Thank you for doing a video on this telescope. I bought one a few months ago and I have been using it with my full frame 6200mm camera for DSO and also for solar imaging and I am blown away with the quality! This telescope comes very close to Takahashi quality even at full frame. I highly recommend this telescope!
Hi Guido, a nice review. Beware that with a reducer backfocus tuning will be necessary again. What is a pitty that once a youtuber becomes popular they all start to review new ZWO products. Please don't fall into that trap and keep reviewing other stuff as well. just my 2cts, Bob
I also have this scope and am very happy with it. I am still new to astrophotography and am getting great images with it (533MC Pro, ASIAir, etc, etc).
Hey, thanks for the nice review, very interesting! I was wondering, the AM5 mount is needed (major differences except weight with AM3) ? ZWO packs a bundle FF80+AM3 mount which seems not that bad.. still considering the bundle :)
Hey Wido. Great that you chose to review this! That's what I have as my grab and go, and I am blown away by how good it is! I have it on an AM3 mount, (TC40 and PE160) and never need to disassemble it. At 15kg its a grab and groan really - but it can be lifted and carried in and out intact. I'm using the x0.76 reducer and the new ZWO 54mm filter drawer coupled with a 2600DUO, which frees up the guider dovetail shoe for an asiair mini and keeps the OTA 'clean'. I just love the dinky size of the mini. The USB2 ports are a little slow for so many megapixels but who cares about 45 seconds delay on the livestack update if you are integrating for a couple of hours? I have an EAF fitted and use a Pegasus Pocket Powerbox micro for dew and cable management. I'm bortle 8 in Amsterdam but light pollution is well managed with an Antlia Triband filter. Using the reducer? - comment redacted wait for Wido! - On aperture the FF80 is about 3 times slower than my 130 APO - but I have discovered the asiair all-sky PA feature works great, and that lets me set up this little one on the balcony (instead of up on the communal roof terrace). So I'm very happy to sit for three times longer in the warmth of the livingroom!
Cool! Tx for the info and positive feedback. I'm also in the process of turning this astro-rig into a mobile one, or grab and groan as you call it 😀. Have fun, clear skies!
We have a very similar rig with the exception of the camera and OAG (I'm using a guide scope). I have never used a OAG, but may try one so that I can get the asiair off of my carry handle :)
@@mmmfs If you mean the DUO it's not quite the same as an OAG (although it works on the same principle and is just as effective). The first difference (pluspoint) is that there isn't any fiddly prism setup to do - the guide sensor is welded into the ideal place. Secondly, with both cameras in one casing there is just one data cable - and like an OAG no guidescope either. It was this clean OTA that appealed to me. My previously dominant hand is now disfunctional, so this 'tidiness' has real value for me. I can rough handle the fully assembled instrument without worrying too much about damaging extremities or cables and plugs. An OAG would be vulnrrable to that treatment. The one negative point is that the DUO guide sensor is behind the filter, while an OAG is in front of it. That has been well tested, and isn't an issue in practice.
@@amp2amp800 Ah, good point - duo and not OAG. Personally I will probably go with a OAG setup because my next camera upgrade will most likely be full frame.
Greetings from Toronto Wido. Thank you for reviewing the ZWO refractor FF telescope. Question. Your rooftop looks different than the one in your previous videos. Have you moved? Clear skies!
Since you brought up the bitter cold. I was wondering if you have any concern about the AM5 mount working at or below -20C. It's below that here in Wisconsin USA right now. First clear night in 10 days, and I can't image because it's too cold for my mount (GTI).
Mike, that's so cold! I'll stop complaining about our mild winters in the Netherlands in my videos...according to the manual, the minimal operating temperature of the AM5 is -15 C. As mentioned, my real world test was about -10 C. Stay warm!
It has been -30C where I live (Norway). I am surprised that things works as well as it does. No problem with neither AM3 nor AM5. The only problem I have seen is that the ZWO EAF is not able to autofocus when the temperature is too low when invoked from the app/focuser control. It still work with the manual (adapter) for focusing, and when running AutoRun/Plan. Strange...
Nice review, Wido! Thank you. So, I'm guessing this is a very closely related brother to the Askar 80PHQ Quadruplet, correct? Do you know of any differences?
Aside from the color :-)? I'll check with ZWO. I did receive an official ZWO checklist along with the telescope, outlining inspection criteria such as lens (coating, collimation), tube (surface, internal, screws), focuser (surface, internal, threads, drive), and other components (tube rings, handlebar, dovetail plate), accompanied by a date and a signature. This indicates that ZWO conducts checks on their FF series before dispatching it to customers, along with a 2-year warranty.
@@AstroForumSpace Thanks, Wido! My guess is that Askar and ZWO worked together to put this new scope out. Can't be a coincidence that they look almost identical but were born with different colors! Haha! They're even priced the same (maybe a few dollars difference). I checked all the specs yesterday after watching your video and the FF80 and 80PHQ specs look identical to me, so I thought I'd ask if you knew of any differences that would make buying one vs. the other beneficial.
Ah, flat field without a flattener, but you need a reducer anyway to get a more useful f-ratio... Sure, it's nice to have a flat field at the full focal length, but the longer focal length becomes less useful (IMO). But that's the marketing "FF" bit out the way, it's a great scope!
Useful f/ratio s a relative term, especially at longer focal lengths. Newtonian reflectors will get you fast Optics but also diffraction stars, collimation efforts, coma and weight. Larger aperture refractors are more costly and add weight to the setup, but will give you a faster f/ratio. A shorter focal length would give you a faster f/ratio, but a worse image scale. So there's no one way to go here.
Hey Wido - Nice work processing the comet! Pixinsight? What kind of sauce do you like to go with all that wire spaghetti? Red, I assume, to match the ZWO condiments - mmmm-garlic bread-gaaah dOH!
Thanks for this review. I recently bought this scope and the 0.76 reducer. Not to impressed so far. Without the reducer AsiAir struggled with PA using a Canon Ra as main camera. The images was not that great either. Suspect some problem with the transfer via usb from the Ra to AsiAir. Then I did another session with the reducer and the ASI533MC Pro. Here I struggled with getting focus. The documentation from ZWO seems wrong as it is *not* possible to get focus with 55mm from the last M48 adapter (as shown on the ZWO website). Had to remove 20mm from the "stack" from M48 adapter to the sensor. Then the focus is achieved with just 26mm extension of the tube. Without the reducer this "fuzz" is no problem as shown in this video. So I am looking forward to your next test/video review with the reducer. I might have misunderstood the documentation. 😊
hmm, that doesn't sound like an ideal experience, thanks for sharing. I experienced no issues as per the video, but will look into positioning that reducer correctly before I go out again. Did you talk directly to ZWO about your issue with the Canon RA and back-focus issue? Cheers.
@@AstroForumSpace I found the problem yesterday. I got my scope with a 20mm spacer mounter on the M68-adapter. This must have been some mistake by ZWO? It was so "stuck" I thought it was part of the adapter. Used some sticky rubber gloves to get a really good grip to break the "galled" threads loose. After that the 55mm backfocus from the M48 adapter was correct.
Thanks for the review Wido. Zwo is really ramping things up. Outstanding products just in the last year or two. Awesome catch of the comet. Great info as always my friend.
Hi Woody, I have a very old asi120mc guide camera and an orion 50/162mm guidescope. I probably need to update this soon, but it still works :-). I have a blog about guidescopes/cameras here, clear skies! astroforumspace.com/selecting-a-guide-scope-and-autoguiding-camera-for-astrophotography/
Thank you for doing a video on this telescope. I bought one a few months ago and I have been using it with my full frame 6200mm camera for DSO and also for solar imaging and I am blown away with the quality! This telescope comes very close to Takahashi quality even at full frame. I highly recommend this telescope!
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Hi Guido, a nice review. Beware that with a reducer backfocus tuning will be necessary again. What is a pitty that once a youtuber becomes popular they all start to review new ZWO products. Please don't fall into that trap and keep reviewing other stuff as well.
just my 2cts, Bob
I also have this scope and am very happy with it. I am still new to astrophotography and am getting great images with it (533MC Pro, ASIAir, etc, etc).
Great to hear!
Hey, thanks for the nice review, very interesting!
I was wondering, the AM5 mount is needed (major differences except weight with AM3) ?
ZWO packs a bundle FF80+AM3 mount which seems not that bad.. still considering the bundle :)
Idk how you don't have more subs ......I love this channel.
Thanks for the review!!!
Thanks so much!
Another great review, thanks for sharing. Is a PE160 pier extension needed or is it ok as is. I'm using an AM3.
Hey Wido. Great that you chose to review this! That's what I have as my grab and go, and I am blown away by how good it is! I have it on an AM3 mount, (TC40 and PE160) and never need to disassemble it. At 15kg its a grab and groan really - but it can be lifted and carried in and out intact. I'm using the x0.76 reducer and the new ZWO 54mm filter drawer coupled with a 2600DUO, which frees up the guider dovetail shoe for an asiair mini and keeps the OTA 'clean'. I just love the dinky size of the mini. The USB2 ports are a little slow for so many megapixels but who cares about 45 seconds delay on the livestack update if you are integrating for a couple of hours? I have an EAF fitted and use a Pegasus Pocket Powerbox micro for dew and cable management. I'm bortle 8 in Amsterdam but light pollution is well managed with an Antlia Triband filter. Using the reducer? - comment redacted wait for Wido! - On aperture the FF80 is about 3 times slower than my 130 APO - but I have discovered the asiair all-sky PA feature works great, and that lets me set up this little one on the balcony (instead of up on the communal roof terrace). So I'm very happy to sit for three times longer in the warmth of the livingroom!
Cool! Tx for the info and positive feedback. I'm also in the process of turning this astro-rig into a mobile one, or grab and groan as you call it 😀. Have fun, clear skies!
We have a very similar rig with the exception of the camera and OAG (I'm using a guide scope). I have never used a OAG, but may try one so that I can get the asiair off of my carry handle :)
@@mmmfs If you mean the DUO it's not quite the same as an OAG (although it works on the same principle and is just as effective). The first difference (pluspoint) is that there isn't any fiddly prism setup to do - the guide sensor is welded into the ideal place. Secondly, with both cameras in one casing there is just one data cable - and like an OAG no guidescope either. It was this clean OTA that appealed to me. My previously dominant hand is now disfunctional, so this 'tidiness' has real value for me. I can rough handle the fully assembled instrument without worrying too much about damaging extremities or cables and plugs. An OAG would be vulnrrable to that treatment. The one negative point is that the DUO guide sensor is behind the filter, while an OAG is in front of it. That has been well tested, and isn't an issue in practice.
@@amp2amp800 Ah, good point - duo and not OAG. Personally I will probably go with a OAG setup because my next camera upgrade will most likely be full frame.
Nice shot of Orion nebula except for the yellow star color.
Greetings from Toronto Wido. Thank you for reviewing the ZWO refractor FF telescope. Question. Your rooftop looks different than the one in your previous videos. Have you moved? Clear skies!
Yep! Same city, but a bit more in the outskirts.
You know , i love your videos !
I am struggling to choose between a 6" f6 and a evostar72ed?
I have a heq5
Thanks😊
Tx! You can email me at: astroforumlive@gmail.com
Is it Carl Zeiss lens ?
Since you brought up the bitter cold. I was wondering if you have any concern about the AM5 mount working at or below -20C. It's below that here in Wisconsin USA right now. First clear night in 10 days, and I can't image because it's too cold for my mount (GTI).
Mike, that's so cold! I'll stop complaining about our mild winters in the Netherlands in my videos...according to the manual, the minimal operating temperature of the AM5 is -15 C. As mentioned, my real world test was about -10 C. Stay warm!
It has been -30C where I live (Norway). I am surprised that things works as well as it does. No problem with neither AM3 nor AM5. The only problem I have seen is that the ZWO EAF is not able to autofocus when the temperature is too low when invoked from the app/focuser control. It still work with the manual (adapter) for focusing, and when running AutoRun/Plan. Strange...
If possible, could you please perform a Ronchi test? ( And please publish the Pattern")
I would like to know the results of a fair optical test.
Hi Wido, would it be possible to add an auto focuser to this setup?
Sure, you can add an electronic auto focuser, it's a standard RAP dual speed focuser.
Nice review, Wido! Thank you. So, I'm guessing this is a very closely related brother to the Askar 80PHQ Quadruplet, correct? Do you know of any differences?
Aside from the color :-)? I'll check with ZWO. I did receive an official ZWO checklist along with the telescope, outlining inspection criteria such as lens (coating, collimation), tube (surface, internal, screws), focuser (surface, internal, threads, drive), and other components (tube rings, handlebar, dovetail plate), accompanied by a date and a signature. This indicates that ZWO conducts checks on their FF series before dispatching it to customers, along with a 2-year warranty.
@@AstroForumSpace Thanks, Wido! My guess is that Askar and ZWO worked together to put this new scope out. Can't be a coincidence that they look almost identical but were born with different colors! Haha! They're even priced the same (maybe a few dollars difference). I checked all the specs yesterday after watching your video and the FF80 and 80PHQ specs look identical to me, so I thought I'd ask if you knew of any differences that would make buying one vs. the other beneficial.
Nice review. I have the FF107 running on a similar all ZWO setup and love it.
Can you try to observe comet 144P/kushida?
I could...but I have other astro-projects :-). Why are you so interested in this one?
@@AstroForumSpace bcs I like comets
Ah, flat field without a flattener, but you need a reducer anyway to get a more useful f-ratio... Sure, it's nice to have a flat field at the full focal length, but the longer focal length becomes less useful (IMO). But that's the marketing "FF" bit out the way, it's a great scope!
Useful f/ratio s a relative term, especially at longer focal lengths. Newtonian reflectors will get you fast Optics but also diffraction stars, collimation efforts, coma and weight. Larger aperture refractors are more costly and add weight to the setup, but will give you a faster f/ratio. A shorter focal length would give you a faster f/ratio, but a worse image scale. So there's no one way to go here.
Nice scope. Little to slow for my likings but seems ok pricewise
Hey Wido - Nice work processing the comet! Pixinsight?
What kind of sauce do you like to go with all that wire spaghetti? Red, I assume, to match the ZWO condiments - mmmm-garlic bread-gaaah
dOH!
Lol. I ordered some 0.5m usb 3.0 cables. Yep, Pixinsight and video editor.
The scope delivers it's promises it seems. I do enjoy seeing open cluster images.
Thanks for the nice review. Awesome telescope on awesome AM5 :). And as I saw you had interesting spider cable management :D
Yes, I'm testing different scopes so i don't really do cable management for every one of them 😀
Thanks for this review. I recently bought this scope and the 0.76 reducer. Not to impressed so far. Without the reducer AsiAir struggled with PA using a Canon Ra as main camera.
The images was not that great either. Suspect some problem with the transfer via usb from the Ra to AsiAir.
Then I did another session with the reducer and the ASI533MC Pro. Here I struggled with getting focus. The documentation from ZWO seems wrong as it is *not* possible to get focus with 55mm from the last M48 adapter (as shown on the ZWO website).
Had to remove 20mm from the "stack" from M48 adapter to the sensor. Then the focus is achieved with just 26mm extension of the tube.
Without the reducer this "fuzz" is no problem as shown in this video.
So I am looking forward to your next test/video review with the reducer. I might have misunderstood the documentation. 😊
hmm, that doesn't sound like an ideal experience, thanks for sharing. I experienced no issues as per the video, but will look into positioning that reducer correctly before I go out again. Did you talk directly to ZWO about your issue with the Canon RA and back-focus issue? Cheers.
@@AstroForumSpace I found the problem yesterday. I got my scope with a 20mm spacer mounter on the M68-adapter. This must have been some mistake by ZWO? It was so "stuck" I thought it was part of the adapter. Used some sticky rubber gloves to get a really good grip to break the "galled" threads loose. After that the 55mm backfocus from the M48 adapter was correct.
Thanks for the review Wido. Zwo is really ramping things up. Outstanding products just in the last year or two. Awesome catch of the comet. Great info as always my friend.
Thanks Perry! I'm working on different astrosetups. One completely zwo and one non-zwo to compare the AP experience with both. Clear skies!
Amazing results, I’m a giant fan of ZWO, what was your guide scope and camera?
Hi Woody, I have a very old asi120mc guide camera and an orion 50/162mm guidescope. I probably need to update this soon, but it still works :-). I have a blog about guidescopes/cameras here, clear skies! astroforumspace.com/selecting-a-guide-scope-and-autoguiding-camera-for-astrophotography/
Nice review Wido. Stay warm over there!!
Nice review 👏🏻 Love your videos!
This telescope looks a lot like my askar 80 phq. Same manufacturer?
AS much as i'd like to, i KAn't be 100% suRe. PerHaps this Question should be asked directly to ZWO...
zullen ze eens naast elkaar moeten opstellen ;)
@@AstroForumSpace
F7.5 Ouch.
F5.7 with the reducer.
Each to his own. What's the hurry 🙂
Thank you.
Is the front lens not dirty?
Ice crystals...