Objective 85mm Aperture, APO Doublet Focal Length 600mm Focal Ratio F/7.0 Max Visual Field 4.4 degrees Weight/Length 8lb., 21 1/2 inches
Content and images originally posted by Mpacker
Reviews
Mpacker's review
Televue 85mm Telescope.
The TV85 is an astronomical grade refractor that is portable enough for out of the car birding or walking short distances. The images from this scope are literally textbook perfect meaning that they are both color free and diffraction limited. If there is a line of birding scopes to your left and right, I feel pretty confident saying you�ll have the best scope optically on the line. Actually I regularly have a line behind my scope on local trips. In addition to clarity, the Televue, with its quality accessories and eyepieces, gives wide �space walk� views with ample eye relief. Older folks and eyeglass wearers have commented on the comfort.
Besides great views, digital SLR and P&S cameras fit straight - not angled - on the back of the TV85 yielding a solid fit, very easy handling 600mm f7 set up (or higher with Televue accessories). The photos are nothing short of pro.
That said there are some limitations using this scope for birding. One already touched upon is portability. At 8lbs, this scope is heavier than most birding scopes and desires a corresponding mount. People who find the TV85 too heavy find the smaller TV76 cousin a more portable choice. On the other hand, the TV85 fits as carry-on under most airline seats.
Another limitation is that the TV85 is not waterproof. Although I have used it many times in the rain, I would feel uneasy leaving out by the ocean for a couple of days.
Concluding, I must point out just how great this scope is as an astronomical instrument. On calm nights I have routinely used magnifications 250x with the TV85 to image the planet Mars. I have easily seen the polar caps, clouds and Mount Olympus along with the surrounding �bays� and �inlets�. Double stars and open clusters are tack sharp beautiful. Aiming the scope at the moon, I occasionally see craters ~800 meters in diameter. I suppose this is equivalent to seeing a goldfinch�s eye about 2 kilometers away (if imaging through that much horizontal atmosphere were possible). For astronomical use, aperture or light gathering powers is key for resolving this kind of detail and it is another reason why I prefer the TV85 to the TV76 as my overall travel scope. I have taken this scope to the southern hemisphere many times for birding, stars, and eclipses and just love it. I will never sell.
Stellar Chirps, MPacker
Pros
- optical clarity and comfort
- digital imaging
Cons
- portability
