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I have just purchased the Orion VX80, a 80mm F/8 Fluorite apo! Last night I saw the moon, mars and venus. Venus about 3/4 phase, nothing too interesting here. Full moon was a lot sharper than my 200mm Reflector as I recall. Mars was redish with maybe just a hint of shading of features, sometime I hope to see something and I don't know if it is really there. I was using a 7.5 mm with a 2x barlow. But the best part was just searching around, seeing incredible pinpointy stars. I haven't been out in so long, and I forgot how great the sky looked. I didn't expect the scope so soon, I saw and ordered it off the net Tuesday night (it was on special, and I couldn't resist) and it came Thursday! Bad news, I didn't get a diagonal or a mount. The scope was very awkward to use with the GP mount, which I also use for the 200mm reflector. I also was getting eaten up by mosquitos or some other bug, and was at a loss of what to look for in my unfamiliar city illuminated skies. I'll admit it, I am a rank amatur and a wimp! So I called it a quick night.
Any advice on a good diagonal to use? The scope has an adapter (also not purchased yet) to be able to use a 2" attatchment. Stay with the 1.25 or go with the 2"? Remeber it is only a 80mm scope.
BTW, I purchased this scope because of the transportability factor. I do travel quite a bit at times to some pretty remote sites and always wanted someting I could take with me. The ranger/pronto was also a possibility but I just couldn't resist the extra aperture ( I guess reading to many of Jay's recomendations). I got to admit I didn't look around much or do many comparisions, but I couldn't be happier. One day it may become a guide scope or something who knows.
Nothing like a new scope to stir up the interest again.....