✨ STELLARVUE NIGHTHAWK 🔭 80mm f/6 480mm Achromat Refractor w/ 2" Diagonal, Case, V-Plate

🔵STELLARVUE NIGHTHAWK
1st Gen | Achromat | 80mm | f/6 | 480mm FL

Price reduced for quick sale with free/fast shipping. Please review entire listing and all 8 images before making an offer. Everything is in excellent condition. 

Included Extras:

• Upgraded 2" Antares (GSO) 2-Speed Rotating Crayford Focuser w/ Compression Band.
• 2" STELLARVUE TWIST-LOCK 99% Dielectric Star Diagonal & 1.25" Adapter - D1028ECF.
  
• Primaluce Labs Red 140mm (5.5") Vixen-Style Dovetail w/ no blemishes.
• Original factory OTA clamp w/ mounting locations for two dovetails.
• Original factory red-dot finder w/ new battery.
• Original factory carrying case.
  

Notes:

These Stellarvue Nighthawks are sometimes dismissed as rebranded ST80's, but this is inaccurate: the ST80 is an f/5 at 400mm, while this Nighthawk is f/6 at 480mm. I own both telescopes and did a shootout; the Nighthawk is noticeably sharper and with less chromatic aberration. Please refer to Image 8, an unedited, 1/1 crop of the Moon taken on a 24MP color APS-C sensor. I think this compact Achromat punches above its weight and is a terrific grab n' go scope. The coatings are noticeably superior and the build quality is top-notch. The dewshield is weighted to allow for convenient counterbalancing. Fully retracted length (without diagonal) is 15", fully extended 21".

Nitpicks:

• There is light dust on the optics which does not impact views and I have not attempted to clean.
• The tension thumbscrew on the 2" diagonal twist-lock is slightly bent but works great. I have not tried to bend it back.
• The 1.25" adapter has a cosmetic defect (Image 5).
• The GSO focuser tension adjustment screws are "fiddly;" I've found this is common to the model and not a defect. I prefer to tighten down the tension and use it as a very strong single-speed focuser, but at this setting the slow-speed doesn't work. You can get both speeds to work with adjustment of the tension knobs, but it ends up being a bit loose for heavy accessories. I'm including this information so there are no surprises upon purchase. On other units I have swapped the philips screw for one of the tension knobs and find this nicer, but your mileage and preference may vary. It's a great focuser.