Explore Scientific 80mm FCD100 Apochromatic Refractor

I wanted to clarify my rationale for my recent telescope purchase:

Normally I try to buy everything from Jeff Norwood at Camera Concepts and Telescope Solutions. But Woodland Hills (Telescopes.net) had an "open box" ES 80mm Essential APO Triplet for $589. I needed a scope for the eclipse, so I went for it. It was still way over budget for me, but I figured a deal like that wasn't going to come again between now and August.

But they were "sold out", but promised me another, at the same price. About 2 months later I finally got it. But it had some Chromatic Aberration (CA). It was not terrible, and I should have just kept my mouth shut, but I complained to Woodland Hills and Explore Scientific about it. So then they somehow convinced me to return that scope and give them another $410 for their higher-end version of the same scope, the FCD-100 80mm APO, with Hoya glass, claiming virtual CA free performance. I guess it was a "weak moment". Well that was another 2 months ago, And Explore Scientific, every week, tells me it is "shipping this Friday". So now I am done with both Woodland Hills and Explore Scientific. I am now fighting to get my money back. They won't return my E-mails or phone calls. Lesson learned: Always buy from Jeff!

I am very happy with this $265, 90mm Achromat, and it will serve me well for the eclipse, and maybe even some deep sky work. That was exactly what I was looking to spend to capture the eclipse (I really just want the corona, if I am lucky enough to see it at all).

Even yesterday's First Light, which was really just a test of the scope with various reducers and flatteners (all from Jeff!), with a giant moon right next to where I was imaging, and big winds, was impressive. With minimal processing (I easily removed the "purple haze" around the bright stars using PhotoShop - sorry Jimi Hendricks).

This is a single 30 second exposure of M37, no darks, flats or bias frames, and slightly copped from 4272 x 2848 pixels to 3600 x 2400 pixels, using my older and trustworthy, $399 Canon EOS T3 without any filters.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/125134422@N06/33213823991/in/album-72157647622746796/


Steve

:)