http://www.firstlightoptics.com/ First Light Optics - Suppliers of Astronomy telescopes, binoculars and accessories from Skywatcher, Celestron, Meade, William Optics, Atik, Imaging Source, Starlight Xpress, ADM, Moonlite, Catseye, Hotech and others. en-gb First Light Optics Ltd Tue, 08 May 2012 12:53:00 +0100 contact@firstlightoptics.com contact@firstlightoptics.com http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/skywatcher-heq5-heq5-syntrek-are-back-.html Last year the Skywatcher HEQ5 and HEQ5 Syntrek mounts were discontinued in favour of the more popular higher spec'd Skywatcher HEQ5 PRO. Following demand here in the UK they have been reintroduced. So, we can now offer three versions of this very successful mount. Tue, 08 May 2012 12:53:00 +0100 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/burglary-at-the-astronomy-centre.html The Astronomy Centre in Todmorden has been burgled and various instruments stolen. If you see the following offered for sale on auction sites or similar websites please contact Peter Drew at the Astronomy Centre... Tue, 01 May 2012 12:21:00 +0100 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/skywatcher-esprit-120-review.html This detailed Skywatcher Esprit 120 Review by Alan Dyer was recently published by 'SkyNews', the Canadian magazine of astronomy and stargazing. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:27:00 +0100 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/first-light-optics-pricing-policy.html We are often asked to price-match or to offer discount so we thought it might help if we let everyone know where we stand with regards to pricing. Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:58:00 +0000 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/an-apology-and-a-commitment.html We know we don't always get it right, we are human after all. Recently we struggled to stay on top of enquiries following the tidal wave of communications generated by the BBC Stargazing Live series. During this time we were not able to give our core customers the attention they deserve. This has embarrassed us greatly... Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:16:00 +0000 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/new-skywatcher-eq8-mount.html We have recieved details of a new Skywatcher EQ8 premium quality heavy-duty mount with 50 Kg payload capacity, a new pillar-tripod design, high resolution direct-drive stepper-motors and patented dual-encoder technology for perfect harmony between manual handling and automated Synscan driven operation, never losing the position. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:04:00 +0000 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/new-skywatcher-az-eq6-mount-news.html We have recieved news of a new Skywatcher AZ EQ6 dual-load, dual-purpose heavy-duty mount incorporating both Alt-Azimuth & Equatorial GOTO functions. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:28:00 +0000 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/stargazing-live-telescopes.html We kept a keen eye on the telescopes mentioned in tonight’s episode of Stargazing Live hosted by Professor Brian Cox and Dara O’Brian. The BBC were, of course, careful not to endorse a particular brand or product but the Skywatcher Explorer 130p SupaTrak was easy to identify. This is good as it is an excellent choice for someone starting out in amateur astronomy. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:58:00 +0000 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/new-william-optics-zenithstar-zs70-2012.html The NEW f6 William Optics Zenithstar 70 ED is an excellent choice for wide-field astrophotography and will undoubtedly become a bestseller. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:40:00 +0100 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/atik-newsletter-no13.html Atik cameras have released their latest newsletter which includes a feature on the Kelling star party, their new Atik 420L and Atik 450L cameras and details of their Imaging Competition. Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:58:00 +0100 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/atik-efw2-filter-wheel-oag-review.html This review of the Atik EFW2 Filter Wheel and Off Axis Guider is the second of two reviews written for us by Steve Richards, author of ‘Making Every Photon Count’ and writer for The Sunday Times, BBC Sky at Night Magazine and BBC Focus Magazine. Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:47:00 +0100 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/starlight-xpress-filter-wheel-oag-review.html Fans of Off Axis Guiders have never had it so good! The flimsy lightweight offerings of yesterday have given way to new sturdy models that are more easily setup and adjusted. Starlight Xpress and Atik are most noteworthy having developed new Off Axis Guiders to complement their existing motorized filter wheels. We sent one of each, together with their filter wheels, to Steve Richards to assess. Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:40:00 +0100 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/atik-newsletter-12.html Atik cameras have released their latest newsletter. They have a new camera nearly ready for production, a new member of staff, a visit to the South West Astronomy Fair and an article about the well loved Atik 16HR by Pedro. Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:05:00 +0100 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/pentax-0-gps1-astrotracer.html We have received details of a remarkable new accessory from Pentax that will interest astronomers using Pentax K-5 or K-r DSLR cameras to photograph the night sky. Mon, 13 Jun 2011 23:32:00 +0100 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/affordable-triplet-refractors.html We are often asked to source and supply 'affordable' triplet refractor telescopes. It would be easy enough, FLO has access to them, so why are we not doing so? Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:07:00 +0100 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/hawke-frontier-ed-binocular.html First Light Optics is now an authorised retailer for Hawke Optics products We have a number of their binoculars in stock including the Hawke Frontier ED and ProStalk ED series and a rather neat NatureTrek Monocular with 50mm objective. The Hawke Frontier ED with it's magnesium alloy body and ED optics is something of a legend amongst birders and nature observers. It has done for them what the Evostar 80 ED has done for astronomers - redefined what can be achieved and become the benchmark at it's price. Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:36:00 +0100 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/starsharp-bahtinov-focus-masks.html First Light Optics has been appointed exclusive UK retailer for StarSharp Bahtinov focus masks You would think sourcing a well-made Bahtinov focusing mask would be easy! Slots cut into a sheet of plastic suspended on the front of the telescope, how difficult can it be... It took us nearly a year! Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:38:00 +0100 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/vixen-lvw-vs-baader-hyperion-review.html Two of a kind! The hugely popular Baader Hyperion eyepieces are clearly 'influenced' by the Japanese-made Vixen LVW series. Back in Autumn 2010 we loaned a set of both to John Huntley of Stargazerslounge for a head-to-head review. Here are his findings... Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:40:00 +0100 http://www.firstlightoptics.com/news/first-light-optics-new-website.html Hi, Last year we announced on Stargazerslounge that we were working on a new website so would be grateful for suggestions and criticism. We received plenty of both! This is the new website, we hope it meets with your approval Sat, 21 May 2011 11:06:00 +0100