I purchased the Skywatcher ED 80 as a used telescope from Fernrohrland in 2008. In USA it is labeled as Orion ED 80. As one of the early models, it came with a white tube. It is one of the few instruments I own that I did not build myself.

The option to detach the Baader focuser via an M88 coupling ring, combined with the ability to remove the dew shield, allows it to be transported in an inexpensive tool case from a hardware store. (Image 1)

The compact telescope delivers sharp, color-pure images at magnifications up to approximately 120x. Chromatic aberration only becomes noticeable at higher magnifications. Using a 2-inch star diagonal further noticeably reduces this aberration—a finding confirmed by Wolfgang Rohr during his optical tests.

The chromatic aberration of the ED80/600 objective (rated RC 1.8) was reduced to an RC value of 1.24 by introducing a 50 mm glass path.

The low tube weight of 3 kilograms allows it to be used as a travel telescope. It can be assembled from its case within a minute. (Image 2)

The Skywatcher ED 80/600—also known as the "Volksapo" (people's apochromat)—was the instrument I used during my trip to China for the solar eclipse in July 2009. At that time, it was mounted on a Skywatcher AZ3 mount atop Mount Emei in Sichuan Province, at an elevation of 3,070 meters above sea level. Today, I set it up on an AYO Traveller mount and a Sirui tripod when on vacation, as shown in Image 3.