Sky-Watcher Esprit ED APO 150mm f/7 Refractor Telescope

The Esprit 150mm is the largest Apochromatic refractor made by Sky-Watcher. This formidable instrument produces razor-sharp, false color-free views, highly suitable for astrophotography and visual observing. Our comparison with a high priced competitors scope was a draw.

The objective lens assembly is crafted from two pieces of Schott optical glass, and one piece of Ohara FPL-53 low-dispersion glass. This combination produces high resolution images with no detectable false color.

The rear field flattener yields a sharp 44mm diameter photographic field with minimal impact to focal length and focal ratio.

No fewer than 6 knife-edge baffles have been added to ensure contrast-robbing stray light is eliminated.

Sky-Watcher's new 3.5" dual-speed linear power roller bearing focuser is tough enough to drive heavy accessories with virtually no slippage. Unlike traditional Crayford focusers which surround the drawtube with roller bearings, the linear power focuser places the bearings along a single metal track mounted along the drawtube, so the drawtube is never flexed or placed under compression.

The locking mechanism of the linear power focuser improves on the Crayford design, by retaining the desired focus, with no flexure or bending of the drawtube. An engraved linear scale helps set the focus close to where you need it.

The focus knobs can be rotated to change their orientation to suit the user. A built-in camera angle adjuster means easy and precise rotation of the camera and star diagonal independent of the focus knobs.

Apochromatic refractors have somewhat of a cult following; they are considered the finest instrument to observe and photograph the skies. Once relegated to a price range affordable by those drowning in money, they now swim in the shallow end