Telescopes
Premium · ~$500–1,200
Best for Advanced Observers
Sky-Watcher EvoStar 80ED Refractor
The classic 'first astrophotography refractor' — ED glass that punches far above 80mm.
Specifications
- Aperture
- 80 mm
- Focal length
- 600 mm (f/7.5)
- Optical design
- ED doublet apochromatic refractor
- Mount
- Optical tube only (bring your own EQ mount)
- Weight
- ~8.6 lb / 3.9 kg (tube)
What's good
- +ED glass delivers near-apo color correction
- +600mm focal length is forgiving for beginner astrophotography
- +Light enough for modest tracking mounts
What to watch
- –Tube only — you must supply a tracking mount and camera
- –80mm is small for visual deep-sky
- –Real cost is the full imaging rig around it
Our verdict
When backyard imagers graduate from a smart telescope to a 'real' rig, the EvoStar 80ED is the refractor they reach for. The ED glass tames the false color that ruins cheap refractors, and the short 600mm focal length is forgiving of tracking errors — exactly what a first astrophotography scope should be. Remember you're buying a tube: the mount and camera are where the real budget goes.