Overview

The Skywatcher Evolux 62ED is a compact and portable refractor designed for both visual astronomy and astrophotography. With a 62mm aperture and ED glass for sharp and clear views with minimal chromatic aberration, this scope is ideal for wide-field astrophotography, planetary observation, and lunar viewing. The telescope features a heavy bearing Dual Speed 2.4" Rack and Pinion focuser with two locking thumbscrews for stability and zero shift, indexed on both sides of the drawtube. The design and build quality of the 62ED resemble Skywatcher's premium Esprit 80 - 150ED refractors, marking a notable change from their more budget-friendly Evostar line.

Key Specifications:

- Aperture: 62mm

- Focal Length: 400mm

- Focal Ratio: f/6.45

- Optical Design: Apochromatic Doublet (ED glass)

- Weight: ~2.1kg

Performance

The Skywatcher Evolux 62ED's performance is impressive for its size and price. The apochromatic doublet design with ED glass reduces chromatic aberration, resulting in crisp and high-contrast images. It’s particularly effective for planetary viewing, where sharpness and contrast are essential. Additionally, the wide field of view makes it well-suited for observing and capturing large deep-sky objects like star clusters and nebulae.

Price Range: RRP $799 AUD OTA Only, or RRP $1,199 with focal reducer/flattener

Above - What's in the box?

Pros:

1. Excellent Optics: The use of ED glass reduces chromatic aberration and provides sharp, clear images with good contrast.

2. Lightweight and Portable: At just over 2kg, it's easy to transport and set up, making it great for travel and fieldwork.

3. Versatile Use: It serves as a capable grab-and-go visual scope and doubles as a strong entry-level astrophotography instrument.

4. Build Quality: The telescope is built with high-quality materials, and the dual-speed focuser allows for precise focusing during astrophotography sessions.

5. Affordability: Compared to other premium small-aperture refractors, the 62ED offers excellent value for money.

6. Extras: Came with a sturdy clamshell ring, green Vixen style dovetail bar, and a nice aluminium Skywatcher case for extra protection.

Cons:

1. Limited Aperture: At 62mm, the aperture may be a limiting factor for those looking for deeper views of faint objects compared to larger scopes.

2. Focal Ratio: While f/6.45 is decent for astrophotography, faster scopes may perform better for capturing faint deep-sky objects.

3. Field Curvature: Users might need an additional field flattener for wide-field astrophotography to correct image distortion at the edges.

4. Focuser: Non-Rotatable focuser, making this OTA less ideal for astrophotography.

Skywatcher Evolux 62ED vs Skywatcher Evostar 72ED: Value and Performance Comparison

The Skywatcher Evolux 62ED and Skywatcher Evostar 72ED are both popular entry-level refractors designed for a wide range of uses, from visual astronomy to astrophotography. Here's a comparison of value and performance between these two scopes.

Performance Comparison

1. Aperture:

   - The Evostar 72ED has a slightly larger aperture of 72mm compared to the 62ED's 62mm. This allows the Evostar to gather about 35% more light, which can result in slightly better performance on faint deep-sky objects and a bit more detail in planetary viewing. However, the difference is subtle, especially for casual observers or beginner astrophotographers.

2. Optics:

   - Both scopes use ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass, reducing chromatic aberration for clearer and more colour-accurate images. They are both doublets, though the Evostar 72ED may offer slightly better performance in terms of contrast and brightness due to the larger aperture.

3. Focal Length and Ratio:

   - The 62ED has a focal length of 400mm and a focal ratio of f/6.45, while the Evostar 72ED has a longer focal length of 420mm with a focal ratio of f/5.8. This makes the Evostar 72ED slightly faster, which is beneficial for wide-field astrophotography, offering a larger field of view and shorter exposure times for imaging deep-sky objects.

4. Field Flattener/Reducer:

   - Both telescopes can benefit from a field flattener for astrophotography, but this comes at an additional cost. For the 62ED, Skywatcher offers a 0.9x reducer/flattener, which improves the scope’s focal ratio and reduces field curvature at the edges of images. A similar accessory is available for the Evostar 72ED, but the cost is comparable for both scopes.

5. Astrophotography:

   - Both scopes are well-regarded for astrophotography, but the Evostar 72ED is favoured by some due to its larger aperture and slightly faster focal ratio. With a reducer/flattener, the Evostar can achieve a wider and flatter field, which is advantageous for wide-field imaging.

Value for Money

1. Price:

   - The Skywatcher Evostar 72ED is generally more affordable than the 62ED, making it one of the best budget-friendly ED refractors available, especially for beginners. It typically costs around $699 to $750 AUD, while the 62ED is priced slightly higher, around $799 AUD.

2. Portability:

   - The 62ED is more compact and lighter (~2.1kg) than the Evostar 72ED (~2.5kg). If portability is a key factor, the 62ED may be the better option, especially for travel or as a grab-and-go telescope.

3. Build Quality:

   - Both telescopes offer good build quality, including dual-speed focusers for fine adjustments. However, the 62ED is sometimes considered more premium due to its higher price and slightly better finish, although the difference is not drastic.

4. Comparison with Accessories:

   - When considering the additional cost of a focal reducer and flattener for either telescope, the Evostar 72ED remains the more cost-effective option overall. The combination of its lower base price and comparable performance with a reducer makes it a strong contender in terms of value for money. However, the 62ED's slightly superior optical design and build quality may justify its higher price for those seeking long-term versatility and a more compact design.

Is the Skywatcher Evolux 62ED a Worthwhile Upgrade for 72ED Owners?

For someone who already owns the Skywatcher Evostar 72ED, upgrading to the Skywatcher 62ED is not necessarily a significant step up in terms of performance. Both telescopes are very close in optical quality, with the Evostar 72ED having a slight edge in aperture size and focal ratio, while the 62ED excels in portability and premium build quality.

The 62ED might be an appealing upgrade if portability is a priority. Its compact design and lightweight build make it easier to travel with, and it could serve as a better grab-and-go telescope. Additionally, the 62ED's apochromatic optics with ED glass offer superb image quality with minimal chromatic aberration, but the difference in optical performance compared to the 72ED is minimal.

For astrophotography, if you are already using the Evostar 72ED with a focal reducer and field flattener, you may not see enough of a performance improvement in the 62ED to justify the upgrade. The Evostar’s larger aperture and faster focal ratio, especially when equipped with a reducer, make it a highly capable and budget-friendly option for imaging wide-field objects. The 62ED, even with its reducer, would only offer marginal gains in sharpness or field flatness, and the cost difference may not be worth it.

In summary, upgrading from the Evostar 72ED to the 62ED might only be worthwhile if you prioritise portability and build quality over aperture. Otherwise, the 72ED remains an excellent and more affordable option, especially when paired with a focal reducer for astrophotography.

Comparison with Similar Sized Scopes

Whilst there is a noticeable step up in quality and features in comparison to the Skywatcher Evostar range, how does the 62ED compare with other brands in similar aperture range?

William Optics Zenithstar 61 II

- The William Optics Zenithstar 61 is a close competitor, offering a similar 61mm aperture and premium optics.

- It is slightly more expensive (at RRP $999 AUD OTA only, or RRP $1,299 AUD with flattener) but comes with an excellent build, including a rotatable focuser, and has a faster focal ratio of f/5.9, making it better suited for astrophotography of wide-field objects.

- The William Optics version is known for its beautiful, vibrant colour finishes and precise craftsmanship, appealing to users who prioritise aesthetics alongside performance.

Askar 71F

- The Askar 71F (quadruplet - flat field astrograph) is a newer entry in this class with a larger aperture (71mm) and a f/6.9 focal ratio.

- It is more expensive than the 62ED (at RRP $1,099 AUD OTA Only, or RRP $1,450 AUD with reducer).

- Unlike traditional refractors, the quadruplet design does not require a separate field flattener and you do not need to calculate precise back-focus.

- On the rear there is a 360 degree rotator with fine rotation angle markings for precise framing.

- With a large image circle of 44mm, the Askar 71F is a highly capable imaging telescope.

- However, the larger size and price tag may not suit those looking for a more compact, budget-friendly setup.

- The available Askar 0.75x Reducer changes the OTA focal ratio to a respectable f/5.2.

It is important to mention that I have not personally tested the William Optics ZenithStar 61 II or Askar 71F. The comparison above is based solely on the manufacturer specifications provided. You can find several online video reviews for both the ZenithStar and Askar models on YouTube.

Our Skywatcher Experience

For the price we have been relatively happy with our purchase, the telescope really met our expectations and needs in relation to build quality (to price value), portability and weight characteristics, especially when taking into consideration we are using a lightweight load capacity mount like the Skywatcher EQ3-2. The wide field views are good and it produces reasonable images. But, this is a telescope you will probably want to purchase the additional flattener/reducer. Not only for the increase in focal ratio (to f/5.5), but for better corrected images to the outer (30mm) image circle (NOTE: we are still yet to purchase and review the 0.9x flattener/reducer.

Above - Mounted on EQ3-2 Dew shield retracted and extended

Nevertheless, our initial purchase encountered some setbacks! The quality control of our first order was lacking, with the main objective lens arriving with numerous marks, blemishes, and an unusually high amount of internal dust. The distributor suggested returning the OTA for a refund only, which was not the ideal solution for us since we had bought the telescope on sale and purchasing another one would have cost us an additional $300 AUD. We contacted Skywatcher Australia, who agreed to replace the OTA under warranty. The replacement process went smoothly, although the new OTA also had what seemed to be rub or abrasion marks on the objective lens, leading to another return to Skywatcher Australia. Third time's the charm! The final replacement met our expectations for a new telescope, despite still having an unusual amount of internal dust. It's worth noting that the Skywatcher staff were very professional and friendly, handling the inspection and replacement promptly. We have purchased several Skywatcher telescopes and products over the years, and while not typically considered a premium brand, this was actually the first issue we have encountered with them.

Is the Skywatcher Evolux 62ED Worth the Money?

In terms of value for money, the Skywatcher 62ED stands out due to its balance of affordability, portability, and solid optical performance. However, if you want to bring the 62ED's astrophotography capabilities to the level of scopes like the William Optics Zenithstar 61 or the Askar 71F, you'll need to factor in the additional cost of a focal reducer and field flattener. Skywatcher offers a dedicated 0.9x focal reducer/field flattener, which optimises the 62ED for wide-field imaging and helps reduce the curvature at the edges of the frame that can occur during astrophotography.

The focal reducer improves the effective focal ratio to f/5.5, making it more comparable to the faster focal ratios of the William Optics and Askar models. However, this accessory comes at an additional cost, typically around $500 AUD when purchased separately, which raises the overall investment.

Even when factoring in the cost of the focal reducer, the Skywatcher 62ED remains more affordable than the Askar 71F with its flattener included. The William Optics Zenithstar 61 II, although a strong competitor performance-wise, might come at a slightly higher price point but boasts a quicker focal ratio and a more premium design. Ultimately, the Skywatcher 62ED, along with the reducer, continues to offer great value, especially appealing to beginner astrophotographers or those seeking a portable and flexible option on a budget.

At the time of writing (11 Aug 24) the 62ED is currently on sale in Australia at around $449 - 499 AUD for OTA only, and $899 AUD with the recommended 0.9x focal reducer and flattener.

Overall Rating (1 to 5 Stars ) =    4 *Stars

Supply (Gift/Purchased/Loan) = Purchased (New)

Disclaimer:

The thoughts and impressions shared in this review are based on our personal experience with the product. It’s important to note that everyone’s experience may differ depending on their setup, preferences, and expectations.

In the interest of transparency, we are open about how the equipment is provided for review. If we purchased the item ourselves, borrowed it from a supplier, manufacturer, or another amateur astronomer, or if it was donated or gifted by a supplier or manufacturer, we will clearly state so in the review (at the bottom).

We strive to be objective in our evaluations and do not allow gifts, loans, or financial incentives to influence our reviews or alter our opinions. Our goal is to offer honest and impartial assessments to help others make informed decisions.