When I made the decision to take my interest in all things skywards that little bit more seriously, and acquire a better telescope, I had no difficulty in choosing the Skywatcher Explorer 200P; it was after all an award winner, so presumably a safe bet.* I had no idea at the time just how good it was though, it really is a fabulous piece of equipment.*
Seated on a EQ5 mount, it has a 200mm newtonian reflector, which to the uninitiated means* literally astronomical views can be attained.* My previous apparatus had a 130mm reflector and that gave respectable sightings, but this is a level beyond anything I imagined.* The large aperture, one of the best available, is of the highest quality enabling stunning perspectives on clusters, solar system objects and galaxies.*
It was very easy to assemble and although bulky it certainly isn't ugly, indeed its sleek look means it has its own permanent place in the home without appearing to be an eyesore, in actual fact it sets the room off perfectly.*
The many features which make it a cracking buy include: advanced eyepiece magnification, focal length and ratio.* Thin secondary mirror supports assist noticeably and the stainless steel pipe tripod looks great.* At $560 this fantastic item really does stand any scrutiny against competitors.* Meade and Konus provide similar versions, but are more expensive.* The Celestron Omni XLT is probably the nearest in value for money at $460 but the Skywatcher offers far greater light gathering.*
It really is the ultimate must have telescope at an unbelievably good price.* I would only consider replacing it if I took my interest to the next level, but that would be entering into the professional realms, so for now I am extremely content with my Skywatcher Explorer.*