| For crisp wide field observing and imaging, nothing can beat the high contrast, color-free images of a good-quality fast focal ratio apochromatic refractor (apo). But not all apos are created equal. Today’s market is filled with so-called “semi-apos" that use a two lens optical system using one lens of ED (Extra Low Dispersion) glass to improve their color correction. While optically better than the markedly violet-haloed images of an ordinary achromatic refractor, these simple semi-apo designs still don’t quite bring all the colors to focus in the same focal plane. This leaves images with an artificial color cast or faint halos of residual blue spurious color. Thanks to a two-year design process and an objective lens that uses a three-lens ED design, however, this Meade Series 5000 80mm f/6 ED triplet apo is virtually free of chromatic aberration (color fringing). This means it outperforms the most expensive of the “semi-apos" at a fraction of their cost. Expert observers will be delighted by the total absence of color fringing and the scope’s textbook-perfect pinpoint star images. Even beginners will notice the breathtaking high contrast and resolution of this Series 5000 triplet apo. The Meade 80mm ED triplet refractor has the right balance of aperture (80mm) and focal length (480mm) to use as a low-power rich field star-sweeping telescope, as a medium-power planetary telescope, or as any kind of telescope in between. Its compact size, light weight, and convenient L-shaped mounting dovetail (with 1/4"-20 thread mounting holes that fit any photographic tripod) also make it an excellent wide-field terrestrial spotting scope for vacations, birding, or nature studies. In addition, optional camera adapters turn the ED optics of the Meade 80mm triplet into an excellent 480mm (9.6x) f/6 telephoto lens. The three-element optical system of the Meade 80mm triplet includes a lens of high quality Japanese FCD1 ED (Extra Low Dispersion) glass for razor-sharp images that are virtually free of spurious color across the entire visible spectrum. This special glass is noted for achieving a very small change in refractive index with different wavelengths of light. This makes it the perfect choice for a fast, high performance optical design like the Series 5000 triplet apo. The objective lens has an adjustable lens cell that allows precision collimation of the lenses if necessary to tweak the performance. All air-to-glass surfaces are fully broadband multicoated for maximum light transmission. Contrast-enhancing light baffles in the optical tube assure truly dark sky backgrounds and high terrestrial contrast. The Meade 80mm triplet has a smooth 2" Crayford-style focuser for minimal image shift, an important consideration for keeping images centered on the small imaging chip of a CCD camera during critical astrophotography. The 2" focuser drawtube uses a soft brass compression ring eyepiece holder. This design won’t scratch the barrel of your star diagonal as an ordinary thumbscrew can. For astrophotography, a thumbscrew locks the focuser drawtube in place once you have your camera focused. The precision-machined Meade 80mm triplet has a retractable dew cap/lens shade for dew prevention at night and improved daytime contrast during viewing or photography. A slip-on metal dust cap is standard. For serious astronomy and astrophotography, the scope’s L-shaped dovetail mounting shoe is shaped to fit directly into the dovetail slot on the head of the Meade LXD-75 equatorial mount with no other adapter needed. The mounting shoe also fits the dovetail slots of Celestron Advanced Series and Vixen Sphinx and Great Polaris Deluxe mounts. In addition, the mounting shoe has a 1/4"-20 thread hole that allow you to mount the 6.2 pound scope directly onto any good photo tripod for casual astronomy or daytime terrestrial observing. Eyepieces and a star diagonal or terrestrial image erector are optional. There are few optical systems that combine into one compact and inexpensive body a serious astronomical telescope, a terrestrial spotting scope, and a top-quality telephoto lens or astronomical astrograph – but the Meade 80mm triplet does it all beautifully. Whether you want to observe the skies from your back yard on the spur of the moment, or travel round the world with a very portable telescope that will reveal and photograph everything nearby and distant, you’ll find it hard to beat this truly exceptional and very economical Meade ED triplet apochromatic refractor.
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Terestrial Photography