Omegon AC 80/400 AZ-3 Telescope – Compact Wide-Field Refractor
The Omegon AC 80/400 AZ-3 is a compact 80mm achromatic refractor designed for wide-field observing, easy transport and straightforward operation. Its short 400mm focal length gives an f/5 optical system, making it particularly well suited to sweeping large areas of the night sky and enjoying expansive views through the eyepiece.
Supplied with the Omegon AZ-3 altazimuth mount, aluminium tripod, two 1.25-inch eyepieces, 90° star diagonal and red-dot finder, this is a practical complete telescope package for beginners and anyone looking for a lightweight grab-and-go refractor.
80mm Aperture with a Short 400mm Focal Length
The telescope uses an 80mm achromatic objective combined with a 400mm focal length. This relatively short focal length produces the wide fields of view associated with compact rich-field refractors.
Rather than restricting you to a narrow section of sky, the 80/400 design allows you to explore larger celestial regions and star fields. This makes it particularly appealing for casual exploration of the night sky and for searching for objects such as comets.
The wide-field design can also provide attractive views of larger astronomical objects and regions. The Andromeda Galaxy and open star clusters are examples highlighted for this telescope, although the supplier specification classifies general nebula and galaxy observing as not recommended.
A Portable Telescope for Astronomy and Nature
One of the attractions of an 80/400 refractor is its compact optical tube. It is considerably easier to transport than many longer focal-length telescopes, making it a useful choice when you want an observing setup that can be moved and set up without unnecessary complexity.
The telescope is also specified for nature observation. During daylight hours it can therefore be used for observing distant terrestrial subjects, before returning to astronomical use after dark.
The supplied 90° star diagonal is primarily intended to provide a comfortable viewing angle when the telescope is pointed towards the sky.
Omegon AZ-3 Altazimuth Mount
The telescope is supplied on the Omegon AZ-3 altazimuth mount. Altazimuth operation keeps movement intuitive: the telescope can be moved horizontally and vertically to locate and follow objects.
The AZ-3 also incorporates slow-motion controls on both axes. Once an object has been centred in the eyepiece, these controls allow smaller, more precise movements than simply pushing the telescope by hand. This is particularly useful when following astronomical targets as they move across the field of view.
The mount can rotate through 360°, allowing the telescope to be directed around the horizon as required.
Standard 1.25-Inch Eyepiece System
The rack-and-pinion focuser accepts standard 1.25-inch eyepieces, giving the telescope access to the widely used 1.25-inch astronomical eyepiece format.
Two eyepieces are supplied:
- Super 20mm eyepiece
- Super 10mm eyepiece
A 1.25-inch 90° star diagonal and red-dot finder are also included according to the supplier specification.
Red-Dot Finder for Simple Target Location
The included red-dot finder provides a straightforward way to aim the telescope. Rather than looking through a magnifying finder telescope, you use the illuminated reference point to help align the main telescope with the area of sky you want to observe.
This simple aiming system is particularly useful for a beginner telescope intended for wide-field exploration.
Who Is the Omegon 80/400 AZ-3 For?
The supplier recommends this telescope for beginners. Its compact refractor design, manual altazimuth mount and wide-field characteristics make it particularly suitable for observers who value portability and straightforward visual observing.
According to the supplied specifications, the telescope is suitable for Moon and planetary observation and nature observation. Astrophotography is listed as not recommended, and this model should therefore be regarded primarily as a visual observing telescope.
Key Features
- 80mm achromatic refractor
- 400mm focal length
- Fast f/5 focal ratio
- Compact wide-field optical design
- AZ-3 manual altazimuth mount
- Slow-motion controls on both mount axes
- 360° mount rotation
- Rack-and-pinion focuser
- Standard 1.25-inch eyepiece connection
- Super 20mm and Super 10mm eyepieces included
- Red-dot finder included
- 1.25-inch 90° star diagonal included
- Aluminium tripod
- Suitable for astronomical and nature observation
Specifications
Optics
| Optical type | Refractor |
| Optical design | Achromat |
| Aperture | 80mm |
| Focal length | 400mm |
| Focal ratio | f/5 |
| Resolving capacity | 1.44 |
| Limiting magnitude | 11.3 mag |
| Light-gathering capacity | 130 |
| Maximum useful magnification | 160x |
| Tube construction | Full tube |
| Dew cap diameter | 100mm |
Focuser
| Focuser type | Gear rack |
| Eyepiece connection | 1.25" |
Mount
| Mount | AZ-3 |
| Mounting type | Altazimuth |
| GoTo control | No |
Tripod
| Material | Aluminium |
| Type | Tripod |
Included Accessories
| 1.25" eyepieces | Super 20mm, Super 10mm |
| Finder | Red-dot finder |
| Barlow lens | None specified |
| Diagonal | 1.25", 90° star diagonal |
General
| Series | Basic |
Area of Application
| Moon & planets | Yes |
| Nebulae & galaxies | Not recommended |
| Nature observation | Yes |
| Astrophotography | Not recommended |
| Sun | Not recommended – only with an appropriate solar filter |
Recommended For
| Beginners | Yes |
| Advanced observers | No |
| Observatories | No |
Solar Observation Safety
Never look directly at the Sun through this telescope without suitable specialist solar equipment. Solar observation requires a suitable certified solar filter securely fitted over the front aperture of the telescope. An eyepiece solar filter must not be used as a substitute for a proper front-aperture solar filter.
Instruction Manuals
Three English-language instruction manuals are available for the telescope, AZ-3 mount and supplied red-dot finder.
