Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

Discuss your refractor type scopes here.
Post Reply
User avatar
Frazman United States of America
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu May 16, 2019 12:44 am
4
Location: Virginia
Status:
Offline

Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

#1

Post by Frazman »


I am super pleased with the AT 72 ED I recently picked up now these two are on sale. Leaning hard into the 80 as it would be an upgrade from my old ST 80. Better glass and longer focal length. What’s not to like with that, lol?!
Fractor Head, Bino Buff
User avatar
Bigzmey United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 8
Online
Posts: 7548
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 7:55 pm
4
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Status:
Online

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

#2

Post by Bigzmey »


These are very attractive prices for good quality scopes.

https://www.astronomics.com/telescopes. ... series=890
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
User avatar
Lady Fraktor Slovakia
Co-Administrator
Co-Administrator
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 9860
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:14 pm
4
Location: Slovakia
Status:
Offline

Re: Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

#3

Post by Lady Fraktor »


The Astro-Tech refractors seem to be well regarded by the CN crowd.
A nice looking set of refractors.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
Image
User avatar
Ylem United States of America
Universal Ambassador
Articles: 0
Online
Posts: 7477
Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 2:54 am
4
Location: Ocean County, New Jersey
Status:
Online

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

#4

Post by Ylem »


The 102ED for $549 looks interesting...

Somebody hold me back lol
Clear Skies,
-Jeff :telescopewink:


Member; ASTRA-NJ



Orion 80ED
Celestron C5, 6SE, Celestar 8
Vixen Porta Mount ll
Coronado PST
A big box of Plossls
Little box of filters
:D



User avatar
Bigzmey United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 8
Online
Posts: 7548
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 7:55 pm
4
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Status:
Online

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

#5

Post by Bigzmey »


Ylem wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:25 am The 102ED for $549 looks interesting...

Somebody hold me back lol
This is a very good price even before COVID. :)
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
User avatar
messier 111 Canada
Universal Ambassador
Articles: 0
Online
Posts: 9472
Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2020 2:49 am
3
Location: Canada's capital region .
Status:
Online

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

#6

Post by messier 111 »


the scale leans heavily towards the 125 edl in my case.
I LOVE REFRACTORS , :Astronomer1: :sprefac:

REFRACTOR , TS-Optics Doublet SD-APO 125 mm f/7.8 . Lunt 80mm MT Ha Doublet Refractor .

EYEPIECES, Delos , Delite and 26mm Nagler t5 , 2 zoom Svbony 7-21 , Orion Premium Linear BinoViewer .

FILTER , Nebustar 2 tele vue . Apm solar wedge . contrast booster 2 inches .

Mounts , berno mack 3 with telepod , cg-4 motorized , eq6 pro belt drive .

“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in.”
― Isaac Asimov

Jean-Yves :flags-canada:
User avatar
Bigzmey United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 8
Online
Posts: 7548
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 7:55 pm
4
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Status:
Online

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

#7

Post by Bigzmey »


messier 111 wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 2:21 am the scale leans heavily towards the 125 edl in my case.
Would that be for AP or visual?
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
User avatar
The Wave Catcher United States of America
Jupiter Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 210
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2020 8:59 pm
3
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A.
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

#8

Post by The Wave Catcher »


I have both scopes and they are incredible even at the normal price!
Steve Yates

Astro-Tech AT102ED, 102 mm, F/7, ED Achromatic Refractor
Astro-Tech AT80ED, 80 mm, F/7, ED Achromatic Refractor
Bresser AR102s, 102 mm, f/4.5, Achromatic Refractor

Explore Scientific Twilight I Alt/Az Mount
Bresser Nano Alt/Az Mount
User avatar
messier 111 Canada
Universal Ambassador
Articles: 0
Online
Posts: 9472
Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2020 2:49 am
3
Location: Canada's capital region .
Status:
Online

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

#9

Post by messier 111 »


Bigzmey wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 2:55 am
messier 111 wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 2:21 am the scale leans heavily towards the 125 edl in my case.
Would that be for AP or visual?
for the visual only.
I LOVE REFRACTORS , :Astronomer1: :sprefac:

REFRACTOR , TS-Optics Doublet SD-APO 125 mm f/7.8 . Lunt 80mm MT Ha Doublet Refractor .

EYEPIECES, Delos , Delite and 26mm Nagler t5 , 2 zoom Svbony 7-21 , Orion Premium Linear BinoViewer .

FILTER , Nebustar 2 tele vue . Apm solar wedge . contrast booster 2 inches .

Mounts , berno mack 3 with telepod , cg-4 motorized , eq6 pro belt drive .

“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in.”
― Isaac Asimov

Jean-Yves :flags-canada:
User avatar
Frazman United States of America
Earth Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu May 16, 2019 12:44 am
4
Location: Virginia
Status:
Offline

Re: Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

#10

Post by Frazman »


Lady Fraktor wrote: Tue Jan 17, 2023 9:30 pm The Astro-Tech refractors seem to be well regarded by the CN crowd.
A nice looking set of refractors.
Ooohh, A SET!!
He’s in the dog house now, hahahaha!!
Fractor Head, Bino Buff
User avatar
The Wave Catcher United States of America
Jupiter Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 210
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2020 8:59 pm
3
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A.
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

#11

Post by The Wave Catcher »


Frazman wrote: Tue Jan 17, 2023 7:07 pm I am super pleased with the AT 72 ED I recently picked up now these two are on sale. Leaning hard into the 80 as it would be an upgrade from my old ST 80. Better glass and longer focal length. What’s not to like with that, lol?!
Like I said, I have both and though the AT102ED has a larger aperture telescope, I find myself using my AT80ED about 80% of the time. In my city lights, the aperture difference isn’t enough to warrant me carrying out the extra weight of the 102 mm telescope and the necessary larger mount/tripod. In dark skies with the AT102ED, I can easily see the galaxies M81 and M82 with structure visible in Cigar Galaxy M82. Someday I will compare the two telescopes in dark skies, though the difference is predictable.

I’m mostly a visual observer though I have used them both for planetary photography with no noticeable aberrations like CA, etc. I have no experience with DSO photography. At high powers, the only (very mild) chromatic aberrations I’ve seen is when viewing bright planets with my Astro-Tech Paradigm ED eyepieces and it totally goes away when I use my Plössl eyepieces instead. My SV-305 camera doesn’t detect it either.

The build quality is very good and there is no plastic anywhere, not even the focused knobs. I can see these telescopes being passed down through the generations.

To my understanding, these telescopes and others that you’ll find that have very similar parts, are assembled per a particular vendor’s instructions using various pieces come from Japan, Taiwan, and China. You’ll see similarities in Astro-Tech, SvBONY, Teleskop Service, and others. Astro-Tech is the house brand for Astronomics and supposedly they put tighter optical requirements on the suppliers.
Steve Yates

Astro-Tech AT102ED, 102 mm, F/7, ED Achromatic Refractor
Astro-Tech AT80ED, 80 mm, F/7, ED Achromatic Refractor
Bresser AR102s, 102 mm, f/4.5, Achromatic Refractor

Explore Scientific Twilight I Alt/Az Mount
Bresser Nano Alt/Az Mount
User avatar
pakarinen United States of America
Inter-Galactic Ambassador
Articles: 0
Offline
Posts: 4013
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2019 3:33 pm
4
Location: NE Illinois
Status:
Offline

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

#12

Post by pakarinen »


Frazman wrote: Tue Jan 17, 2023 7:07 pm Leaning hard into the 80 as it would be an upgrade from my old ST 80. Better glass and longer focal length. What’s not to like with that, lol?!
Ylem wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:25 am The 102ED for $549 looks interesting...

Somebody hold me back lol
I have the 102ED and the 72EDII. The 102 is surprisingly heavy / bulky. And yes, I read the specs before I ordered. Just something to keep in mind, depending on what mount(s) you have and how much portability you want / need. I'll probably be selling my year-old 102 soon because of that.

The 102 does have very crisp optics and is very well built (thus the bulk). Clouds have kept me from using the 72 except for a couple of very brief sessions, but the same goes for it, so I would be reasonably confident assuming the 80ED also has good optics and mechanics (and bulk).

YMMV.
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
User avatar
Ylem United States of America
Universal Ambassador
Articles: 0
Online
Posts: 7477
Joined: Sun May 12, 2019 2:54 am
4
Location: Ocean County, New Jersey
Status:
Online

TSS Photo of the Day

Re: Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

#13

Post by Ylem »


pakarinen wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 4:01 pm
Frazman wrote: Tue Jan 17, 2023 7:07 pm Leaning hard into the 80 as it would be an upgrade from my old ST 80. Better glass and longer focal length. What’s not to like with that, lol?!
Ylem wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:25 am The 102ED for $549 looks interesting...

Somebody hold me back lol
I have the 102ED and the 72EDII. The 102 is surprisingly heavy / bulky. And yes, I read the specs before I ordered. Just something to keep in mind, depending on what mount(s) you have and how much portability you want / need. I'll probably be selling my year-old 102 soon because of that.

The 102 does have very crisp optics and is very well built (thus the bulk). Clouds have kept me from using the 72 except for a couple of very brief sessions, but the same goes for it, so I would be reasonably confident assuming the 80ED also has good optics and mechanics (and bulk).

YMMV.
I can certainly understand that, I was actually surprised at the bulk of my Orion 80ED.

For some reason it's in a tube for a 100, unlike the SW/Celestron version (as I'm told anyway) I bought it as a step up from a ST80, but mass wise, it was a big step considering it's still an 80.
Clear Skies,
-Jeff :telescopewink:


Member; ASTRA-NJ



Orion 80ED
Celestron C5, 6SE, Celestar 8
Vixen Porta Mount ll
Coronado PST
A big box of Plossls
Little box of filters
:D



User avatar
Bigzmey United States of America
Moderator
Moderator
Articles: 8
Online
Posts: 7548
Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 7:55 pm
4
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Status:
Online

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

#14

Post by Bigzmey »


messier 111 wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 3:13 am
Bigzmey wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 2:55 am
messier 111 wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 2:21 am the scale leans heavily towards the 125 edl in my case.
Would that be for AP or visual?
for the visual only.
My first APO/ED scope was 102mm. It was lightweight and portable with sharp optics, but after a few months I have gotten aperture fever. I sold 102mm and gotten 127mm. It definitely reached deeper, but it was a hustle to setup. Due to size and weight it required heavy duty mount with extension pier. At that time I have already purchased 80mm ED for travel and while I appreciated larger aperture of 127mm, on many nights I went with 80mm over 127mm. Just because it was so easy to just grab it and step out. So, after a few months of 127mm just sitting in the storage box I sold it and got back 102mm.

I found 102mm as easy to setup as 80mm and it rides on the same mounts as 80mm, but definitely reaches deeper. So, IMO 102mm is goldilocks of APO/EDs for visual, not too little not too big.
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
User avatar
messier 111 Canada
Universal Ambassador
Articles: 0
Online
Posts: 9472
Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2020 2:49 am
3
Location: Canada's capital region .
Status:
Online

TSS Awards Badges

Re: Decent Sale AT 80 ED and 102ED

#15

Post by messier 111 »


Bigzmey wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 7:33 pm
messier 111 wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 3:13 am
Bigzmey wrote: Wed Jan 18, 2023 2:55 am

Would that be for AP or visual?
for the visual only.
My first APO/ED scope was 102mm. It was lightweight and portable with sharp optics, but after a few months I have gotten aperture fever. I sold 102mm and gotten 127mm. It definitely reached deeper, but it was a hustle to setup. Due to size and weight it required heavy duty mount with extension pier. At that time I have already purchased 80mm ED for travel and while I appreciated larger aperture of 127mm, on many nights I went with 80mm over 127mm. Just because it was so easy to just grab it and step out. So, after a few months of 127mm just sitting in the storage box I sold it and got back 102mm.

I found 102mm as easy to setup as 80mm and it rides on the same mounts as 80mm, but definitely reaches deeper. So, IMO 102mm is goldilocks of APO/EDs for visual, not too little not too big.
yes, I also had a 102 lunt, this telescope was a real disaster.
I thought of an np101is, but ultimately I'm not sure of the focal length for the planets. moreover the price makes you think too.
I still haven't finished thinking about what I want.
the 125 has a focal length of 975 and is at f8.
Weighs only 16 pounds, but will require a stronger mount.
maybe with the price of the telescope and the mount I will arrive at the same price as the televue.
I think about it, I think about it.
I LOVE REFRACTORS , :Astronomer1: :sprefac:

REFRACTOR , TS-Optics Doublet SD-APO 125 mm f/7.8 . Lunt 80mm MT Ha Doublet Refractor .

EYEPIECES, Delos , Delite and 26mm Nagler t5 , 2 zoom Svbony 7-21 , Orion Premium Linear BinoViewer .

FILTER , Nebustar 2 tele vue . Apm solar wedge . contrast booster 2 inches .

Mounts , berno mack 3 with telepod , cg-4 motorized , eq6 pro belt drive .

“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in.”
― Isaac Asimov

Jean-Yves :flags-canada:
Post Reply

Create an account or sign in to join the discussion

You need to be a member in order to post a reply

Create an account

Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute

Register

Sign in

Return to “Refractor type Telescopes”