I bought this because if the added light capability, without fully recognizing how large it would be in person and ultimately sent it back (without an issue, due to the professionalism of FLO)

My initial opinions of this are good. The build quality was great and the telescope feels premium! Plus it's black, which I think looks so much better!

If you buy this, please be aware you may need a secome person to help you carry it out. I didn't want to rest the OT itself on anything so held it while my partner moved the base. This wasn't a great experience, but thats not due to the telescope but instead how I was storing and using it.

I was worried about collimation, but it was really easy to get the hand of. (I opted for a Cheshire collimation eyepiece)

The base is a bit bulky and in the way for a small office space. So do consider that! Unfortunatly I only managed to test it out on a less than perfect weather night.

The return postage cost £100+ due to its size, but I accepted it as the item was perfect, and I was the reason for the return.

Return process was super smooth I was given a number to write on the box and then just shipped the item back, the refund cam pretty quick too. I was worried the telescope might get broken during shipping, however the packaging was more than enough to protect it.

Finally decided to take the plunge and get myself a proper telescope and had settled on a 12" dob to give myself some room to grow into. When i was doing my research the Apertura D12 kept coming up as the best one to get but these aren't available in Europe. Then I found the Stella Lyra 12" which as far as I can see is basically exactly the same even down to including the RACI Finderscope as standard which most sellers don't seem to do.

The scope was delivered quickly by FLO and it's been great. I got the FLO Cheshire as an extra and collimating was easy enough as a first time telescope user once I followed some tutorials. The scope seems to hold its collimation well and I usually just have to do a slight adjustment to the primary at the start of each session. The included eyepieces are definitely enough to get you started. I like the 30mm in particular and still use it sometimes but the 9mm has a pretty narrow FOV so I decided to get the Baader Hyperion Mk IV Zoom + Barlow from FLO for a quick all round improvement. This made viewing objects like Jupiter much more comfortable and the view was better. I've since also added an APM 7mm UWA which works really nice with this scope.

It's definitely a pretty big scope but I don't have any issues moving it from inside the house to the back garden. I'd highly recommend getting some lifting straps as makes it way, way easier to carry. Overall the scope has been excellent to use and I'd highly recommend it even if you're just starting out in astronomy like me.

Having previously owned the 8” version of this scope, I was well aware of the great quality and optics of the scopes. I had a problem with the focuser on the new 12”, which was rapidly rectified by FLO. I fitted a Telrad on a 2” riser which in combination with the supplied excellent RACI, I’m now ready for first light. Great fast dispatch and delivery from FLO as is the norm.

Really impressed with the telescope so far , great build quality and gives good views of deep sky objects even from light polluted sky. Planets look amazing even if the seeing is not great. also really like the 2 inch eyepiece that was part of the package. All thats left for me to do is take it to a dark sky to really see what this beast can do.