Orion Premium 102 f/7 ED

Anyone found a user review of the Orion Premium 102 f/7 ED refractor?

Kurt Horsley said:

Anyone found a user review of the Orion Premium 102 f/7 ED refractor?

I believe that this is essentially the same scope as the Astro-Tech AT-102ED, the SV-102ED, and the short lived William optics WO 102 SV ED. As far as I can make out, these scopes are made by the same manufacturer and the differences are in the focuser.

I reviewed the Astro-tech 102ED a couple of years ago:

http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1748

A few quick comments:

- I had a lot of fun with my Astro-Tech 102ED, I used in the backyard on work nights, I used it when traveling to dark skies as a companion to a large scope, I took car camping when there wasn't the space for a large scope, over the past 2 years, I am sure I used it more than any of my scopes.

I used it enough that I decided I ought to upgrade to something better.

- These scopes do not use the highest quality ED glass, FPL-53, rather they use H-FK61 which has an abbey number of 81, somewhat less that FPL-51. (Note the Orion catalog page, extra low dispersion, no bragging about FPL-53, they brag when they have it) Being an F-7 doublet, the color correction is much better than a similar focal length achromat but there is definitely a purple tint to be seen when viewing bright targets like Rigel, Sirius, Venus. These are not color free like the ED-80. I have recently purchased a used TV NP-101, the NP-101 is free from color, very reflector like... The NP-101 is definitely an APO, these 102ED F/7s are not.

- Like most of the Chinese made scopes with the dual speed focusers, there is quite a range between individual focusers, typically the problem is with the micro-focuser itself, the main part of the focuser is very nicely made with lots of ball bearings. Both the StellarVue and the Astro-tech offer a Feathertouch focuser upgrade which I understand is the stock focuser with a Feathertouch microfocuser. I think that would be very desirable.

So, my thinking goes like this:

These scopes fit in a certain niche, being F/7 they are relatively compact, and make a good "grab and go" scope, sort of an overgrown ED-80 or a Poor Man's Traveler. The work nicely with an alt-az mount. But it is a compromise all the way around.

If one is happy with the added focal length of an F/9 scope, then I think one of the Synta made ED-100s with the FPL-53 objective would be a better choice, it should offer much better color correction and I see them used sometimes for about $400, sometimes with a dual speed focuser. And on the other side, a used TV-102 is not usually a whole lot more than these scopes.

If one is looking to do astrophotography, I would look elsewhere, the color correction is not that good. Best to sacrifice a bit of aperture and get an 80mm F/7 with the good glass and the good color correction.

Another option would be to spend quite a bit more money, around $2000, and get something like a TV NP-101 and be done fooling around. The difference is apparent optically and mechanically and shows up photographically and visually.

Otherwise, I would watch for a used Astrotech 102ED or a SV 102ED with the Feathertouch focuser, there was one recently that went for $750.

That's my two cents, a satisfying compromise.

Jon