The ZWO 130 APO Review

This is a review of ZWO's 130mm Flat Field Quadruplet Air spaced Astrograph. If you ever wanted to see how a mid priced 1000mm focal length telescope performs, then sit down and relax and watch this short video. This powerhouse will blow your socks off. I hope you enjoy the test images at the end of the video.
As shown in the video :
Weight : 30.6 lbs
Length : 1231.9mm with dew shield extended / 1054.1mm with dew shield retracted.
1061.5mm Telescope out of the box with all adapters installed with dew shield extended.
I purchased this telescope from High Point Scientific. Please use the links below to check them out or to purchase one for yourself. Using the links below helps my channel grow and is of no cost to you.
Affiliate Links:
High Point Scientific: bit.ly/44vL4iS
ZWO 130 APO Direct Link: bit.ly/3YkClz0
Thank you for your continued support.

[@dm1787]

I have been using this for quite a few months. Have been pretty happy. On a CEM70 mount.

[@Wilfredos_Astrophotography]

That’s awesome. Have you tried the .7 reducer? I can’t wait to try it out and compare it to my RASA. How do you like the CEM70 mount? So far I haven’t had any issues with mine.

[@dm1787]

@@Wilfredos_Astrophotography I have not used it with the reducer since my goal was to use it at its native focal length. CEM70 is fine. Nothing to complain. I have not used the setup last month and a half or so. Life has gotten in busy.

[@williamshipp4280]

Be nice if he had covered the FPL# of the lenses, the focal length and the price. My apologies if I missed it

[@Wilfredos_Astrophotography]

I did cover the focal length and price in the video. I mentioned the scope having 2 ED glasses. ZWO did not publish if it was FPL53 or not. The price at time of purchase was $2999.00 USD.

[@binajimster]

I hope to upgrade to this telescope next year. It's hard to find a review on this telescope. Thanks!

[@Wilfredos_Astrophotography]

Thank you. I love this scope.

[@toddweiler227]

Thanks for the review of the ZWO FF130 APO. I can add a few things other reviewers have missed now that I’ve had a full run using my AM5 with the ASI Air 256 plus. First is the case. I bought this to travel to dark sites as I live in a light polluted city. It matched the limits of what I could lift and carry. Hence I need to set up and take down for every session. I wish ZWO had copied the Askar V model of leaving room in the case to leave the EAF attached! Removing it every time seems a waste, and perhaps unnecessary accessory as a Bhatinov mask does it quicker and more accurately. Also related to the case is the lack of any place to attach the ASI Air without buying an additional plate. The ASI holes are 4mm and all the holes on the 130 cage are 6mm. That’s a good point you alluded to in your review. What also needs to be said is there is no room in the case if left attached. Same if moving the guide scope to the OTA cage. One will need a plate, but will the case lid close? When I put my 2600MC Pro on with the back spacing adapters, the CG changes and I have to slide the OTA up in the cage. I also have to move it up to clear the TC40 ZWO tripod legs even with an additional PE200 ZWO extension. I posted a YT video showing this clearance test. It’s tight! This means more field disassembly to set up and tear down. One last case con, the scope ships with a tiny thumb screw knob that goes underneath the focuser rack and pinion assembly to be a drag and brake. There is NO recess in the case if left installed. I drilled out a hole for it but I worry if the heavy scope shifts, it will shear the small screw and really be impossible to extract...if I don’t lose it on the ground in the dark first. As to stability, I forgot my counterweight and was shooting M101. My rig fully loaded was 35.54 lbs. (16.1 KG) ZWO says AM5 can handle 28 lbs. (13 KG) without it. With Counterweight I can go to 44 Lbs. (20 KG). I put my Bluetooth EB6A battery in the hammock under the tripod 10 lbs. (4.6 KG) and had the CW bar to help offset the missing weight. I had a meridian flip at midnight and set an alarm to watch it as I didn’t want it to tip over. (ZWO shows the 130FF on top of their AM5 with 2600 and with NO CW BTW!) Any rate, I missed the flip and saw it went off with no problem. Whew! The camera/focuser slipped though as the scope was now vertical. A point to remember to tighten that screw underneath! I had to refocus anyhow as the temp dropped significantly. I did have issues running separate power to the 2600 at such a far distance to the end of the scope. I was not able to get the Air to power the dew heaters, cooling fan and camera together. Camera kept dropping out. I had to try a variety of chords to get a solid connection to the 2600. Not sure where the best place to put the Air on this rig is yet. I saw the comment by others seeking a stow and go case so we can leave things connected. Hope if someone finds one they post here. I got no response on the Askar user page if their copy of this scope the PHQ130 had a better case solution. Final tip: remove lens cap before moving dew shield. It’s almost air tight! Clear skies. 👍🤩

[@Wilfredos_Astrophotography]

Thank you for the awesome response. I agree and this room for improvement on this scope. I had to put my AM5 in Heavy Duty mode for it to work with out slipping. I did test that the mount would operate the scope with out the counter weight. It will only work with out slipping in Heavy Duty mode. Please let me know if you do find a case that will accommodate the scope and EAF. Thank you again for your response.

[@fotografiabymiguel]

Awesome video. I am very curious about this OTA. Fully assembled as you displayed in the video, what are the dimensions? Please post the data.

[@Wilfredos_Astrophotography]

Thank you for the great comment. I posted the data inside the video description.

[@fotografiabymiguel]

@Wilfredos_Astrophotography I appreciate the response, Wilfredo. If I do end up purchasing. I would like a case to store both the OTA and imaging train, connected. I am looking forward to seeing the images you capture, process, and share.

[@Wilfredos_Astrophotography]

I am looking for a case to do the same. If I find one, I will post it.

[@nikaxstrophotography]

Can you also include metric measurements as well? saves everyone a google to convert pounds to kg cheers and great review!

[@Wilfredos_Astrophotography]

Great comment and I will from now on. Thank you.

[@jogaipaddhan9236]

Po8uzte32

[@gilles987654321]

I see you added a counterweight to the AM5., although the latter should support up to 13kg without CW. How did you calculate the excess weight to use?

[@Wilfredos_Astrophotography]

Very good question. The AM5 manual doesn’t mention how much weight to add. I googled it and several different answers. So, I came up with what I thought would be sufficient and went with one of the AVX counterweights. It works perfectly with or without the counterweight as long as you have the mount switched to heavy mode in the settings. I just feel more comfortable with a counterweight attached to ensure it doesn’t tip over. I also put 30lbs/13.6kg of weight in the support pouch at the bottom of the mount. I know it’s over kill, but I don’t want it tipping over. I hope this helps.