Skywatcher AP 100/550 ESPRIT-100ED Apochromatic Refractor Professional OTA

Sky-Watcher Esprit-100ED: the favorite of demanding photographers

The Sky-Watcher Esprit-100ED is a 100/550mm (f/5.5) apochromatic triplet with FPL-53 glass. Worldwide, it's one of the most acclaimed astrographs in its class: enough aperture for detail, short enough for wide fields, and with color correction that keeps bright stars clean down to the pixel level.

Why an Esprit?

The Esprit line is Sky-Watcher's professional astrophotography series: air-spaced triplets with premium glass, built to place flat, color-pure star fields onto a camera sensor. Stars remain points even in the corners, even with large sensors, and bright stars do not develop a purple halo. This is the class where optics make the difference between a nice and a publishable photo.

The golden mean of the Esprit line

A hundred-millimeter triplet at f/5.5 is the final destination for many photographers: virtually every deep-sky target is achievable, from sprawling nebulae to more compact galaxies. The included 9x50 right-angle finder and 2-inch star diagonal also make the optical tube visually complete.

This is how to get the most out of this telescope

• Virtually no cooling time and no collimation: A refractor is ready within fifteen minutes, and the optics stay aligned. More time for photons.
• The setup determines your photo result: Count on HEQ5-class or heavier for full photographic potential.
• Plan to flatten me: For sharp stars all the way to the corners of your sensor, a field flattener is essential for a photographic refractor. Order it along with your initial purchase to avoid a second waiting period.
• Dew control is essential with lenses: A dew cap or dew heater prevents the front lens from fogging up in the middle of a session.
• Never look directly at the sun without protection., not even for one photo: only with a certified solar filter in front.

For whom yes and for whom no

Hello The advanced photographer looking for an astrograph to last for years.

Not As a first introduction to astrophotography, this is a lot of budget for the learning curve; If you want astrophotography without the mount learning curve and post-processing, then the smart telescopes the shorter route; ours Telescope Buying Guide for Beginners explain the difference.

Featured accessories

These accessories add the most after purchase:

• Camera adapter: The Sky-Watcher M48 adapters connect your Canon EOS or Nikon directly to the flattener or focuser.
• Light Pollution Filter (2 inch) Under the Dutch or Belgian sky, a light pollution filter can significantly enhance the contrast in your photos.

Technical specifications

Included in the box

• Sky-Watcher Esprit-100ED Optical Tube
• Finderscope: 9x50 right-angle

Honest advice from observers

We sell and use the Sky-Watcher line ourselves. In our Sky-Watcher merk Guide We'll explain which series are strong and which you'd rather skip. View the full range on our Sky-Watcher merk Page. Ordered before 11:59 PM gets it fast, in the Netherlands and Belgium. Unsure about mounting, flattener, or camera connection? Call or email us: we're happy to help with astrophotography setups.