and just want to be lazy about it now finding your own stars and nebulas is all the more fun and finding them your self , of having a telescope in my opinion :P

[@EZ_shop]

Where can you get one (USA)?

[@EZ_shop]

I ended up going with a Celestron 4SE as my first telescope. I hope it is good enough. Too bad though the 150P sounded like a really good unit. Ciao.

[@Paladin966]

@@EZ_shop hey dude how was the 4se?

[@charlessands6933]

Orion (telescope.com) has the same one - Starseeker IV 150 for $700 or so.

[@midgeman90]

Ahh... I wish this was around a couple of years ago...

[@shanegrant8441]

Nice scope

[@NETTY436]

its all to do with the size of the eye piece the quality of it and the size of the mirror but then you can still see a great moon picture when you have been on a £30 telescope for 2 years

[@martanigraphics]

oh no... now i want one... damn he can sell scopes!

[@ruzeenfarsad367]

+martani 3D I know right. I've already book marked a website that's selling this scope and have started saving for it!

[@InfinitesimallyInfinite]

martani 3D I am getting one soon! :D

[@AbHAT22]

Thanks for the great review. I own several scopes including F/5, F/6, F7.5 and F/13. It is hard to imagine F/5 scope not requiring collimation. Seems like a design fault. ABS has high coefficient of expansion. There is no way this scope can be collimation free. Use of plastics indicates cheap attempt by skywtacher to save money.

[@RocketPlanet]

+Aniruddha Bhat Hi there and thanks for your post. There's not that much in your post to contest and I freely agree that this instrument is not as you say 'collimation free'. Indeed, the manufacturer has included a centre spot on the primary mirror and this is a vital step in allowing the user to check and achieve effective collimation. In the last few years high pressure plastic mouldings for combined secondary spider and the spider/tube support as well as the primary cell and support have become commonplace on big brand commercial telescopes under 150mm aperture. ABS can be moulded into stable and rigid structures and they remain so across a range of typical real environmental temperatures. There was no tidal wave of defective instruments or complaints from buyers. Indeed, most did not even notice the transition - as they had only a limited preconception of how the telescope 'should' be constructed anyway. We are now seeing the natural progression of this successful 'experiment' to larger apertures. ABS is a fantastic material, everything from kids toys to aeroplane and car parts are made from it. People flinched when telescopes stopped using brass in their construction, they flinch now as aluminium fades from the foreground of some durable parts design. Cheaper, certainly. As good or better? Well that all depends on how you look at it. The sophistication of this instrument is, by the best modern standards (and make no mistake - those standards are higher than they have ever been!), truly extraordinary. This telescope, and its me-too brand derivatives, would be one of the best starter telescopes ever made at any price - but it's also one of the lowest cost serious starter scopes. We live in a world where we recognise an 1960s Omega Speedmaster as a work of horological art and craftsmanship. But the bald slightly uncomfortable truth is you can buy a wristwatch in a petrol station for the price of your favourite burger and fries that weighs a 20th of the Omega and will keep vastly better time losing in months what the Omega loses in a day! What matters is whether the designer has understood the materials technology well enough to achieve his design aims. There is no evidence (yet - you may wish to say) that the Discovery 150 has a design fault in respect of not allowing the primary mirror axis to be easily user adjusted. And neither is there any evidence to suggest that their use of ABS, and other modern materials, has in anyway compromised the performance of the instrument that they declare it to possess. Kind regards RJD ANTV

[@Deanxm1]

A late reply, but i have just purcased one of these, secondhand, and the first thing i did with it was just do a quick star collimation, it is 5 years old and the collimation is absolutely perfect. Reading the above made me a little aprehensive, but in this case at least, no need to collimate. My Astromaster on the other hand needs collimating EVERY time it is used, no matter how careful i am with it, it even loses collimation through the night as the temperature changes. Looks like Skywatcher knows what they are doing.

[@rogerwilco2]

RS232 on something new. Wow.

[@ofeliaolsen1311]

Hi... i just bought BKP150750EQ3 when i watch your video i am interested about the mounting of sky watcher star discovery 150P. my i know your e-mail i am interested some of you item.

[@abyssalreclass]

You owe me a pound. I've got a serial port on my computer. Granted, only two of my nine computers have them, so you might have some merit there. On second thought, pounds are no good here. Can I get that in USD? On a serious note, this is an interesting video and I might wind up picking one of these scopes up.

[@ryan1111111555555555]

Just received this telescope and I have to say I'm truly disappointed, it feels cheap, it isn't well made, I think whoever was reviewing this video either had rose tinted glasses on or got lucky with a good model, my mount isn't put together correctly, there are gaps where each part doesn't sit flush, I didn't receive a hand controller, I didn't receive a Barlow lens, the mount for the red dot finder is off centre, the plate which holds the primary has gouges in it, it looks like someone has tried to pry it open with a screwdriver, I'm looking at it wondering what I paid 600 euros for? I know it has WiFi to connect to your smartphone but what if I dont want to look at a smartphone screen all night? or better yet, what if I dont have data on my phone? my GoTo mount is effectively useless unless I get a mobile phone contract to ensure that I always have data, this is cheap beyond words SkyWatcher, you are basically saying that the end user has to provide their own handset from now on? why not just sell us instructions on how to make a telescope and save yourselves the bother of having to actually manufacture them, cheap cheap brand, spend extra and get something you'll be proud of

[@davvo1234]

Its shit...but I'm talking about the latest version with integrated WiFi...wether its the scope or the shitty synscan app it doesn't slew..

[@RocketPlanet]

Hi there, I appreciate that you are frustrated that the device is faulty - it's bad luck. I assume it is under warranty, in which case consult with the retailer about repair or replacement. Stick with it if you can, when they are not broken, the Star Discovery range function very well. Good luck. KR RJD A&NTV

[@davvo1234]

@@RocketPlanet thanks for reply.. I think its the app itself...plugged in a hand controller and it worked perfect. Just can't understand it. I've down graded from the 10" goto dob which was fantastic for planetary use but it was rather heavy to keep taking out on the garden n bumping it and so on, so had to let it go.worst mistake I ever made. Yeah im fine with the 150 sd now. Now just waiting for the heavens to clear... pity you can't get prime focus though for AP 😕 but im getting an sw evostar soon for that job...cheers again n fgs please keep the vids coming. Used to love yr talks on barlows n eyepieces and the old timers trick with the moon filter on top of the eyepieces..👍👍👍 and old man Terry that came on once...he wasn't very happy with astrobiscuit when he cut off a piece of tube from an vintage scope...😖

[@davvo1234]

@@RocketPlanet just want to apologise for calling the synscan app sh1t...actually its me thats sh1t and if my brain was dynamite there wouldn't be enough explosive to blow my hat off. The actual problem was that I used it indoors and I think it was conflicting with all the electrics in the house or with other WiFi signals. When I took it away from the house it worked like an absolute dream. Just managed 5 mins on Saturn literally 25 mins ago until the cloud came over. 👍👍👍 quite crisp views to be fair...was quite suprised.

[@RocketPlanet]

Hi Stevie, that's a good resul! You revisted the situation, did some troubelshooting , and solved the problem the scope was having - give yourself some credit here, there might be more under your hat than you think. KR RJD A&NTV

[@davvo1234]

@@RocketPlanet haha..the thing is I do alot of metal detecting and I remembered when I first bought the detector I switched it on in the house and I thought, electrics, wifi, metal all around. Then it occurred to me that might be simular problem with the scope..problem solved. I was in the stickyest situation since sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky bun.and now im as happy as a toilet seat thats just had Carol vorderman sat on it.. thanks again for the replies.very much appreciated 🙏 God bless & clear skies