Telescopes

APO180FL F/7

APO180FL F/7 - Highly popular and TEC’s largest portable telescope. It fits in any car and could be lifted and installed on the mount by one person. Same excellent color correction as in APO160FL.

$19,00000


Description
Technical Details
Availability
Additional Options

Description

Our largest portable refractor, the APO180FL F/7 allows the observer to delve deep into the beauty of space.

The APO180FL F/7 features an oil-spaced apochromatic-triplet objective with a Fluorite (CaF2) middle element, resulting in color correction that is optimized for visual use and imaging. This oil-spaced triplet design, in combination with multi-layer coatings on all surfaces of the objective, ensures maximal light transmission.

The objective is housed in an aluminum cell, providing excellent thermoregulation properties while remaining lightweight and strong.

The optical assembly sits in a lightweight aluminum tube that utilizes anti-reflective coating and sharp-edged baffles throughout the interior. And forget about collimation – after the scope leaves TEC, no adjustment is required.

The crisp all-white assembly projects the elegant, handcrafted quality that TEC is known for. Expect deep contrast and rich, natural color from this compact and timeless design.

Each APO180FL F/7 comes equipped with:

  • A Starlight Instruments FTF#3545 Feather Touch Focuser, designed in collaboration with TEC.
  • Starlight Instruments’ largest rotating focuser with coarse and fine focusing (9:1 Planetary Reduction Assembly).
  • A 2" locking metal collet that is insensitive to temperature fluctuations and holds loads with high precision and concentricity.
  • A focuser wheel for easy mount installation and direction.

Available for in-person viewing at the Company 7 Showroom in Maryland, USA.

In classic refractor fashion, the TEC APO180FL F/7 is a no-compromise, no-frills design that lets the wonders of nature speak for themselves.

Price: $19,000 (including an initial $6,000 refundable deposit).

Note: ALL PRICES AND AVAILABILITY ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. The price initially quoted for a telescope purchase may not be reflected in the final invoice. Wait times may also be longer than initially quoted.

How to place an order with TEC

To place an order, please complete the checkout process directly on our site. After your order is submitted, you will receive a confirmation email with next steps for TEC to take your deposit and begin processing. Your order is added to the production list once the deposit is received, but pricing is not guaranteed. The balance is due upon completion. Accessories and mounts can be requested in the order comments. Prices, availability, and lead times may change without notice. Paypal fees apply. Contact us with any questions or cancellations.

Specifications

Clear Aperture 180 mm
Focal Length 1260 mm
Focal Ratio 7.0
Resolution (Theoretical) 0.66 arcsec
Dew Shield Diameter 9.11" / 231.5 mm
Tube Diameter 7.56" / 192 mm
Tube Length (Retracted) 44.5" / 1130 mm
Tube Length (Extended) 53" / 1346 mm
Focuser Tube Fully Extended +3.5" / 114 mm
Length in Working Position 56.1" / 1425 mm
Back Focus 8.27" / 210 mm ±1
Center of Gravity (with 2.5 lb / 1 kg load) 19.7" / 500 mm
Center of Gravity (Telescope Retracted) 21.3" / 540 mm
Tube Weight 36.5 lb / 16.5 kg
OTA Weight with Rings, Plate, Handle 40 lbs / 18.2 kg
 

Focuser Information

 

Testing and Quality Assurance

TEC Telescopes go through rigorous testing to ensure top quality performance. Newtonian Rings are used throughout the glass production process and we then use an interferometer to correct any remaining imperfections. Every telescope is then tested vigorously to reach the most optimum Strehl ratio possible. Rest assured that your telescope has been optimized to be as optically perfect as possible. If the objective does not reach Yuri’s expectations, the telescope will not be shipped. As a strict policy, TEC will not release telescope test reports.

While the objectives are fine-tuned under interferometrical control to meet the highest optical standards, cosmetic imperfections may exist in the objective and the tube assembly. Please rest assured that any imperfection in the telescope has been determined not to affect the optical performance.

 

Manuals & Diagrams

2006 TEC APO180 User Manual Available for Download

Click here to download the 2006 TEC APO180 User Manual

Product Sketches Available for Download

Click here to download APO180FL F7 COG

Click here to download APO180FL F7 Dimensions

Focuser Instructions Available for Download

Click here to download Focuser Instructions

Availability

May 1st, 2025: We currently expect new APO180FL F/7 orders to ship in Winter 2025. 

Mount Recommendations

  • 10Micron GM2000 HPS
  • 10Micron AZ2000 HPS
  • Astro-Physics 1100GTO Mount

Recommended Accessories

  • 12" Dovetail Plate and Carry Handle for large models
  • 19" Dovetail Plate and Carry Handle
  • Precision adjustable Tube Rings
  • Focal Reducer Corrector (F/7 to F/6.2, 115mm back focus)
  • 10×60 Baader Vario Finderscope with TEC Finder Bracket and Base
  • 7×50 Vixen Finderscope with TEC Finder Bracket and Base
  • Gutekunst Compact Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector (ADC) with adapter set
View All Accessories

Details

Product TypeDigital
Item#

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