Orion / William Optics

[LewisM]

Cn anyone confirm the new Orion short "imaging" refractors are Willaims Optics made? The ED80T (http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Refractor-Telescopes/Refractor-Telescopes-with-Premium-Optics/Orion-ED80T-CF-Triplet-Apochromatic-Refractor-Telescope/pc/1/c/10/sc/332/p/101422.uts?refineByCategoryId=332) seems IDENTICAL to the WO Zenithstar 80 (http://www.williamoptics.com/telescopes/zenithstar80ed_features.php)

I inspected the Orion version recently. Seems OK, and decently priced (at half the WO price!)

[MortonH]

I don't think William Optics actually make their own scopes. Long Perng seems to be their supplier.

The Orion you mention is a triplet while the ZS80 is a doublet. THe other specs are different too. :shrug:

Morton

[MortonH]

Holy cr@p! Just realised that the Orion is only $1049 at Bintel. It was over $2000 when it first came out. I remember the Bintel guys saying at the time that it was quite good, and I wasn't looking at buying one so I don't think it was just sales talk!

Way, way better scope than the ZS 80 II ED.

[Larryp]

William Optics don't make anything, Lewis. According to Andrews Communications, they have no factory and have every thing made for them. Apparently Long Perng make most of their scopes.

[LewisM]

Yeah, the specs are different. Actually, there was another WO scope I thought it was, and did not read the specs. Seems Orion is getting a lot of stuff out of Taiwan now.

Sirius has the Orion for $995 - beat me to it, as I am VERY VERY tempted!!!

[MortonH]

Should be a bit nicer than your ED80. Smaller and lighter, too.