University Optics refractor


 Info  Votes  Messages  More Stats  Up One Level
Brand and Model:University Optics refractor
Price ($USD):$400. no longer
Type:Achromatic Refractor
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:80mm (3.1")
f Ratio:f/6.3
Focal Length:500mm
Finder:none
Electric Power:9vDC.
Mount:GP.
Tripod:wood
Weight (lbs):4 ibs lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):20 long.
Description:

Vote Highlights Vote
University Optics refractor
chrisp color and sharpness. Easy to transport and setup.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:10 Ease of Use:10 Value:9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=606974


University Optics refractor
Much better color correction and sharper image than the typyical 80mm F5's sold today.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:8 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=595405


University Optics refractor
Excellent optics for the money. Sharp, contrasty, and very little color. Attractive, no-frills silver aluminum and brass construction. Lightweight and compact. Focuser could be better.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40335


University Optics refractor
This is a very nice scope. I emailed University Optics about it to double-check the focal length (500 mm), and the reply stated that it was made with E.D. glass. I think this scope deserves to be called a "semi-apo". At 100X, I can barely see some color fringing on Jupiter and Saturn, but I really have to be looking for it. At 200X it's more evident, but not objectionable or even obvious.

One complaint I have is with the focuser. At 100X it's a little touchy, but not too hard to reach good focus. At 200X it's a real chore to find the "sweet spot". The focuser isn't a good match for the optics, which give pleasing images at over 150X.

The optics are very good though, and it's a relatively inexpensive alternative to the apos in its aperture class.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40334


University Optics refractor
I bought this scope 8 years ago and was never too happy with it, because of it's astigmatism (and it was definitely in the telescope, not in my eyes). None-the-less, it was still pretty good for low power views and photography. I used it on a camera tripod with a Celestron slow-motion control, and it is a very handy grab and view telescope. I took many good photos with it on my equatorial mount, there being only a slight tinge of blue around the brighter stars. But after buying the Minus violet filter that Lumicon used to sell, I got significantly better pictures. Having got sick of the poor high power images, two years ago I bought Apogee's ED glass and installed it in the telescope. The image was considerably better, though I still had slight astigmatism. I figured I had a collimation problem, so I took a cordless drill to the holes that hold the focuser, and lengthened them a bit. Then I inserted bits of insulation wire between the tube and focuser, to try and collimate the objective with the eyepiece. I improved the telescope's performance with the Apogee ED glass. Having done that, I reinstalled the old UO objective lens, collimated it, and found that it had been pretty good all that time as well, being nearly as good as the Apogee one. Then I went and bought Apogee's tube assembly, and installed the UO objective lens into that. So I now have two pretty reasonable 80mm refractors, which are great for travelling, viewing the sun, wide field views of the bigger deep sky objects etc.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40333


University Optics refractor
Nice little refractor. Very sharp optics. Rich field with a 35mm erfle or high power with a barlowed 5mm ortho, the scope performs better than expected for the price. Color is also less than expected, thus many of these scopes are advertised as ED or semi-APO when sold used.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40332


University Optics refractor
I purchased this used and I am glad I did. It is a great telescope with 2 inch focuser of high quality. I used a clave 2X barlow and 3mm clave eyepiece on this to view the moon, surprisingly the image held up extremely well. I am going to use it photographically next. If the photos look good I'll try to buy another one. If I had a 4 inch TAK then may be I'll sell this scope. I have seen other users also love theirs. Too bad it is not being offered by UO any longer.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40331


University Optics refractor
Bought tube as kit. Needed to finish tube and install optics. Very good optically. Modest color on objects brighter than about 2nd magnitude. Pin-sharp stars over wide field (>3degrees), depending on eyepiece. Handles powers to 200X well. Usually limit is atmosphere, not optics. Found all Messier objects in first year out. Portable. With due cap removed, fits in Mid-size Pelican case to go anywhere.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40330

[Click Here to Login]
Don't have a login? Register!