WANTED: High-end ED80 (ie. Japanese, German)

[ivanrostas]

Hello all

I enjoy quality, well made products that are also beautifully designed. I have a Braun shaver and radio that are 30 years old that I won't part with, and love the tactile feel of quality gears and don't mind paying for it.

I am hoping that someone might have an ED80 type scope from the likes of Vixen (Japanese) or something else that they have acquired at a good price that I might enjoy a good price if they were inclined to part with it.

I like the look of William Optics also, and from the reviews I have read they are both beautifully built, their focusers are effortless and the optics are made from the best formulations.

I am just a beginner, and wish to make this (probably) my only scope to team with a bunch of new Sony mirror less DSLR gear (including Sony A7 and A6000) that have quite sensitive sensors.

I go hiking a lot and want a scope that is semi portable. I have just parted with a little Vixen VMC110L and this is my upgrade.

Thanks for reading!

Cheers

Ivan

[LewisM]

JUST FYI, the Vixen ED80 is NOT Japanese made, it is made by Skywatcher in China for them, and is basically the SAME as the SW ED80. If you want a Japanese made Vixen 80-class, you need to ook for an ED81S series. I had one, and sold it recently on here (and regret it)

[Larryp]

You should look at a Stellarvue 80mm ED. Their stuff is absolutely top drawer. I have imported 2 of their scopes and regret selling both of them.

[ivanrostas]

Thanks for that feedback. I understand the pang of regret when one parts with something you later realise you had an attachment too.

And I'm not talking about ex-wives!

:lol:

[el_draco]

Parted with mine and don't have the slightest regrets... :D

[MortonH]

The Stellarvue 80mm triplet that's been listed tonight is great value at $780.

The new price is US$1195 plus shipping plus GST.

[photosinferno]

Good call by Morton there.

John

[blink138]

that would deffo be the go for me too!
pat

[ivanrostas]

:(

[MrB]

Yes Ivan, you gotta be quick around here, worth checking a couple of times daily as items have gone within minutes of listing if they're priced nicely.
I missed out on the SV too.

[MortonH]

Very true.

Also, if you're sure you want to buy you need to tell the seller immediately. In the past I've made a serious enquiry only to lose out because someone else made a definite offer to buy while I was still thinking about it! :(

[brian nordstrom]

:) That FSQ85 Takahashi in the classifieds is going for a great price , you will never see one at that again ?
The WO Megrez 90mm Fluorite on page 2 is also a sweet scope ?
Brian.

[Larryp]

Check Stellarvue website. They have some used scopes that have been checked over and come with 2 year warranty. There is a very nice carbon fibre 80mm triplet among the scopes available

[Steffen]

Hi Ivan, what's your budget? Baader have a 95mm f/5.9 oil-spaced triplet with CaF2 centre element, that looks the business. It goes for about 3400 Euros with rings...

http://www.baader-planetarium.de/baader-apo-travel-companion/index.htm

Cheers
Steffen.

[MrB]

Yep that happened to me too, with a Mak-Newt at a price that will never be seen again, ever.
I asked the seller for the freight cost to WA, which I thought indicated intent to buy, I got a reply with the cost but before I had a chance to check my PM's (about an hour later, I was at work) for that reply, the scope was sold.

I now always clearly state intent to buy.

[MortonH]

Whoa - that's a nice scope. Not such a nice price though...!

[ivanrostas]

Thank you all for contributions.

I have enjoyed checking in occasionally, all the while selling off items on eBay which will form the budget for this next scope.

That is the deal I have made with my significant other, and I commend it to you all in the interests of marital harmony :)

My research has arrived at a theory, and at the expense of missing out a few brand names, here it goes.

For about 80-85mm of aperture:

Takahashi around $3K
Borg around $2k
Vixen around $1k.

So, about $1000 between these three brands, all of which are made in Japan.

Would it be fair to say that there is less than $1000 worth of 'quality' difference (lets assume quality to represent build, optics, focuser quality/durability) between Takahashi and Borg?

Because thats where my thinking is at, and why I have approached Ted from Borg Japan to give me a quote.

The above numbers forget clamshells, and the various other proprietary bits and pieces each of those manufacturers require before I can get any of these scopes onto any type of mount.

I fear the issue of import duties of course, but notwithstanding that potential problem, I feel some assimilation with Borg. Sorry about that.

:P

Hope you're all having a good day, and the meteorological gods clear the skies for another gaze up at the moon this evening.

Ivan

[dannat]

try tan14.com/gears.htm for borg prices
the borg 71FL & 90FL use a higher quality glass than their ED models -i had a borg scope which are very light weight & modular, i would recommend them

[ivanrostas]

Thanks Daniel!