Orion SVD 90mm Refractor


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Brand and Model:Orion SVD 90mm Refractor
Price ($USD):399
Type:Achromatic Refractor
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:90mm (3.5")
f Ratio:f/11.1
Focal Length:999mm
Finder:6x30
Electric Power:Optional
Mount:EQ
Tripod:Aluminum
Weight (lbs):30.8 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:25mm and 9mm plossl. Moon Filter.

Vote Highlights Vote
Orion SVD 90mm Refractor
This is a great scope for the money. It's a good starter scope, as the mount is large enough for a wide field 8" reflector, or 150mm SCT. The scope itself performes as expected. The optics on mine are above average, but I'm sure that will vary between scopes. The nice thing about Orion, is they'll keep sending you OTAs till you're satisfied. Definately the best Customer Service as far as the large scope distributors.
This scope is wonderfull for planetary viewing. 300x is possible on jupiter on a very good night. 200x is more resonable on the average night. The mount is quite sturdy with legs retracted, but is a bit shakey whith legs extended (which is necessary unless you prefer to view on your knees).
I was surprised at the deep sky ability too. Andromeda was detectable. Orion Nebula was clear and defined, and numerous star clusters can be resolved. It's a great scope to wet your feet, but if you get into it, you'll eventually want something bigger. I ended up getting the SVD 8" reflector OTA which is about the bigest thing you can put on this mount. Additional counterweighting and a longer weight shaft is required to do this.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40952


Orion SVD 90mm Refractor
I purchased my svd 90 as a second. What a bargain!!! I saved almost 50% off the list price. The mount is stable although a little shaky at highest powers.
The star test looked good to me and the views were of very high contrast even in a milky sky. There seem to be three or four baffles in the tube. The focuser is smooth, although rough in some areas. Bottom line... a good scope with good optics and a atable mount at a fair price. It's worth the wait to find a "second" on orion's web site.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40955


Orion SVD 90mm Refractor
The SVD90 was purchased after my kids started expressing an interest in the night sky. I took a chance and bought the scope as a "2nd" - a returned item - for almost 50% off the list price ($232 for a scope with a $449 list price). The OTA as shipped had a problem with the focusser (major drift) but Orion took care of that without question. It seems to me that the optics are a bit off after the return as stars show a slight but distinct flare at high power. I should contact Orion and see what they can do about it even at this late date. Planetary viewing is quite good. Jupiter, Saturn, and their moons are clear, though at high power (200X) the image begins to break down.

I think the mount is excellent for the money, although I have little to compare it to. I rarely use the polar scope but I'm glad it's there should I one day decide to put drives and a camera on the thing. As the person above stated, it's fairly stable unless the legs are extended more than half way. I keep the legs short and just spend time on the ground, but I'm plan on purchasing a right angle 8x50 finder (Apogee, Inc. has the only one I can find).

All in all, it is a good first scope for someone with a solid interest. Perhaps I was fortunate, but buying the scope as a "2nd" turned out to be a great deal and a good decision. And I'm glad that I didn't purchase anything smaller - I had considered 80mm refractors for a while - because I don't believe that I'd be able to see any deep sky objects or split some of the doubles that I can now. Of course, now I find myself wanting something with a bigger aperature...

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40954


Orion SVD 90mm Refractor
The beauty of this 'scope is completeness/$. It gives one the opportunity to investigate and conceptualize the workings of an EQ mount. The instrument is half the fun of astronomy! The optics are fine enough. Definitly better than the Meade DS 114 EC I returned to Wal-Mart for full refund. Planetary images are crisper and the Orion Nebula, f'rinstance, more visable. But the mount is more than adequite. Unlike the Meade, it's really solid. Too, it's equatorial instead of Alt-azimuth, complete with polar scope. Slewing is spot-on linear and controlled, unlike the Meade. Of course the Meade was a reflector. This is a full f/11 refractor at the limit of portability. Any bigger (eg. 101mm w/mount)would be too heavy and unwieldy. Chromatic abberation is not noticable. Orion should make a right angle 6x30 finder. Other than that, I'm extremely satisfied with this.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40953


Orion SVD 90mm Refractor
Part 3 I recieved my replacement focuser for the svd 90. It is perfect and so is orion's customer service.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40957


Orion SVD 90mm Refractor
Part 2. My svd 90 turned out to have a problem. It is a second and has some drift in the focuser. Orion is shipping me a new focuser express mail. No questions asked. I will let you know how that turns out.

Overall Rating: No Vote
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40956

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