Ready to Splash ED's

[mswhin63]

Hi,

I am trying to decide a direction for scopes and would like some opinions. I am looking for a ED80 scope that I can use till my shoulder gets better (Can't left anything too much).

Anyway a selection below would be interested in opinions

> Black Diamond ED80 (http://www.theastroguy.com.au/telescopes_blackdiamonded.html)
> Meade Series 5000 ED Apo Triplet 80mm (https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=8886)
> HiOptic 80mm ED Triplet Apochromatic Refractor. (http://www.telescopes-astronomy.com.au/hioptic-pricelist-telescope-astronomy-refractor.htm)
> Vixen ED80Sf 80mm Telescope
> Long Perng ED APO 80mm (http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-content-section-10-longperng.htm#refracting)
> TS ED APO Refractor 80mm f/7 (http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p4650_TS-80mm-f-7-ED-APO---3--Crayford-focuser-for-astro-imaging.html)
> Astro Professional ED APO 80/560mm (http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p1071_Astro-Professional-ED-80-560mm---FLAT-FIELD---Deluxe-Version.html)

The main reason for selecting an ED80 is so it can be converted to a guide-scope later when I get my strength back in my arm to lift a 8" Newt on the EQ5.

Any other suggestions. I am interested in good field coverage for a lot of imaging subjects. So F6 or F7.5 opinions would be good too.

Thanks for looking.:help:

[midnight]

Malcolm,

Take a look at Sky at Night Magazine April 2011 (#71) which is currently on the shelves. They do a review of 80mm refractors on page 86 including Explore Scientific ED80, Vixen ED80Sf, Sky Watcher Evostar 80ED Pro and Meade Series 5000 80ED.

Meade was given the winner but only just. Suggest you pickup this issue to have a look.

I own a Meade Series 5000 80mm and very happy with it. It does need a good field flattener though. Its focal length is 480mm though but very sharp. It's a bit thin on features though. I paid $799 for the old runout version last year (single speed Crayford focuser) but optically the same as the current version.

I can not comment on the others although the Williams Optics line up looks nice too which I am looking at the FLT110 currently from Andrews Communications.

Cheers,
Darrin...

[mswhin63]

Thanks Darrin, Will get the issue and take a squiz. Still the other scopes look interesting though. There are more every time I look.

From what I read most or nearly all of them need a field flattener so I have a limit $1000.00 at the moment.

[BPO]

There's nothing much wrong with a basic Orion/Sky-Watcher f/7.5 ED80 for most uses. The f/6.25 Sky-Watcher Equinox 80ED is excellent too, plus it includes some of the fancy extras missing from the bare-bones ED80 models.

[Sarge]

Malcolm,

What did you settle on?

Rod

[mswhin63]

Hi Rod,

Settled on the TS 80/480 (http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p3881_TS-80-480mm-F-6-Triplet-APO---FPL-53---Kein-Farbfehler.html) along with a corrector for imaging. The scope was a a bit cheaper before but no problems with the scope now. Link to my complete set-up (https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/109920401953767744541/albums/5696600960667427185/5696600681250466114)

Have had some great success with Deep Sky (https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/109920401953767744541/albums/5711144334112216417/5711757160624214962) and has been great on my shoulder too. Shoulder back in shape now but now with full time Uni I don't have a lot of time. Another image (https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/109920401953767744541/albums/5705588960234508561/5705589114800869970)

My next venture is a temporary observatory for rental properties so that I can leave the gear set-up and ready to go at short notice. Only just starting but available time is limited.

[Chris Fleming]

Hi Rod,
I'm also in the hunt for a compact refractor and was considering the ES or Hioptic 80mm triplets. Are you happy with the TS, if so is there a dealer in Australia or did you buy directly from the website? Also interested to know why you decided to go with the TS over the others.

Thanks
Chris

[Stardrifter_WA]

I just bought the FLT110 direct from WO, as they have a special price at the moment and it comes with a bonus field flattener ($558 value) and the DDG focuser; http://www.williamoptics.com/wo_shop/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_24&products_id=576

WO has a flat freight charge of $99 and import costs and GST came to $287. It took less than a week to get here.

I also have an ED80, but now much prefer the FLT110.

Cheers Peter

[Stardrifter_WA]

I found the ED80 to be quite a good scope for the price and I wouldn't part with mine. It is the best value for money scope I have ever bought IMO. The only thing against it is the focuser wasn't very good, however, I changed my focuser to the JMI motor focuser and it is now mechanically sound.

I chose the Event Horizon EV-1rM Focuser as it has a desc rete focuser motor. http://www.jimsmobile.com/buy_ev.htm

[TrevorW]

Maybe a Stellarvue

http://www.stellarvue.com/svr80ed.html

or a WO scope

[Larryp]

I have a Stellarview Nitehawk, which uses the same lens-very good scope. With the 2.5" focuser and field flattener, it allows the entire imaging train to screw together-very solid.:)