Best value 80mm scope?

I'm in the market for a 80mm short focal length scope,F7 or less. Who
do you think offers the best
value...Orion,Celestron, Willaim-optics,Stellarvue, Meade? I'll use it
for both birding and astronomy.
I'm looking for quality optics, mechanics and least amount of color.
Thanks.

Jim wrote:
I'm in the market for a 80mm short focal length scope,F7 or less. Who
do you think offers the best
value...Orion,Celestron, Willaim-optics,Stellarvue, Meade? I'll use it
for both birding and astronomy.
I'm looking for quality optics, mechanics and least amount of color.
Thanks.

Hi:

There are a lot of good alternatives here (and for 66 APOs too) now. My
vote?

William Optics.

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of:
Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
and
The Urban Astronomer's Guide
http://skywatch.brainiac.com/astroland

RMOLLISE wrote:

Hi:

(and for 66 APOs too)



You keep this up, and you are definitely going
to cost me $$$

My curiosity is what the difference is between the
WO 66's, and the others like the AstroTech label.
Price is close, and the look the exact same.
Would make a great finder for the C 11

Other than that, I've been thinking about one of
the little 66 OTA's, for a while now, and all you
can do is keep reminding me




--
AM

http://sctuser.home.comcast.net

CentOS 4.3 KDE 3.3

AM wrote:
RMOLLISE wrote:

Hi:

(and for 66 APOs too)



You keep this up, and you are definitely going
to cost me $$$

My curiosity is what the difference is between the
WO 66's, and the others like the AstroTech label.
Price is close, and the look the exact same.
Would make a great finder for the C 11

Other than that, I've been thinking about one of
the little 66 OTA's, for a while now, and all you
can do is keep reminding me






Hi:

I have not (yet) had a chance to try the AstroTech scopes. I suspect
the difference will be in support/QA. Also, don't limit your 66 to
finder duty. They do _amazingly well_ for widefield imaging and
viewing. You can put a 2-inch diagonal on 'em, and color? Nosir buddy.
;-)

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of:
Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
and
The Urban Astronomer's Guide
http://skywatch.brainiac.com/astroland

I love my ED80!

Great optics, mechanics "good". Mine came with a Mercury Systems visual
back and a two speed focuser. Look on A-mart for some good deals on
these great scopes. Every time I take mine out it wows me, its amazing
what you can see in a well made 80mm scope.

Sure you can spend more money, but the why escapes me...

Charles



Jim wrote:
I'm in the market for a 80mm short focal length scope,F7 or less. Who
do you think offers the best
value...Orion,Celestron, Willaim-optics,Stellarvue, Meade? I'll use it
for both birding and astronomy.
I'm looking for quality optics, mechanics and least amount of color.
Thanks.

"Jim" wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm in the market for a 80mm short focal length scope,F7 or less. Who
do you think offers the best
value...Orion,Celestron, Willaim-optics,Stellarvue, Meade? I'll use it
for both birding and astronomy.
I'm looking for quality optics, mechanics and least amount of color.
Thanks.


Celestron ED80 R! F 7.5, rack and pinion steering, AC, built Ford tough!

Jim wrote:
I'm in the market for a 80mm short focal length scope,F7 or less. Who
do you think offers the best
value...Orion,Celestron, Willaim-optics,Stellarvue, Meade? I'll use it
for both birding and astronomy.
I'm looking for quality optics, mechanics and least amount of color.
Thanks.

I'd compare (carefully to be sure it's the same optic set - depending
on the scope, some use FPL-51, others FPL-53) between SV, WO or
Astro-Tech. These little scopes have an awful lot in common (thanks to
the choice of subcontractor), so I'd tend to go by price. While I
haven't seen the SV, I have been following it (and reports about it)
with interest.

I haven't seen much to indicate QC is markedly better or worse with any
of these. They all seem to be pretty good.

Rod, y'all best be careful or they're gonna make a refractor junkie
outta you.



Tom T.