My name is Ken Hubal. I have over 30 years of experience in astronomy and am trained as a physicist with experience in optical testing and manufacture. I currently own 7 telescopes. I purchased an Astro-Tech 80ED a month ago and have performed several evaluations on this instrument.
Tom Trusock's preliminary report falls short in the area concerning optical performance. After several nights of testing on both the Moon and Jupiter, I found absolutely NO false color, photographically or visually. In fact, I was able to use magnifications several times more than that of the theoretical limit for an instrument this size. Also, mechanical capabilities and workmanship RIVAL that of Televue, Takahashi, and Astro-Physics refractors that I have owned and used.
Side-by-side comparisons show identical performance with these other high-end refractors. Personally, I have no stake in Astronomy Technologies. I bought this instrument with no preconceived notions or unrealisitic expectations. My current plans are to utilize the instrument for white-light solar work and for wildlife photography. Under excellent seeing conditions, I was able to use a magnification of 197X on Jupiter. The detail visible was nothing short of incredible!! One must bear in mind however, that good transparency is of the utmost importance when testing any astronomical equipment in the field. I live in a rural town about 45 miles southwest of Cleveland, Ohio. I made my observations from my driveway over several consecutive nights. I also own an Astro-Physics superplanetary triplet and I honestly say without hesitation that the images yielded by this 80mm ED refractor are as color-free as the A.P. Image brightness is of course not as good as the A.P. but this is only a 3.15" instrument.
In closing, I find that the best reviews of a telescope are those compiled after the most rigorous testing over several nights. Testing on several close double stars during these sessions also yielded phenominal performance. It is becoming a reality that the Chinese and Taiwanese are producing astronomical instruments at a level of quality that one would have most certainly not guessed possible only a few short years ago! In my opinion, the Astro-Tech 80ED is simply an oustanding value and one worthy of consideration before spending far more on the TeleVue or Takahashi brands. Since Astro-Physics does not produce apochromatic refractors this small, I can only compare the mechanics, which in my opinion are just as good at a fraction of the price. |
