Tele Vue-85 85mm f/7 APO Doublet Refractor Telescope

A 6lb apochromat for sharp views of the Moon, planets and wide star fields

The Tele Vue-85 Refractor is an 85mm f/7 apochromatic doublet with a 600mm focal length. It's a grab-and-go telescope for visual observers who want crisp, color-free views without a heavy mount, a travel scope that fits in its carry case, and a daytime spotting scope for birders. With a reducer and camera it also makes a fine small imaging telescope.

Key specs: 85mm APO doublet · 600mm focal length, f/7 · 4.4° maximum visual field · 225x maximum useful power · 2" Focusmate dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser, 10:1 · 5.95lb (2.7kg) tube · 21.9" long with a 2" diagonal · white or green finish

What you'll see

• The Moon: craters, rilles and mountain shadows along the terminator, with clean edges and no purple fringe.
• Planets: Jupiter's cloud belts and Great Red Spot, Saturn's rings and the Cassini Division, the phases of Venus and, near opposition, the polar caps of Mars.
• Wide star fields: the whole Pleiades, the Double Cluster in one view, the Beehive Cluster and long stretches of the Milky Way.
• Bright deep-sky objects: the Orion Nebula, the Lagoon Nebula (M8), the Andromeda Galaxy and its companions, and globular clusters such as M13.
• Double stars: Albireo's gold and blue, Mizar and Alcor, and tighter pairs on steady nights.
• Daytime: wildlife and birds with a correct-image diagonal.

Setup

Attach a ring mount to the tube, set it on a mount or a sturdy photo tripod, slide the dew shield forward and add a 2" diagonal and eyepiece. Focus with the large knob, then use the small 10:1 knob for fine focus at high power. There's nothing to collimate, and the small doublet cools down quickly, so it's ready in a few minutes, even on a cold Colorado night.

For astrophotography, Tele Vue's TRF-2008 0.8x reducer/flattener turns it into a 480mm f/5.6 imaging telescope. Ask us about the right adapters for your camera.

What to add for the best results

• Tele Vue-85 Accessory Package (or your own ring and diagonal, required): a 3" clamshell ring mount with tripod threads, a 2" 90° Everbrite diagonal with 2"-to-1¼" adapter, and an 18.2mm DeLite eyepiece (33x, 1.8° field).
• A low-power wide-field eyepiece: the Tele Vue 55mm Plössl gives 11x and Tele Vue's 4.4° maximum field, and the 24mm Panoptic gives 25x with a wide 68° view.
• Medium and high power: the 9mm DeLite (67x) for clusters and the Moon, and the 5mm DeLite (120x) or 3mm DeLite (200x) for planets and close double stars.
• Tele Vue 2.5x Powermate: multiplies any 1¼" eyepiece by 2.5x for planets, or helps a planetary camera reach the right image scale.
• A mount: the Sky-Watcher EQ-AL55i Pro or the Wave 100i give you GoTo and tracking, and either carries the Tele Vue-85 with a camera.

Tele Vue-85 vs. other Tele Vue refractors

See all Tele Vue telescopes.

What's in the box

• Tele Vue-85 optical tube with Focusmate dual-speed 2" focuser (10:1)
• Sliding metal dew shield
• Screw-on metal lens cover
• Soft carry case

The ring mount, diagonal, eyepieces and mount are sold separately. The accessory package adds the ring, diagonal and an eyepiece.

Tele Vue-85 FAQ

Is the Tele Vue-85 good for beginners?

Yes. There's nothing to collimate, it cools down fast, and it's light enough to carry out in one trip. Pair it with the accessory package and a couple of eyepieces and you're ready to observe.

Can I see Saturn and Jupiter with it?

Yes. At 100x to 200x you'll see Saturn's rings and the Cassini Division, and Jupiter's cloud belts and moons. The apochromatic lens keeps bright planets free of the purple halo you see in ordinary refractors.

What mount do I need?

For visual use, a sturdy alt-az mount or heavy photo tripod with the Tele Vue ring mount works. For tracking and imaging, a GoTo equatorial mount such as the EQ-AL55i Pro or Wave 100i carries it easily.

Can I use it for astrophotography?

Yes. With the TRF-2008 0.8x reducer/flattener it becomes a 480mm f/5.6 imaging telescope. It also works well for the Moon and Sun (with a proper solar filter) with a planetary camera.

Tele Vue-85 or Tele Vue-76?

The Tele Vue-76 is about a pound lighter and gives a slightly wider maximum field (5.5°). The Tele Vue-85 has more aperture and a longer focal length, which helps on planets, double stars and fainter objects.

Can I use it for birding?

Yes. Tele Vue has long marketed it to birders. Add a correct-image diagonal and a zoom or low-power eyepiece.

Specifications