AOE 80mm Refractors

jmb · #1 13-07-2006, 01:52 PM

i appreciate the advice i have been offered so far.

and yes, i am trying to arrange to get to the astrofest on the Saturday to see what is for sale etc, and stay for some of the night viewing.
as much as i would love to get a DOB i really dont think i can at this stage...
So, what about a AOE 80mm Refractor I could get that at $230
any comments...

ving (David) · #2 13-07-2006, 02:05 PM

been looking at the 90mm ones myself... i understand they are well made but like any refractor suffer from chromatic abberation (CA). whether this is important to you and you cna put up with it is entirely er... up to you i guess

I dont know how bad the CA is.
i hear good reports from this shop tho.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #3 13-07-2006, 02:11 PM

It will be good if you can make it out as you will then get to try out the equipment you are interested in.

I can't comment on the 80mm, but I have the Celestron clone 102mm and it's not a bad scope. Certainly it's an Achromat and it has a pretty poor R&P focuser, but the view through it are nothing to sneeze at.

If you do decide on the AOE, beware the EQ2 mount. See if you can get it on at least an eq3/4

[1ponders] (Paul) · #4 13-07-2006, 02:17 PM

Generally with Achromatic refractors, the shorter the FL for a given aperture and lens contruction/material, the worse the chromatic aberation is. ie, 80mm x 800mm much better than 80mm x 500mm. The trade off is you have a narrower field of view with the longer FL for any give eyepiece, but higher magnification. Just depends on what is important to you. High mag, narrow FOV/Lower mag, widefield.

Striker (Tony) · #5 13-07-2006, 02:36 PM

JMB,

I have a skywatcher 70mm 900mm Focal length refractor just the OTA.

It's virtualy brand new..if you want you can have a look through it if you like.

I think it's very ordinery personaly but if you wish do buy it you can have it for $70...its only a bare bones OTA.
http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/SK709EQ2.html

feel free to come around my place if you want to have a look....I'm free tonight...lol

I am in Tingalpa Brisbane.
I will pm you.

jmb · #6 13-07-2006, 02:56 PM

hi i sent a message...yeah i'm free tonight!!!

seriously though, what is an "OTA"

Striker (Tony) · #7 13-07-2006, 03:00 PM

Optical tube assembly...means just the scope no mount.

xelasnave · #8 13-07-2006, 03:02 PM

I have what I presume to be the "same" scopes. 80 x400 cost $200 no mount and 70 x 600 on a tripod $200. They may not meet the approval of someone with more experience but I recon for the money they both turned out way above what I expected $200 would buy

. CR is present but you still get to see a great deal and when starting is that not enough. AND I combine the 2 scopes (70 guider 80 capture) to provide a nice little astrophoto combo (on eq5 mount) with for the money very pleasing results. My next scope would be a 80 triple and I would use it more than my 12 inch I recon if I had it

.
AND it is said that someone said years ago "If you are priveledgd to own a scope of 2 inch app you are duty bound to conduct scientific reaseach with it.." So back in time what you are considering would have been huge. Much of the Southern Sky was first observed and charted with a one half inch refractor so dont get carried away by app fever..just yet anyways

Good luck and clear skies (now thats where one needs to spend the money on a clear sky

)
alex

Starkler (Geoff) · #9 13-07-2006, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmb

i am trying to arrange to get to the astrofest on the Saturday to see what is for sale etc, and stay for some of the night viewing.........
as much as i would love to get a DOB i really dont think i can at this stage

I think you might be well served to wait until after astrofest to make a decision about what scope to buy.
Once you see the difference in what can be seen between an 80mm scope and say one of 200mm or bigger, you could very well change your mind.

The difference is like night and day..... well you know what I mean

Striker (Tony) · #10 13-07-2006, 06:21 PM

Dont worry Geoff,

I had a lengthy conversation over the phone with Janine and she is looking at 8" Dob now....lets pray for her...private joke...janine will get it....lol

Starkler (Geoff) · #11 13-07-2006, 06:26 PM

I had to buy an ed80 before I learned that lesson. An expensive mistake for sure

mickoking · #12 13-07-2006, 06:52 PM

I have an achromatic 80mm scope and Its a great little performer. These little scopes are great widefield/deepsky 'scopes and they are very portable. My advice, buy one and then when you get enough money buy a Dob, but keep the 80mm. When I can't be botherd to drag my larger telescopes outside the little 80mm can be taken out with one hand and set up immediately

astroron (Ron) · #13 13-07-2006, 10:36 PM

Tony I know your private joke

jmb · #14 13-07-2006, 11:27 PM

so much for a private forum...

jmb · #15 13-07-2006, 11:28 PM

the first laugh i have had at iceinspace

astroron (Ron) · #16 13-07-2006, 11:45 PM

Jmb I was going to say in my PM "heavens above" don't by a scope till you have been to AstroFest