Comments on: Using an SLR with a Skywatcher Explorer 130M Telescope

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 12:45:40 +0000

In reply to Ian M. Just added duct tape to the silver barrel of mine just to take up the internal fit/wobble and tightened up the rack screws to try an stiffen the whole assembly feels much better now. ( I have not removed any of the housing just tried a barlow lens piece screwed to the T ring extension tube worked ok

By: Ian M

Ian M — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 16:25:15 +0000

Re: “Altering the focuser” be warned that there is an inner ring of material, slightly smaller diameter, at the top on the end of the black outer tube. This is load-bearing so if removed (speaks from experience) dramatically increases the focus tube wobble. Having taken a good few mil’s off mine I hope to shim the interior of the tube to give it a snug new load-bearing surface (mega-super glue and PTFE sheets on order!)

By: Alan Cole

Alan Cole — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 07:54:55 +0000

In reply to Bryan. Nice photo Bryan! :) Al.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 21:32:33 +0000

Hi, I have a Skywatcher 130m and have the same focusing issue, I’ve gone for now with a long 2x Barlow which is 12cm long attached to a T mount which seems to put the lens further in towards the secondary mirror and with this I get pretty good focus on the Moon. Struggling though to get planets etc. This is a shot of the moon using my 130M, 2X 12cm Barlow and canon 1100D, oh and stitching two images with MS ICE.
https://www.facebook.com/bkhphotos/photos/a.1575346796041110.1073741838.1575305519378571/1665198063722649/?type=3&theater

Has anyone had success focusing on planets etc.

By: kaito

kaito — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 11:43:24 +0000

In reply to Steve. hi Steve could you make a picture from the modification and equipment and share to us I have the same SW or send a picture to me

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 09:43:51 +0000

I have managed to reach focus. I sawed off the plastic part of the outside tube. Then I unscrewed the eyepiece holder. This reveals another screw thread – it’s 40mm. I purchased a 42mm to 39mm ring adapter from eBay and filed it down a little. This gave me enough bite to get the t adapter mounted on a few turns.

By: Peter

Peter — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 23:33:10 +0000

Thanks for posting this – I’ve got an SK1309EQ2 aka SkyWatcher Explorer 130M telescope, and have tried this myself. I used a “Low Profile Canon EOS T Ring” which adds only 1mm to the camera body, but that alone is not enough to reach focus:
http://astrobeano.blogspot.com/2013/02/sk1309eq2-prime-focus-canon-eos-1000d.html

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:53:12 +0000

Well, I tried to remove the plastic on the focuser. It was easy. However, there is still not enough inward travel to reach focus. Thanks for the info.

By: Alan

Alan — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 20:10:02 +0000

In reply to David.

Excellent, looks good… Makes me wish we had some clear skies to see what I could come up with.

Al.

By: David

David — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 13:33:07 +0000

Hi Al,
Try this link to my twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/DavidLupton/status/272124552241377280/photo/1
🙂