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Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 5:53 pm
by 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)
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 8:09 pm
by 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.
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 8:27 pm
by Ylem
Bigzmey wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2024 8:09 pm
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.
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 8:42 pm
by 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
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 8:46 pm
by Bigzmey
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 9:04 pm
by 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...
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 10:29 pm
by 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!!!
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 1:32 am
by 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
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 1:41 am
by Ylem
Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2024 10:29 pm
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
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 1:43 am
by Ylem
That is certainly a nice looking ED80 at that price
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 2:08 am
by StarHugger
Ylem wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 1:43 am
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.
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 4:04 am
by 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
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:06 pm
by 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.
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 11:21 pm
by JayTee
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2024 2:01 am
by Ylem
That iOptron definitely looks like the old ST80
Sadly the Orion has a plastic focuser.
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2024 3:47 pm
by pakarinen
Ylem wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 2:01 am
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?
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:19 am
by Lady Fraktor
Look what has been hiding all of this time:
https://skywatcher.com/product/bk-804az3/
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2024 5:22 pm
by Bigzmey
Does look like old ST80. However, they are not sold in US.
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:10 pm
by Lady Fraktor
Lots of places in the EU & UK that ship to USA though
Re: Does anyone make/sell a ST80?
Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:17 pm
by pakarinen
Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:10 pm
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?
