Since April 2016 I own the apochromatic one Refractor ED 127 CF, Model FCD01 by Explore Scientific and I use it for moon and planetary observation as well as for the photography of extended nebulas, open star clusters and galaxy clusters. In addition to the very good look, the possibility for photographic use with the help of a focal reducer, also the low weight of the telescope has influenced my purchase decision. Therefore, I could continue to use my old mount and invest the existing budget in optical accessories. The telescope is still transportable and thus suitable for mobile use outside the light-polluted cities. Explore Scientific is listed as a Bresser brand. The technical support I approached initially for some questions was very friendly, accommodating and very helpful.
2. Description
The ED 127 CF has a three-lens lens. Between the lenses there is an air gap. The tube is made of carbon fiber and processed to high quality. The ED 127 CF has a three-lens objective. There is an air gap between the lenses. The tube is made of carbon fiber and processed to high quality. Thanks to its low weight of only 7 kg, it can still be carried by a GP-DX or comparable mount.
Since November 2016, the improved FCD-100 model is on the market, which is advertised with high color purity and a perfect optical design. What’s the difference between these two models? To test this, Bresser has kindly provided me with an ED 127 FCD-100.
At first glance, both models resemble each other like twins, as my older model also has the 2.5-inch Hexafoc extract. In addition to the stable construction, it can also be rotated as a whole. In astrophotography this offers the advantage of preserving the focal position, even if the camera needs to be realigned for another object. The 1:10 reduction allows an exact focus. A scale applied on the pullout facilitates the presetting (Figure 2). In the case of visual observation the zenith mirror can of course be adjusted independently of the focuser.
