Tele Vue-85

I purchased a TV 85 and a couple of eyepieces three years ago. I subsequently bought a TV "Binoviewer" an (expensive) attachment which enables one to use both eyes, as with a pair of bins., albeit at the additional expense of having to double up on eyepices.
My eyepieces provide 27x and 67x approx magnification which can be doubled via an accessory Barlow lens with little loss of quality. The power is also doubled via the "Binoviewer".
I also own a Swarovski 65HD with zoom and 30x eyepieces.
The Swarovski is fine for low power scoping and is far more portable and durable. You wouldn't want to cart the TV much further than from car to hide, and with the Binoviewer plus pair of eyepieces attached the weight makes a heavy video type tripod almost essential.
That said once one gets into high power stuff then the TV knocks absolute spots off the Swarovski or any other comparable scope that I've checked. With the Binoviewer and 54x power the image is startling, like a really high power binocular with phenomenal sharpness, field of view and depth of field. With 134x power then things start to look a little dark but on a bright day an execeptional image all things considered. 54x Bino is my favourite though, particularly for sea watching.
Although the TV's rack and pinion focussing is a joy to use it can be a "difficult" scope to the un-initiated. The image is reversed left to right due to the use of a mirror diagonal rather than a prism, so one needs to pan "opposite" the direction of flight. The angled mirror diagonal plus Binoviewer plus eyepieces means one is sort of "looking down from on high" such that in many hides it is impossible to sit down and also use the scope. Dust can easily get into the optics due to the necessity of inserting and removing diagonals and eyepieces in the field.
In an ideal world I would swap my Swarovski for one of the "mini scopes" with 50mm objectives provided it also took 1.25 inch eypieces a la Televue (or most other astro.scopes). I think Pentax do one.
Then I would have a portable go anywhere scope whose performance would be enhanced via utilisation of high quality (and high price!) eyepieces also suitable for the more specialised but high performance of the Televue 85.



Ron

have had my TV85 for several years now and taken thousands of photos through it digascoping and prime focus,, started with the Nikon Coolopix 990 when they first hit the streets,, finally upgraded to the new Nikon P5000,, for prime focus work I use to use a Nikon F5 and now using an Oly E500,,

the variety of eye pieces, clarity, light transmission and overr-all usefulness are its best qualities,, from terrestrial to astronomy all in one scope package,, check the color transmission and quality of this scope before buying another scope,,

you can purchase 45 degree 1 1/4" and 2" prisms to work at this angle,,

Tele Vue makes quality adapters for doing afocal and T mount attachments for various cameras,, check out their web site in the birding section,, some of my very old photos are posted there,,

agree with Michael, will never sell,,

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 youll 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 goldfinchs 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