Celestron NexStar 130 SLT Computerized Telescope by Celestron
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Digital camera reviews of Celestron NexStar 130 SLT Computerized Telescope
Digital camera Review: Good but improvements required
Summary: 3 Stars
It works well enough as soon as you get used to it. The family has been enjoying it.
But there are moderate and avoidable issues that Celestron should address:
o The clock necessary for tracking does not keep the time after powering off forcing one to set it each time. This is an annoyance. These days, that would be a simple function to provide but for some reason Celestron does not.
o The battery compartment is cheaply made and the cover tends to pop off.
o The software TheSky is old and certain functions cause the program to crash. The only way to fix that is to go the the publisher's web site and pay for a new version. Celestron should provide a version that does not crash.
o As others have stated, the included lens selection is insufficient but that is an easy problem to remedy buy purchasing additional ones. Though I've not tried one yet on the scope, I recommend a CCD imager as a nice addition.
Digital camera Review: Great Scope
Summary: 5 Stars
I got my Celestron 130 SLT last month and am extremely happy with it. For the price, it's a great scope and the goto software was pretty easy to get the hang of. The sky mapping software that comes with the scope is also a great help and easy to use. A few caveats: Buy the AC power cord....otherwise you'll need new batteries every night. You'll need to reset the date/time on the goto computer every night.....it doesn't remember date/time between uses. It takes a few tries to get proficient with the three star align....it works pretty well, but you need to make sure you've setup your location and the date/time correctly. This scope isn't weighted and is very light. This causes it to shake a LOT when you touch it (i.e. when you're focusing). It takes a few seconds for it to stabilize after any adjustment. Some people weight the tripod tray to add stability. The focuser could have a finer adjustment. It takes a very steady hand to get optimal focus. The scope doesn't come with a Barlow lens, which is a necessity for this scope. You'll want to get one right away. The scope does have a 2" eyepiece adapter, which is unusual and a really nice feature on a starter scope such as this. It's worth buying a 2" eyepiece for wide views. I didn't find the NexStar PC driver software very useful (after buying the $15 cable to use it). Instead, I downloaded a trial version of the pricey NexRemote software, which allowed me to operate the scope from my laptop much more easily. These caveats are all very minor, as this is a solid scope with better optics and software than the alternatives. In short, the scope was way better than cheap toy scopes I'd used and all reviews I read said it had great optics for the price with very few problems/annoyances. I got a great view of Jupiter and its moons the first night I used it. After I got the hang of it, I started checking out Messier Objects, including the brighter galaxies and nebulae, which are easily recognizable with this scope. I'm extremely pleased with it and I'm very glad I got this scope instead of comparable competing scopes, which all seem to have serious issues per the various reviews I've read.Digital camera Review: Great Telescope
Summary: 5 Stars
First I bought the Celestron 130 SLT ( Christmas 2009)and the 60 SLT. It was so easy; I started ordering eyepieces, filters, ccd, SkyScout, Nexstar Connect, the PowerTank (17aH) power inverter and the solar filter. I will admit I expected to take deep space pictures but the mount is really only good for planetary Pictures. My Bad...the literature says as much!
The SkyScout hooked-up to the telescope is the bomb! They say in their literature that it will not slew the scope...wrong! It is great. In one night I had a "StarParty" with some friends who have never seen a real telescope. I looked like a pro: point the SkyScout, it orally tells what you are seeing and slews the scope to the object. We saw everything on the SkyTools III list for the night that was viewable: Moon, Saturn, Saturn's moons, Mercury, Venus, and took pictures. Someone would ask what is that, they would point with the SkyScout and away we would go. My friends never realized that this was the first time I had operated the SkyScout "Connected" to the SLT's. One said, this is better than that planetarium (referring to the Mark Smith Planetarium). Though they were indeed wrong, what they were actually saying, "this is great fun." I have a crowd anytime I go stargazing. What fun!
I am ordering the CGEM 1100 HDEdge because I am teaching Astronomy next year and I am teaching in Malawi this Summer and can see the Southern Constellations. I expect deep space pictures. I am certain I will!
Digital camera Review: Great casual telescope
Summary: 4 Stars
A couple of negatives to start with. As others have indicated, once the electronics are turned off the current time is not kept. If you forget this important point aligning will not work. Next point. Double check that the tightening screw that secures the optical tube to the mount is tight every time you use the scope. I neglected to do this and the thing slid out of the mount and hit my patio. Unbelievably, nothing broke and the scope's collimation was not knocked askew. The good news is you can be using this scope in a manner of minutes after just a little practice. The optics are good and the tracking is too when you consider how inexpensive this machine is. Adding weight to the accessory tray helps with stability.Digital camera Review: Great first scope
Summary: 5 Stars
Easy to setup, skyalign worked on my first try, really liked it, except maybe for the eyepieces, they could be ploss ones.