Hello everyone,
I just got my Orion 80mm ED "apo" today and have done a quick cursory examination of the scope. Aesthetically, it is nice looking, but not a beauty like a TV 85 or Tak 90. The focus wheels are very nice, but it is obvious that they are meant to mimic the wheels on the Televue scopes. The tube is solid but doesn't have that hefty feel of the Televue scopes or the Tak scopes. I took a quick look down the tube from the objective end and was pleased to see nothing but the light coming into my Televue 2" diagonal. In looking closely, I did notice the slightest reflection of some trees in the objective. I believe the inside element is the ED element. I find it interesting that although Orion advertises it as an "apo" in their catalog, the word "apo" appears nowhere in the Instruction Manual that comes with the scope. In fact, the "Specifications" states that the Objective lens is "Achromatic, rear element made of ED glass, air-spaced". I wonder if this borders on false advertising?
I looked at some birdies down the road as I could see the clouds rolling in. I put it up to 100X with my 6mm UO HD ortho and could see no color fringing on the birdies even though the sun was shining on them.
I also tried to mount the scope to my Televue Upswing with some rings and found the mounting block makes it almost impossible to balance the scope. I could mount it directly with the 1/4-20 block, but I wanted more stability. Glad I kept my old Hollywood Movie camera mount. It works great.
More later
What are your thoughts on the scope?
Bob
I just got my Orion 80mm ED "apo" today and have done a quick cursory examination of the scope. Aesthetically, it is nice looking, but not a beauty like a TV 85 or Tak 90. The focus wheels are very nice, but it is obvious that they are meant to mimic the wheels on the Televue scopes. The tube is solid but doesn't have that hefty feel of the Televue scopes or the Tak scopes. I took a quick look down the tube from the objective end and was pleased to see nothing but the light coming into my Televue 2" diagonal. In looking closely, I did notice the slightest reflection of some trees in the objective. I believe the inside element is the ED element. I find it interesting that although Orion advertises it as an "apo" in their catalog, the word "apo" appears nowhere in the Instruction Manual that comes with the scope. In fact, the "Specifications" states that the Objective lens is "Achromatic, rear element made of ED glass, air-spaced". I wonder if this borders on false advertising?
I looked at some birdies down the road as I could see the clouds rolling in. I put it up to 100X with my 6mm UO HD ortho and could see no color fringing on the birdies even though the sun was shining on them.
I also tried to mount the scope to my Televue Upswing with some rings and found the mounting block makes it almost impossible to balance the scope. I could mount it directly with the 1/4-20 block, but I wanted more stability. Glad I kept my old Hollywood Movie camera mount. It works great.
More later
What are your thoughts on the scope?
Bob
