Optics

Meade Series 5000 ED APO 80mm

Apochromats with three-element lenses are unheard-of at this price. But Meade's 3.1-inch triplet delivers amazing views - high-contrast images with no distortion or haziness - in a robustly engineered package. It's heavy (6.2 pounds) for its size, but tha...

Tube rotates within a neatly embedded metal ring, so it's easy to reposition the eyepiece while panning the sky. Small size and maneuverability make it great for terrestrial viewing, too - wildlife, wild pool parties... .

Finish quality isn't on par with peers. Focuser, which astronauts scrutinize as closely as the lens, is rough. Lens cap can be tricky to screw on and off.

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