Sky-Watcher EvoGuide 50DX 50mm ED APO Refractor / Guidescope
The Sky-Watcher EvoGuide 50DX brings apochromatic performance to a compact, lightweight package that’s just as much at home guiding your imaging rig as it is capturing stunning wide-field astrophotography. This versatile 50mm doublet refractor uses the same high-quality optics found in Sky-Watcher’s renowned Evostar line, delivering sharp, high-contrast views with impressive color correction—all in a form factor that weighs less than two pounds.
Whether you’re looking for a portable wide-field astrograph, a high-performance guidescope, or even a premium finder, the EvoGuide 50DX does it all with precision and elegance.
Enhanced ED Optics for Crisp, Color-Corrected Views
The EvoGuide 50DX features a 50mm f/4.8 air-spaced ED doublet objective lens that delivers excellent color correction and contrast. Sky-Watcher utilizes a premium extra-low dispersion (ED) element in the design to minimize chromatic aberration, resulting in tight star images and high visual and photographic clarity. While the specific ED glass type is not disclosed by the manufacturer, real-world performance shows it is a significant step up from standard achromatic optics.
Fully multi-coated optics throughout the system enhance light transmission and reduce stray reflections—an important feature for both imaging and guiding faint targets.
Precision Dual-Speed Focuser
The EvoGuide 50DX includes a helical focuser that is also threaded for T2 accessories (M42x0.75), making it easy to attach field flatteners, extension tubes, or camera adapters without worrying about tilt or sag.
Robust Build with Astro-Imagers in Mind
The anodized aluminum tube and precision-machined rings offer both durability and alignment stability. The EvoGuide 50DX includes a Vixen-style mini dovetail bar, making it easy to mount on a wide variety of guide rings or dovetail saddles. The included clamshell-style mounting rings allow rotational adjustment of the tube for optimal framing or cable management during imaging sessions.
Despite its small size, the scope handles surprisingly well as a wide-field astrograph, particularly when paired with a 1x field flattener (available separately) to correct edge-of-field curvature for full-frame sensors.
Ideal for Guiding or Wide-Field Imaging
While the EvoGuide 50DX shines as a premium guidescope for deep-sky astrophotography, many users will appreciate its capabilities as a standalone imaging instrument. With a 242mm focal length, it’s perfectly suited for capturing large nebulae, open clusters, and sweeping star fields. Lightweight and compact, it’s also an excellent choice for use on lightweight equatorial mounts or star trackers when traveling to dark skies.
Its compact size and excellent optics make it a great match for modern CMOS and mirrorless cameras, opening up possibilities for creative wide-field compositions with pinpoint stars.
What’s in the Box
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Sky-Watcher EvoGuide 50DX optical tube with FPL-53 ED doublet lens
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Dual-speed helical focuser with fine-tuning adjustment
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Mounting rings with Vixen-style dovetail base
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Dust covers for both ends
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Threaded adapter for T2 camera and accessory connection
Specifications
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Optical Design: ED Apochromatic Doublet Refractor
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Objective Diameter: 50mm
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Focal Length: 242mm
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Focal Ratio: f/4.8
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Weight: 1.54 lbs (0.7 kg)
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Dovetail Type: Vixen-style mini rail
If you’re looking for a high-performance guidescope that can double as a travel-friendly wide-field imaging scope, the EvoGuide 50DX is a superb choice. Its high-quality ED optics, precision focusing, and rugged build make it a standout in its class—whether you’re using it as part of a deep-sky imaging rig or taking it on the road for mobile astrophotography.
