Orion StarMax 90mm TableTop Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope Review

 Rating: 5 stars====================Product price: Check new Price in amazon====================Buy with Secure Transaction Amazon now…====================
Product DescriptionWhoever coined the phrase "big things come in small packages", would have definitely applied that expression to our new StarMax 90 TableTop Telescope. This ultra-compact Maksutov-Cassegrain (Mak-Cass) gives surprisingly big views for an instrument of its modest size, making it an elegant first telescope or a great grab-and-go second telescope! The long, 1250mm (f/13.8) focal length gives the StarMax 90 TableTop some serious magnifying power - the included 25mm and 10mm 1.25" eyepieces yield powers of 50x and 125x, respectively. It collects over 25% more light than its GoScope 80 cousin, and up to 225% more light than a 60mm refractor telescope. So you'll be able to enjoy planetary delights such as lunar landscapes, Saturn's rings and Jupiter's moons. As you scan the Milky Way, you''l also be able to pull in some open and globular star clusters, as well as a nebula or two. The tube assembly of the StarMax 90mm TableTop Mak-Cass Telescope is attached to a stable swivel base, via a quick-release dovetail mount with adjustable altitude tension. The tube can easily be removed from the base and mounted on an optional photo tripod. The small swivel base itself can also be mounted on a camera tripod with a 3/8" screw. A red-dot view finder, internal focuser (which moves the primary lens back and forth) and included 90-degree correct image diagonal round out the features of this compact, yet surprisingly capable, Mak-Cass telescope.

Orion StarMax 90mm TableTop Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope

Customer Reviews:* I purchased this telescope about a month ago as my first telescope and I am nothing but happy with it. First of all the table top mount works just fine for me. It is sturdy enough for how compact it is. I will probably upgrade to a tripod at some point, but for now I just take this and a tray table out in the front yard and I'm ready to go. The supplied eyepieces seem to be of good quality and I have no complaints there either. The eye relief on the 10mm is a little rough if you wear glasses but still doable. The red dot is really easy to align and after a few tries i got set well enough to line up Jupiter every time. Okay and for the actual scope itself, well I am incredibly happy with it. It came perfectly collimated and ready out of the box. The views of the moon with the 25mm eyepiece are amazingly detailed panoramas and with the 10mm individual craters can be picked apart. Jupiter is amazing! First night out I saw the cloud bands with the four brightest moons circling. The Orion nebula is pleasing also. Not as much detail as some of the larger scopes I'm sure, but still more than enough to keep looking at it for over an hour in the freezing cold. The best part for me is I have seen all these things from my lit up parking lot in front of my apartment in the middle of Portland. Even with the street lights shining and all the other light pollution in the city I am able to see all these things easily and clearly. I can't wait to take it out somewhere with dark skies soon and really push this little telescope. The only negative I have is that because of the long focal length of this scope wide field of view is not really possible. I knew this going in so I am in no way disappointed, but still felt I should mention it. I mostly got this for the moon and planets, so like I said not really even a negative for me. Thanks and I hope this is helpful. * I have a 12" Meade LX200-ACF, but it is not something I can travel with, so naturally the Orion StarMax 90mm Mak-Cass seemed like a good choice as it is a very portable Cassegrain. It turns out that this telescope is an excellent choice for any portable scope. I am very impressed with Orion's optics, and the sturdiness of this scope. I do not use it with the table top mount, but instead purchased a Vista Explorer 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod from Amazon and mounted it onto the tripod, and it works incredibly well.The long focal lenght on this telescope give it some real magnification, which allows for a more serious survey of the night sky. The images are very crisp, and 90mm of aperature, though not much, is much better than the many 60, 70 and 80mm refractors that are also marketed as travel scopes.I recommend this telescope to anyone that is looking for a good travel or "grab and go" telescope, as well as to anyone looking for their first telescope.