What kind of mount do I need for the Explore Scientific ED80-FCD100?
With an optical tube weight of only 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg), the ED80-FCD100 is very forgiving on mount requirements. For visual use, a light-duty German equatorial mount or a robust alt-azimuth mount will work well. For astrophotography, a stable equatorial mount with precise tracking is recommended to handle the weight of the telescope plus your camera and guiding equipment.
Is the ED80-FCD100 a good telescope for viewing planets like Jupiter and Saturn?
Yes, absolutely. The apochromatic triplet optics provide extremely high-contrast and color-pure images, which is ideal for planetary observing. On Jupiter, you can expect to resolve distinct cloud bands, the Great Red Spot, and its four Galilean moons. With Saturn, the Cassini Division in its rings will be clearly visible at medium to high magnification on nights of good seeing.
Do I need a field flattener for astrophotography with the ED80-FCD100?
For cameras with smaller sensors, you may get acceptable results without one. However, to achieve perfectly round stars across the entire field of an APS-C sensor, a field flattener is recommended. Refractors show some field curvature, and a flattener corrects it toward the edges of the frame. Explore Scientific sells this tube in packages with its Field Flattener for f/5 to f/7 refractors, and lists its 0.8x Focal Reducer for it.
How does the 80mm aperture of the ED80-FCD100 perform on deep-sky objects?
An 80mm aperture is excellent for wide-field views of large, bright deep-sky objects. Under dark skies, you can expect impressive views of targets like the Orion Nebula (M42), the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), and many open star clusters. While it won't have the light-gathering power of a larger telescope for resolving faint galaxies, its high-contrast optics provide a dark background that makes bright objects stand out beautifully.
What is the advantage of the 2.5" HEX focuser on the ED80-FCD100?
The 2.5" hexagonal focuser is built for imaging. It is rugged, provides precise control and supports imaging setups up to 10 lbs (4.5 kg).
Can I use 2" eyepieces with this telescope?
Yes. The Explore Scientific ED80-FCD100 comes with a 99% reflective 2" diagonal and a 1.25" adapter. This allows you to use both 2" and 1.25" eyepieces, giving you access to the widest possible fields of view for observing large nebulae and star fields.
Is the ED80-FCD100 a good choice for a travel scope?
Yes, it's an excellent choice. The optical tube weighs only 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg) and has a retracted length of just 381 mm, making it very compact and easy to transport. Its high-end optical performance means you don't have to sacrifice image quality for portability.
What is the difference between the ED80-FCD100 and the Essential Series ED80?
The key difference is the glass used in the triplet lens. The ED80-FCD100 uses premium HOYA FCD100 glass, which Explore Scientific compares with Ohara FPL-53 and with fluorite. The Essential Series uses genuine HOYA FCD1 ED glass, and Explore Scientific presents the FCD100 Series as an improvement upon it.
Does the ED80-FCD100 come with a finder scope?
A finder scope is not included. However, the telescope comes with a Hybrid Finder Scope Base (ES-FB2N1-00) installed. This base is compatible with a wide variety of finder scope brackets, including those from Explore Scientific and other brands using a mini-dovetail style foot.
Can I use this telescope for terrestrial (daytime) viewing?
Yes, but you will need an erecting prism diagonal (sold separately) to get a correctly oriented image (upright and non-reversed). With an erecting prism the telescope can be used for daytime viewing.
