Back to forums

Why is no one talking about this new telescope?

Askar 80PHQ Refractors Buying Advice
5 replies•673 views
John Stone avatar
John Stone avatar
80 mm, F7, 4 microns spots on axis, 5 micron spot full-frame  - $399 !!!  (Flattener an additional $189) - Total:  $587






Now compare it with this:




80 mm, 2.6 micron spots on axis, 6 micron spots full-frame F7.5 - $1300




Buy two (2) of the first telescope and still have $126 in your pocket.
Turix avatar
Turix avatar
I think you also need to look at the spot diagrams with the various reducers too:





The 0.7x looks like it'll be a struggle with even a crop sensor? Although the 0.85x looks much nicer by comparison, they both show strong evidence of chromatic aberration (as would be expected for a doublet).

I was actually considering this recently as a "travel" scope due to it's relatively lightweight (for an 80mm aperture at least), but wasn't keen to invest in yet another cheap doublet. I would be very interested in seeing some optical testing from someone though!

(I went with an SQA55 in the end instead)
Helpful Insightful Respectful Engaging
Alex Nicholas avatar
Alex Nicholas avatar
if you primarily shoot narrowband with a mono camera, the 80ED is a far better buy. but if  you shoot osc or LRGB, a doublet is a far inferior instrument.
Bill McLaughlin avatar
Bill McLaughlin avatar
To be honest, they don't look that great.  Now the WO "FSQ 106 clone" does look interesting (if a lot more $$$$)…..
JoepsAstronomy avatar
JoepsAstronomy avatar

It seems this scope has quite well corrected optics based on the spot diagram. It should perform around the diffraction limit based on its size.

However you probably want to get the flattener to get that performance, and then the price difference with the 71F is not very big anymore. Here in Europe you get the 71F for 750 euros. The 80ED with flattener is 515 + 250 = same.

And with the 71f you get much better color correction. The focusser is better/more sturdy and you don’t have to worry about backfocus distance.

Pair that with some weird star artefacts in some reviews and for me the 80ED was no longer interesting.

Of course if you could get the telescope for the prices you mention in the opening post, then maybe saving 200 dollars is worth it?…

Helpful Insightful Respectful Engaging