Review: Orion 80mm ED Refractor

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi guys.

Paul (rumples riot) has written a review of the Orion 80mm ED Refractor.

You can read his thoughts at the IceInSpace Reviews page, or directly by clicking on the link below:

Orion 80mm ED Refractor

Thanks to Paul for writing the review!

If you'd like to submit an article or review for the site, please contact me.

[iceman (Mike)]

Bumping, for those that saw the placeholder.

Bumping/placeholder.??????????????????????? ???

Lost me, but that isnt too difficult.

[iceman (Mike)]

I had the thread marked as "placeholder" originally, and edited it later to the correct title. 10 people had already read the "placeholder" thread, so once I updated it, I bumped the thread (replied to it) so that they'd see it had changed.

Clear as mud?

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I definately agree with your first impressions Paul. I no longer use (or very rarely use) my Celestron 100mm acro, there is just no comparison with the quality of the image so why use the second best. Ditto to for the imaging, easy as to get focus plus mine will easily carry my 300D with no sign of slipping while in the verticle position. For its price and size nice clean crisp images.

Like yourself I was surprised at the diameter of the OTA. As I suspected when I first looked into getting this scope they have used the body of a 100mm scope and fitted the lenses with an oversized lens cell. If anything this would be my only gripe as using the oversized tube and larger lense cell increases the weight of the scope. What could have been a very nice, realtively light scope becomes a bit beefier and heavier. for visual I wouldn't worry, but for imaging I found that it just pushed my GM8 a bit too much when used as a guidescope for my mead OTA.

Overall though I'm very happy with the scope.

[33South (Chris)]

Originally Posted by iceman

Bumping, for those that saw the placeholder.

Ah, threads much more interesting now.

I agree a great piece of equipment, just about the best lowish power (70x)views of the moon Ive seen using an 8.8UWA. Was still sharp at 140x using a shorty plus. I reckon under resonable conditions it could take 200x, I'll see once I get my 6mm Vixen.

One thing why did the add that completely useless camera tripod mounting block, I removed mine it gets in the way of the mounting rings on an AZ3.

[gbeal]

Placeholder/Bumping lost me too, maybe we are indeed OLD farts.
Nice review Paul, as one would expect.
It almost makes me want to get my ED80 out more, maybe I will, thanks.

[rumples riot]

Thanks Dudes.

Actually, I sometimes use the Tripod mounting bracket in conjunction with my Manfrotto tripod. Makes a great 600mm lens then. Take it to the cricket and see the pimples on the cricket players.

Seriously, the mounting bracket does have its uses.

[33South (Chris)]

Originally Posted by rumples riot

Thanks Dudes.

Actually, I sometimes use the Tripod mounting bracket in conjunction with my Manfrotto tripod. Makes a great 600mm lens then. Take it to the cricket and see the pimples on the cricket players.

Seriously, the mounting bracket does have its uses.

Im sure thats what it was designed for, but I found that with the tripod I use (Vivitar 3000) once I added the camera it really struggled to keep balance as I moved it around. Maybe Im doing Orion an injustice and should blame the tripod.

Certainly doesn't detract from the great optics.

[rumples riot]

The Manfrotto that I have is a pro tripod and pro head. You need a beefy tripod to hold a heavy camera and lens. So even with the Orion on top, this tripod is rock solid. So I would say the tripod is your problem. Time to spend some more money.

[Comet Hunter]

Nice review Paul, great to see what it can do astrophoto wise - was that with it strapped onto the LX? Have you tried it solely on the eq6?.... just need to wait for the boy to move out

[rumples riot]

Andrew it was piggy backed onto the LX. Have not tried the EQ6 yet. I do have a dove tail bar for the ED80 though that will fit the EQ6.