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"affordable" and "modern"

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You could always go with the Orion ED80, it meets both requirements and is probably one of the most common 3" refractors today. It would make a nice "working man" or "every mans" telescope, similar to what the C8 has become. It could be very inspiring to a less experienced observer.

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Jaimo!

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"affordable" and "modern"

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You could always go with the Orion ED80, it meets both requirements and is probably one of the most common 3" refractors today. It would make a nice "working man" or "every mans" telescope, similar to what the C8 has become. It could be very inspiring to a less experienced observer.

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Jaimo!

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I second the ED-80.

It marked the beginning of the affordable apo/ed revolution and turned out to be quite an amazing scope. When it was first introduced, I was quite the skeptic, thinking it would be just another scope with ED on the name plate but achromatic performance at the eyepiece. But history has proven me wrong... It's a winner and $300 will often buy one used.

Jon

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(i.e., did the astronomers of yesteryear really have it better than we do, or rather do we tend to irrationally romanticize and idealize the past?).

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It's odd, because in the early 90s Orion offered the 80mm f/6.25 ED "Ultrascan" doublet for $449. It was made in Japan, and in 1991 dollars, actually cheaper than the later "revolutionary" Chinese-made ED80 f/7.5. I wonder why it took a cheaper made, more costly scope to start that particular revolution?

- Jim

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do we tend to irrationally romanticize and idealize the past?

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Jim,
We do exactly that. I grew up in Ely, Nevada and left after graduating from high school. I have locked Ely in my memory bank and idealized my living there. Had I stayed there during my adult life, I am sure my romantic ideals of the place would be better based on reality. One thing about Ely--I had better than Mag 6 skies in my back yard. I owned a 4 inch Dynascope that I worked all summer mowing lawns to buy for $79.95. People in Ely did not have much money, so even an inexpensive telescope was out of reach for many of us. When I think back to more than 55 years ago, and remember the views through that little telescope, I remember sharp views of Jupiter, Saturn, the moon, and some brighter deep sky objects. I have often wondered what I would think of the views today had I kept that telescope. Yes--we do romanticize the past. In some ways, I am glad that I have only the memories of my views through my first telescope. What if I had kept that telescope? I would be comparing the views with my later telescopes, to include my current one--a 12.5 inch Portaball. Maybe if I had kept that first telescope, my memories of those early views in my backyard in Ely would not be all that great. I have been tempted to buy a 4 inch Dynascope on the used market--but I have decided to just live in the romantic time of my youth. I am now 69--those memories are precious.

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