Orion SkyView Pro 100ED

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Brand and Model:	Orion SkyView Pro 100ED
Price ($USD):	1299
Type:	Apochromatic Refractor
Attributes:	Go-To PEC
Aperture:	100 mm
f Ratio:	f/9
Focal Length:	910mm
Finder:	6x30
Electric Power:	Battery powered drive
Mount:	SkyView Pro GEM
Tripod:	Steel
Weight (lbs):	40
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:	A reasonably priced entry in the 4" apochromatic refractor category. It features an ED glass objective lens, Crayford focuser, 2" diagonal, 6x30 finder, and a pair of Plossl eyepieces: 25mm and 10mm. All on the Orion SkyView Pro equatorial mount, available with single or dual axis drive.

Vote Highlights

Orion SkyView Pro 100ED

A life long reflector owner, this is the first refractor I've ever owned. I've owned and built 5 mirror based (SCT, Newt, Dob) telescopes over a period of 35 years. I was always impressed with the views I saw through other people's refractors but the cost (10 times that of a reflector) always deterred me.

So it was with mixed feelings that I bought this inexpensive "semi-APO" scope. I wasn't sure I would be getting a solid mount or good optics for such a small outlay.

I have been using the scope for almost 2 years now and have been pleased beyond all expectations with it. The mount is solid and the optics are outstanding. It puts my 12" dob to shame on planetary views. I am still exploring its capabilities but basically I now use the 4" for solar, planetary and lunar observing from my home in the suburbs and the 12" dob for deep sky observing from dark sites 50 miles from home. A really awesome combination.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:10 Mount:8 Ease of Use:8 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date: 08/26/2007 02:00:05 am PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.253.191)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=566471

Reply Replies: 0

Orion SkyView Pro 100ED

First unit was out of collimation and was returned for replacement, as the lens cell is not adjustable. Orion's customer service is outstanding. My second unit is a keeper with spot on collimation and an excellent lens.

The focuser is smooth and focus is easily achieved and maintained even with a heavy binoviewer in place. Chromatic aberation is absent in good seeing and when in focus. Image quality is maintained even at magnifications exceeding 225x.

All in all, probably the best value today in a 100mm APO. Highly recommended.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 03/14/2009 11:29:18 pm PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.136.121)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=584362

Reply Replies: 0

Orion SkyView Pro 100ED

This scope/mount combo represents a definite best buy in the 4" apochromatic refractor field. Excellent color-free optics at a bargain price. The SVP mount is very stable and is a nice match for the OTA. This is a scope you'll enjoy for years without outgrowing its capabilities.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Mount:9 Ease of Use:7 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 08/23/2005 06:52:46 am PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.48.26)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=451614

Reply Replies: 0

Orion SkyView Pro 100ED

I bought this scope about four months ago and have used its in light polluted suburbs of Albuquerque, at a star party thirty miles out from town on the dark side of some mountains, and at my cabin in northern NM at about 7500ft. I am truly a novice with less than one year experience. I have a heavy Celestron C10 NGT at the cabin, but wanted something portable and handy too. This is a really cool scope. It is easy to set up and observe with. The sky is extremely black and the stars are white and sharp. Planetary detail is always as good as the larger scopes I compare it to and usually better. For example, using the same eyepiece in the 1200 mm C10 Newt, images of planets and doubles are much brighter, but less sharp. Sorry, I don't have the vocabulary to be very compelling here, but from a strickly novice perspective if I can gather enough light with the 100ED, then that is the scope I perfer to use. When I got the C10 Newt I was clueless whether I was really getting a good value or even if I would enjoy astronomy. The 100ED has done more to encourage me than star party peering through large Dob's or the C10 Newt. It may be that the 100ED is just easier for me to use at my experience level, but I really like it, and I like what I see.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:10 Mount:8 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 08/05/2005 12:57:50 pm PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.172.105)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=448740

Reply Replies: 0

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