Sky-Watcher Startravel 120 EQ3-2 telescope review

The Sky-Watcher Startravel 120, with the right add-ons, makes for an excellent telescope for those who want to build their instrument, their way

Sky-Watcher Startravel 120
(Image: © Sky-Watcher)

Digital Camera World Verdict

Are you looking for an old-fashioned manual telescope that you can use to star hop your way around the night sky, but which can be turned into an astrophotography-ready ‘scope with the addition of a few optional extras? The Sky-Watcher Startravel 120 with an EQ3-2 mount fits the bill, with the addition that it is a great grab-and-go telescope that oozes potential, with a bit of work.

Pros

  • +

    Good value for money

  • +

    Adaptable – can be used for visual observing or imaging

  • +

    Better-than-average accessories

Cons

  • -

    Optional extras needed to make it astrophotography-ready

  • -

    Flimsy tripod

  • -

    Some chromatic aberration

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

The Sky-Watcher Startravel 120 with an EQ3-2 equatorial mount is a very good option for those on a limited budget – especially those searching for an all-inclusive package that's both easy to set up and use.

Combined with a decent-sized 120mm aperture, skywatchers are treated to very good quality eyepieces, Barlow lens, a fair-quality tripod, accessory tray and adapter for those looking to attach a DSLR camera. The mount also features a handy shutter-release port that makes control of your imager a very simple process.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Gemma Lavender

Gemma is content director of science and space magazines How It Works and All About Space, history magazines All About History and History of War as well as Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) kids education brand Future Genius. She is the author of several books including "Quantum Physics in Minutes", "Haynes Owners’ Workshop Manual to the Large Hadron Collider" and "Haynes Owners’ Workshop Manual to the Milky Way". She holds a degree in physical sciences, a Master’s in astrophysics and a PhD in computational astrophysics. She was elected as a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2011. Previously, she worked for Nature's journal, Scientific Reports, and created scientific industry reports for the Institute of Physics and the British Antarctic Survey. She has covered stories and features for publications such as Physics World, Astronomy Now and Astrobiology Magazine.