{"title":"Explore Scientific ED Essential","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Explore Scientific ED Essential line, listed by aperture. Part of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/explore-scientific-telescopes\"\u003eExplore Scientific Telescopes\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"explore-scientific-es-ed0806-01","title":"Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Series 80mm f\/6 Air-Spaced Triplet APO Refractor Telescope","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Series is an 80mm air-spaced triplet apochromatic refractor with a focal length of 480mm at f\/6. The objective uses HOYA FCD1 extra-low-dispersion glass with EMD multi-layer coatings. Explore Scientific publishes a limiting magnitude of 12 and a resolution of 1.45 arcsec for it, over an 85mm tube diameter, at 5.95 lb (2.7 kg) — a genuinely portable weight for a triplet apochromat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tube measures 18.5″ (475mm) with the dew shield extended and 15″ (381mm) with it retracted, which puts it comfortably inside a carry-on-sized case. It comes with a 2-inch rack-and-pinion focuser with extension tubes, a pre-installed Hybrid Finder Scope Base and a Vixen-style dovetail, so the tube is ready to mount and use without further hardware.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWide-field deep-sky imagers:\u003c\/strong\u003e 480mm at f\/6 frames large nebulae, the Andromeda region and big open clusters as whole objects, and a fast focal ratio keeps exposures short.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTravellers and observers short on space:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.95 lb and a 15-inch retracted tube go in hand luggage, in a backpack or on a small mount without argument.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eImagers running a larger main telescope\u003c\/strong\u003e who want a well-corrected secondary or guide instrument that also works as a standalone scope.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVisual observers who value grab-and-go:\u003c\/strong\u003e this is a good match if the telescope you actually use is the one that gets outside in five minutes rather than the one that needs a plan.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e80mm air-spaced triplet objective:\u003c\/strong\u003e three elements with air gaps rather than cement, in an apochromatic configuration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHOYA FCD1 extra-low-dispersion glass:\u003c\/strong\u003e the low-dispersion element that pulls the design's colour correction into apochromatic territory.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e480mm focal length at f\/6:\u003c\/strong\u003e fast enough for wide-field imaging and short enough to keep the tube compact.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2-inch rack-and-pinion focuser with extension tubes:\u003c\/strong\u003e a positive, direct-drive focuser mechanism, with the extension tubes needed to reach focus with a diagonal or a camera.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHybrid Finder Scope Base pre-installed:\u003c\/strong\u003e accepts finder shoes of both common patterns without changing the base.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVixen-style dovetail\u003c\/strong\u003e for mounting on any Vixen saddle or dual-format saddle.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn achromatic doublet brings two wavelengths to a common focus and leaves a residual — the secondary spectrum — visible as colour around bright objects. An apochromatic triplet adds a third element, and with one of the three made from extra-low-dispersion glass, the designer can bring three widely separated wavelengths to essentially the same plane. What that means at the eyepiece is that violet and deep red land close enough to the visual focus that colour fringing stops being a feature of the view, and at the sensor it means bright stars record as points rather than as blue-haloed blobs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHOYA FCD1 is the ED glass in this objective. Its role is dispersion control: it separates the wavelengths less than ordinary crown or flint glass does, leaving the mating elements a smaller residual to correct. Air spacing rather than cementing gives the design six air-glass surfaces to shape instead of four, and removes a cement layer as a thermal variable during cool-down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt f\/6 the light cone is fast, which is what makes this a short-exposure instrument for imaging. It also means the field curvature inherent to a refractor objective shows up sooner across a large sensor, which is why wide-field imagers pair a scope like this with a field flattener — and why many use a reducer-flattener to go faster still. Explore Scientific does not publish a corrected image circle or a backfocus distance for this tube, so those rows are absent below rather than estimated. Tell us which camera and flattener you are planning around and we will work the spacing through with you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWide-field deep-sky astrophotography on a tracking equatorial mount, with a flattener matched to the sensor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrab-and-go visual observing — open clusters, large nebulae, the Milky Way, comets and the Moon.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTravel astronomy, where 5.95 lb and a 15-inch retracted tube fit the luggage allowance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMount:\u003c\/strong\u003e not included. At 5.95 lb bare, this tube sits within the capacity of most small equatorial and alt-azimuth mounts — though for imaging, tracking accuracy rather than raw capacity is what governs the choice. Tell us how you plan to use it and we will suggest something appropriate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDovetail:\u003c\/strong\u003e the Vixen-style plate seats in any Vixen saddle, and in the dual-format saddles that accept both Vixen and Losmandy plates.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocuser:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2-inch rack and pinion with extension tubes supplied, so it takes 2-inch accessories directly and 1.25-inch ones with an adapter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces and diagonal:\u003c\/strong\u003e not listed in the published package. At 480mm, a 30mm eyepiece gives 16x, a 20mm gives 24x, and a 9mm gives 53x — we can put together a set that covers the range.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eField flattener:\u003c\/strong\u003e a separate purchase, as it is with any fast refractor used for wide-field imaging. We stock flatteners and reducer-flatteners and can match one to your camera.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThis is an optical tube assembly, not a complete telescope.\u003c\/strong\u003e A mount, tripod, diagonal and at least one eyepiece are separate. We assemble packages around this tube regularly — tell us how you intend to use it and we will price the whole setup.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEighty millimetres is eighty millimetres.\u003c\/strong\u003e The published 1.45 arcsec resolution and magnitude 12 limit are what the aperture supports. This telescope excels at wide, well-corrected fields rather than at maximum-power planetary detail, and that is what the f\/6 design is built around.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA field flattener is a separate item for wide-field imaging.\u003c\/strong\u003e Without one, stars toward the corners of a large sensor will show the field curvature every refractor objective produces. We can match a flattener to your camera's sensor size.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo corrected image circle or backfocus figure is published\u003c\/strong\u003e for this tube, so we quote neither. Send us your imaging train and we will work out what we can establish about the spacing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery little to it. A refractor needs no collimation, so the optics are ready as soon as the tube is on the mount, and at 5.95 lb it is a comfortable one-handed lift. The dovetail slides into a Vixen saddle and locks, the finder goes on the pre-installed base, and the focuser takes the diagonal and eyepiece directly. Most people are observing within a few minutes of carrying it outside.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat mount does it need?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor visual use, most small equatorial and alt-azimuth mounts will carry 5.95 lb comfortably. For deep-sky imaging the requirement is tracking accuracy rather than capacity, so a tracking equatorial mount is the starting point. Tell us what you have or what you are considering and we will give you an honest assessment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it come with eyepieces or a diagonal?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNeither is listed in the published package. The tube arrives with its 2-inch rack-and-pinion focuser, extension tubes, pre-installed Hybrid Finder Scope Base and Vixen dovetail. We can supply a diagonal and a starting eyepiece set alongside it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill I see false colour?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn air-spaced triplet on FCD1 ED glass is built to remove it. On the very brightest targets at high power, some residual is inherent to every refracting design, but it is not the limiting factor in this telescope the way it would be in an achromat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short: an 80mm f\/6 air-spaced triplet apochromat on HOYA FCD1 ED glass, 480mm focal length, 5.95 lb, with a 2-inch rack-and-pinion focuser, extension tubes, a pre-installed Hybrid finder base and a Vixen dovetail — a wide-field imaging and grab-and-go visual instrument that travels easily and needs nothing from you between sessions. If you are matching it to a mount or planning a flattener and camera behind it, send us the details and we will work through the fit with you.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44012382290031,"sku":"ES-ED0806-02","price":727.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/ed80_header_281_29__48199.jpg?v=1766547935"},{"product_id":"explore-scientific-ed102","title":"Explore Scientific ED102 Essential Series 102mm f\/7 Air-Spaced Triplet APO Refractor Telescope","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Explore Scientific ED102 Essential Series is a 102mm air-spaced triplet apochromatic refractor with a focal length of 714mm at f\/7. The centre element is genuine HOYA FCD1 extra-low-dispersion glass, and Explore Scientific applies proprietary multi-layer coatings aimed at holding transmission high while keeping chromatic aberration low. Published figures are a limiting magnitude of 12.5 and a resolution of 1.14 arcsec.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tube is 30.5″ (774mm) long with the dew shield extended and 23.75″ (603mm) with it retracted, 119mm in diameter, and weighs 12 lb (5.4 kg). It rides on a Vixen-pattern dovetail and focuses through a precision 2-inch rack-and-pinion focuser supplied with extension tubes. What ships is the telescope tube with its dew shield and the focuser extension tubes — no mount and no eyepieces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeep-sky imagers:\u003c\/strong\u003e 714mm at f\/7 is a widely used astrophotography focal length — large enough for the brighter galaxies and globulars, short enough to frame the big nebulae and to keep guiding demands reasonable.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVisual observers who want colour-free views:\u003c\/strong\u003e the triplet design with FCD1 ED glass removes the violet halo an achromat leaves on Venus, Jupiter and the lunar limb.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eObservers who travel:\u003c\/strong\u003e this is a good match if you want an apochromat that packs down to 23.75″ with the dew shield retracted and weighs 12 lb.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOwners of mid-capacity equatorial mounts:\u003c\/strong\u003e this is a good match if your mount is rated comfortably above the loaded weight of a 12 lb tube plus rings, diagonal, finder and camera.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDouble-star and lunar observers,\u003c\/strong\u003e working near the published 1.14 arcsec resolution.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e102mm air-spaced triplet:\u003c\/strong\u003e three elements with air gaps between them rather than cemented pairs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGenuine HOYA FCD1 ED glass\u003c\/strong\u003e in the centre element, chosen for how closely it brings widely separated wavelengths to a common focus.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e714mm focal length at f\/7:\u003c\/strong\u003e a balanced focal ratio for both wide-field imaging and medium-to-high power visual work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProprietary multi-layer coatings\u003c\/strong\u003e applied to maximise light transmission alongside the colour correction.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrecision 2-inch rack-and-pinion focuser\u003c\/strong\u003e supplied with extension tubes, which is what makes reaching focus with a diagonal or a camera straightforward.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRetracting dew shield:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30.5″ (774mm) extended, 23.75″ (603mm) retracted.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVixen-pattern dovetail\u003c\/strong\u003e on a tube 119mm in outside diameter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublished performance:\u003c\/strong\u003e limiting magnitude 12.5, resolution 1.14 arcsec, weight 12 lb (5.4 kg).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn achromatic doublet brings two wavelengths to a common focus and leaves the rest slightly out, which shows as a violet halo around bright objects at high power. A triplet apochromat adds a third element so three widely separated wavelengths converge together, and the residual error falls below what the eye picks up in normal use. The glass in the centre element is what makes that practical: extra-low-dispersion types spread the colours less to begin with, so the design has less to correct. HOYA FCD1 is the type used here, and Explore Scientific specifies it as genuine FCD1 rather than an equivalent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt f\/7 the light cone is moderate. That has a direct effect on imaging: field curvature and off-axis aberrations are easier to correct than in a fast astrograph, and focus tolerance is looser, which makes a night of unattended imaging less fragile. The 2-inch rack-and-pinion focuser is the mechanical half of that story — rack-and-pinion drives resist slipping under load in a way that a lightly tensioned Crayford does not, which matters when a camera train hangs off the drawtube pointed at the zenith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific does not publish a corrected image circle or a backfocus distance for this tube, so those rows are absent from the specifications rather than estimated. Send us the camera and flattener you have in mind and we will work out the spacing with you before anything ships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWide-field and medium-field deep-sky astrophotography at 714mm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVisual observing of the Moon, planets and double stars where colour correction sets the ceiling.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeep-sky visual work on clusters, nebulae and the brighter galaxies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePortable dark-site sessions, given the 12 lb weight and 23.75″ retracted length.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSolar observing with an appropriate front-mounted filter, and outreach sessions where a refractor's zero-maintenance optics matter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMount:\u003c\/strong\u003e not included. The published tube weight of 12 lb is before rings, diagonal, finder and camera. For visual use a mount comfortably above that loaded figure works well; for imaging, more headroom again.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDovetail:\u003c\/strong\u003e Vixen pattern, fitting Vixen saddles and dual-fit saddles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces:\u003c\/strong\u003e not included. At 714mm, a 26mm eyepiece gives 27x, a 20mm gives 36x, a 12mm gives 60x and a 6mm gives 119x.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiagonal:\u003c\/strong\u003e the 2-inch focuser takes 2-inch diagonals, and the supplied extension tubes are what bring the focal plane out to meet one. We stock dielectric 2-inch diagonals.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eImaging train:\u003c\/strong\u003e a field flattener is the standard companion for deep-sky work. Since no corrected image circle is published, we will confirm the flattener match against your camera rather than quote a figure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocal extenders:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 2x or 3x extender on 714mm brings lunar and planetary work into a useful magnification range for a 102mm aperture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThis is an optical tube assembly, not a complete telescope.\u003c\/strong\u003e A mount, a tripod and at least one eyepiece are needed alongside it. We can quote the package as a whole if that is simpler — tell us what you already own.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe 30.5″ length is with the dew shield extended.\u003c\/strong\u003e Retracted it is 23.75″, which is the figure to measure a case or a vehicle against.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo corrected image circle or backfocus figure is published\u003c\/strong\u003e for this tube, so those rows are left out below rather than filled with an estimate. If you are planning an imaging train, send us the camera and flattener and we will work the spacing out with you.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA triplet takes longer to reach ambient temperature than a doublet of the same aperture.\u003c\/strong\u003e Setting the tube outside ahead of the session is what lets the optics settle before high-power observing begins.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAt 12 lb it is portable but not featherweight.\u003c\/strong\u003e One person handles it comfortably, and the mount underneath it wants capacity to spare once the diagonal, finder and eyepiece are added. We are glad to check your mount against a loaded figure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe optics need nothing — a refractor holds its collimation, so the tube is ready as soon as it is in the rings and on the mount. At 12 lb it is a comfortable one-person lift, and it goes on most easily with the mount levelled and the counterweights roughly positioned first. The extension tubes take a moment to fit for whatever is going in the focuser.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat mount will carry it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor visual use, one rated above the 12 lb tube weight with room for the diagonal, finder and eyepiece on top. For imaging, more margin, since tracking accuracy falls off well before a mount reaches its rated capacity. Tell us the model you own and we will give you a straight answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it come with eyepieces or a diagonal?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The tube arrives with its dew shield and the focuser extension tubes; the diagonal, eyepieces, finder and rings are chosen separately and we can assemble a set that matches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill I see colour fringing?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn air-spaced triplet using HOYA FCD1 ED glass is designed to eliminate it in normal use. On Venus, Sirius and the lunar limb at high power the image stays neutral where a two-element achromat would show violet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I image with it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — 714mm at f\/7 is a well-liked deep-sky imaging focal length. A field flattener is the usual addition, along with an equatorial mount and guiding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does it compare to the 127mm models?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe stock three ED127s and they are easy to confuse, so it is worth being precise. All three are 127mm at 952mm and f\/7.5. The \u003cstrong\u003eED127 Essential\u003c\/strong\u003e uses HOYA FCD1 glass — the same type as this ED102 — in an 18 lb tube with a 2-inch two-speed rack-and-pinion focuser. The \u003cstrong\u003eED127 FCD100\u003c\/strong\u003e steps up to HOYA FCD100 glass and a 2.5-inch dual-speed HEX Crayford focuser, also 18 lb in the painted aluminium tube. The \u003cstrong\u003eED127 FCD100 Carbon Fiber\u003c\/strong\u003e pairs those same optics and focuser with a carbon tube at 14 lb, which is the one to look at if your mount is the limiting factor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAgainst any of them, this ED102 gathers less light and resolves less detail — 127mm is roughly 55% more aperture area — but it is 12 lb rather than 14 or 18, it is shorter, it asks considerably less of a mount, and at 714mm it gives a wider field per eyepiece. When people are choosing between them, the mount they own or plan to buy usually settles it faster than the optics do. Ask us and we will work through it with you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short: a 102mm f\/7 air-spaced triplet apochromat with genuine HOYA FCD1 ED glass, a 2-inch rack-and-pinion focuser with extension tubes, a Vixen dovetail and a published weight of 12 lb — a 714mm focal length that suits wide-field imaging and high-power visual work equally well. If you are matching it to a mount or planning an imaging train around it, send us the details and we will confirm the fit with you before you order.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44012382453871,"sku":"ES-ED10207-02","price":1045.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/ed102straightonsmall21__85958.jpg?v=1766547942"},{"product_id":"explore-scientific-ed-127-075-04","title":"Explore Scientific ED127 Essential Series 127mm f\/7.5 Air-Spaced Triplet APO Refractor Telescope","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Explore Scientific ED127 Essential Series is a 127mm air-spaced triplet apochromatic refractor with a focal length of 952mm at f\/7.5. The objective uses genuine HOYA FCD1 extra-low-dispersion glass with EMD enhanced multi-layer coatings on every optical surface. Explore Scientific publishes a limiting magnitude of 13 and a resolution of 0.9 arcsec — five inches of well-corrected aperture, which is where a refractor starts to hold its own against much larger reflectors on planetary and double-star work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the fourth-generation tube, and the changes are worth knowing about. The front cell is a precision design with push-pull tilt and centering adjustment, so the objective can be collimated rather than simply trusted. The focuser is a 2-inch two-speed rack-and-pinion with heavy-duty locks and rotation adjustment. The dew shield retracts, which takes the tube from 41.75″ (1060mm) extended down to 33.25″ (849mm) for transport. Cradle rings with a carry handle, a Vixen-style dovetail, a 2-inch 99% dielectric star diagonal and the Explore Scientific 2N1 finder base all come in the box. The tube alone is 18 lb (8.16 kg); with the rings and diagonal fitted the assembly is closer to 22 lb.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAstrophotographers who have outgrown a small refractor:\u003c\/strong\u003e 952mm at f\/7.5 frames galaxies, globulars and planetary nebulae at a scale an 80mm tube cannot reach, while staying short enough to guide without drama.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanetary and lunar observers:\u003c\/strong\u003e 127mm of unobstructed aperture at 0.9 arcsec resolution delivers the high-contrast, colour-free view that is the reason people buy apochromats in the first place.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDouble-star observers,\u003c\/strong\u003e working close to the published 0.9 arcsec figure with no diffraction spikes and no central obstruction to fill in the gaps.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eObservers who want one telescope to do everything well:\u003c\/strong\u003e this is a good match if you would rather own a single instrument that images deep-sky, splits doubles and shows the Moon properly than three that each do one job.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAnyone who has been frustrated by a fixed front cell:\u003c\/strong\u003e the push-pull collimation on this generation means star shape is something you can correct rather than live with.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e127mm air-spaced triplet objective:\u003c\/strong\u003e three elements separated by air rather than cement, in an apochromatic configuration.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGenuine HOYA FCD1 ED glass:\u003c\/strong\u003e Explore Scientific specifies the actual FCD1 type rather than an unnamed equivalent.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEMD enhanced multi-layer coatings\u003c\/strong\u003e on all optical surfaces, applied to hold transmission high across the visual band.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrecision front cell with push-pull adjustment\u003c\/strong\u003e for tilt and centering — the objective can be collimated for the tightest possible stars.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2-inch two-speed rack-and-pinion focuser\u003c\/strong\u003e with heavy-duty locks and rotation adjustment, so a camera train can be squared up and then held there.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRetractable dew shield:\u003c\/strong\u003e 41.75″ (1060mm) extended, 33.25″ (849mm) retracted.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCradle rings with a slotted carry handle,\u003c\/strong\u003e tapped 1\/4″-20 for piggybacking a DSLR, on a Vixen-style dovetail plate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2-inch 99% dielectric star diagonal included,\u003c\/strong\u003e along with the 2N1 finder scope base (finder scope sold separately).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublished performance:\u003c\/strong\u003e limiting magnitude 13, resolution 0.9 arcsec, tube diameter 130mm, tube weight 18 lb (8.16 kg).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn achromatic doublet brings two wavelengths to a common focus and leaves a residual — the secondary spectrum — that shows as violet fringing around bright objects. A triplet apochromat adds a third element so that three widely separated wavelengths converge together, and with one element made from extra-low-dispersion glass the residual drops below what the eye registers in normal use. At 127mm this matters more than it does at 80mm: the brighter the image and the higher the usable magnification, the more obvious an uncorrected secondary spectrum becomes. HOYA FCD1 is the ED type used here, and air spacing gives the designer six air-glass surfaces to shape rather than four, while removing a cement layer as a variable during cool-down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt f\/7.5 the light cone is moderate rather than fast. For imaging that means field curvature and off-axis aberration are easier to correct than in a fast astrograph, and focus tolerance is looser — which makes an unattended night of subframes considerably less fragile. It also means longer exposures than an f\/5 or f\/6 instrument would need for the same signal, which is the trade you make for the extra focal length and resolution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe two-speed rack-and-pinion focuser is the mechanical half of the story. A rack-and-pinion drive resists slipping under a heavy imaging train in a way a lightly tensioned Crayford does not, and that matters when a camera, filter wheel and flattener hang off the drawtube pointed near the zenith. The 10:1 fine adjustment is what makes critical focus at 952mm a matter of a small deliberate movement rather than a hunt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific does not publish a corrected image circle or a backfocus distance for this tube, so we quote neither rather than estimate. Tell us which camera and flattener you are planning around and we will work the spacing through with you before anything ships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeep-sky astrophotography at 952mm — galaxies, globular clusters and planetary nebulae — on a tracking equatorial mount with a flattener matched to the sensor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh-power visual observing of the Moon, planets and double stars, where colour correction and unobstructed aperture set the ceiling.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeep-sky visual work on clusters, nebulae and brighter galaxies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSolar observing with an appropriate front-mounted filter, and outreach sessions where a refractor's zero-maintenance optics matter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMount:\u003c\/strong\u003e not included, and this is the part to plan carefully. The tube is 18 lb bare and roughly 22 lb with rings and diagonal, before a finder, eyepiece or camera. At 952mm the mount also has to track well, not just carry the load — for imaging we would want meaningful headroom over the loaded weight. Tell us what you own or are considering and we will give you a straight assessment.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDovetail:\u003c\/strong\u003e Vixen-style plate on the cradle rings, seating in any Vixen saddle or dual-format saddle. On a heavier mount, a Losmandy-style plate is a common upgrade for the extra rigidity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocuser:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2-inch two-speed rack and pinion, taking 2-inch accessories directly and 1.25-inch ones with an adapter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiagonal:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 2-inch 99% dielectric star diagonal is included, so the tube is ready for visual use as soon as you add an eyepiece.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces:\u003c\/strong\u003e not included. At 952mm, a 30mm eyepiece gives 32x, a 20mm gives 48x, a 12mm gives 79x and a 6mm gives 159x — we can put together a set that covers the range.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFinder:\u003c\/strong\u003e the 2N1 base is pre-installed and accepts both common finder shoe patterns; the finder scope itself is a separate purchase.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eField flattener:\u003c\/strong\u003e a separate item for deep-sky imaging, as it is with any refractor. Since no corrected image circle is published, we will confirm the flattener match against your camera rather than quote a figure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocal extenders:\u003c\/strong\u003e a 2x or 3x extender on 952mm brings lunar and planetary work into a genuinely useful magnification range for a 127mm aperture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThis is an optical tube assembly, not a complete telescope.\u003c\/strong\u003e A mount, a tripod and at least one eyepiece are separate. We assemble packages around this tube regularly — tell us how you intend to use it and we will price the whole setup.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe mount is the real decision here.\u003c\/strong\u003e An 18 lb tube at 952mm asks more of a mount than the raw weight suggests, particularly for imaging. This is the single most common place people underspend, and we would rather talk it through with you first.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe 41.75″ length is with the dew shield extended.\u003c\/strong\u003e Retracted it is 33.25″, which is the figure to measure a case or a vehicle against.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA five-inch triplet takes real time to reach ambient temperature.\u003c\/strong\u003e More glass means a longer cool-down than a doublet or a smaller triplet — setting the tube outside well ahead of the session is what lets the optics settle before high-power observing begins.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNo corrected image circle or backfocus figure is published\u003c\/strong\u003e for this tube, so we quote neither. Send us your imaging train and we will work out what we can establish about the spacing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe optics need nothing routine — a refractor holds its collimation through normal use, and the push-pull front cell is there for correction rather than regular adjustment. At 18 lb the tube is a manageable one-person lift, and the carry handle on the rings is genuinely useful for that. Level the mount and position the counterweights first, then the dovetail slides into the saddle and locks. The diagonal and eyepiece go straight into the focuser.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat mount does it need?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor visual use, a mount comfortably above the roughly 22 lb loaded weight of tube, rings and diagonal. For deep-sky imaging at 952mm, more margin again — tracking accuracy falls away well before a mount reaches its rated capacity. Tell us the model you have in mind and we will tell you honestly whether it is enough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it come with a diagonal or eyepieces?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 2-inch 99% dielectric star diagonal is included, along with the cradle rings, dew shield, Vixen dovetail and 2N1 finder base. Eyepieces and the finder scope itself are separate, and we can supply a set that suits how you plan to use it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill I see false colour?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn air-spaced triplet on genuine HOYA FCD1 ED glass is built to remove it. On Venus, Sirius and the lunar limb at high power the image stays neutral where a two-element achromat of this aperture would show obvious violet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I collimate it myself?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — that is what the push-pull front cell on this generation is for. It is not something the telescope should need often, but if star shape drifts after travel, the adjustment is there rather than requiring a trip back to the manufacturer. Ask us before you start if you have not done it before.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does it compare to the ED102 Essential?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ED102 is 102mm at 714mm and f\/7, 12 lb, with a single-speed 2-inch rack-and-pinion. The ED127 is 127mm at 952mm and f\/7.5, 18 lb, with a two-speed focuser, push-pull front cell and a diagonal included. The ED127 gathers roughly 55% more light and resolves finer detail; the ED102 is lighter, shorter, asks less of a mount and gives a wider field per eyepiece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short: a 127mm f\/7.5 air-spaced triplet apochromat on genuine HOYA FCD1 ED glass, 952mm focal length, 18 lb, with a precision push-pull front cell, a 2-inch two-speed rack-and-pinion focuser, a retracting dew shield, cradle rings with a piggyback handle, a Vixen dovetail and a 2-inch dielectric diagonal in the box — a five-inch apochromat that images deep-sky properly and shows the Moon and planets the way an unobstructed aperture should. The mount underneath it is the decision that matters most; send us the details and we will work through the fit with you.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44012382781551,"sku":"ES-ED127075-04","price":1655.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/ed127_header__23128.jpg?v=1766547948"},{"product_id":"explore-scientific-152mm-carbon-fiber-apo-with-2-hex-focuser","title":"Explore Scientific ED152 152mm f\/8 Carbon Fiber Air-Spaced Triplet APO Telescope","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Explore Scientific ED152 Carbon Fiber is a 152mm air-spaced apochromatic triplet refractor with a focal length of 1216mm at f\/8, built around HOYA FCD1 extra-low dispersion glass in a carbon fibre tube. Explore Scientific publishes a limiting magnitude of 13 and a resolution of .75 arcsec for the optic, with a stated tube weight of 20.5lb; 9.3kg.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tube measures 41″ (1041mm) with the dew shield retracted and 52″ (1320mm) extended. It is supplied as an optical tube assembly with a 2.5-inch hexagonal HEX focuser, cradle rings, a finder base and a 99% reflective 2-inch diagonal. A mount and eyepieces are chosen separately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnusually, Explore Scientific publishes a complete set of image circle figures for this tube — 50.8mm natively, 76mm with the 3-inch adapter, and separate full-illumination and distortion-free numbers for the flat field adapter and the 0.7 focal reducer. Those figures are reproduced verbatim in the specifications below.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeep-sky imagers working at medium focal length:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1216mm with a 50.8mm total image circle, rising to 76mm with the 3-inch adapter, covers sensor formats up to and past full frame — the full-frame diagonal is 43.3mm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eImagers who want a shorter focal length on the same optic:\u003c\/strong\u003e the 0.7 focal reducer takes 1216mm to 851.2mm at f\/5.6.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHigh-resolution visual observers:\u003c\/strong\u003e .75 arcsec of stated resolution at f\/8 suits lunar, planetary and double-star work as much as imaging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eObservers carrying gear to dark sites:\u003c\/strong\u003e the carbon fibre tube is what holds a six-inch triplet to a published 20.5lb; 9.3kg.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis is a good match if you already own an equatorial mount with real capacity in reserve and a Losmandy-pattern saddle.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e152mm air-spaced apochromatic triplet:\u003c\/strong\u003e three elements with air gaps between them, using HOYA FCD1 extra-low dispersion glass.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1216mm focal length at f\/8:\u003c\/strong\u003e a long-focus ratio for an apochromat, which eases correction across the field and raises image scale.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCarbon fibre tube:\u003c\/strong\u003e carbon has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion along the fibre direction, so focus position drifts less across a night than it does in an aluminium tube of the same length.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2.5-inch HEX focuser:\u003c\/strong\u003e the hexagonal drawtube resists rotation and flexure that a round drawtube resists only through its pinion and bearings — which matters when a heavy camera train hangs off the back.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLosmandy dovetail:\u003c\/strong\u003e the wide D-plate pattern, spreading a 20.5lb tube across a long saddle contact.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e52″ (1320mm) extended, 41″ (1041mm) retracted:\u003c\/strong\u003e the dew shield accounts for 11 inches of the overall length, and published limiting magnitude is 13 with .75 arcsec of resolution.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupplied accessories:\u003c\/strong\u003e cradle rings, a finder base and a 99% reflective 2-inch diagonal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOptical Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn apochromatic triplet brings three wavelengths to a common focus rather than the two an achromatic doublet manages. The extra element, and the extra-low dispersion glass in the stack, is what removes the violet halo a two-element crown-and-flint design leaves around Venus, Sirius and the lunar limb. In imaging terms, red, green and blue channels focus at very nearly the same point, so stars stay tight in all three rather than bloating in one. Air spacing gives the designer six optical surfaces to shape instead of the four a cemented pair offers, and removes the cement layer as a thermal variable in a 152mm lens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe published image circle figures describe what the optic delivers to a sensor. The 50.8mm total image circle is the illuminated field the native 2.5-inch train passes, rising to 76mm with the 3-inch adapter. Explore Scientific separates that from the fully illuminated field (36mm with the flat field adapter) and the distortion-free field (40.4mm with the same adapter). With the 0.7 reducer, full illumination is 20.9mm through the 2-inch version and 30.3mm through the 3-inch, with a 46.4mm distortion-free circle either way — so the choice between reducer paths is a question of sensor size. At f\/8 exposures run longer than on a fast astrograph; what the focal ratio buys back is the image scale 1216mm gives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLong-exposure deep-sky imaging of galaxies, globular clusters and compact nebulae at 1216mm, or 851.2mm with the 0.7 reducer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh-resolution lunar and planetary imaging, where .75 arcsec of stated resolution sets the ceiling.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVisual double-star and planetary observing — a 9mm eyepiece gives 135x, a 5mm gives 243x, a 30mm yields 40.5x for low-power sweeping.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNarrowband imaging from suburban skies, where a long focal ratio and a well corrected field work together.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMount:\u003c\/strong\u003e not included. The tube alone is 20.5lb; 9.3kg before rings, diagonal, finder, camera and filter wheel, so a German equatorial with substantial rated capacity above that is the sensible starting point for imaging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDovetail:\u003c\/strong\u003e Losmandy pattern. Saddles that accept both Losmandy and Vixen plates will take it directly; a Vixen-only saddle needs a plate change.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eImaging train:\u003c\/strong\u003e the flat field adapter and the 0.7 focal reducer each have their own published circles, listed in the specifications. Sensor diagonal is the number to compare them against.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEyepieces and finder:\u003c\/strong\u003e none supplied, though the 99% reflective 2-inch diagonal and a finder base are. The diagonal takes 2-inch eyepieces directly and 1.25-inch eyepieces through an adapter, and accepts 2-inch threaded filters for visual work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThis is an optical tube assembly.\u003c\/strong\u003e A mount, a tripod or pier, and eyepieces or a camera complete it. We put packages together regularly — tell us what you already own and we will fill in the gaps.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIt is a 52-inch tube with the dew shield out,\u003c\/strong\u003e and 41″ retracted. That governs case choice, vehicle space and clearance past the tripod legs. The 20.5lb; 9.3kg figure is the bare tube, so mount capacity is best judged against the loaded weight rather than the published one.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExplore Scientific does not publish a backfocus distance for this focuser,\u003c\/strong\u003e so that row is absent from the specifications rather than estimated. Send us the camera, filter wheel and adapters you plan to use and we will work the spacing out with you.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCool-down is real on a 152mm triplet.\u003c\/strong\u003e A large glass stack takes time to reach ambient temperature, and images taken during that period will not show what the optic can do. This is normal for the aperture rather than a fault, and it is the reason many owners set up early.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe 0.7 reducer and flat field adapter are separate items,\u003c\/strong\u003e with their published image circles listed below. We stock the adapters and can advise which path suits your sensor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe optics need no collimation and no maintenance, so the telescope side is simple. The work is mechanical: lifting a 20.5lb, 41-inch tube onto a saddle is a two-hands job, and it goes more easily with the mount levelled and the counterweights already on the shaft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat sensor size will it cover?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific publishes 50.8mm of total image circle natively and 76mm with the 3-inch adapter, with 36mm of full illumination through the flat field adapter. A full-frame sensor has a 43.3mm diagonal, so the numbers to compare are in the table.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does the 0.7 focal reducer change?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt takes 1216mm to 851.2mm and f\/8 to f\/5.6, which shortens exposures and widens the field. Full illumination is 20.9mm through the 2-inch version and 30.3mm through the 3-inch, with a 46.4mm distortion-free circle either way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat mount does it want?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne rated comfortably above the loaded weight, with a Losmandy-compatible saddle. Tell us what you own and we will give you a straight answer about whether it will carry this tube for imaging as well as for visual use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short: a 152mm f\/8 air-spaced triplet apochromat in carbon fibre, 1216mm focal length, .75 arcsec resolution, 20.5lb, on a Losmandy dovetail with a 2.5-inch HEX focuser, and with a 99% reflective 2-inch diagonal, cradle rings and a finder base included. If you would like us to map an imaging train onto your camera before you order, send us the camera and any adapters you already have and we will work the numbers with you.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44012606914671,"sku":"TED15208CF-HEX33","price":5543.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/ed_152cf_d5d02ceb-4787-459d-b69f-6d0d8c5c71a1_compact__31997.jpg?v=1766548133"},{"product_id":"explore-scientific-ed80-essential-triplet-refractor-0-8x-focal-reducer","title":"Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Series 80mm f\/6 Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor with 0.8x Focal Reducer","description":"\u003ch2\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Series is an 80 mm f\/6 air-spaced apochromatic triplet refractor built around a HOYA FCD-1 extra-low-dispersion element. At 480 mm of focal length and 5.95 lb for the tube assembly, it is a short, portable instrument that works equally well as a visual grab-and-go scope and as an imaging telescope. This configuration ships with the Explore Scientific 0.8x focal reducer, which shortens the system to 384 mm at f\/4.8 for wide-field astrophotography.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a good fit for an observer who wants apochromatic colour correction without a large tube to carry, and for imagers working with wide targets — large emission nebulae, open clusters, and the Milky Way star fields — where a fast focal ratio matters more than raw aperture. It suits a first dedicated astrophotography telescope, and it remains useful as a guide scope or travel scope after a larger instrument arrives.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHOYA FCD-1 ED glass in a true air-spaced triplet objective for colour-accurate, high-contrast images\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncluded 0.8x focal reducer produces an f\/4.8 system for fast wide-field imaging\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2.5-inch hexagonal rack-and-pinion focuser rated to carry 10 lb of imaging equipment\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e99% reflective 2-inch dielectric diagonal included for visual use\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo focuser extension tubes for reaching focus across a range of eyepiece and camera combinations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuilt-in retractable dew shield and Hybrid 2N1 finder base installed on the tube\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOptical and Mechanical Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe objective is a three-element air-spaced design; the ED element suppresses the residual violet and blue halo that a doublet leaves around bright stars, which is what makes the difference visible on the Moon, on planets, and at the edges of a long exposure. Resolution is 1.45 arcseconds and limiting magnitude is 12. The tube measures 18.5 inches with the dew shield extended and 15 inches retracted, with an 85 mm outer diameter, and rides on a Vixen-style dovetail.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWide-field deep-sky astrophotography at f\/4.8 with the reducer fitted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVisual observing of the Moon, planets, double stars, and bright deep-sky objects with the 2-inch diagonal fitted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTravel and dark-site trips where tube weight and length are the limiting factor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSolar imaging with an appropriate full-aperture solar filter, sold separately\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Vixen-style dovetail fits the great majority of equatorial and alt-azimuth mounts we carry, including the Explore Scientific iEXOS-100-2 and EXOS-2GT. The reducer's camera-side adapter plate carries a 42 mm T2 thread, so a T2-mount camera ring for your camera body completes the imaging train; the reducer barrel is also threaded for standard 2-inch filters. The Hybrid 2N1 base is installed and ready for a finder scope, which is not included.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is an optical tube assembly with a corrector — a mount and tripod are needed and are sold separately. No eyepieces or finder scope are included, so plan on at least one eyepiece for visual use. Explore Scientific publishes a tube weight of 5.95 lb; the shipping weight shown at checkout is rounded up to the next whole pound, and does not change the specification above.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. The dovetail drops straight into a standard Vixen saddle, the dew shield slides out by hand, and the reducer threads on with the supplied adapter. There are no collimation adjustments to make.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use it visually as well as for imaging?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. Fit the included 2-inch diagonal and an eyepiece for visual work, or remove the diagonal and thread on the reducer for imaging.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat mount does it need?\u003c\/strong\u003e Any mount rated comfortably above the tube's 5.95 lb plus your camera or diagonal and eyepiece. The iEXOS-100-2 is a common pairing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the difference between this and the FCD-100 version?\u003c\/strong\u003e The FCD-100 uses a higher-grade HOYA ED glass and a heavier tube at 7.5 lb. Both are 80 mm f\/6 triplets; the FCD-100 offers a further reduction in residual colour.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn 80 mm apochromatic triplet with the reducer already in the box, light enough for a small mount and corrected well enough for long exposures. If you want one telescope that images wide fields at f\/4.8 and still gives clean high-power views, this is a straightforward choice. Our team in Bolton is happy to help match it to a mount.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53955232235631,"sku":"ES-ED-0806-FR0.8x","price":789.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/DSC09065_NoDiag.jpg?v=1785950897"},{"product_id":"es-ed80-essential-refractor-0-8x-reducer-iexos-100-2-package","title":"Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Triplet Refractor with 0.8x Focal Reducer and iEXOS-100-2 PMC-Eight GoTo Mount","description":"\u003ch2\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis package pairs the Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Series 80 mm f\/6 air-spaced triplet refractor with the 0.8x focal reducer and the iEXOS-100-2 PMC-Eight equatorial tracker system. It arrives as a complete imaging setup: apochromatic optics corrected to f\/4.8 by the reducer, on a computerised GoTo mount with WiFi and Bluetooth control, with tripod and counterweights included.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is for someone assembling a first complete astrophotography rig, or an experienced observer who wants a light, portable second setup that tracks. Buying the telescope, corrector, and mount together removes the compatibility guesswork — the dovetail, the saddle, and the payload rating are already matched.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eED80 Essential Series 80 mm f\/6 air-spaced triplet with HOYA FCD-1 ED glass, 480 mm focal length\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e0.8x focal reducer bringing the system to f\/4.8 for wide-field imaging\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eiEXOS-100-2 PMC-Eight GoTo equatorial tracker with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePMC-Eight motion control uses an eight-core microcontroller, with CPUs assigned to separate tasks for smoother tracking\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFree ExploreStars app for Windows, Android, Amazon Fire, and Apple tablets, plus an ASCOM driver for third-party software\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2.5-inch hexadecimal focuser rated to 10 lb, 99% reflective 2-inch diagonal, two extension tubes, and counterweights included\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOptical and Mechanical Design\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe triplet objective uses an ED element to suppress the colour fringing a doublet leaves on bright stars, giving 1.45 arcsecond resolution and a limiting magnitude of 12. The mount is a German equatorial design: the head weighs 9.45 lb and the tripod 5.35 lb, with counterweights of 1 kg each. Explore Scientific rates capacity at approximately 9 lb of equipment alone, 15 lb photographic and 19 lb visual once counterweights are counted — comfortable margin over the 5.95 lb tube. The tripod stands 25.5 inches collapsed and reaches 45 inches at full extension with the head fitted.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWide-field deep-sky astrophotography at f\/4.8 with tracked exposures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVisual observing with GoTo object location, using the included 2-inch diagonal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTravel to dark sites, where the whole package packs down small\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLearning the sky, with the ExploreStars database driving the mount to targets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe telescope's Vixen-style dovetail seats directly in the mount's saddle. The reducer presents a 42 mm T2 thread on the camera side, so add the T2 camera ring matching your body; its barrel also takes standard 2-inch filters. The mount runs from the PMC-Eight system over WiFi, Bluetooth, or wired serial, and works with any ASCOM-compatible planetarium software. A tablet or computer is not included. The Hybrid 2N1 finder base is fitted; a finder scope is separate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo eyepieces are included, so budget at least one for visual use, and a tablet or laptop is needed to drive the GoTo system. Power for the PMC-Eight comes from a battery pack or a 12 V DC supply, which we stock separately. On weight: Explore Scientific publishes 5.95 lb for the tube, 9.45 lb for the mount head, 5.35 lb for the tripod, and 1 kg per counterweight; they publish no figure for the reducer. The shipping weight shown at checkout is the sum of the published component weights rounded up to the next whole pound, and does not replace the individual specifications above.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e The mechanical side is quick — spread the tripod, drop the head on, seat the dovetail, fit the counterweights. The part that takes a first evening is polar alignment and the app's star alignment routine, and Explore Scientific publishes a guide for both. Call us and we will walk you through the first night.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need a computer to use it?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes, for GoTo. A tablet running the free ExploreStars app is the usual choice; a laptop with ASCOM software also works.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use it visually as well?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. Fit the included 2-inch diagonal and an eyepiece, and let the GoTo find targets for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill the mount handle a heavier telescope later?\u003c\/strong\u003e It is rated to roughly 9 lb of equipment, so it will take a modestly larger tube, but it is sized for instruments of about this class.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA matched telescope, corrector, and tracking mount in one box, ready to image at f\/4.8. Everything mechanical fits together as supplied, so the only decisions left are your camera and an eyepiece. Our team in Bolton can spec both.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53955275456623,"sku":"ES-ED-0806-FR0.8x-IEXOS100","price":1662.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/ES-ED0806-FR-iEXOS_1.jpg?v=1785951113"}],"url":"https:\/\/ontariotelescope.com\/collections\/es-ed-essential.oembed","provider":"Ontario Telescope and Accessories","version":"1.0","type":"link"}