Does anyone make/sell a ST80?

[Ylem]

A friend of mine who just got into astronomy with an 8" Dob is interested in a compact, affordable small frac of decent quality like the Orion ST80.

Does anyone still sell/make them anymore?

(Must have metal focuser, so not the current 80ST)

[Bigzmey]

Looks like most of small achro fracs are out of stock.

I found this one. I got it new a few years ago for about half of what they sell used now. At least this is the old model with metal focuser identical to old Orion ST80 but tan color.

The link to Amazon does not work but if you search for

Meade Instruments 222001 80mm Adventure Scope with Accessories, Tripod and Backpack, Tan/Black

You will find it.

[Ylem]

Looks like most of small achro fracs are out of stock.

I found this one. I got it new a few years ago for about half of what they sell used now. At least this is the old model with metal focuser identical to old Orion ST80 but tan color.

The link to Amazon does not work but if you search for

Meade Instruments 222001 80mm Adventure Scope with Accessories, Tripod and Backpack, Tan/Black

You will find it.

Looks like it is no longer available anywhere. I'm sure there must be a bunch on the flea bay though.

There is the SVbony 90 f5.5 which has potential, but not as compact.

[Lady Fraktor]

Levenhuk has a 70 mm with a metal focuser, I think their 80 mm has a plastic one.
https://levenhuk.com/catalogue/telescop ... ?oid=46764

[Bigzmey]

There is one on CN, but they go fast.

https://www.cloudynights.com/classified ... ixen-rail/

[StarHugger]

Here it is with the metal focuser and plastic lens cell, they stopped making the metal cell a decade ago...

Has a Metal tube and dewshield too.

I have purchased a few from this source and they worked well.

The alignment of the focuser is sometimes off but can be corrected easily with a laser collimation tool and phillips head screwdriver.

https://www.amazon.com/Omegon-Telescope ... B019RELA3U


Best of Luck, Of Course...

[Lady Fraktor]

That telescope will not work Aaron. He is looking for a 80 mm and this one is 80 months.
How you would calculate the diameter is beyond me but it must be huge!!!

[The Wave Catcher]

If they are in then U.S., Astronomics sells excellent ED 80 mm refractors. I have this one and love it. It is in stock for $377.10.

https://www.astronomics.com/astro-tech ... r-ota.html

[Ylem]

That telescope will not work Aaron. He is looking for a 80 mm and this one is 80 months.
How you would calculate the diameter is beyond me but it must be huge!!!

Good catch! 80 months

[Ylem]

If they are in then U.S., Astronomics sells excellent 80 mm refractors. I have this one and love it. It is in stock for $377.10.

https://www.astronomics.com/astro-tech ... r-ota.html

That is certainly a nice looking ED80 at that price

[StarHugger]

If they are in then U.S., Astronomics sells excellent 80 mm refractors. I have this one and love it. It is in stock for $377.10.

https://www.astronomics.com/astro-tech ... r-ota.html

That is certainly a nice looking ED80 at that price

The astronomics fracs are nice, I've got thier Ed70 & 80 and like them alot.

[Lady Fraktor]

Tell your friend to just skip all of the intermediate steps and get a Stellarvue 80 mm or 102 mm now.
They are on sale at the moment as well so that should help a bit
https://www.stellarvue.com

[pakarinen]

I have an ST80 (the Meade version) and have considered selling it a few times. They're so inexpensive though that it's almost not worth the time and effort.

Maybe one of these?

https://www.astronomics.com/astro-tech- ... l?___SID=U
https://www.astronomics.com/astro-tech- ... 3-f-6.html

They also sell an 80ED, but it's comparatively heavy and bulky. I do love my 72EDii.

[JayTee]

I do believe these scopes are probably your next best option.

https://www.highpointscientific.com/iop ... oiEALw_wcB

https://www.telescope.com/catalog/produ ... goEALw_wcB

[Ylem]

I do believe these scopes are probably your next best option.

https://www.highpointscientific.com/iop ... oiEALw_wcB

https://www.telescope.com/catalog/produ ... goEALw_wcB


iop-8710.jpg

orion 80.png

That iOptron definitely looks like the old ST80

Sadly the Orion has a plastic focuser.

[pakarinen]

Sadly the Orion has a plastic focuser.

You could replace the focuser, but a Crayford would cost more than the scope.
Maybe look for a secondhand R&P?

[Lady Fraktor]

Look what has been hiding all of this time: https://skywatcher.com/product/bk-804az3/

[Bigzmey]

Look what has been hiding all of this time: https://skywatcher.com/product/bk-804az3/

Does look like old ST80. However, they are not sold in US.

[Lady Fraktor]

Lots of places in the EU & UK that ship to USA though

[pakarinen]

Lots of places in the EU & UK that ship to USA though

.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/startr ... 0-az3.html

I've ordered several items from FLO and had excellent experiences. DHL delivers things to me from the UK faster than UPS / USPS delivers domestically in the US. Go figure.

Another possibility is a Stellarvue 80mm RACI. Put it in scope rings. The illuminated EP appears to be interchangeable with "normal" EPs; sell it to recoup some of the cost?