cygnus72
sage
Reged: 06/13/07
Posts: 245
Loc: State College, PA
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Whatcha got?
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We have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.
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David E
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/25/06
Posts: 3019
Loc: North Carolina
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In my arsenal, it's my Stellarvue SV80T apo, FPL-53 version. But followed very, very closely by my SV85S with the LOMO doublet.
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David E
If you keep a stack of old Orion catalogs in your bathroom, you might be an astro-redneck.
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Jared
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/11/05
Posts: 2527
Loc: Piedmont, California, U.S.
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Well, I have an SV80S that I love. The LOMO optics are excellent as is the Feathertouch focuser. Best 80mm scope, though? I don't know. That depends on the criteria you use. While my SV80S is wonderful, the focuser is non-rotatable (which some may object to), the entire package is fairly heavy given the aperture, the field is heavily curved due to the relatively short focal length, high power eyepieces that are comfortable to use can be expensive (again due to the short focal length), and the scope is not inexpensive.
What criteria should we use use when assessing "best"? Optically best? Mechanically? Best support? Best price/performance ratio? Lightest/most easily transported? Fastest cooling? Most robust? Flattest field? Best planetary performance? Best imaging scope?
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- Jared Willson
- TMB 152 f/8 Apochromat
- Fluorostar FLT-110 w/ TEC optics
- Stellarvue SV80S
- Astro-Physics Mach1 GTO
- Takahashi Teegul SP Mount
- STL-11000
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 14711
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Well out the 80mm scopes that I've had:
Orion ST80 f/5 achro
large amounts of falsse color, quite distracting. Could not go to very high powers on double stars without noticing significant aberrations in image. Not really usable at 150x. Light weight focuser. Was one of my first scopes and was a good beginner scope.
Stellerview AT1010 78mm f/6.15 achro
still significant false color, somewhat distracting, but much better than the ST80. Could not go to very high powers on double stars without noticing significant aberrations in image. Astigmatism and coma? present, prevented achieving maximum resolution. Maximum use at about 150x. Nice 2" focuser, smooth. Good low power widefield scope.
William Optic Megrez 80 SD II Semi-Apochromatic f/6.2
still some moderate false color, but much better than both the ST80 and the AT1010. Stars pinpoint. very little other detrimental aberration seen. Could go to very high powers on double stars and planets without noticing significant aberrations in image. Maximum use at about 200x-220x. Excellent resolution, very good contrast. Nice rotatable 2" (but only single speed) focuser, very smooth.
TMB 80 Signature Series Carbon Fiber Apochromat f/6.2
No false color. Stars very fine pinpoints. No noticable aberrations seen. Resolution excellent. Contrast excellent. Have seen mag 13.05 star next to M57 under mag 5.5 sky, best ever with any scope smaller than 100mm. Could go to very high powers on double stars and planets. Have used 250x on doubles. Viewed Saturn at 200x, although better at 150x-160x. Nice 2" Feathertouch focuser with dual speed (but non-rotatable), very smooth, helps accomodate reaching best focus. By far and away, the best of these.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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jtpowers1972
Professor or something
Reged: 11/03/05
Posts: 893
Loc: Cambridge, MA
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IMO, without question the LOMO 80/600.
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maknewtnut
Vendor (Teton Telescope)
Reged: 10/08/06
Posts: 854
Loc: SE Idaho
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...and one of very few scopes made, including the very finest apochromatic refractors of any make, that qualifies as a superapo by the definition of the term(well, superachromat technically, but that is rather misleading itself).
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Mark
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 25179
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
IMO, without question the LOMO 80/600.
Hard to argue with that. My A&M/LOMO 80/480 was a nicer instrument in general (nicer tube, better focuser, etc.) but the 80/600 I have now pleases me even more despite the Long Perng tube and focuser.
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John C
Urban Observatory
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 178ED F/9 "APO"
Meade ETX-125AT
C14
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
CI-700, NJP, GPDX/SS2KPC, CG5-GT
ST-10XME, DSI Pro
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bryan242
sage
Reged: 01/23/09
Posts: 369
Loc: Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Quote:
Quote:
IMO, without question the LOMO 80/600.
Hard to argue with that. My A&M/LOMO 80/480 was a nicer instrument in general (nicer tube, better focuser, etc.) but the 80/600 I have now pleases me even more despite the Long Perng tube and focuser.
Is the correction not as good in the f/6?
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home:
"Someone once said to me 'astronomy is like a big circus tent - there's room for everyone.' I feel privileged indeed to be able to spend my days inside a tent with such a dazzling roof." - Rebecca Elson
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 25179
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Is the correction not as good in the f/6?
They both appear perfectly colorfree to my elderly eyes but the F/7.5 has a flatter field.
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John C
Urban Observatory
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 178ED F/9 "APO"
Meade ETX-125AT
C14
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
CI-700, NJP, GPDX/SS2KPC, CG5-GT
ST-10XME, DSI Pro
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Chris Greene
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/04/05
Posts: 535
Loc: Dark Sky, Idaho
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I don't think one can discuss this topic without including both the TV 76 and TV 85 though they are on either side of the 80mm the op mentions.
The thing about the Tele Vue approach is that it looks at the whole experience of observing. World class optics, world class build, world class ease of use, and world class customer service.
I love looking at all the competitors out there but have found no need or desire to leave the TV camp where refractors are concerned.
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Tele Vue Pronto/Telepod
Tele Vue NP-101/Gibraltar/Sky Tour
Questar 3.5 Standard
Celestron FS 80 EQ WA
Canon 10x30 IS binoculars
Nikon SE 8x32 binoculars
Zeiss Victory 10x25 binoculars
Garrett 25x100 IF binoculars
Manfrotto 475B/501
TV and Pentax ep's
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David E
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/25/06
Posts: 3019
Loc: North Carolina
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Quote:
What criteria should we use use when assessing "best"? Optically best? Mechanically? Best support? Best price/performance ratio? Lightest/most easily transported? Fastest cooling? Most robust? Flattest field? Best planetary performance? Best imaging scope?
I'm not sure, but I thought Cygnus72 was asking what the best one is that we own. If all you have is a Chinese mass produced 80mm long tube achromat then that would be it. A lot of people enjoy looking at the night sky without spending four grand (nothing wrong with spending four grand on a scope, of course!  )
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David E
If you keep a stack of old Orion catalogs in your bathroom, you might be an astro-redneck.
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PhilG
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 1220
Loc: Denver, CO - USA
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I agree with the others, the 80/600 Lomo is he best 80mm I've owned or looked through. I owned the Stellarvue version as the SV80L. Flatter field than the 80/480 as John mentioned, neither show any color in or out of focus. For me the 600mm was just a more versatile visual scope than the 80/480 LOMO I owned, a TV 3-6mm zoom gave a great range of useful magnifications. Of course, the 80/480 LOMO is a great companion to a larger scope for its wide FOVs and is also a great imaging scope.
Never should have sold my SV80L but feel that the SV90T provides as good of a scope with a little more aperture.
Phil
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TEC 180FL
Stellarvue SV90TBV, 80EDU
Celestron C9.25, C102F
WO FLT-110 TEC with Moonlite focuser
AP MACH1GTO, Takahashi Teegul Lapides, SV M1
Apogee U8300 with Astrodon Filters
Orion Starshoot Pro
Explora-Dome Observatory
http://www.infiniti-eng.com/astrophotos
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Clive Gibbons
Mostly Harmless
Reged: 05/26/05
Posts: 13421
Loc: Oort Cloud
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Takahashi FS-78 (if ya don't mind losing a couple of mm's).
At f/8.1, the field is very flat.
Contrast is exceptional.
Color correction is "thinks it's a triplet" class.
I'm not saying it's be best, but sure rates in the top group.
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A few telescopes of dubious value.
Understanding wife, two curious cats and one sadly departed.
"Semper ubi sub ubi"
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oldtimer
sage
Reged: 11/13/08
Posts: 299
Loc: NW Illinois
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Since you didn't say best 80mm APO I'll vote for the Vixen 80mm F11 Achro. Even an oldtimer like me can still handle a 3 Ft long tube.
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bryan242
sage
Reged: 01/23/09
Posts: 369
Loc: Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Quote:
Takahashi FS-78 (if ya don't mind losing a couple of mm's).
At f/8.1, the field is very flat.
Contrast is exceptional.
Color correction is "thinks it's a triplet" class.
I'm not saying it's be best, but sure rates in the top group.
Y'all think Tak'll come out with a new 3-inch-class refractor anytime soon? How long now since the late great FS-78 was yanked off the market?
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home:
"Someone once said to me 'astronomy is like a big circus tent - there's room for everyone.' I feel privileged indeed to be able to spend my days inside a tent with such a dazzling roof." - Rebecca Elson
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joelimite
sage
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 234
Loc: Fayetteville, AR
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Quote:
Since you didn't say best 80mm APO I'll vote for the Vixen 80mm F11 Achro. Even an oldtimer like me can still handle a 3 Ft long tube.
I've got the same scope. I don't know about the best 80mm scope, but it's definitely easy on the wallet and its long focal length really minimizes CA. However, I have to admit I'd still like to get one of the short focal length ED scopes everyone's always raving about, mainly for the low mag, widefield views they provide.
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Orion XT8 Dob w/ Moonlite 2-speed Crayford focuser, Vixen A80MF w/ GSO 2-speed Crayford and Porta Mount
32mm Televue Plossl, 31mm Hyperion Aspheric, 24mm Meade SWA, 17,13,8mm Hyperions, 6,5,4mm TMB Planetary, 5mm Baader Genuine Ortho
Garrett Optical 20x80 UL Binoculars, Nikon Action Extreme 10x50 Binoculars
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SkyscraperJim
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/29/07
Posts: 537
Loc: Providence, RI
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I have the Lomo 80/600 super apo triplet. I hadn't had much first-hand experience with many 80mm scopes before I got this one, so I don't have much to compare it to. The weather has been relatively poor during the past year since I got it, so have only had it out about a half-dozen times or so. It is very sharp, and the bright limb of the Moon has no color. I've taken it to 400x on Jupiter when conditions permit, and it will bust open tight doubles beautifully. I just got a DSLR so this weekend I'm planning (weather-permitting) to mount it on the G-11 and shoot the Moon with it.
The scope has been sold in a few different flavors but IMO deserves nothing short of a Starlight focuser.
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Jim
TMB/APM 130/780 (#185) on G11
TMB/APM/Lomo 80/600
Tele Vue Pronto (#3533) on Half Hitch
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Jason B
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/21/04
Posts: 2852
Loc: Mid-Michigan
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I'll place my vote for the 80mm F8 Vixen Fluorite (FL80S). I have compared it to every 80mm on the market save a few of the most recent Chinese offerings and have never thought I should "upgrade". Going strong since 1987.....
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Jason
My Photostream
Lead Volunteer/Coordinator for Fox Park Observatory
Edited by Jason B (06/30/09 06:23 PM)
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plyscope
sage
Reged: 11/23/06
Posts: 326
Loc: Perth, West Australia
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I would like to know if anyone has compared the Vixen ED81S with the Takahashi FS78?
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Andy
6" f15 refractor
90mm f16.7 refractor
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cygnus72
sage
Reged: 06/13/07
Posts: 245
Loc: State College, PA
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I have to admit, I never heard of LOMO Optics before. Apparently, Stellarvue sells them, but what other companies sell them?
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We have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.
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