4.0 out of 5 stars Solomark 130EQ - Nice quality - Decent value - Some issues

2025-12-24    -Larry P

Let me start by saying that I am a complete novice and that this review is looking through that purview. I’ve had the Solomark 130EQ now for about a month and I have used it about a dozen times. Overall, happy with purchase. However, a couple of things make me wish I would have looked more closely at other, more established brands.The first thing I noticed was the excellent care that was taken by the company to ensure that it was packed well for shipping – very impressive. Assembly (even for a novice) was relatively simple…the YouTube video was very helpful. The carbon fiber tube looks amazing! I rated this as a 4 star on the “For Beginners” section because of the finder scope (more on that below). Getting used to the equatorial mount has been challenging. But it is a great part of the overall value along with the other accessories to get a beginner going right away. The cell phone attachment was a nice add. The pictures I’ve taken have turned out well. I would recommend looking at purchasing a remote shutter control to eliminate the need to touch the phone to take a picture.I don’t have any experience with other branded eyepieces. However, the 10mm and 20mm that were included seem to be of decent quality. The images have been clear (although, I’ve only concentrated on the moon so far). Additionally, the moon filter and the 1.5x Barlow were thoughtful additions to the package. Although, the included Barlow appears to be of lesser quality than the eyepieces.Concerns:* My biggest complaint is with the included finder scope. This was a bit of a disappointment. It is constructed of very cheap plastic and the visual image is not very clear. This was quite surprising, considering the apparent quality of the rest of the unit and diminishes the overall quality and value of the 130EQ. I would expect to find this finder scope on a child’s telescope. The adjustment screws are not very sturdy and frustratingly difficult to align with the main tube. I looked on the Solomark page for a replacement finder scope and there were none. The page did show a universal dovetail mount…which, can be used for several other branded finder scopes. But when I inquired if it would work for the 130EQ, I was told that it would not and to check with the company ZWO. There did not appear to be any options there either...not really sure why they sent me there. I then posted the question on the Solomark “contact us” page and have received no reply to date (very frustrating). I then posted the question on Solomark’s Facebook page…no reply there either...customer service could be better.* The description states that the eyepieces are Plossl. However, the eyepieces are marked as K10 and K20. This would indicate that they are Kellner eyepieces and not Plossls as the description states. For a beginner, it might not make much of a difference. However, it is a bit misleading and does lower the overall value. Plan on upgrading the eyepieces with a wider FOV.Overall, I think the 130EQ is worth considering for adult beginners. The unit appears to be sturdy and of good quality. The included accessories are enough to get a beginner and moderate user going quickly without becoming bored. The finder scope issue has been frustrating. However, with no response from the company, I will be experimenting with other potential mounts. I will post my findings when I find a suitable alternative. I would suggest that the company looks seriously at including a finder scope that is easier to work with and of similar quality to the rest of the 130EQ.

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic and very capable telescope

2026-01-11    -Naterman

This was my first telescope and must I say it's a big boy lol. It was decently simple to put together but take your time with it.. things can start looking the same with the mount pieces especially so really look at the pictures in the instructions and once it's all put together it's easy to use. The stand is very light weight and very adjustable. (All aluminum)A HUGE tip here: I've learned the real trick to getting the best views when it comes to telescopes and viewing objects further away especially... is having a wide range of decently quality eye pieces.The scope itself is just the motor... And it's got power, but the power is useless unless it has somewhere to go.. and having the proper lenses and eye pieces is truly the key to actually seeing clearly what you're trying to see.I went with the Celestron lense case that cost around $190 and was very pleased with the array of choices.Also anything in the lens catigory thats "Barlow" is good stuff and the standard. Just know that you really get what you pay for when it comes to this stuff... A lens from China will never be as good as a Barlow lens from Germany. Period. There's no short cuts with this lens stuff. You want good pictures, then you gotta pay a litte more.For beginners: using a manual telescope like this is good practice to getting the hang of what it actually takes to view the cosmos. We don't think about it, but in looking at space objects even the moon, you are literally "chasing" the objects in the night sky. We don't think about it, but the earth is always spinning and moving and thus, the objects your trying to see are also in constant slow motion, so be ready to constantly adjust the scope in micro adjustments. It's pretty fun actually but can be annoying if your still new to all this.Love the scope, love the stand, love the set up and the look. This scope can do so much more if only it's paired with the right array different lenses and sizes. 😎👍 It truly does make the difference between a foggy or fuzzy image vs a perfectly clear and correct distance.The scope set up is pretty big so be sure to have some space available when you use it in your home or yard. I'd also recommend getting a travel case as this setup doesn't have anything to protect it when traveling. (I just saved all the packaging/boxes it shipped with and carefully put each piece back in it's package and keep it safe from being damaged that way.Good luck!

Delusione

2026-01-03    -Giovanni C.

Purtroppo benché abbia cercato di aiutarmi con pubblicazioni sul telescopio newtoniano non sono riuscito fino ad oggi a utilizzarlo!

All I can say is "I should have got one of these years ago"

2026-02-28    -HelenM

This telescope is absolutely incredible! The large 130mm aperture makes a huge difference, letting in so much more light and showing brighter, clearer images. It's perfect for observing deep space objects—I got my best view of Andromeda yet! The optics are top-notch with fully-coated glass, and the carbon fiber finish not only looks amazing but feels sturdy too.The German equatorial mount is a game changer. Once you get the hang of it, it's super satisfying to manually track planets and the moon. The fine-tuned controls make it so smooth! The tripod is very stable, no wobbling, and the tray is super handy for holding eyepieces and such.Plus, it comes with everything you need right out of the box eyepieces, a Barlow lens, a moon filter, and even a cellphone adapter to take pictures! Honestly, it’s a fantastic package. If you're thinking about getting into stargazing or upgrading your setup, this one’s a no-brainer.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great starter telescope

2026-02-10    -TomT

This is a great starter telescope. We have not got to check out the moon yet due to its positioning (we have trees a certain direction which limit us) and it has been COLD outside, but we did get to look at Jupiter and were able to see the moons! Funny enough, we were using the 20mm lens thinking it was the stronger one. Wasnt until after that we realized the 10mm is stronger. The stand is pretty steady but not perfect. As long as you dont hit it, it is fine. We were able to use the knobs to adjust the telescope without it causing any problems.My only complaint is the install instructions, but I am fairly certain that is all on me considering a lot of the others mentioned how easy it was to put together. Ill clarify, it wasnt hard to put together, but I was not sure which way things should be facing in order for the knobs to do what I wanted. I know this is a me problem and not a telescope issue which is why I did not deduct any stars.All in all, great telescope! FAR exceeds the $120 telescope I had purchased before.

REFLECTOR TELESCOPE

2026-02-23    -Ian Norris

As described and on time.

TOP

2026-01-03    -Fanfan

Envoyé en kdo à un proche, ma foi il est très satisfait et content...pourvu que ça dure !!

All I can say is "I should have got one of these years ago"

2026-01-09    -HelenM

This telescope is absolutely incredible! The large 130mm aperture makes a huge difference, letting in so much more light and showing brighter, clearer images. It's perfect for observing deep space objects—I got my best view of Andromeda yet! The optics are top-notch with fully-coated glass, and the carbon fiber finish not only looks amazing but feels sturdy too.The German equatorial mount is a game changer. Once you get the hang of it, it's super satisfying to manually track planets and the moon. The fine-tuned controls make it so smooth! The tripod is very stable, no wobbling, and the tray is super handy for holding eyepieces and such.Plus, it comes with everything you need right out of the box eyepieces, a Barlow lens, a moon filter, and even a cellphone adapter to take pictures! Honestly, it’s a fantastic package. If you're thinking about getting into stargazing or upgrading your setup, this one’s a no-brainer.

5.0 out of 5 stars High quality at a fair price.

2026-02-13    -Michael Bruce

I love this telescope! Had a great view of the moon. Still trying to figure out how to use the phone mount & take pictures. Besides that it’s a high quality telescope at a fair price.

REFLECTOR TELESCOPE

2026-02-20    -Ian Norris

As described and on time.