Sky-Watcher Evostar 72ED DS Pro: the famous entry-level apo
The Sky-Watcher Evostar 72ED is a 72/420mm (f/5.8) apochromatic refractor with an ED glass doublet and Schott crown glass. It is one of the most widely used entry-level deep-sky photography scopes worldwide: lightweight (and therefore portable on a travel mount), sharp, and without disturbing chromatic aberration. It is also a fine, crystal-clear widefield telescope for visual observation.
What can you photograph with it?
Short, fast apochromats are made for the major showpieces: the Andromeda Galaxy, the North America Nebula, the Pleiades, and sprawling H-alpha regions easily fit on the sensor. Stars remain sharp points without color fringing, from the center of the image far into the corners (with a flattener). Visually, such a tube provides wide, bright star fields.
Small enough for any travel mount
With its compact tube, the 72ED fits on lightweight equatorial mounts like the Star Adventurer line, allowing a complete astrophotography setup to fit in carry-on luggage. The 2-inch focuser accepts flatteners, camera adapters, and eyepieces; there is also a specific rotator adapter available for this tube that allows you to frame the camera freely without disturbing the focus.
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: For this light tube, a Star Adventurer GTi or similar is sufficient; you gain exposure time with tracking precision, not with a larger tube.
- 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.
- Visually pleasing as well: With a 6 mm eyepiece (70x), the Moon and double stars are displayed crystal clear.
- 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 beginner deep-sky photographer who wants good glass right away, and the traveler looking for a complete set under 5 kg.
Not For planetary photography, the focal length is too short; If you want astrophotography without the mounting 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:
- Field flattener: For astrophotography with a doublet, a flattener isn't a luxury: it sharpens stars in the corners of the image. Sky-Watcher provides one including a T2 adapter.
- 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.
- Carrier bag This compact tube fits the 80/600 refractor telescope well. Check out the carrier bags.
Technical specifications
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Type | Refractor |
| Design | Apochromat |
| Lens Design | Doublet |
| Aperture (mm) | 72 |
| Focal length (mm) | 420 |
| Focal Ratio (f/) | 5,8 |
| Resolution | 1,60″ |
| Limit value (mag) | 11,1 |
| Light output | 110× |
| Max. useful magnification | 144× |
| Tube weight (kg) | 1,96 |
| Tube construction | Full tube |
| Coating | Metallic anti-reflection |
Included in the box
- Sky-Watcher Evostar 72ED DS Pro Optical Tube Assembly (OTA, without mount)
- Ocular: Without
- Searcher: Without
- Free: Stargazer's Handbook by Telescoop.nl (16 pages, Dutch language)
Free Stargazers' Handbook
Every Sky-Watcher telescope from Telescoop.nl comes with our own Stargazer’s Handbook in the box. It’s a 16-page booklet that helps you get started on your first few nights: how to align the finder scope, what magnification to start with, why the image sometimes wobbles, and when a telescope does or doesn’t need to be collimated. It’s not a thick book—just the essentials you really need when you’re starting out.
Honest advice from observers
We sell and use the Sky-Watcher line ourselves. In our Sky-Watcher brand guide We'll explain which series are strong and which you'd rather skip. View the full range on our Sky-Watcher brand 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.
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