Terrestrial Viewing Considerations - Indeed, the Cornell Ornithology Lab comparison reported
the Tele Vue-85 as having the finest optics for birding.
The Tele Vue 55mm Plössl or 41mm Panoptic in a 2” diagonal will provide a 4.4° true field. This
can serve as a finder, for rich field viewing or for terrestrial use. (Image is upright, but left-right reversed
using diagonal mirrors.)
Tele Vue developed the 1¼” 60° Everbrite Diagonal (part# DPC-6012) specifically for terrestrial
observers who appreciate the highest levels of image performance. The 60° angle is far more comfortable
for terrestrial observing than the standard 90°, and the 99% reflective Everbrite dielectric coating gives the
truest color rendition of any mirror or prism, and is sharpest at the highest powers.
For correct left-right viewing, use the Tele Vue 45° erector (part# AMI-0011). Barlows, Powermates
and Bino Vue are not recommended with the 45° erector. For 1¼” diagonals and prisms, the 32mm Plössl
or 24mm Panoptic offer the maximum field. 2.6° at 19x and 25x respectively.
If you use the telescope in a harsh environment such as at a beach where sand, mud and salt spray
are present, or for birding, you may wish to use a 95mm clear filter for protection, while using the telescope.
It is available from camera dealers, and simply screws onto the lens cell in place of the cover. These filters
are generally not used for astronomy as they can degrade optical quality.
Getting Acquainted with Your New
Tele Vue
-85
Note: O.T.A. purchasers must supply eyepieces, eyepiece adapter, diagonal, and ring mount in order for
the telescope to function.
TV-
85 Accessory Package includes these items.
1.1 Optical Tube Assembly
The OTA consists of the objective cell, tube and focuser. The front cell houses the carefully aligned ob-
jective. Never attempt to loosen the 3 alignment screws in the front lens cell. The tube is aluminum and
powder coated, requiring no special care. The rack and pinion focuser is driven by high leverage 1:1
knobs on both the left and right sides, and a 10:1 reduction knob only on the right side. The two tension
screws on the top of the focuser body can be adjusted to add resistance when using heavy eyepieces.
These tension screws tighten against a brass clamp ring, which then cinches down on the Teflon sleeve
in which the draw tube slides. For photography it is not necessary to tighten beyond the need to keep a
camera stationary. Even when sufficiently tight, the focuser knobs can still drive the draw tube. The two
lock screws in the end of the draw tube also tighten against a brass clamp ring for extra holding power
on the diagonal or other accessories.
1.2 Ring Mount
The Ring Mount (available separately or in the package) permits easy telescope balancing. Simply unlock
the “bat handle,” reposition the telescope by sliding it fore or aft, and re-lock. Slots with 10-32 holes are
available for mounting accessories.
1.3 Eyepieces
Tele Vue eyepieces offer a range of magnifications from 11x to 200x, with the
Tele Vue-85
. We
recommend choosing low and medium power eyepieces in ratios of field stop diameters. For example,
factors of 1.4 or 2.0. When choosing higher power eyepieces, use ratios of magnification. (see reference
chart in the “Choosing Your Eyepieces” article.) The
TV-
85 Accessory Package includes an 18.2 DeLite
that offers a 1.8° true field at 33x magnification with 20mm of eye relief.
1.4 Photography
For prime focus photography at 600mm f/7 using a DSLR, use camera adapter (part# ACM-2000). For
flat field astrophotography at 480mm f/5.6, use the Tele Vue 0.8x reducer/flattener, (part# TRF-2008).
Tele Vue Powermates with optional T-ring adapters provide a variety of options for extending focal length.
To reach focus with the Powermates requires our 3.5” extension tube. Afocal photography using your
cell phone camera is accomplished with FoneMate
TM
(part# SFA-001). For Piggyback DSLR photography,
attach the Piggy-Cam platform, (part# PGC-1001) to the Ring Mount.
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