SVX140T

Build quality, optics, and customer service all top notch. I’m very happy with my purchase.

SVX 140T
This is my 7th Stellarvue scope. 5 were bought used in various sizes from 80mm - 130mm to see what works best for me. Those 5 used ones were all resold. The other new one is the SVX90T purchased late last year. Great forever small scope. And my imaging workhorse.

The SVX 140T is the perfect larger sized scope for transporting to and from observing sites. Maximum aperture in a manageable length and weight. No problems fitting it in the car, carrying it, putting it on and taking it off the mount. Being 67, I personally would not want anything bigger or heavier to pack, setup, tear down, repack into the car in the dark.

Per the ASIAir+ the focal length with the SFFX-1 and ASI 2600MC Duo (and ASI 533MC Pro) is 968mm, making it f6.9 for my imaging setup with roughly .80 arcseconds per pixel. Small enough resolution, but not too small to be well within my mount’s guiding abilities with average seeing here. M33 frames perfectly with the ASI2600.

I am only imaging now and still a rather newb at it. That said, I get compliments on images of nebulae, globulars and galaxies. It is Stellarvue’s quality, not my abilities. There are no “soft” zones in the image as the optics are polished to near perfection. This scope completely illuminates both the APS-C sized sensor and the guiding sensor of the ASI 2600 MC duo, even through 5 nm dual band Antlia ALP – T filters. The SV flattener straight off my SVX90 worked, but after Vic spent some time with me I learned the 140 needs shorter spacers than the 90 after the flattener.

Per Vic’s email to me:
“The way the SFFX field flattener works is that with the shorter focal length objective you need more extension. So the SFFX-1 with our camera adapter attached needs the following amount of extension between the flattener and camera adapter:
SVX80T: 48mm
SVX102T: 40 mm
SVX 140T: 36mm
SVX152/180T: 33 mm.”

With the above flattener, camera and filters attached the draw tube is extended a good bit to reach focus. Yet there is no tilt. It is perfectly stable. A testament to the build quality. And this keeps the scope tube length to a minimum when the focuser is retracted. Personally I feel this tradeoff hits the sweet spot.

The 13 inch Stellarvue bottom plate is perfect for the scope: substantial and large. Adding 3/8 inch long nylon spacers between the plate and the rings gives a little extra space between the plate and the dew shield. These nylon spacers can be bought at Home Depot or other hardware store

The case is long enough to hold the scope with the SFFX–1 flattener attached. Nice. I previously bought the SV large case, which holds the scope with a ZWO Focuser, handle on the rings, and possibly with a future filter wheel.

The ZWO AM5 with about 7 pounds of counterweights easily keeps the scope guided within .3 - .6 arcseconds. Also have two 1 gallon jugs filled with small pebbles for an additional 28 pounds hanging from the TC40 tripod to prevent flip over. No worries.

I have not looked through a telescope in about a year. But of course I had to do that with this new scope. My remaining eyepieces max out about 300x with this scope. The Great Red Spot on Jupiter was the finest I have ever seen, including with a prior 12” Meade LX200. It was not just a reddish oval. Some detail and color differentiation inside the GRS was noticeable. Stars were pinpoint to the corners. For me, this is very impressive because my eyes are the weakest link in the optical train. It was one of those nights where I’m sure I could’ve gone up more in power if I had other eye pieces.

Optics, build, design, fit and finish are all superb as you would expect from Stellarvue. As is customer service.
As for pride of ownership, well, I still have a grin on my face; totally satisfied and comfortable with my purchase decision. One experienced club member called it “Research grade”. Cue another smile.

Some scopes just get all of it right.
This is one of those scopes.

I ordered and received a new svx140t in February, delivered to Ireland. I’m strictly visual. I waited 3 months before posting a review to allow enough time for some good seeing, and to get used to it.
As soon as it arrived, a clear night of reasonable seeing occurred. It wasn’t a long session but I remember being a bit shocked by the star tests I did on Betelgeuse and Rigel. They were essentially out of the “perfect” column of Suiter’s book. I’d never seen a test like it, and I currently have 8 scopes, some supposedly very good.
A couple of nights ago, I had a long session with the scope, and seeing the best I’ve ever had, in a sky that measured SQM-L 21.95 by the time I packed up. Challenging doubles were as if printed on charts, including zeta herc. I went to try to get the mag 13 star next to M57, which was trivial, and at the eyepiece drew a diagram of other nearby visible stars, one faint but definitely there, to later check against charts. It turned out that it was a mag 14.7 . This scope is very very good.

Magnus: Thank you for your careful and thoughtful review. We take an incredible amount of time figuring these optics all with goal of getting it into the hands of someone like you who appreciates and enjoys what we do. Clear, steady skies. Vic Maris

The SVX140T arrived a couple of days ago, but I was busy with work issues and just brought the boxes upstairs for unboxing. It was certainly well packed and it took me half an hour to work my way down to the telescope. Everything arrived in perfect condition and there is no damage that I can see. The telescope is a marvel to look at. The only thing I have here to compare it to is my Esprit 120. Although naturally wider in diameter, the SVX140T tube length (minus the focuser) is about 3 inches shorter than the Esprit 120, more or less. Fantastic ! I thought I would have trouble putting this scope on my fairly inexpensive EQ6-R Pro, but I don't see an issue with that even though it will soon go on my new MYT mount. I had thought I'd have to start it out on my Losmandy G11 until I was competent to use the MYT, but the SVX140T is small enough and light enough to use on my EQ6-R Pro for the next week or so (until I am up to speed on the MYT). That is a great boon to me as the EQ6 is already set up and ready to go.

The objective lens on the SVX140T is a marvel to look at and the fit and finish of the scope is beyond wonderful. Tomorrow night will be clear, and it will be one of life's great joys to put it into action. Many thanks. And by the way, the carrying case is very practical and I prefer it to the heavier aluminum case that came with my Esprit 120 (I ended up putting that one into storage and wrapping the 120 in plastic when not in use). Good job ! ! !

I just received this amazing piece of kit. It was solidly packaged when I received it. The scope looks like it is made to perfection. I am have been very happy with the customer service as well as the finish product from Stellarvue. I can't wait to get to use this scope.

My only gripe is the padded case could be a little taller as the Moonlite focuser does take some real estate in the case. Additionally I cant put it back in the case with the rail attached. Maybe you guys could redesign the case?

I absolutely love this scope. The attention to details in packaging was amazing. I love the quality of my pictures with it. The only thing that I would love SV to do is producing a large reducer that supports larger sensors. Everything else is just perfect!

What a fantastic top-tier scope! Sharpest views I’ve ever seen. The construction and finish quality is outstanding. The FT focuser is a beast, very stable and robust. Count me as a very pleased customer!

Wait time was well worth this behemoth. Everything about the build is exceptional. The glass is perfect, the FT focuser is buttery smooth, the rings and plate are top notch. The adapters that come with the scope met back focus exactly. This thing is a beast!

Been out with this scope 4 times since delivery. Build quality except for one missing screw is perfect. Very robust. Would make most tanks envious. Optical quality is outstanding. Images are super sharp, pinpoint stars and with clusters a sense of depth. Blows the doors off my 9.25 SCT. Wish I had the foresight to order an extension to my Ioptron mount to keep it from whacking into the tripod legs. Ordered this back in October- well worth the wait.