TS-Optics PHOTOLINE 130 mm f/7 EDT Triplet Apo - 3.7" Focuser - with optical test

Photoline 130 mm f/7 Deluxe EDT Apochromat - a refractor without compromise

The 130 mm f/7 apo triplet refractor is equipped with one of the best objectives in its class. For the apo element the proven FPL53 from Ohara (Japan) is used. The objective lens without chromatic aberrations is mounted in a temperature-compensated cell that also compensates for minus temperatures. The powerful lens is very popular especially with astrophotographers, so we now offer this apo with the large 3.7" RAP focuser. This means that CCD cameras with large sensors can also be used and with all common correctors even for full-frame format.

Advantages and features of the PHOTOLINE 130 mm F7 Deluxe Apo:

Air-spaced triplet lens - apo element from FPL53 by Ohara

Temperature compensated, fully-adjustable cell

3.7" Photoline RPA rack and pinion duial-speed focuser - holds accessories up to 8 kg with 360° rotation

Sturdy aluminum tube with internal baffles against stray light

Convenient carrying handle and GP/EQ5 style dovetail on one side and a Losmandy style dovetail bar on the other one

100 mm long spacer between focuser and tube screwed with M123x1 thread on both sides

The 3.7" RAP focuser - ball bearing mounted:

A highlight of the telescope is certainly the modern "rack and pinion" focuser with cograil adjustment and ball bearings. The large dimensioned focuser also allows the use of full format and large format cameras without vignetting, of course with the appropriate correctors.

Adjustment via gear rack - no friction - no yielding as with the Crayford focuser

Internal baffles against reflexes

Clear aperture: 102 mm

Drawtube travel: 100 mm

360° rotation for optimal selection of the field of view

Self-centering 2" and 1.25" adapters for correct clamping on the optical axis

Connection thread for photo adaptations: M100x1 female thread, M92x1 female thread, M68x1 ZEISS style female thread and of course 2" and 1.25" receptacles

The working distance is optimized for all common correctors and also for visual observation.

Binoviewers with 2" star diagonal mirror can be used without glass path compensation, only the 100 mm spacer needs to be removed.

Recommended astrophotographic correctors for the PHOTOLINE Apo:

TSFLAT3 - large format corrector without changing the focal length

The corrector fits directly onto the M92x1 internal thread of the focuser.

The recommended working distance is 103 mm.

Included in delivery is a reduction to M48 - 2" filter thread. From this thread it is 55 mm to the optimal position of the camera sensor - ideal for DSLR cameras.

TS 0.79x PHOTOLINE focal reducer and corrector - TSRED379

The corrector fits directly onto the M68 connection thread of the focuser

The focal length is reduced to 719 mm, the focal ratio improves to f/5.53

Recommended distance from the M48 connection thread of the corrector to the sensor: 55 mm

The PHOTOLINE reducer is suitable for cameras with full frame format sensors or smaller.

This is how we hand over the apo to you:

Every single APO is checked in our technical department before it is put into storage, in order to guarantee a consistently high product quality.

The mechanics are tested and the focuser is optimally adjusted.

The lens is cosmetically checked and cleaned. We also check that all counter screws are correctly tightened. These often loosen during transportation.

The optics are collimated and the result is checked on the optical bench. The telescope is given a serial number.

An optical test is carried out, which is enclosed with the telescope (star images and ronchi image on the optical bench in autocollimation).

Only then are the telescopes handed over to the warehouse and prepared for dispatch.

Astrophotographic results obtained with this telescope on Astrobin

Here you can find some astrophotographs made with this telescope model: Link to Astrobin

Technical Information

Teleskop-Service has collected a lot of helpful information about refractors and provided it in English as a PDF file: refractors.pdf

Astrophotographic results obtained with this telescope on Astrobin

Here you can find some astrophotographs made with this telescope model: Link to Astrobin

New images by our customer Pierre Gatzki as example

Object: M1, Crab Nebula
Date: 15.12.2018
Exposure: 10x 180 s = 1800 s, plus Dark and Flat
Optics: TS-Optics PHOTOLINE 130 mm f/7 apo
Correction: TS-Optics PHOTOLINE 3" 0.79x reducer and corrector
Camera: Atik Horizon colour CMOS


Object: M42, Orion nebula
Date: 29.01.2019
Exposure: 15x 180 s = 2700 s, plus Dark and Flat
Optics: TS-Optics PHOTOLINE 130 mm f/7 apo
Correction: TS-Optics PHOTOLINE 3" 0.79x reducer and corrector
Camera: Atik Horizon colour CMOS

Congratulations to these well turned-out images!

A beautiful sun image by our customer Stephane Langlois

Object: Sun in Ca-K light
Photographer: Stephane Langlois
Date: 20.03.2022
Optics: TS-Optics PHOTOLINE 130 mm f/7 Apo (APO130F7-DEL)
Light attenuation: Baader Herschel wedge
Filter: Baader K-Line filter
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM

Congratulations on this fascinating solar image!

Safety informations: PDF Download