Orion 102mm f/7 ED telescope

Crave an apochromatic refractor but your budget won't allow it? Here's a good scope to consider.
By | Published: May 19, 2009 | Last updated on May 18, 2023
Orion 102mm f/7 ED
The 102mm f/7 ED’s compact 23-inch (58 centimeters) tube, 8.1-pound (3.7 kilograms) weight, and rich-field views make it an ideal scope to take along on trips.
Astronomy: William Zuback

This review, “Sky testing Orion’s 102mm f/7 ED,” appeared in the October 2008 issue of Astronomy magazine

The apochromatic refractor is one of my favorite instruments for observing the universe. These scopes provide excellent light transmission, lack the drawbacks of a central obstruction, and yield terrific views. Another plus: The 4-inch class is easily portable. The usual downside of these wonderful scopes is sticker shock. They can be pricey.

Orion’s new 4-inch (102 millimeters) f/7 ED telescope fills the gap between price and performance. At $995.95, it’s a great scope for visual observers and imagers who would like an affordable apochromatic refractor. The scope’s airspaced doublet objective boasts one extra-low dispersion (ED) element for improved color correction.

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