Best 80mm refractor

[Rattler]

Alright guys. I'm after an 80mm refractor second hand and considering the Skywatcher ED80 DS Pro or the Explore Scientific ED80. I know the Explore Scientific is a triplet over the SW doublet. Are there any others upto £450 second hand that may be better? I'll be using it for visual and using a DSLR. Cheers.

[JemC]

"Pulls up a chair and takes a seat "

I will hopefully be in the same position in about a months time, so will watch this with interest,

Regards

[Dr_Ju_ju]

As I have one, and as others that come along will tell you, you get a lot of bang for your pound, so I'd recommend the ED80, especially when coupled with its matched reducer (recommended for photography)...

[LukeSkywatcher]

The ED80 does get a LOT of mentions on here. 

[Charic]

1 hour ago, JemC said:

"Pulls up a chair and takes a seat "

......move over a bit?

When my turn comes, and since reading the book! I have considered getting an ED80 (bigger maybe) for quick visuals and to progress into a little astro work.

 

[umasscrew39]

I bought a Stellarvue 80mm APO triplet (f/6) several months ago to compliment my CPC 11" and could not be happier.  However, I have not tried the others for comparison purposes.  Getting an 80mm and adding a focal reducer (I use a MallinCam MFR-5 II focal reducer, 0.33x to achieve f/3.6) gives you two terrific FoV.  Finding a good one second hand one might be a challenge but it will be worth the wait.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I think my 80mm F/6 APM triplet has the same optics, and I like it a lot. It is faster than the SW ED80 (which is a cracking scope by many accounts), and with a reducer (I use the Tele-Vue TRF2008 0.8x) you reach a very useful F/4.8.

[Rattler]

1 hour ago, Dr_Ju_ju said:

As I have one, and as others that come along will tell you, you get a lot of bang for your pound, so I'd recommend the ED80, especially when coupled with its matched reducer (recommended for photography)...

Which ED80 are you referring to?

[Rattler]

35 minutes ago, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

I think my 80mm F/6 APM triplet has the same optics, and I like it a lot. It is faster than the SW ED80 (which is a cracking scope by many accounts), and with a reducer (I use the Tele-Vue TRF2008 0.8x) you reach a very useful F/4.8.

Which are you referring to bud?

[Handy_Andy]

I love my Skywatcher ED80 ds. If I could only keep 1 of my 3 the 80 would be it. Put the 0.8x lightwave reducer on the back of it and it's a cracker, what's more it's light enough to do quick setups.

Grabbed this image of the Veil nebula doing a camera test last month, the fates willing I hope to get some proper data this weekend and do it justice

[DaveS]

The TS 80mm f/6 gets good reviws but you'd need to be looking s/h.

Buying new in your budget it's hard to beat the Skywatcher ED80.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

54 minutes ago, Rattler said:

Which ED80 are you referring to?

By SW ED80 I meant the Evostar  (80 mm F/7.5)

54 minutes ago, Rattler said:

Which are you referring to bud?

The Explore Scientific and StellarVue 80mm F/6 both seem to have the same optics as the APM I have (it's not the LZOS version). TS also has a similar one

[Dr_Ju_ju]

Sorry, I was referring to the Skywatcher i.e. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/pro-series/skywatcher-evostar-80ed-ds-pro-ota.html

[Highburymark]

There's also the Skywatcher Equinox 80ED, same optics as its cheaper brother, but faster (F6.25), and sturdier tube.

[Rattler]

Am I right in thinking that it being faster allows light to be gathered quicker therefore shorter exposures required?

[umasscrew39]

correct- but other factors can affect your exposure time as well (e.g., camera, light pollution, etc) 

[Handy_Andy]

There's an equinox 80 pro on astroboot right now for £433 once postage is applied

http://www.astroboot.co.uk/AstroBoot