New refractor from Orion

[robin]

Hi all, has anyone heard anything about this new little refractor which looks for all the world like the WO Zenithstar 80.
Its called an Orion 'Express' 80mm rich-field refractor.I believe it has a 480 mm focal lengh, same as the Zenithstar.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/makemineameade/T09780dt.jpg

[Miaplacidus]

Yes, I've seen an ad somewhere, and yes, I bet it is a rebadged Zenithstar. Just waiting to see what the price will be (and what accessories Orion offer with it).

(Seems like now is a wonderful time for equipment junkies.)

[ving]

they have been advertising that on skyandtelescope.com for a while i think. havent seen one in the flesh tho.....

but if someone wants to buy me one.... ;)

[dhumpie]

The word on Talking Telescopes (actually from one of the WO representatives) is that this scope shares the same bodywork as the WO Zenithstar as both of them are manufactured in the same factory. The difference is in the optics. The Orion ones are massed produced ones which the WO ones are hand picked by William himself. So my bet is for the Zenithstar to be much better.

Just my 2 cents.

Darren