[chris lewis]

I recently bought a new Carbon Fiber Kson 80 mm F/6.8 Triplet APO for NZ$800. Comes with the 2” Crayford 1:10 dual speed focuser. They are well made. It cost me less, approx. $NZ300, then an Orion ED80 or a SW 80 mm Equinox would have. The images are superior to the Synta 80 mm doublets I have had over the years with no CA noticeable, just a a hint on very bright objects when de-focused. I believe these Kson scopes were available in Australia but unsure of availability now. I also have the larger Kson F/6 102 ED doublet non CF white tube version, which was only NZ$100 more. Slightly more CA but still negligible and not a concern during normal viewing. Both come with FPL-51 glass. I do prefer the 102 mm version [just] its just goes deeper and brighter and is still relatively portable.

Chris