express 80

[mickoking]

G,day all,

In the near future I would like to purchase an Apo/Semi apo or ED 80mm refractor to replace my trusty 80mm short tube. I have read a lot about the Orion 80ED and most of what the reviews have said are very good.

however


I have seen advertised recently in S&S magazine the Orion express 80. It is described as a semi apo and the price is right, does anybody know anything about this 'scope as I havent seen any reviews or tests of it. Cheers :)

[iceman]

h0ughy bought one recently, have a search for some recent threads for his opinions on it. Though I don't know how many times he's had it out under the stars given the weather lately.

[Miaplacidus]

Isn't the Express 80 just a William Optics Zenithstar 80 in sheep's clothing (i.e. rebadged)? If so, the main thing I'd want to check is if the baffling system is the same (very good in the Zenithstar).


Cheers,

Brian.

[mickoking]

Whats the price of the Zenithstar 80? The price of the express 80 from Bintel is $579.

[Miaplacidus]

You'll need to contact Daniel at Frontier Optics or Peter at ATS to get the latest price. May come as part of a package. They ought to be competitive with the Orion Express, I would think.

Cheers,

Brian.

[h0ughy]

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=6449&highlight=express
and
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=5694&highlight=express

I think you will find my opinions there. nice scope for the price - be great for viewing and guiding, but not for astrophotography without a minus violet filter. ;)

[h0ughy]

all the answers here http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=4840&highlight=express ;)

[h0ughy]

5 or 6 times, :lol: twice for photography

[janoskiss]

The one thing going against the ED80 is its oversized 100mm tube. It is the same diameter as the ED100 uses. The Zenithstar is a lot more compact. But the ED80 has no false colour I could detect, even at high powers.

[h0ughy]

the facts are there, I bought it because it is a fine piece of engineering and knew the optical would have a bit of coma

[mickoking]

I am a bit concerned with the express 80's CA. I don't expect Takahashi levels of performance but I still expect almost no CA. Would the 80ED be a significantly better performer? :confuse3:

[janoskiss]

If you don't want CA at all, get the ED80. MyAstroShop is the place to get it from ATM, for $549! That's a dollar better than I got it for, and I bought it directly from the importer.

[mickoking]

Sounds sweet and the price is good, cheers mate. :drink:



Oh by the way I do bugger all planetery observing but all the same how does it handle quick views of the solar system? (ED 80 that is)

[h0ughy]

You won't be dissapointed no matter which one you go with for quick views. :)

[janoskiss]

The ED80 does very well on the planets, considering its small aperture. Banding on Jupiter is easily seen, as was detail on Mars at opposition and during the couple of months following. Great for high power views of the Moon too. It will handle high powers well, 200x and then some, well above what I expected from an 80mm scope.

[Striker]

I have both the Orion ED80 and the WO Zenithstar.

No question ED80 for Astrophotography.

[mickoking]

Both the ED80 and Express80 look like they fit the bill now the hard bit. Trying to convince the missus I muuuuuust have a 4th telescope. Of course she will let me buy it but its the 'silent dissaproval' that stings. Life's tough ;)

[beren]

"All that is gold does not glitter".....the Orion 80mm Ed and the other brand clones might not look as good as the WO product but at the business end it works a treat , visually and through imaging I dont see any false colour and it can pushed with the mag . Seeing that you have a 80mm achromatic already i know which way I would go :)

[ballaratdragons]

ED definately!

[asimov]

No question. ED80

[mickoking]

Thanx a million :drink:

[acropolite]

Mick you could consider one of these.....http://www.william-optics.com/wowebs/prod_tel/zsfd80/features0.htm They're about $1300 but APO...:D

[mickoking]

Looks nice and I bet it is but can you call a doublet a true apochromat? :confuse3:

[Stu]

The APO tag is an expression of a scopes performance, not how many lens it has. The Takahash FS series were all doublets and had absolutely no colour. The rear lens was ED glass like the ED80 but the front lens was pure flourite crystal, not crown glass. The performance of the Tak is in another league altogether. I say "was" because they are not made anymore. Japanese manufacturers are not allowed to make flourite lenses anymore because of environmental reasons. The FS series has been replaced with the TOA which is a traditional triplet arrangement.

Manufacturers in Taiwan (like Willian Optics) are still allowed to make flourite lenses. William are the OEM for the Express80.

[Stu]

Another thing to concider. The Express80/ZenithStar80 can JUST be used on a camera tripod, if you are patient. The ED80 has no hope, it's far to big, tube rings only for that one.