For those who are not familiar with the model, the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod is a refracting telescope suitable for beginners. When it comes to deep sky observations, both the beginner astronomer and the intermediate to professional astronomers are usually looking through the best refractor telescopes on the market. The best semi-professional telescopes tend to be reflectors though, and they however don’t come in the most comfortable of price ranges. Vixen Optics is known as a brand of optical instruments with amazing quality and affordable prices.
Today we will look at the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod and see if all these above-mentioned qualities are easy to find in this product. Vixen is a name all of us have heard of in the world of the best telescopes for beginners, so this model should spark a lot of peoples’ interest. Is it as good as it is advertised by other reviewers? Let’s find out in our Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod Review!
What is the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod?
We’ll start this Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod review just like we start all our telescopes reviews, with comments related to the tech specs of the product. What we have here is one of best Vixen Optics telescopes as tech features go. We have a Newtonian telescope with 130 mm (5.1 in) in aperture, sporting a focal length of 650 mm and thus a focal ratio of f/5. This is a Newtonian reflector optical system with two included eyepieces, featuring 20 mm and 6.3 mm respectively Plossl lenses, which are a trademark of quality. The wide field of view given by these optical specs can be compared to glancing at the Heavens themselves.
(Click image to see more pictures on Amazon)
The fully multi-coated lenses of the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod allow sharp and crystal clear viewings of stars, planets, nebulas, galaxies even, clusters and additional celestial formations. We won’t insist on how you can see the Moon, as looking at the tech-specs is enough for you to realize the Moon viewings are a delight: sharp edges, clear surface details, sharp and contrasting texture, good light and, of course, as a result, incredible Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod images – for astrophotographers.
Many Vixen Optics telescopes reviews insist on the telescopes’ capacities to pierce through the sky’s layers and be able to spot all the stars in the Pleiades, dark clouds and galaxies, and the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod makes no exception, being a perfect solution for beginners and semi-pros astronomers out there searching to unveil the mysteries of the universe.
Since we are talking about Vixen Optics, there are a few comments we have to make related to the mount and tripod. You have the famous Vixen Porta II Mount and the dovetail tube plate that go great together with the wooden Berlebach tripod. These features turn the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod into a real work of art – as telescopes go – as they offer not only the best conditions for sky gazing, good aiming and focusing and easy celestial objects’ observations, but also stability, balance and confidence that you can take this Newtonian telescope and its wooden, elegant mount everywhere.
The mount and tripod of the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod are however light enough to be transported. This means that this grab-and-go product, which is able to stand its ground even on non-flat terrains, is perfect for outdoor activities. Going in camping trips, mountain trips and even in wide fields for perfect deep sky viewings was never easier as it is now with this Newtonian telescope.
The Vixen telescope we’re talking about also comes with a few accessories worth mentioning: a red dot finderscope allowing better aiming and viewings, an internal slide mirror, tube rings, assembly tools and an accessory tray for better organization. These small details are the ones that make the Vixen Optics company reviews to be all positive and enthusiastic and the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod telescope fully worthwhile.
Last but not least, the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod price is something that also recommends the product to both beginner and veteran astronomers, given the product’s tech specs and the quality of the components. According to telescope consumer reports, all seems to be well and there are no issues to be reported about this product.
Pros and Cons to Using the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod
Is the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod one of the best telescopes for astrophotography and for deep sky viewings? Is it well-balanced in terms of quality and price? And, more importantly, is it the best Newtonian telescope or Vixen scope for you?
PROS:
- Aperture, focal length and focal ratio recommend this Newtonian telescope for casual and semi-pro celestial bodies’ observations and deep sky viewings, being able to spot not only the lunar details, but also planets, stars, clusters, nebulas and even galaxies;
- The fully multi-coated Plossl lens make this Vixen telescope one of the best products for deep space astrophotography;
- The 6 x 30 red dot finderscope on the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod allows easy aiming and focusing;
- The manual Porta II Alt-Azimuth mount and the wooden adjustable tripod make this Newtonian scope a delight in terms of spotting celestial bodies and focusing on them;
- The Vixen Porta II Mount includes slow motion controls for perfect observations and an adjustment tool set;
- The tripod is well built, comes with an accessory tray, is sturdy and stable, allowing the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod to be used outdoors, in fields or on any non-flat surfaces;
- Moreover, this Vixen telescope is lightweight, easy to be transported even on long distances and safely packed for camping or mountain trips as well;
- This Newtonian telescope comes with two eyepieces, a 25 mm rack-and-pinion focuser, dual flexible handles for easy transportation;
- The Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod falls into the category of elegant design telescopes – as the white finishing is a nice touch Vixen compliments its users with;
- There is a Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod manual online, giving instructions and full guidelines on how beginner astronomers should assemble and use the telescope;
- The product received many positive professional reviews from experienced amateur astronomers;
- The Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod is one of the best telescopes for sale in the premium category, as the price is very well balanced with the high quality of the product and is affordable to all beginner and experienced astronomers who want a product that lasts a lifetime.
CONS:
- One downside of the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod is that beginner astronomers will need to take some time with collimation – but the manual explains things quite well;
- This Newtonian telescope is made in China, while the tripod is made in Germany – we would have preferred to have things the other way around;
(Click image to see more pictures on Amazon)
Where to Find the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod?
You will find the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod for sale on Amazon, at the best price of $616.06. This is one of the best offers you can stumble upon, as Vixen Optics products are renowned for their high-quality features (even if some are made in China, this doesn’t mean they are less well-built) and their long-lasting life. This particular Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod model falls into the category of affordable beginner and semi-pro telescopes and there are no users’ comments so far to complain about the price.
Extra Info:
Maintenance Advice
The Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod doesn’t come together with dew shades or dust covers, so keep it safe from humidity, dust and even powerful direct sun rays. Clean the lenses with microfiber cloths and keep this Newtonian telescope safe from mechanical accidents.
Telescope Accessories
While the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod telescope comes packed with accessories, there are, of course, wide arrays of supplemental ones that enhance the product’s performances: you can opt for different eyepieces and lenses, filters, a carrying case and different tubes altogether, as the dovetail mount supports various other tubes. However, you should know that this Vixen Optics telescope can be used with the kit you get it with from Amazon.
Warranty and Guarantee Information
Vixen Optics offers a 5-years warranty for the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod telescope, including normal wear and tear repairs and replacements. This is a notable perk, as most Newtonian telescopes don’t enjoy such a long warranty.
Our Recommendation
Vixen Optics is a very well known and respected company which offers a wide range of telescopes for beginners and experienced astronomers as well. The Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod has very good qualities and is suitable especially for those interested in deep sky viewings.
If this is the first time you use a telescope, you will probably find this product a bit too complicated and even expensive for a new hobby, but if you have some past experience with sky gazing, celestial bodies observations, astrophotography and deep space searching, than this is a product meant for you, as it represents one of the best offers you’ll get at this price.
We recommend you to take a look over some Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod photos and watch a Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod YouTube video, to get a clear image of what you’re going to spend your money on. When it comes to the Vixen Optics R130Sf with Wood Tripod best price, things are pretty clear as well. We recommend you this product as a life-time companion for deep sky research and entertainment.
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