332 replies to this topic

[belgrade]

Just received an email from Orion. The good old Short Tube 80 in 4 different offerings is again available. Here is the link (I hope it’s not a violation of the rules here): https://www.telescop..._cPFYvjhphYavUw

I’m in no way affiliated with Orion.

[alphatripleplus]

Wow, I didn't think it was coming back!

[lxr4345]

I've been thinking about a wide field scope for a while and then this landed in my mailbox. I almost immediately hit the 'order now's button but....then I saw that it only has a 1.25" focuser. Is there any easy way to swap it out for a 2"?

Also, how's the CA on it? Given the specs I'd expect quite a bit.

[petert913]

If the tube is the same diameter as before, then GSO and Scopestuff have nice 2” Crawford focuses that swap right in. 

[John Carlini]

It would probably make a good guide or finder scope. I built a similar rich-field-telescope about 40 years ago for grab-n-go...

[SpaceConqueror3]

I've had mine for nearly 24 yrs. It's amazing how much more inexpensive it is now versus then...

 

Edited by SpaceConqueror3, 05 November 2020 - 12:26 AM.

[Bowlerhat]

I wponder what's changed, lots of alternatives now with skywatcher and meade.

[Celerondon]

Any competition for this small achromat better be fully equipped. This one comes with everything but a mount.

Here is the packing list:

80 f5 OTA
8x40 finder scope with bracket
Tube rings, pair
Dovetail bar
25mm Sirius Plossl eyepiece
10mm Sirius Plossl eyepiece
90-degree mirror star diagonal

It looks like the original with a bare tube (no tripod foot). I wonder if that focuser is made of metal? The price looks good to me.

[Bowlerhat]

Any competition for this small achromat better be fully equipped. This one comes with everything but a mount.

Here is the packing list:

80 f5 OTA
8x40 finder scope with bracket
Tube rings, pair
Dovetail bar
25mm Sirius Plossl eyepiece
10mm Sirius Plossl eyepiece
90-degree mirror star diagonal

It looks like the original with a bare tube (no tripod foot). I wonder if that focuser is made of metal? The price looks good to me.

It's metal (at least in photos). looks really similar to meade's and skywatcher, I think they're the same. White tube looks good though

[shohin]

It looks like the original with a bare tube (no tripod foot). I wonder if that focuser is made of metal? The price looks good to me.

They claim the focuser is aluminum.  From their page for the OTA:

 

"- Its 1.25" aluminum rack-and-pinion focuser has excellent drawtube rigidity with ZERO flexure. Drawtube collar allows attachment of autoguider camera or accessories via their 1.25" nosepiece with dual thumbscrew lock-down or via direct, ultra-secure T-thread attachment."

[Jon Isaacs]

They claim the focuser is aluminum.  From their page for the OTA:

 

"- Its 1.25" aluminum rack-and-pinion focuser has excellent drawtube rigidity with ZERO flexure. Drawtube collar allows attachment of autoguider camera or accessories via their 1.25" nosepiece with dual thumbscrew lock-down or via direct, ultra-secure T-thread attachment."

It looks like the same metal focuser as before. The intermim version had a very different focuser.

 

 

Also, how's the CA on it? Given the specs I'd expect quite a bit.

 

There is considerable CA at high powers.  This is a scope best used at low magnifications. For use during the day, only removing the central cap reduces the aperture to 42mm and does wonders for the CA.  It also works amazingly well for viewing the phase of Venus.

 

There's considerable field curvature with a 2 inch eyepiece like the 31mm Nagler. 

 

Jon

[CHASLX200]

It looks like the same metal focuser as before. The intermim version had a very different focuser.

 

 

There is considerable CA at high powers.  This is a scope best used at low magnifications. For use during the day, only removing the central cap reduces the aperture to 42mm and does wonders for the CA.  It also works amazingly well for viewing the phase of Venus.

 

There's considerable field curvature with a 2 inch eyepiece like the 31mm Nagler. 

 

Jon

I could not live with the F/C in mine. It made a great finder.

[Jon Isaacs]

I could not live with the F/C in mine. It made a great finder.

 I am a pragmatist.  If I want the 6.6 degree field that comes with an ST-80 and the 41mm Panoptic, I accept that field curvature is going to be part of it.  

 

But recently I bought a TSFLAT 2 which is a field flattener that can be used visually.  Whether it works with the ST-80, I don't know, but I will give it a try.

 

Jon

[CHASLX200]

 I am a pragmatist.  If I want the 6.6 degree field that comes with an ST-80 and the 41mm Panoptic, I accept that field curvature is going to be part of it.  

 

But recently I bought a TSFLAT 2 which is a field flattener that can be used visually.  Whether it works with the ST-80, I don't know, but I will give it a try.

 

Jon

FC bothers me most while sweeping as out of focus stars are coming and going out of the FOV. Same for Coma in a Newt.

[Tom Stock]

I just got one of these (original version used) and with a GSO 2 speed focuser it feels like a totally different instrument. I love mine!  I stop it down for planets and the moon though.  Could easily see detail on mars, and the double cluster fits easily in the FOV as well as pleades.

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Edited by Tom Stock, 05 November 2020 - 06:19 PM.

[trumpetpa]

I would assume these are newly manufactured, but exact same specs? Mostly concerned with focuser replacement. 

[Douglas Matulis]

Wow, that RS TRS 80 model III or is it IV, brings back memories!

[Ihtegla Sar]

Well shoot.  I just bought one of the last available Meade Adventure Scopes (most places are out of stock right now but I found one at Woodland) so I could add my 2" focuser and do all the other mods people do to these (darken lens edges, flock tube, etc.). 

 

The Meade Adventure Scope is about thirty bucks cheaper but I might have preferred to have a genuine ST-80, although it appears the only difference between the two is the color of the paint.  Everything else looks identical, including the metal focuser, which I am planning on removing anyway.  But that white tube sure does look nice.  

[tony_spina]

Long live the ST80 

[alphatripleplus]

Hmmm,  I saw it on Orion's website yesterday, but I can no longer find the ST80, and the link in the first post doesn't seem to work now. Maybe a temporary glitch?

[trumpetpa]

I don't think it's a glitch - I got a shipping notice

[Ihtegla Sar]

Hmmm,  I saw it on Orion's website yesterday, but I can no longer find the ST80, and the link in the first post doesn't seem to work now. Maybe a temporary glitch?

Try it again.  The link is working for me.  I also got a fancy email from Orion yesterday announcing the reintroduction of the ST-80 so the reintroduction is very real.  Sounds like they may have had a temporary glitch in their website but it seems to be working now.

[belgrade]

No glitch. The link - and the site - work just fine.

[Tom Stock]

Hope the wait time for the ST80 isn't as long as the wait time for the XT10i.  I've been waiting since March for my XT10i.

Edited by Tom Stock, 05 November 2020 - 06:20 PM.

[Mitchell M.]

Probably need to give them a call. I ordered my xt10i in late May/early June and got it the first week of July.