ED80/Moonlite/PFlat2 v's ED80T CF

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Hi all,
Considering purchasing an 80mm widefield scope soon - so, I'm soliciting opinions for the various ideas I'm tossing around right now.

Option 1 - Bog standard Skywatcher 'Gold' ED80, Moonlite focuser upgrade and William Optics PFlat2. This would give me a f6/480mm focal length scope.

Option 2 - Orion ED80T Carbon Fibre triplet Apo + suitable (?0.8x)flattener reducer.
This would provide a f4.8/ 384mm focal length scope.

Would the scope/flattener combination of option 2 be pushing the optical physics a bit!!??

Anyway lads and lasses - any comments/ ideas
Doug

[Tandum (Robin)]

FSQ85ED from tak. F5.3 for 450mm with a 44mm image circle and doesn't need a flattener. Add the reducer and get F3.86 for 328mm with a 40mm image circle. 72mm focuser should handle any camera and will last you a life time for about US$3K new.

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by Tandum

FSQ85ED from tak. F5.3 for 450mm with a 44mm image circle and doesn't need a flattener. Add the reducer and get F3.86 for 328mm with a 40mm image circle. 72mm focuser should handle any camera and will last you a life time for about US$3K new.

That's more than twice my budget Robin! Ouch!!

[multiweb (Marc)]

ED80 with a good FF will kick a$$. The CF tube would be even better to keep it focussed.

[Alchemy (Clive)]

You should pick up a gold ed80 for about 400 so you will have heaps of change out of 1500, and if you are like the rest of us you will be planning for the next upgrade.
The ed80 gives great bang for the buck I reckon

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Oh well, point of the exercise has become mute now as I've just gone and bought a Canon 70-200mm f4L IS

But, for those interested - Bintel told me the Carbon Fibre ED80s are on back order and will be here Nov 26th. They'll make a nice Xmas present for some lucky astronomer.

thanks for all comments.
Doug