Orion's 8-inch f/4 high-speed imaging telescope

With this 8-inch f/4 astrograph, you can produce superb deep-sky images.

By Chris Schur

Published: October 21, 2010

Orion’s 8-inch f/4.0 Newtonian Astrograph Reflector is a telescope the company designed specifically for astroimagers.

Photo by Astronomy: James Forbes

In the past decade, astrophotography has changed radically. The renaissance in this field is due to the widespread use of digital imaging, including affordable charge-coupled device (CCD) and digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. In the past few years, a mismatch has developed between these modern imaging devices and telescopes designed primarily for visual use. Such instruments are either too slow optically, too expensive, or lack the precision necessary for sharp images of celestial portraits.

Recently, Orion Telescopes and Binoculars introduced a high-speed imaging telescope — the 8-inch f/4.0 Newtonian Astrograph Reflector — at the almost unbelievable price of $449.95. Would this potentially groundbreaking instrument live up to its billing? I decided to put it to the test and find out.

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BRIAN ALLAN from said:

Yes, it is a fast scope BUT not quite as great in the quality arena as anticipated/reviewed. But it is probably worth $450...

Mine arrived in good condition with all the various pieces and after mounting it on an EQ6Pro and laser collimating it I proceeded to shoot some star images. My 1st batch of images had rather severe star stretch. Rechecked collimation, ok. Checked tracking guiding, ok. Reshot the same area... no change.

At first I though maybe the mirror was warped, so I removed it, turned it a third of a turn, re-installed, recollimated and reshot the same area... exactly the same orientation of star stretch!?

I then started playing with the position of the focuser. After a few iterations of this and finally having to move the focuser mount about 1/4" down the scope the star stretch was gone and the scope has performed to spec ever since BUT definitely NOT a novice, out-of-the-box telescope!! Alternately, I guess I could have moved the secondary 1/4" close to the front of the scope BUT wasn't too sure how to do this.

I have both Sky-Watcher and Celestron Newtonian/Astrographs and have never had similar problems with them... a little disappointed with Orion quality on this unit! I can only assume I got one built on a friday afternoon about quitting time?

TERI W OLIVER from UTAH said:

Very informative, enough so, to help someone make a qualified decision to purchase this scope or not!

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