Product Description
This Astro-Tech ED refractor has:
• 80mm f/7 fully multicoated FCD-100ED and Lanthanum doublet refractor optics
• dual-speed 2.5" Rack and Pinion 2” focuser with 10:1 ratio fine focusing
• 2” and 1.25” non-marring compression ring accessory holders
• Vixen dovetail plate with two tube rings and a carry handle
• retractable self-storing lens shade
• .95 Strehl ratio minimum
• long-lasting white finish with Aston Martin Grey focuser and trim
The new Astro-Tech AT80EDL is an extension of the beloved 60ED and 72EDII. This scope is for the person wanting a little more than what the 60ED and 72EDII can bring to the table from an optical standpoint as well as a mechanical standpoint.
The important perfomance updates come in the type of ED element combination and the type of foucser the AT80EDL is built around. The new AT80EDL has upgraded the ED element to FCD-100 with a Lathanum mating element. The Strehl ratio and interferometer report looked nothing short of textbook on the first 80EDL we recieved. The next upgrade comes with the 2.5" Rack and Pinion focuser with 10:1 fine focus knob. It is the same mechanism as our EDT line and is buttery smooth. The focuser also comes with a built in Camera Angle Adjuster to help you get just the right position for your camera or diagonal. The final upgrade is something that people have asked us about for years...a simple carry handle. The ergonomic handle mounted on the top of the tube rings will make setting up a breeze.
This 17.5” long refractor optical tube, with the dewshield retracted, could be just the compact refractor you have been looking for. Its combination of size, glass type, and build allows the scope to be a fantastic portable instrument as well as a great photographic instrument. (There is a dedicated .8x reducer/flattener avaialbe for purchase as well.) A good refractor is hard to beat most nights for pure visual enjoyment. The supplied 9.75" long Vixen style dovetail fits directly into the dovetail slot on the top of many altazimuth and German equatorial mounts, such as those from Astro-Tech, Celestron, Meade, and Vixen. The OTA weighs in at only 7.85 pounds with rings and dovetail.
Features of this Telescope . . .
AT80EDL doublet refractor optics: 80mm (3.1”) aperture, 560mm focal length, f/7 focal ratio air-spaced doublet lens using premium FCD-100 ED (Extra-low Dispersion glass) with a Lanthanum mating element to reduce spurious color halos and fringing to vanishingly low levels with a .95 strehl ratio minimum guarantee. While we do not claim fully apochromatic performance in the class of a multiple thousand dollar Takahashi (this instrument is a sort of homage to the FS102), Astro-Physics, or TMB refractor, the AT80EDL is so free from spurious color as to be virtually indistinguishable from an apochromatic system. And, as Mr. Spock probably said in one episode of Star Trek or another, “Any difference that makes no difference, is no difference.”
Multicoated optics: The objective lens has the latest state-of-the-art broadband antireflection multicoatings on all four air-to-glass surfaces for high light transmission and excellent contrast. This can easily be seen by looking into the objective lens of the scope. Virtually no reflection of your face will be seen. It’s a sure sign that the high transmission coatings are doing their job, by letting virtually all the light enter the scope, rather than reflecting some light back to your eye.
Internal light baffles: There are multiple contrast-enhancing knife edge baffles inside the optical tube, and Micro Baffles running the full length of the focuser drawtube, for truly dark sky backgrounds and high terrestrial contrast. In addition, the edges of the objective lens are blackened to eliminate contrast-reducing stray internal reflections.
Dew shield: A self-storing retractable dew shield slows the formation of dew on the lens in cold weather to extend your undisturbed observing time. It also improves the contrast, similar to the effect of the lens shade on a camera lens, when observing during the day or when there is excessive ambient light at night, such as a neighbor’s backyard security light. The dew shield is 102mm in diameter
Dual speed microfine 2.5” Rack and Pinion focuser with 1.25” adapter: The precision-made 2.5” focuser has dual-speed focusing. There are two coarse focusing knobs. The right knob also has a smaller concentric knob with 10:1 ratio reduction gear microfine focusing. This provides exceptionally precise image control during high power visual observing or critical DSLR or CCD imaging. The focus knobs have knurled gripping surfaces so they are easy to operate, even while wearing gloves or mittens in cold weather. The focuser drawtube has a scale marked in 1mm increments so you can note individual focuser positions for easy return to the correct focus when switching between visual use and photography. A lock knob under the focuser lets you lock in your photographic focus.
The focuser drawtube terminates in a 2” compression ring accessory holder to accept a 2” star diagonal and 2” photo accessories.
The supplied 1.25” accessory adapter slips onto the 2” accessory holder and uses a soft brass compression ring to hold 1.25” star diagonals and photo/visual accessories in place. The 1.25” and 2” compression rings won’t scratch the barrels of your star diagonal or accessories as an ordinary thumbscrew can.
Tube finish: The optical tube is finished in a durable white powder coat with Aston Martin Grey trim and housings.
Other supplied accessories: A slip-on metal dust cap is standard, as well as the CNC carry handle. Two threaded holes for installing a finderscope mounting bracket are located on the upper left and upper right side of the focucser body.
Tech Details
| Aperture | 80mm |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 560mm |
| Focal Ratio | f/7 |
| Heaviest Single Component | 7.85 pounds |
| Weight | 7.85 pounds |
| Optical Coatings | Fully Multi-Coated |
| Telescope Type | Refractor |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Back Focus | 161mm |
Reviews
The only category the Pronto wins in, is build quality. Everywhere else the AT80EDL is dimensions and light years ahead.
For the money (even the non sale price), you’d have a hard time taking down the 80EDL. Is it free of color? No, but it’s unbelievably hard to detect. You almost have to go out of your way to find it. I did find a minuscule amount of CA during the day on specific objects but 99% of the time it wasn’t there. Collimation was spot on and the sharpness and contrast are absolutely superb. Astrotech is a family owned company catering to the Astro community. They go above and beyond for the community by offering ridiculously great products like this at absurdly good prices. Thank you (Posted on 3/28/2023)