New Sywatcher ED80s

[GazOC]

News is it's 80mm FL500mm f6.25, black, 2" Crayford two speed fine focuser and a retractable dew shield aluminum will come with travel case.

Sounds nice and should knock the back end out of the secondhand ED80 market if they can control the colour at f6.

One for the hand luggage (if they let them on planes anytime soon) mob.

[FLO]

Nice 8)

Do you have a link Gaz?

[GordonCopestake]

Owww a little investigation puts it as FPL53 glass in a WO clone type long perng body. Excellent. You're right this will knock the Bottom end out of the second hand ED80 market. i can see one of these in my future as long as they aren't too expensive.

[John]

The spec sounds very similar to the new Celestron ONYX 80EDF - could they be related perhaps ?.

If the price is right your old Tasco ST80's position as my "grab and go" might be in danger Gordon !.

John,

North Somerset

[GordonCopestake]

indeed, f/6.25 is nice and fast. Better than my 80mm f/7.5. Although if you want to sell that ST80 give me first dibs

It looks like these are identical to the Celestron Onyx 80 EDF's

[GazOC]

It looks like these are identical to the Celestron Onyx 80 EDF's

Except the focuser.

[John]

I think I'd like to see a couple of reviews before I jump in. I reckon suppressing colour at f6.25 is quite a bit more challenging than at f7.5 (or f9 for my ED100). If they can do it and keep the price in the £300-£400 range that would be something.

Hope they go for a nice colour scheme this time like puce and lime green !!.

John,

North Somerset

[GazOC]

I'd bet my life that scope won't retail for much less than £550. Not a hope of anything sub- £400 I'm afraid.

[GordonCopestake]

more like £650 im thinking

[GazOC]

more like £650 im thinking

Well £550 is less than £600. I reckon £599 but I would n't bet my life on it so I hedged 50 quid.

Too expensive for a 80mm semi apo IMHO.

[GordonCopestake]

I'm hopeing that it has colour correction as good as the ED80, if so they will sell like hot cakes. Although saying that the Onyx hasnt sold that well. Still waiting for them to hit the second hand market

[GazOC]

If its the same glass then the colour correction can't be as good as the old ED80s, it's whether they are "good enough". As you say £600 (ish ) for 80mm scope is a lot of money as the Onyx is showing.

[GordonCopestake]

Colour correction isn't just a function of the glass used, it's about the skill and technology in shaping the glass. I have no doubt that it's possible to have a f/6 scope with next to no colour using fpl53 glass. If it's cost effective or not is a different matter

[GazOC]

80mm FPL53 glass at f6.25 will not be as colour corrected as 80mm FPL53 glass at f7.5. Theres no getting around that, it's whether its noticable.

I'd guess it the same glass, otherwise we'd be seeing ED100s at f7. The scope isn't based on the optics , its based on getting a small, nice looking scope to sell to the grab'n'go buyers.

[FLO]

I suspect that Skywatcher are also offering it as a scope for imaging 8)

Personally, I am looking forward to seeing one and expect to be impressed.

[GazOC]

... and the imagers.

Quite right. I very nearly put grab'n'go/imagers... Guess that depends on the colour correction.

[GazOC]

Steve,

Will you stop editing your posts after I've replied to them? It's a bit confusing and very annoying. Thats twice tonight

Gaz

[FLO]

Sorry Gaz, I am tired and making mistakes (I was modified them almost immediately but you replied sooner ... if that makes sense)

Off too bed

[FLO]

Colour correction isn't just a function of the glass used, it's about the skill and technology in shaping the glass.

Good point,

Also, if I am not mistaken, only the front element is fluorite (not unusual).

It is the quality/density/refractive index of both elements that will determine its ability to suppress false colour.

[FLO]

Actually, its the rear element that is flourite - makes sense, I guess.

Found out today on a new page of the OVL website:

http://www.opticalvision.co.uk/prodtype.asp?PT_ID=89&strPageHistory=cat

(Sorry for the long link but Tinyurl isn't working today)