The SkyWatcher 80/400 refractor is a good compromise for those looking for a compact instrument for both astronomy and nature observation. Its small size and light weight make it easy to take along on family outings.
With a lens diameter of 8 cm, it collects 30% more light than its 7 cm counterpart and has a higher resolution. It's a short-focus, f/5 brightness small telescope with a huge field of view. Away from cities, its field of view in dark skies can include a multitude of sparkling open clusters or vast, mysterious interstellar nebulae. Recommended for astronomical observations at magnifications up to about 80-100x.
The package includes 25 mm as well as 10 mm Super Bárium eyepieces, which give magnifications of 16x and 40x. For even higher magnifications, a good solution is to purchase a 2x barlow lens. The standard amici prism gives a straight side-on image, which is particularly advantageous for nature observation. For astronomical use, we recommend the purchase of a zenith mirror! The basic package includes a 6x30 finder scope, which is inverted in the basic version, but can be exchanged for a straight-angle viewfinder for an extra charge. The latter allows you to observe the night sky (and targets on the ground) in the same orientation as with the naked eye, making it even easier to adjust.
The telescopes won't let you get bored during the day! It's great for viewing the surrounding landscape even at dusk. When used as a spotting scope, we recommend a 8-24 mm zoom eyepiece covering the magnification range of 16-50x. In fact, SLR cameras can be easily mounted on the end of the telescope - with a suitable T2 adapter ring - and turn the telescope into a telephoto lens!
The SkyWatcher 80/400 refractor can be purchased with the AZ-3 mount, which makes the telescope primarily suitable for nature observation and only secondarily recommended for stargazing.
