Telescope Reviews: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade

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Olivier Biot
Amused

Reged: 04/25/05

Loc: 51°N (Belgium)

The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade
#3917557 - 07/12/10 05:57 PM

The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade

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David E
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/25/06

Loc: North Carolina

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade new

[Re: Olivier Biot]
#3918576 - 07/13/10 08:20 AM

Nice user/review!

I got one of the upgrades when they first became available, upgrading my Nighthawk achromat. I'd say my experiences are very much the same as yours, excellent images at any power.

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DLB242
Mr. Warmth

Reged: 07/29/08

Loc: Pen Argyl, PA

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade new

[Re: David E]
#3919747 - 07/13/10 07:33 PM

Quote:

Nice user/review! I got one of the upgrades when they first became available, upgrading my Nighthawk achromat. I'd say my experiences are very much the same as yours, excellent images at any power.

I agree with David E. Nice review

To bad the upgrade no longer seems to be offered. Several vendors jumped on the 80mm f/6 band wagon after the success of the Nighthawk and this upgrade should in theory work with any of them.

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Deep13
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/25/05

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade new

[Re: Olivier Biot]
#3919836 - 07/13/10 08:01 PM

A good, collimated and thermally equalized Newt should show stars as points and not as fuzzy dots. If it doesn't it is probably because there is still a warm layer of air radiating from the mirror surface.

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Deep13
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/25/05

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade new

[Re: Deep13]
#3920027 - 07/13/10 09:35 PM

Is this upgrade still available? I don't see it on the SV website. How much did it cost? I have an achro SV 80mm short refractor that works pretty well.

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David E
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/25/06

Loc: North Carolina

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade *DELETED* new

[Re: Deep13]
#3920860 - 07/14/10 10:44 AM

Post deleted by David E

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David E
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/25/06

Loc: North Carolina

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade new

[Re: David E]
#3920907 - 07/14/10 11:12 AM

Breaking news!

This just in. Vic just posted on the Stellarvue Yahoo! Group that he will put the apo upgrade back on the Stellarvue.com website, so look for it soon.

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Deep13
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/25/05

Loc: NE Ohio

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade new

[Re: David E]
#3923475 - 07/15/10 03:20 PM

Yikes! $700! Come to think of it, the scope works just fine as an achromat.

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David E
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/25/06

Loc: North Carolina

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade new

[Re: Deep13]
#3924003 - 07/15/10 07:51 PM

LOL!

I can understand that sentiment. But I'm glad I got mine. I ended up with a triplet apo that performs as good as any apo at twice that price.

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Alex Gastélum
super member

Reged: 06/04/08

Loc: Tijuana, México

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade new

[Re: David E]
#3934721 - 07/21/10 02:18 AM

Thank you for all your comments, I decided to get that upgrade by reading opinions of people like you.
This lens is just amazing.
I hope many of you enjoy it.

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Alex Gastélum
super member

Reged: 06/04/08

Loc: Tijuana, México

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade new

[Re: Deep13]
#3934725 - 07/21/10 02:25 AM

Quote:

A good, collimated and thermally equalized Newt should show stars as points and not as fuzzy dots. If it doesn't it is probably because there is still a warm layer of air radiating from the mirror surface.

You are right, but, this scope excels in quick set up.
many times I have less than an hour to observe.

This lens arrived collimated and may need a collimation in 10 or 20 decades.

My 13" dobsonian needs collimation at least every time before observing for best results. It is a quick procedure but it simply does not match the 5 minute set up of the 80mm refractor.

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Don
member

Reged: 05/04/06

Loc: Iowa

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade new

[Re: Alex Gastélum]
#3987103 - 08/16/10 09:29 PM

I enjoyed the review of the Stellarvue 80mm APO upgrade. It has really turned my Nighthawk into a great little scope. It is the scope I use the most because it is so easy to set up.

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Rick4him
newbie

Reged: 12/03/10

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade new

[Re: Don]
#4989271 - 12/28/11 10:54 PM

If you did the APO upgrade, did you have Stellarvue put it in or did you do it yourself. What value is it to have them do it? It says they align it but is it necessary? Is the lens that comes out of any value (obviously to SV as they keep it for the work). Thanks, Rick

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Binojunky
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/25/10

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade new

[Re: Rick4him]
#4989630 - 12/29/11 07:38 AM

$700 + the cost of the original scope which when I bought mine was $400+ taxes and shipping ,sorry thats crazy in my mind, your talking about close to $1,200 for a 80mm triplet, heck I only paid $750 for my Meade 80mm triplet with case, 2"diagonal etc, also what do you do with the existing doublet lens?,to each his own but at that price mine will stay a doublet achromat,JMPOV, Dave.

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Scott in NC
Mad Hatter

Reged: 03/05/05

Loc: NC

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade new

[Re: Binojunky]
#4989914 - 12/29/11 11:17 AM

Quote:

$700 + the cost of the original scope which when I bought mine was $400+ taxes and shipping ,sorry thats crazy in my mind...

Hi Dave, I've not gone the apo upgrade route, but just thought I'd insert my 2 cents here. I agree with you that it's probably not a cost-effective thing to do to buy a $400 achromat with the *intention* of apo-upgrading it. However, for people that have had a nice achromat with excellent mechanics that they've enjoyed for years, and now wish to have an apo triplet, but don't wish to go through the hassle of selling their achromat (and possibly end up replacing it with a scope with a good lens but inferior mechanics), this sounds like a decent option. Also, not many decent 80mm apo triplets can be found for $750 (besides your Meade, that is). So far I've yet to hear anyone who's done this upgrade complain that they thought it was a waste of money. Obviously, this upgrade is not for everybody, but it's still nice to know that the option exists.

Edited by ssatko (12/29/11 11:19 AM)

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Binojunky
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/25/10

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade new

[Re: Scott in NC]
#4990196 - 12/29/11 01:45 PM

Fair point Scott, however I picked up a NIB Vixen 100EDf9 OTA for $500 Canadian ,that still $200 less than a lens assembly for a 80mm, ok its a triplet but do you need a triplet for visual?, anyway the Meade 80mm triplet I picked up was a moment of weakness, just a sucker for a bargain,cheers Dave.

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Alex Gastélum
super member

Reged: 06/04/08

Loc: Tijuana, México

Re: The Stellarvue 80mm Apo upgrade new

[Re: Binojunky]
#4997819 - 01/02/12 04:55 PM

Not all triplets are the same, one can be happy with a "bargain" telescope, that is a fact.

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