Each decade brings new telescopes or mounts, usually with one particular design dominating the market. In the 1970s, everyone wanted to own a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. In the 1980s, it was large, Dobsonian-mounted reflectors. Today’s trendsetting design is small “grab-and-go” refractors characterized by apertures of 4 inches (102 millimeters) or less and focal ratios in the f/5 to f/7 range. What makes this niche so hot is more and more mid-range models offer a compromise between price and quality. The latest entry into this burgeoning market is Celestron’s Onyx 80EDF.
Onyx specifications
The Onyx 80EDF is a compact 3.1-inch (80mm) f/6.25 telescope that comes in a padded aluminum case. The glossy black aluminum tube, with its orange inlaid logos and accent ring around the base of the sliding dew cap, has a rich luster that belies this scope’s moderate price.
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