TeleVue Oracle 3

Ratings:Top:Astronomy:Equipment Reviews:Telescope Reviews:TeleVue Oracle 3

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Brand and Model:TeleVue Oracle 3
Price ($USD):$1100
Type:Apochromatic Refractor
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:76mm (3")
f Ratio:f/7.4
Focal Length:560mm
Finder:N/A
Electric Power:n/a
Mount:N/A
Tripod:n/a
Weight (lbs):lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:Nice triplet lens with good color correction. Looks like a longish Pronto but performs better. Some older versions have a screw-on dewcap and a less robust focuser. More recent versions have collapsing dewcap and standard high quality TeleVue focuser. Planetary and deep space views are very nice. A nice solid 3" apochromatic refractor, but optically and mechanically not quite up to the level of modern Apos such as the TV 85 or the Takahashis.

Vote Highlights Vote
TeleVue Oracle 3
Awesome scope. Great build quality in a small package. If you can find one, buy it!

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=108747

TeleVue Oracle 3
One of these came in used at my local scope emporium, and I snapped it up. I had been using a Pronto as a grab&go scope, but this thing kills it visually. The focusser mechanics are not quite as solid as the Pronto, but visually it's now my favourite scope.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Ease of Use:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=66250

TeleVue Oracle 3
I got one of the first ones back in '87. I just love this thing, have logged more hours with this than any other scope I've owned. Great scope to dash into the backyard with for a quick look at Jupiter/Saturn/Mars what have you. Great scope for people who want perfection and easy portability. I'm finally getting a real mount for it, I've been using it one a photo tripod for 14 years which is handy but a real handicap for a scope like this that practically begs to be used at high power. I watched the ads and bought one as soon as it was released. I use it mostly for planetary viewing in the city, but occasionally I get to a dark sky site and then pairing it with a 13mm Nagler gives you incredible deep-sky views with a field covering 2 degrees of sky. Only complaint is I wish the tube was a *bit* longer so it would be possible to slide the collar enough to balance the tube with my 20mm Nagler :-)

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41010

TeleVue Oracle 3
Highly recommended. I haven't used any of Tele-vue newer refractors, but this is a thousand times better than a Brandon 80mm "apochromatic" I had in the mid-80's

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41006

TeleVue Oracle 3
Fantastic little scope. Very solid with a silky smooth focuser. It is too bad they don't make these great scopes anymore. As fine as the Pronto is, this scope is at least a couple of notches above it. Kudos to Al on this one!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41005

TeleVue Oracle 3
I purchased this scope used instead of buying a TV Pronto or the more expensive TV 85. I'm glad I did! What a great scope! It has the typical, excellent Tele-Vue build quality. Small, compact and a true APO. Great for a grab and go scope. It really is a shame Tele-Vue doesn't make these anymore. Although I read that they are coming out with a new TV 76 late this year. I am sure it will cost twice as much as what the Oracle sold for in the late 80's and very early 90's. Like the previous reviewer stated, they will bury me with it!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41004

TeleVue Oracle 3
I bought a used one as a "grab 'n go" scope, not really knowing too much about it. I've had it for 5 years and even though I'm up to having owned 7 scopes now, this is the one that I know I will NEVER sell (well, unless it brings enough to buy a house...). Perfect, pin-point stars, wide-field scanning of the Milky Way is a joy, great contrast - I was able to pick out the Viel Nebulae from near a non-dark site (just outside a small town). It takes magnification like a maniac - I've had it to over 230X on the moon and it still looked fine...not bad for a 74mm aperature! Very little if any false color visible. Performance in a small package that is hard to beat. This one is gonna be buried with me.

K. Michael M.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41003

TeleVue Oracle 3
Thanks 4 the reply!

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41009

TeleVue Oracle 3
No. The new TV 76 will be a doublet lens vs. the Oracle's triplet lens. The new TV 76 will be about 4" shorter in length as well. It is built around the Pronto shell.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41008

TeleVue Oracle 3
Will the new tv 76 have these same optics?

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41007

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