Orion 80mm ED--in my hands--tested!

Orion pulled it off.

I was utterly suprised that the Orion has FAR LESS color than a
Megrez. In fact it rivals the Takahashi FS-78. I know this because I
had all three scopes on the same daytime artificial star. I would
place it in the same league as the Tele Vue 76, which is somewhat more
colorful that the FS-78 due to its faster F#. Hats off.

More importantly, the wavefront is very good. The "correction" of
spherical abberation is very good, 1/8 wave or even better, just a
hint of overcorrection. The fresnel rings are pleasingly round, and
the focus "snaps".

From the manual, the tube is aluminum; the focuser has about the same
feel as the Megrez. The 1/4-20 block is set a little too forward, best
balance will be with a 2" diagonal. Or 4" rings can be used.

What else do Synta and Orion have up their sleeves?

Wow, that's quite an enlightment! Thanks Doug for sharing the info
with us.

Now everyone seems to think the scope is made in China by Synta.
Did the box or a "sticker" on the scope gave you some evidence of
this (or at least "Made in China")?

Thanks,
Ron B[ee]
--------------
"Doug Peterson" wrote in message
om...
Orion pulled it off.

I was utterly suprised that the Orion has FAR LESS color than a
Megrez. In fact it rivals the Takahashi FS-78. I know this because I
had all three scopes on the same daytime artificial star. I would
place it in the same league as the Tele Vue 76, which is somewhat more
colorful that the FS-78 due to its faster F#. Hats off.

More importantly, the wavefront is very good. The "correction" of
spherical abberation is very good, 1/8 wave or even better, just a
hint of overcorrection. The fresnel rings are pleasingly round, and
the focus "snaps".

From the manual, the tube is aluminum; the focuser has about the same
feel as the Megrez. The 1/4-20 block is set a little too forward, best
balance will be with a 2" diagonal. Or 4" rings can be used.

What else do Synta and Orion have up their sleeves?

Wow, that's quite an enlightment! Thanks Doug for sharing the info
with us.

Now everyone seems to think the scope is made in China by Synta.
Did the box or a "sticker" on the scope gave you some evidence of
this (or at least "Made in China")?

Thanks,
Ron B[ee]
--------------
"Doug Peterson" wrote in message
om...
Orion pulled it off.

I was utterly suprised that the Orion has FAR LESS color than a
Megrez. In fact it rivals the Takahashi FS-78. I know this because I
had all three scopes on the same daytime artificial star. I would
place it in the same league as the Tele Vue 76, which is somewhat more
colorful that the FS-78 due to its faster F#. Hats off.

More importantly, the wavefront is very good. The "correction" of
spherical abberation is very good, 1/8 wave or even better, just a
hint of overcorrection. The fresnel rings are pleasingly round, and
the focus "snaps".

From the manual, the tube is aluminum; the focuser has about the same
feel as the Megrez. The 1/4-20 block is set a little too forward, best
balance will be with a 2" diagonal. Or 4" rings can be used.

What else do Synta and Orion have up their sleeves?

Hi Doug,

I was utterly suprised that the Orion has FAR LESS
color than a Megrez. In fact it rivals the Takahashi
FS-78. I know this because I had all three scopes on
the same daytime artificial star. I would place it in the
same league as the Tele Vue 76, which is somewhat
more colorful that the FS-78 due to its faster F#. Hats
off.

More importantly, the wavefront is very good. The
"correction" of spherical abberation is very good, 1/8
wave or even better, just a hint of overcorrection. The
fresnel rings are pleasingly round, and the focus
"snaps".

You're absolutely correct that the wavefront is "more
important" than the color correction. Otherwise, the
lens would be limited to low/medium magnifications.

If they can keep the lens quality consistent, it's a big
winner at its price point. The thing that surprises me
the most, is that the ED element is in the front. Just to
be on the safe side, I would take care in cleaning the
first surface.

Thomas Back

Hi Doug,

I was utterly suprised that the Orion has FAR LESS
color than a Megrez. In fact it rivals the Takahashi
FS-78. I know this because I had all three scopes on
the same daytime artificial star. I would place it in the
same league as the Tele Vue 76, which is somewhat
more colorful that the FS-78 due to its faster F#. Hats
off.

More importantly, the wavefront is very good. The
"correction" of spherical abberation is very good, 1/8
wave or even better, just a hint of overcorrection. The
fresnel rings are pleasingly round, and the focus
"snaps".

You're absolutely correct that the wavefront is "more
important" than the color correction. Otherwise, the
lens would be limited to low/medium magnifications.

If they can keep the lens quality consistent, it's a big
winner at its price point. The thing that surprises me
the most, is that the ED element is in the front. Just to
be on the safe side, I would take care in cleaning the
first surface.

Thomas Back

Doug,

Please give us more reports on field test. See how much mag can you bring
this scope up on moon/planets before it breaks down.

How is the focuser? If you put heavy accessories behind and point the scope
up, does the focuser slips?

Many thanks for your initial report! you are getting me excited!

Gin
"Doug Peterson" wrote in message
om...
Orion pulled it off.

I was utterly suprised that the Orion has FAR LESS color than a
Megrez. In fact it rivals the Takahashi FS-78. I know this because I
had all three scopes on the same daytime artificial star. I would
place it in the same league as the Tele Vue 76, which is somewhat more
colorful that the FS-78 due to its faster F#. Hats off.

More importantly, the wavefront is very good. The "correction" of
spherical abberation is very good, 1/8 wave or even better, just a
hint of overcorrection. The fresnel rings are pleasingly round, and
the focus "snaps".

From the manual, the tube is aluminum; the focuser has about the same
feel as the Megrez. The 1/4-20 block is set a little too forward, best
balance will be with a 2" diagonal. Or 4" rings can be used.

What else do Synta and Orion have up their sleeves?

Please give us more reports on field test. See how much mag can you bring
this scope up on moon/planets before it breaks down.

At 200x the star test looked quite good. A single faint, ruddy
diffraction ring, confirming its ED status, not a true color free APO
triplet.

How is the focuser? If you put heavy accessories behind and point the scope
up, does the focuser slips?

The focuser is smooth and backlash free. I had to tighten the tension
screw more than I would expect to get the friction right for a 1.25"
diag. Don't yet have experience with a 2" diagonal, but I would not be
suprised if a heavy load causes problems with slippage.

Hi Doug,

Do try to test it with a heavy load behind if you have a chance. Does it
have a lock screw to "lock" the focuser? I am sure some will be thinking if
the focuser is heavy-duty enough to handle a camera and eyepiece behind.

Do give us more reports from time to time. I am keeping tab on this thread
every single moment.

Thanks
Gin


"Doug Peterson" wrote in message
om...

Please give us more reports on field test. See how much mag can you
bring
this scope up on moon/planets before it breaks down.

At 200x the star test looked quite good. A single faint, ruddy
diffraction ring, confirming its ED status, not a true color free APO
triplet.

How is the focuser? If you put heavy accessories behind and point the
scope
up, does the focuser slips?

The focuser is smooth and backlash free. I had to tighten the tension
screw more than I would expect to get the friction right for a 1.25"
diag. Don't yet have experience with a 2" diagonal, but I would not be
suprised if a heavy load causes problems with slippage.

"Gin" wrote in message ...
Hi Doug,

Do try to test it with a heavy load behind if you have a chance. Does it
have a lock screw to "lock" the focuser? I am sure some will be thinking if
the focuser is heavy-duty enough to handle a camera and eyepiece behind.

Do give us more reports from time to time. I am keeping tab on this thread
every single moment.

I just hoisted a 31mm SchwarzeNagler in a 2" Tele Vue diagonal with
the scope vertical. This was with the same tension as the 1.25"
diagonal installed.

"Doug Peterson" wrote in message
om...
"Gin" wrote in message
...
Hi Doug,

Do try to test it with a heavy load behind if you have a chance. Does it
have a lock screw to "lock" the focuser? I am sure some will be thinking
if
the focuser is heavy-duty enough to handle a camera and eyepiece behind.

Do give us more reports from time to time. I am keeping tab on this
thread
every single moment.

I just hoisted a 31mm SchwarzeNagler in a 2" Tele Vue diagonal with
the scope vertical. This was with the same tension as the 1.25"
diagonal installed.

Wow, with such heavy load behind, no slippage at all???

Thanks for all your reports so far. Hope you are not too "stress out" by all
the expectations from us for you to review this scope.

Cheers
Gin