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Vixen SD81SII Super ED Refractor Telescope

$1,299.95

Olivia's profile picture

- Olivia 

He loves it, my bf is REALLYYY into space and he was able to assemble this no issues.| Verified Purchase"

Main Benefits:

  • Aperture & Focal Length: Aperture: 81mm SD (Super ED) apochromatic, multicoated Focal Length: 625 mm (f/7.7)
  • Mount type: Not included, sold separately.
  • Optics: 81mm SD apochromatic refractor lens: Minimizes chromatic aberration for sharp images. FPL53 super extra-low dispersion glass: Offers excellent color correction. Multi-coated optics: Improves light transmission and image quality. Ring spacer: Refines star images for astrophotography.

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Description

Vixen's standard "photo-visual" SD apochromatic refractor with a handy focal length of 625mm.

Vixen SD apochromatic refractors feature "Super extra-low Dispersion" optical glass in its objective lens. The SD81SII has a ring spacer around the objective lens to make the diffraction pattern of stars visible equally for more refined star images in astrophotography. With the use of an SD reducer HD kit or SD Flattener HD kit, the image circle of 44 mm in diameter is obtained to be used for photography with DSLR cameras with full-frame imaging sensors.

A ring spacer placed around the objective lens refines star images beautifully in astrophotography.

In the previous SD81S model, a set of three tiny tin foils are placed around the objective lens as a spacer between the doublet lens. The end of the tin foils protruding over the objective lens obstruct the incoming light. As a result, the protruding tin foils make the light of diffraction of stars chipped radially. Exchanging the tin foils for the spacer ring makes the diffraction of the stars' light equal. It allows you to create more refined and beautiful star images in your astrophotography.

The SD lens suppresses residual chromatic aberration far below the threshold of visibility.

Vixen SD81SII Super ED Refractor Telescope

A lens of refracting telescopes has chromatic aberration which is caused by different wavelength of visible light (colors) focusing at different distances. The Vixen SD lenses, made of FPL53 super extra-low dispersion glass, allow for correcting the chromatic aberration over a wide spectrum of light.


Vixen SD81SII Super ED Refractor Telescope

The SD lenses focusvisible rays of light from the C-ray(red), d-ray(yellow), e-ray(green), F-ray(blue) to g-ray(violet) at nearly the very same position. As shown in the diagrams of spherical aberration, it verifies that the chromatic aberration is highly corrected over a wide spectrum of light with the SD lenses.


Especially the g-ray, which affects image contrast, is suppressed excellently. The SD81SII delivers outstandingly sharp images with high contrast for both visual and photographic applications. Moderately bright F7.7 images will satisfy the most demanding visual astronomer or astrophotographer.

A short optical tube in length is handy for not only visual observation but also astrophotography.

Vixen SD81SII Super ED Refractor Telescope

The ED81SII optical tube has a moderate short length to enable you to carry and set it up readily. Also, a lightweight optical tube allows you to balance it with fewer counterweights. The ED81S comes equipped with a metal carry handle and the Vixen standard dovetail slide bar M for quick attaching and detaching.
The provided Flip mirror diagonal switches incoming light to allow for using two eyepieces of different magnifications alternately. Also, you can install a camera on the straight side and view an image through an eyepiece on the right-angled side of the flip mirror diagonal.

Full-frame imaging with a DSLR camera.

Vixen SD81SII Super ED Refractor Telescope

Using an SD reducer HD kit or an SD Flattener SD kit, which are available optionally, the SD80SII provides an image circle of 44mm, adequate for taking photos with a DSLR camera. (Photo) M8, M20 nebulae taken with Vixen SD81SII with SD reducer HD kit (compound focus 496mm) and Pentax K-1 at ISO1600, 49 minutes exposure.


Optional accessories to expand your pleasure of taking astrophotography.

a

SD Reducer HD Kit: This kit includes a flattener lens to be combined with a reducer lens for a flat and wide imaging field when you use them with the SD81SII, SD103SII, or SD115SII optical tube. The reducer lens reduces a focal length by 0.7X. Direct Wide Photo Adapter 60DX: It is available for Canon EOS or Nikon DSLR cameras. It is possible to change the orientation of a camera for a framing of the photographic field.

Wide Photo Adapter 60DX

Vixen SD81SII Super ED Refractor Telescope

Sold and high precision camera adapters for prime focus astrophotography are optionally available for Canon EOS and Nikon. The Wide Photo Adapter 60DX is designed to be an integrated camera mount reducing vignetting to the maximum. They are highly effective with full-frame DSLR cameras, and can be used with SD series refractors (in combination with the SD Reducer HD Kit or SD Flattener HD Kit).

What's Included

  • SD81SII OTA
  • Flip Mirror Diagonal
  • XY Red Dot Finder II
  • Dovetail Slide Bar M
  • Instruction Manual

Specs

Item Number ES26083-SO
Optical design Apochomatic Refractor
Mirror/Lens diam. 81mm SD (Super ED) apohromatic, multicoated
ED Glass Yes
Focal length and Aperture ratio 625 mm f/7.7
Resolving power 1.43 arc seconds
Light gathering power 134×unaided eye
Focusing mechanism Rack-and-pinion, with lock knob
Finder scope XY Red dot finder II (1×aimimg device)
Adapter thread / Visual back 60mm and 42mm for T-ring / 50.8mm and 31.7mm push fit with flip mirror diagonal
Accessories Tube rings, Dovetail tube plate, Metal carry handle
Photography Usable with Prime focus, Eyepiece projection and Afocal imaging
Dimensions / weight 90mm dia. and 585mm long / 3.6kg (Net 2.3kg)

Warranty

Vixen warranties its products to be free from initial defects in materials and workmanship for a specified period based on part type:

Vixen Electronic Parts: Limited One Year Warranty

Vixen Mechanical Parts: Limited Two Year Warranty

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Vixen SD81SII Super ED Refractor Telescope

Additional Features

Highly corrected chromatic aberration: Delivers sharp views and astrophotographs.

1.43 arc seconds resolving power: Captures fine details.
Full-frame DSLR compatibility: Capture large images with optional accessories.

Moderately short optical tube: Easy to transport and set up.
Lightweight: Requires fewer counterweights.

Metal carry handle and dovetail slide bar: Convenient for transportation and mounting.

Vixen SD81SII Super ED Refractor Telescope

Superior Optical Precision

Experience top-tier astrophotography with Vixen's SD apochromatic refractor, boasting "Super extra-low Dispersion" glass in its objective lens for unparalleled image clarity.

The innovative ring spacer design ensures equal diffraction patterns of stars, resulting in refined and beautiful star images for your astrophotography endeavors.

Vixen SD81SII Super ED Refractor Telescope

Convenience and Versatility

Benefit from the compact and lightweight design of the ED81SII optical tube, enabling easy transport and setup for both visual observation and astrophotography.

The inclusion of a Flip Mirror Diagonal allows for seamless transitions between two eyepieces of different magnifications, enhancing versatility in your observing sessions.


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Aperture size is the diameter of the main lens or mirror in a telescope, and it is the most important factor in determining how much light the telescope can gather. More light means brighter and more detailed images. Generally, larger apertures are better, but they also tend to be more expensive and bulkier.

Magnification is important for making objects appear larger, but it does not create more detail. Aperture is more important for determining the overall quality of the image, including its brightness, resolution, and contrast. However, magnification can still be useful for getting a closer look at specific features of an object that you can already see with lower magnification.

All telescopes are affected by light pollution to some extent, but Dobsonians and reflectors are generally less affected than refractors. This is because refractors have more internal surfaces where light can bounce around and cause glare. If you live in an area with a lot of light pollution, you may want to consider a Dobsonian or reflector, or find a dark observing location.

The essential accessories for your telescope will depend on your specific needs and interests. However, some common recommendations include:
Extra eyepieces: This will allow you to change the magnification of your telescope to suit different observing conditions and objects.
A finder scope: This is a small, low-power telescope that helps you aim the main telescope at the correct area of the sky.
A collimation kit: This is used to adjust the alignment of the mirrors in a reflector telescope.
A star chart or planisphere: This will help you identify objects in the night sky.

Dobsonian telescopes are generally the easiest to set up, as they typically only require placing them on the ground and aligning the finder scope. Refractors and reflectors may require more assembly and alignment, but the process is not overly complicated. Many telescopes come with instructions and online resources can also be helpful.

You may need a few basic tools, such as a screwdriver or Allen wrench, to assemble some telescopes. However, you do not need any special knowledge to get started. There are many resources available to help you learn how to use your telescope, such as online tutorials, books, and astronomy clubs.

Here is a general guide to what you can expect to see under typical observing conditions with different telescope apertures:

50mm-70mm: You can see the phases of Venus, the moons of Jupiter, and some brighter deep sky objects like the Andromeda Galaxy and the Orion Nebula.
70mm-100mm: You can see more detail in the planets, including the rings of Saturn and the cloud bands on Jupiter. You can also see more faint deep sky objects.
100mm+: You can start to see more challenging deep sky objects, such as galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. You can also see more detail in fainter objects like comets and asteroids.

We are often advised that you are able to see them through any small telescope, or even binoculars. But you really need a telescope with at least 40 times magnification to clearly see the detail of the rings as separate from the planet. And the bigger the telescope, the better.

For Galactic Observations: A reflecting telescope with a larger aperture (150mm-250mm) and a moderate focal length (750mm-1250mm) is ideal for capturing distant galaxies. Telescopes such as the Orion XT8 or the Celestron Advanced VX 8" offer excellent light-gathering capabilities and versatility.

Optical telescopes, for example, can see objects up to billions of light-years away, while radio telescopes can detect signals from even further distances. However, when it comes to observing the universe's earliest moments, telescopes can only see so far.

In general, a top-quality 4-inch refractor shows deep-sky objects about as well as a 5-inch reflector or catadioptric, and might even do a bit better on the planets. Most telescopes with apertures of 80 mm or less are refractors.

Refractor Telescopes: Refractors use lenses to gather and focus light, offering crisp and clear images. They are excellent for planetary observation due to their ability to provide high contrast and detailed views.

Some of the most newly detected objects may be over 13 billion light years away, as derived from a standard model of the Universe. However, a powerful new generation of telescopes, like the James Webb Space Telescope, will be needed to confirm the suspected distances of these objects.

The most important aspect of any telescope is its aperture, the diameter of its main optical component, which can be either a lens or a mirror. A scope's aperture determines both its light-gathering ability (how bright the image appears) and its resolving power (how sharp the image appears).

The telescope you want has two essentials: high-quality optics and a steady, smoothly working mount. And all other things being equal, big scopes show more and are easier to use than small ones, as we'll see below. But don't overlook portability and convenience — the best scope for you is the one you'll actually use.

With just a small or medium-sized telescope, skygazers can easily observe planets. You'll be surprised how much of our solar system you can see! And you don't need a dark sky to view all of our solar system's planets; even under city lights, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn can be easy to see with a telescope.

In summary: Refractors generally have the edge over reflectors for a quality image, both from the standpoint of lens/mirror quality and precision optical mountings, and lack of central obscurations.


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