Product Description

The EON 120ED's optics consist of a fully multi-coated, air-spaced 120mm objective doublet lens of exceptional quality, containing one element of FPL-53 extra-low dispersion -- "ED" -- optical glass. The ED glass virtually eliminates the color fringing around bright objects resulting from chromatic aberration. Images are crisp, sharp, and color-pure, even at high magnification. The big 120mm objective has a 900mm focal length (f/7.5). Baffles inside the optical tube, glare threads in the focuser drawtube, and a retracting lens shade/dew shield eliminate unwanted glare. Like all EON telescopes, the 120ED has a beautifully machined Crayford-type 2" focuser with a removable 1.25" insert, allowing use of either 2" or 1.25" accessories. The gearless Crayford design provides smooth, zero image-shift focusing. The dual-speed focusing knobs have an 11:1 micro-focusing ratio. The focuser is rotatable 360 degrees, allowing comfortable eyepiece positioning or easy image framing when you're taking pictures. A dovetail finder scope base comes standard and accommodates any Orion finder scope or EZ Finder. The EON 120ED comes with two hinged tube rings and a dovetail mounting plate. Also included are an aluminum objective lens cap and a sturdy, aluminum-clad carrying case with custom foam interior and carrying handle. Weighs 14 lbs., 9 oz. One-year limited warranty.

Product Details

• Brand: Orion

Features

• A breakthrough in performance and value, our biggest EON will delight the avid observer or imager
• 120mm doublet lens crafted with FPL-53 "ED" glass to virtually eliminate chromatic aberration
• Focal length of 900mm (f/7.5) provides excellent magnification and resolving power
• Machined aluminum 2" Crayford focuser has dual-speed focus knobs with 11:1 fine-focus ratio
• Retractable lens shade, tube rings and mounting plate, finder scope base, carrying case included

Customer Reviews

Optical Work of Art
As refractors go, this is as good as it gets! You could pay LOTS more for another brand Apochromatic over 100mm in aperature, but this big EON OTA has virtually no price competition. Anyone would be proud to own this exquisite black beauty.

Actually, this is NOT a "complete" telescope, but rather an optical tube; there is no mount or accessories included. It does come with a storage case to protect the optical tube and make it easily transportable. The hard case is made of aluminum. with a molded inside foam cushion liner surrounding all surfaces of the OTA itself. There are foam insert "holes" for a few accessories as well.

The optics (objective lens) is made of highest quality fluorite "ED" glass, with extra low dispersion characteristics, rendering the sharpest possible images. Also, this tube has a well designed, dual purpose, retractable dew shield - lens shade, another unique feature that sets Orion's EON series apart. This is a very desirable feature to improve night sky observing conditions in light polluted areas.

Most truly apochromatic (color corrected) refractors of this aperature size, cost thousands more. Perhaps Orion's is so much lower has to do with the fact that only the rear objective lens element has the FPL-53 "ED" glass. Apochromatics based on three element lenses are more highly regarded, but perhaps "overkill", considering Orion's "ED" Apo produces equally good results visually. For astro photography, the higher cost tripet APOs seem to render a little "extra" image quality.

In addition, the lens is FULLY multicoated, so both doublet surfaces are specially coated to reduce glare. The EON also has interior concentric divider plate baffles to eliminate unwanted stray reflections in the optical pathway.

The gloss black finish is truly striking, adding much to a high quality appearance. The EON's functionality, workmanship quality, fit and finish are simply superb!

The focuser drawtube assembly is also of fine quality using the smoother and "Crayford" (gearless) adjusting mechanism. It has dual speed, 11:1 ratio adjuster wheels, and the entire focuser housing can be rotated 360 degree for special astro photography applications.

It also comes with two heavy duty, "clamping" rings (that won't mare the OTA's finish while adjusting ring separation) that fasten to the included dovetail mounting bracket. The latter is used to attach the OTA to a telescope mount (sold separately).

As a word of caution, the mount used with this OTA will need to be fairly substantial to carry the weight, and keep the optics stable. If the mount is not stable, the image seen through the eyepiece at high power will be too jittery. This is where the concept of a "grab and go" telescope ends. This OTA, once properly mounted, is too delicate with too much mass to be easily moved from one observing location to another.

The mount type can be either equatorial or altazimuth for astronomical or terrestrial applications respectively. Evem a typical camera tripod - a very sturdy unit - can be used. I don't recommend this biggest EON model OTA for the latter as there are much cheaper (and lighter) spotting scopes suitable for land based observations.

At the back end of the OTA, is a 2" diameter eyepiece coupler, as well as an included 1.25" adapter. EPs are available in both sizes, so diagonals and/or eyepieces of either diameter can be used. It is also recommended to add a 2" Extender section to ensure sufficient focusing range for all possible combinations of diagonals and eyepiece focal lengths.

***WARNING: Don't cheap out on diagonal and EP items because they also serve an important role in the optical pathway to an observer's eye. A cheap (e.g. plastic) diagonal and/or eyepiece, commonly provided in most toy store telescopes, will degrade optical image quality. It is not too unreasonable to spend several hundred dollars on quality telescope accessories, including a finder scope, worthy of a high end apochromatic refractor. An adaptor foot compatible with Orion's line of very fine optional finder scopes is included, sans finderscope itself.

This is a SERIOUS piece of telescoping hardware, still quite easy to use by beginning astronomers. All that is required is a suitable observing area hopefully with as little artificial light pollution as possible, and clear sky overhead. In that regard, "patience" is a definite virtue whether you are a beginner or expert level astronomer! Sadly, there are actually very few pristine night skies throughout the year near populated areas.

For optimal stargazing, especialy of faint, deep sky objects (DSOs), set up your telescope away from lighted areas, allow time for the telescope's optics to reach thermal equilibrium and your eyes to adapt to night vision. With good atmospheric "seeing" conditions, you will be able to observe DSOs and fine details far better away from a typical urban vantage point.

Backyard observing is certainly more convenient, and the bigger the telescope, the more likely the "norm". Even though this 120mm refractor OTA is relatively compact by design, and easy to transport in its case, it still can be difficult and cumbersome to move while on a telescope mount. On Summer vacationd up in the mountains, it is well worth taking along.

With the ultra high contrast, high resolution and sharp images of a large aperature apochromatic refractor, craters on the Moon, and the larger planets, even ocassional glimpses of the orbiting International Space Station, will be easily viewable almost under any nightly conditions. Under pristine night skies, at high magnification (up to 200x) with a suitable EP, the colorful cloud belts of Jupiter and incredibly beautiful rings of Saturn including the gap between the rings called the Cassini division, will be especially rewarding to view.

With this telescope, you'll have one of the finest optical instruments available to amateur astromomers. Refractors are the most traditional telescopes since Galileo's time 400 years ago. Until gaining some amount of experience you may be initially disappointed at "first light", so consider attending a local astronomy club meeting and/or a star party.

Bottom line: You will no doubt be the envy of fellow astronomers with this big 120mm Apo refractor. Even if you do nothing more than to point this big EON through an open window, (certainly unrecommended for serious observing), you will still be delighted throughout the year to the many treasures of the universe.