Skywatcher Equinox 80mm ED refractor.

[Guest]

I once owned a Skywatcher Equinox ED 80mm. It was really a fine telescope. I have seen some models available for sale that are unbranded. They still have details etched on them with FPL 53 glass etc. Are these B class or seconds that are inferior to a branded model? Has anyone owned an unbranded model who could give an opinion as to their optical and mechanical quality?

[Alan White]

Grumpy

I also believe that Telescope House sold them under one of the brands they run.

Saw a ABS advert recently by no other Than Es Reid for one of the non Skywatcher Branded ones.
That in itself says quite a lot to me, he must have rated it to buy it in the first place.

Somehow I think the 'we choose the best of the batch' to be marketing speak for we just buy a big batch.

[Rob]

I've just picked up a Revelation 80ED. Which is the clone. Its FPL-51, however because its focal length is 6.8 the correction is identical to a FPL-53 at f5. I've not used it yet, but so glad to have an ED back again (with spending approval from the boss!)

Rob

[steveex2003]

On 29/08/2019 at 08:39, Alan White said:

Grumpy

I also believe that Telescope House sold them under one of the brands they run.

Saw a ABS advert recently by no other Than Es Reid for one of the non Skywatcher Branded ones.
That in itself says quite a lot to me, he must have rated it to buy it in the first place.

Somehow I think the 'we choose the best of the batch' to be marketing speak for we just buy a big batch.

I saw this also. It went for £140 or something. A real bargain for someone. There is another currently on the auction site along with a branded 80mm claimed to be in good nick. There is also a 100mm on ABS, although that one is less appealing given the focuser markings. i dont know if it's quite as common as the seller claims as there are no markings on either of my two Equinoxs,

[GazOC]

Some models don't seem have the Schott branding either. No idea of this is just a printing omission or due to the glass being used?