Explore Scientific ED80mm F/6 APO triplet

[bojan]

Hi forum,
What is general opinion of this APO triplet as astrograph (resolution, especially in corners of the FF and APS sensor) ?

[blink138]

hi bojan if the optics are the same as the orion cf 80 ed triplet it is a very well corrected scope i reckon
my brother uses one and he has the orion dedicated ff which seems to work very well and recently bought a televue 0.8 reducer flattener and is getting v good results from a self modded 60d
pat

[bojan]

Hi Pat,
Thank you..
Do you any some links to images (in full 60D resolution)?
Is FR/FF really needed?

[Larryp]

I'm sure its not the same optics as the Orion. It is a re-badged North Group scope with FPL51 glass whereas the Orion has FPL53 glass.
Having experienced one North Group refractor, I would never buy another one.

[bojan]

So, in your opinion, it's not worth $850?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Explore-Scientific-ED80mm-F-6-APO-triplet-refractor-telescope-astronomy-/191565396625?var=&hash=item2c9a2ffa91

[Larryp]

I had the 102mm model, Bojan. It arrived with parts of the focuser missing. The company sent me the missing parts and the focuser would still not stay in one piece, so at considerable cost, I replaced it with a Moonlite.
I was not impressed by the standard of machining on the scope, and even though it was a triplet, there was still a very faint blue halo around bright stars.
My overall opinion of it was that it was designed by people who do not use telescopes.

[blink138]

this is why i am led to believe that companies like ES choose a better figured cell, the americans highly regard ES as an honest supplier of decent optics from everything i have read anyhow
could be right about the fpl-51 though, but i thought the fpl-51's were doublets?............ could be wrong!
pat

[blink138]

bojan best to try and find out if it is the fpl-53 triplet first, and if it is it will more than likely be the orion cell as that is f/6 also
pat

[blink138]

ah just read the link bojan and larry i think is correct as they say it has the hoya ED element which is the 51 i am pretty sure
pat