Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope

Let’s start this by saying I have several ES refractors and I bought the ED80 to use as a spotting scope with hopefully enough quality for some light astronomy work of quick looks off my back porch . This is a fantastic little scope! As I expected the ground based observations were crisp and clean at least up to the 160X magnifications of my 3mm eye piece. The real surprise came after the sun went down. The full moon was beautiful with excellent contrast and definition. I then turned attention to the Orion Nebula. The definition was stunning and the quadrangle was easily defined with all of the quality I’ve enjoyed with my larger scopes. Thank you ES! This scope more than fills the tasks I wanted it to do and I’m sure it will more than pay for itself over the years through solid observations.

I started down the imaging road using a 10" ACF SCT... I actually purchased the ED80 as a guide scope. Once I received it I realized right away that I had grossly under estimated the quality of the scope. I decided to have a go with imaging though it. After the first image... the SCT is still sitting in the closet. I was so impressed with this scope I couldn't stay away from it. Ever single night (even nights that weren't exactly good imaging) I found myself using the scope. The quality of the scope it really good. Since I do all of my imaging using electronic... "everything" and I have a really heavy image train I decided to upgrade the focuser (not needed for most people... I'm using a CCD camera that makes the ED80 look small). Once I did this I took the scope to Springdale, AR to have it collimated and cleaned. While I was there I actually traded up for the ED115 FPL53. I love both of the scope so much I actually plan to re-purchase the ED80 as soon as I can. I was super impressed with the people at ES. Really great to deal with. Just great people that actually have your best interest in mind... very refreshing! Explore Scientific will be getting more business from me in the future without a doubt!
As a side note, I used the scope to check out Saturn and Jupiter too. I used a Televue 4.7mm eyepeice with a Televue 2x barlow and it was "hands down" the best view I have ever had. That's just over 200x magnification! The views were so clear and crisp it blew my mind!

Nice Marketing; ads everywhere created interest in products and good reviews added credability. Past reputation and reasonable price sealed the deal. Warranty is icing on the cake! Customer Service is great, and will smooth the road toward first light. Things I needed were the Twilight I mount or newer GEM to fit this scope's mounting plate. With Altazimuth mount plate will rotate to side for fitting on mount, however, finder bracket also rotates with plate and now can't be used. This requires attaching a finder with two sided tape, also necessary to use a red dot finder. Nice build quality, fit, and finish, I feel. Very heavy for it's size due to substantial focuser, which adds to quality feel. Much to recommend this scope as a starting out point in the hobby if one knows what to expect beforehand, expectations will not be disappointed. "Coming Soon" labels and backorders make one wonder if everything can be purchased easily from one place or if this is only a work in progress to a finished system. Distributors gave great service, but didn't have everything in stock, at same time, so might have to use several suppliers. I needed more than just the scope; a proper mount, finder, case, these are nice and even necessary as are proper eyepieces to make best use of the scope's wide field of view. Doesn't quite work to get just the scope and expect all of your old accessories to fit as expected. So in that regard, I feel that the hobby is a work in progress!