Vixen Porta II A80Mf Review: What Three Months of Real Use Reveals

The Vixen Porta II A80Mf is a go-to beginner scope that earns its reputation with those hunting for a first telescope centered on the Moon and planets. Its friction-stop alt-azimuth mount, slow-motion controls, and Vixen-style dovetail saddle keep the mechanics intuitive — you point, then fine-tune, and the image settles without a fight.

That said, the complete set weighs 9.0 kg — closer to a full day-pack than a grab-and-go instrument. Avoiding buyer's remorse means thinking about storage and how often you'll actually carry it out before you buy, not just what you want to see.

This review unpacks what the A80Mf looks like after three months of regular use, from a beginner's perspective. It also covers how the scope stacks up against the Porta II R130Sf and the newer AE81M, along with real-world pricing pulled from price-tracking sites. By the end, you'll have enough to decide: buy the A80Mf, pass on it, or look at a different model.

What Is the Vixen Porta II? First Impressions After Three Months

Where the Porta II Fits in Vixen's Lineup

The Porta II is the name of Vixen's alt-azimuth mount series. Unlike an Equatorial mount — which requires polar alignment to track objects — the Porta II moves up-down and left-right in a way that feels completely natural, even for someone who has never touched a telescope. The mount covers 360° horizontally and roughly 90° vertically, and the friction-stop mechanism keeps the tube in place without needing to tighten a lock knob each time you reposition.

What makes the mount genuinely useful isn't just that it moves easily. You sweep to the general area with your hand, then use the slow-motion control knobs to dial the object into the center of the field. That two-stage approach works particularly well on targets like the Moon or planets, where you want precise centering. Alt-azimuth mounts get busier to track as magnification climbs, but the Porta II keeps the relationship between coarse and fine motion clear enough that beginners can quickly learn what to touch and when.

The mount also uses a Vixen-style dovetail saddle. You slide the dovetail bar on the tube into the saddle and clamp it — swapping or removing the tube is fast and doesn't require tools. The Porta II alt-azimuth is rated for tubes up to roughly 5 kg, and the A80Mf tube at 3.3 kg sits well within that.

The telescope that rides the mount determines what you actually see well. The Porta II A80Mf is an 80 mm refractor with a 910 mm focal length, oriented toward careful observation of the Moon and planets. The Porta II R130Sf pairs the same mount with a 130 mm reflector, opening it up to fainter targets like nebulae and star clusters. In other words, the Porta II mount is what's excellent — the tube you put on it decides the specialty.

Who the A80Mf Is Really For

Within the Porta II lineup, the A80Mf is the closest thing to a textbook recommendation for beginners. The 80 mm refractor tube requires no collimation and delivers a clean, honest image. Its 910 mm focal length tips the balance toward lunar and planetary detail rather than wide, sweeping fields.

The magnifications that come in the box are easy to read. At 46×, you get the full Moon in a comfortable field with room to spare — good for spotting Jupiter's moons and getting oriented. Push to 144× and the craters on the Moon gain real three-dimensional texture, Jupiter's cloud bands appear, and Saturn's rings become unmistakable. That's the range where a beginner crosses from "I can see something" to "I understand why people do this."

One often-overlooked inclusion is the 31.7 mm erecting prism. It flips the image right-side-up, which means the A80Mf works just as well for daytime terrestrial use — distant mountains, towers, birds on a branch. The scope isn't locked away as night-only equipment, which matters when you're justifying the purchase to a household.

Where the A80Mf falls short is anything outside the Moon-and-planets niche. An 80 mm aperture won't pull in faint galaxies or dim nebulae with any drama, especially from a light-polluted backyard. Bright open clusters and the Orion Nebula are fine under dark skies, but the instrument's home territory is the solar system. If deep-sky observing is the priority, the R130Sf's extra aperture and wider field suit that goal more directly.

Weight is the other honest qualifier. At 9.0 kg for the complete set — roughly four 2-liter bottles — it's manageable for short carries, but calling it "portable" in the ultralight sense would be misleading. This is a serious beginner scope, not a light beginner scope. Understanding that distinction before buying saves a lot of frustration later.

The Bottom Line Up Front

After three months, the A80Mf earns a clear verdict: it delivers high satisfaction for Moon and planet observing, but it isn't a do-everything instrument. Lunar craters are rewarding from the very first session. Jupiter shows its cloud bands and four Galilean moons. Saturn's rings are immediately convincing. The two included magnifications — 46× and 144× — are enough to feel genuinely engaged with the night sky.

The limits show up when expectations push into fainter territory. An 80 mm refractor has excellent contrast but modest light-gathering compared to a 130 mm class instrument. Under good dark skies it handles bright clusters and prominent nebulae, but it won't pull spectacular structure out of galaxies or faint diffuse nebulae, especially from a city. Think of it as a dedicated lunar-planetary scope that handles bright showpiece objects as a bonus, and the A80Mf's strengths and weaknesses make complete sense.

The rest of this review separates the Porta II mount from the A80Mf tube, because they're worth evaluating independently. The mount's value lives in its friction-stop motion, slow-motion controls, and dovetail saddle. The tube's value — and its constraints — live in the 80 mm aperture, 910 mm focal length, and 9.0 kg total weight. Keeping those two threads distinct makes it easier to decide whether this particular combination fits your situation.

Specs and Why They Work for Beginners

Key Specifications

The numbers below tell you more than they first appear to. The A80Mf's personality — suited to the Moon and planets rather than wide-field deep-sky — shows directly in the combination of an 80 mm aperture and a 910 mm focal length.

Translated into practical terms: the A80Mf is set up to show the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn clearly. A refractor gives crisp contrast, 80 mm is bright enough for a starter scope, and a 910 mm focal length reaches useful high magnifications without needing exotic Eyepieces.

The F/11.4 ratio is genuinely beginner-friendly, even if it sounds like just a number. Short focal-ratio scopes offer wide fields but demand more careful Eyepiece selection when you want to zoom in on a planet. The A80Mf sidesteps that by shipping with Eyepieces that already cover 46× for overview work and 144× for detail — you can go from scanning the full Moon to picking out crater walls without buying anything extra.

Three Core Strengths: Friction-Stop, Slow-Motion Controls, and the Dovetail Saddle

The reason the A80Mf holds up as an entry point isn't optics alone. The mount's operating logic is what keeps beginners from giving up. Think of it in three layers: sweep by hand, refine with the knobs, swap the tube when you're ready to upgrade.

Friction-stop motion is the first layer. You don't clamp and unclamp a lock knob to move the tube — you just push it where you want to look. For a bright target like the Moon, that cuts the setup ritual down to almost nothing. The friction hold keeps the tube stable without fussing.

Slow-motion controls are the second layer. At higher magnifications, objects drift out of the field of view faster than you might expect. Nudging the tube directly at 144× is too coarse — the image jumps around. The slow-motion knobs let you glide a planet back to center with confidence. The learning curve for this — coarse move first, fine adjustment second — is short enough that most beginners pick it up in a session.

The dovetail saddle is the third layer. Removing and reattaching the tube is quick and tool-free. At the beginner stage that mostly means easier storage. Later, it means the mount is ready to accept a different tube if your interests shift — the system isn't closed.

The Porta II alt-azimuth is rated for tubes up to roughly 5 kg, and the A80Mf tube at 3.3 kg is a comfortable fit. Loading the Eyepiece end with heavy accessories will shift the balance, so the standard configuration is where the mount feels its best.

The summary: the A80Mf earns beginner-friendly status not just because it shows things well, but because the whole sequence — point, find, track — is easy to understand from the first night out. A telescope you can't point reliably doesn't get used.

The Included Eyepieces: 46× and 144×, Plus an Erecting Prism

The A80Mf typically ships with a PL20mm and PL6.3mm Eyepiece, delivering roughly 46× and 144× respectively, though bundle contents can vary by retailer — confirm before purchasing.

46× is where you'll spend most of your time getting oriented. The field is wide enough to keep the Moon in view comfortably, easy enough to sweep for Jupiter's moons, and forgiving enough that you don't lose objects the moment you stop pushing. It's a good confidence-building magnification.

144× is where the A80Mf's long focal length pays off. Crater rims pick up real shadow depth. Jupiter's main cloud bands resolve. Saturn's rings separate cleanly from the disk. This is the range where a beginner stops feeling like they're looking at a textbook illustration and starts feeling like they're actually out there in the solar system.

The included 31.7 mm erecting prism deserves a mention that often gets skipped. It corrects the image orientation so everything appears right-side-up — not just useful at night, but essential if you want to use the scope during the day for distant scenery, birds, or distant landmarks. A telescope that pulls double duty for the whole family is easier to justify owning than one that lives in the closet eleven months a year.

Everything in the standard box has a clear job: 46× for navigation and overview, 144× for close-up planetary detail, and the erecting prism for daytime use. That role clarity is worth more than it sounds for beginners who aren't yet sure which accessories they actually need.

What You Can Realistically Expect to See

Moon and Planets

The most satisfying targets through the A80Mf are, unsurprisingly, the Moon and planets. The Moon in particular is nearly impossible to disappoint with — first-session observers regularly describe it as the moment they understood why people get into this hobby.

At 46×, the surface texture is already interesting: dark seas, bright highlands, and the broad outlines of major craters. Step up to 144× and specific formations like Tycho and Copernicus come into their own — the crater walls catch sunlight along one edge while the interiors lie in shadow, and the relief becomes genuinely striking. A half-phase Moon, where shadows run long across the terminator, is more detailed and dramatic than a full Moon, which washes out the terrain.

Jupiter is a reliable win for an 80 mm refractor. At low magnification the four Galilean moons appear as tiny pinpoints flanking the disk — seeing them shift position over successive nights is one of astronomy's best entry-level experiences. Push the magnification and the equatorial cloud bands resolve into at least two distinct stripes on a settled night. The color and fine structure you see in photographs won't be there, but a striped planet seen with your own eyes is satisfying in a different way.

Saturn, if anything, is the crowd-pleaser. The rings are unambiguous at 46× — this is not a smudge or an artifact, it's clearly a ringed planet. At 144× the gap between the rings and the disk becomes more pronounced, and the overall view has a surreal quality that beginners consistently find memorable. The Cassini Division — the dark gap within the rings — is a stretch goal rather than a guarantee. Treat it as a bonus when the atmosphere is steady, not a nightly expectation.

What these three targets share is alignment with the A80Mf's design: an 80 mm refractor with good contrast and a long focal length, pointed at bright objects. The match is clean.

Nebulae and Star Clusters

Deep-sky performance splits pretty clearly along brightness lines. The A80Mf handles open star clusters well — the Pleiades (M45) at low magnification show a crisp, compact arrangement that improves on binoculars. Bright nebulae like M42 in Orion are workable from suburban skies, with the bright core surrounded by a visible cloud of fainter glow.

Beyond those two categories, expectations need to be calibrated. Globular clusters appear as unresolved fuzzy spots — you can see them, but the individual stars won't separate into the granular texture visible in larger apertures. Galaxies like M51 show up as faint smudges. Spiral structure is not accessible to an 80 mm scope.

This isn't a flaw — it's a role distinction. The A80Mf is an excellent entry point for bright clusters and showpiece nebulae. It is not the right instrument if faint deep-sky observing is the primary goal. Anyone drawn mainly to galaxies and globulars would be better served by the R130Sf's extra aperture from the start.

The Gap Between Photos and Visual Observing

One of the most consistent surprises for beginners is how different the view through an Eyepiece looks compared to astrophotography images. This is worth addressing directly, because it shapes how satisfying the experience feels.

Web photos and magazine images of nebulae are the product of long exposures that accumulate light over minutes or hours, followed by processing to boost contrast and color. The human eye, viewing in real time, can't match that. Faint nebulae appear gray or colorless. Spiral arms in galaxies are invisible. Even a bright object like M42 shows as a grayish, diffuse cloud rather than the vivid red-and-blue structure in photos.

The Moon and planets are a different story. The gap between photographs and visual observing closes considerably for these targets. Crater walls, cloud bands, and ring structure are all visible in real time. That's another reason the A80Mf's lunar-planetary orientation works for beginners — it puts users on targets where visual observing is genuinely rewarding.

Higher magnification doesn't uniformly improve things. Open clusters and extended nebulae often look better at low power, where the whole object fits in the field. Planets and the Moon reward higher magnification for pulling out fine detail. A long focal-ratio scope like the A80Mf is oriented toward the high-magnification end of that spectrum, but the right power for any target still depends on the target.

With that framing in place: the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn are reliable main events. M45 and M42 under decent skies are rewarding supporting acts. Galaxy structure and faint nebulae are outside this scope's wheelhouse — better to set that expectation before the first night out.

Three Months of Real Use: Setup, Transport, and Tracking

Assembly Tips and What to Check First

The A80Mf's ease of use shows up before you even look through the Eyepiece. The Vixen-style dovetail saddle makes attaching and removing the tube straightforward — no tools, no fumbling with multiple screws in the dark. Vixen highlights this alongside the friction-stop motion as the mount's key features, and they're right to.

A workable assembly sequence: open the tripod legs and set the head level, slide the tube into the dovetail saddle and clamp it, then seat the erecting prism and Eyepiece. The 3.3 kg tube isn't heavy enough to feel awkward during that last step. The whole process is short enough to learn without notes.

One detail worth getting right early is tube balance. Because the Porta II uses friction-stop rather than a positive lock, having the tube's center of gravity reasonably well placed makes the coarse pointing feel lighter and the slow-motion knobs more responsive. Aim for a position where the tube doesn't want to fall forward or back when you let go.

Aligning the Finder scope to the main tube every session pays dividends that are easy to underestimate. Do it during the day using a distant rooftop antenna or similar target. Once the Finder scope and main tube share the same center point, the whole process of finding targets at night becomes dramatically faster. The single most common reason beginners feel like an alt-azimuth mount is hard to use is a misaligned Finder scope, not the mount itself.

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Moving and Setting Up the Scope

The A80Mf is built for stability over portability. The 9.0 kg total weight is manageable for one person over short distances, but it moves like a piece of equipment, not a casual bag. The right mental model is: transport to the observing spot, set it down firmly, observe from a stable position.

That weight pays off in rigidity. Tracking a planet across a high-magnification field is much easier when the tripod and mount aren't flexing with every touch. The Porta II provides that kind of reassurance, and it's something you appreciate over an evening's session even if you never consciously think about it.

Hard, flat surfaces are the ideal foundation — concrete or packed earth beats soft ground. Keeping the tripod legs at a modest height rather than fully extended improves stability noticeably. Trading a little viewing height for a lower center of gravity is almost always worth it with this instrument.

On windy nights, position matters. The tube is long enough to catch lateral gusts, which shows up as image motion at high magnification. Stepping behind a wall, fence, or parked vehicle to break the wind makes a real difference. Small habits help too: don't lean on the Eyepiece barrel, and give the image a second to settle after any focuser or slow-motion adjustment before trying to evaluate what you see.

Pointing and Tracking

The Porta II's clearest strength is how naturally the two-stage control system works: sweep roughly by hand, then fine-tune with the slow-motion knobs. Point the tube in the Moon's direction, get it in the field, center it with the knobs. That sequence becomes instinctive faster than learning polar alignment on an Equatorial mount, and it keeps your attention on the view rather than the mechanics.

Tracking works the same way. Objects drift across the field gradually in an alt-azimuth, but the Porta II's slow-motion knobs make it easy to nudge them back. For targets like the lunar limb or Jupiter's moon arrangement — things you want held steady at the center while you look — the system is well matched. The mechanics stay in the background, which is exactly where they should be.

At 144×, vibration becomes a real factor. Magnification amplifies everything: a tap on the tube, a gust of wind, a heavy touch on the Eyepiece. Immediately after pointing or focusing, the image may take a moment to settle. This is normal behavior for a beginner alt-azimuth at high power — not a defect.

The fix is gentleness, not force. Minimum pressure on the focuser and slow-motion knobs, a stable surface, protection from wind. When the image shakes, the instinct is to grip harder and try to steady it. The better move is touch lightly, then wait — the image will settle on its own.

The optional Vixen Flexible Handle 300mm is worth knowing about as a low-cost upgrade. The longer lever arm gives more control at awkward angles, and makes seated or low-angle observing easier — particularly helpful for children or shorter observers. With a longer handle, soft inputs are even more important; the slow-motion response gets very sensitive.

Common Frustrations and How to Handle Them

Vibration and Wind

Vibration is the A80Mf's most frequently cited complaint, and it deserves a clear-eyed look. At 46×, it's barely noticeable. At 144×, every contact with the scope — including wind on the tube — translates to visible image motion. The long focal-length tube acts like a sail in a crosswind.

This is less about the mount's quality and more about the fundamental challenge of high-magnification observing with an alt-azimuth. When the image is shaking, it's genuinely hard to tell whether the problem is focus, atmosphere, or vibration — beginners often turn the focuser harder when the real answer is to stop touching the scope and wait.

Practical countermeasures: keep the tripod legs shorter rather than fully extended; choose a spot sheltered from wind by a building or fence; when swapping Eyepieces, support the tube with one hand rather than just pulling the Eyepiece out. None of these are complicated, and together they make a substantial difference.

Imbalanced loading at the Eyepiece end is another overlooked contributor. The mount handles the standard tube weight comfortably, but adding heavier Eyepieces or camera adapters shifts the balance and can make the friction-stop feel sluggish or unpredictable at high power.

Glare from a Bright Moon

A bright, nearly-full Moon is almost too much of a good thing through the A80Mf. The 80 mm aperture gathers enough light that the lunar disk can feel blinding, particularly at higher magnifications. The craters are detailed and interesting, but the glare cuts into how long you can comfortably keep your eye at the Eyepiece.

This isn't an optical flaw — the scope is doing its job well. The fix is straightforward: a Vixen Moon Filter (ND) or equivalent neutral-density Eyepiece filter threads onto the Eyepiece barrel and takes the brightness down to a comfortable level. Any 31.7 mm ND filter designed for lunar use will work.

You can also sidestep the problem entirely by timing your sessions. A waxing or waning crescent or quarter Moon puts long shadows across the terminator, making the surface more textural and interesting — and inherently less blinding. Many experienced observers prefer this phase over a full Moon regardless of glare. The A80Mf shows its best lunar work in those conditions.

Three Beginner Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Most early frustrations with the A80Mf come down to setup sequence, not the scope itself. These three issues account for the majority of "I can't find anything" moments:

1. Not aligning the Finder scope first

The most common problem. If the Finder scope and main tube aren't pointing at the same spot, centering the Moon in the Finder scope doesn't mean it's in the main Eyepiece. This confusion makes the mount seem unreliable when the real issue is a two-step fix: aim both at the same daytime target and adjust the Finder scope until they agree.

1. Starting with the high-magnification Eyepiece

The impulse to see things as large as possible is understandable, but high magnification means a narrow field of view, which makes finding and keeping a target much harder. Always start with the lower-power Eyepiece to get the object in the field and centered, then swap to higher power once you know where to look.

1. Confusing coarse pointing with the slow-motion knobs

The Porta II is designed for a clear division: hand for rough direction, knobs for fine centering. Trying to do all the movement with the knobs wastes time; trying to do all the centering by hand overshoots. Once you internalize the two-stage workflow, the whole system feels coherent.

The recommended sequence for a clean session:

1. Daytime: align the Finder scope to the main tube using a distant landmark
2. Night: start with the Moon or another bright target at 46× to learn the pointing feel
3. Once the target is centered and stable, use slow-motion to track while you observe
4. Only then swap to the high-power Eyepiece and refine focus slowly

Following this order, the three most common failure modes — "can't find it," "can't hold it," "can't focus" — stop happening simultaneously. The A80Mf's optics are honest and capable. The learning curve lives in the pointing-and-setup routine, not the optics. Clear that hurdle and the planetary views reward it quickly.

A80Mf vs. R130Sf vs. AE81M: Side-by-Side

A80Mf

The A80Mf is the most predictable scope in the Porta II lineup. An 80 mm refractor at 910 mm focal length on the standard alt-azimuth mount: those three figures map almost directly onto "good at the Moon and planets." The long focal ratio suits steady high-magnification views of bright targets, and the refractor design requires no collimation.

The mount's workflow — friction-stop pointing, slow-motion fine-tuning, tool-free dovetail saddle — pairs well with this kind of observing. You're spending most of your time centered on one target, making small adjustments to track it. That's where the Porta II shines.

In most retail configurations the A80Mf delivers roughly 46× and 144× with the included Eyepieces, though bundle contents vary. The erecting prism allows daytime terrestrial use, which broadens the scope's appeal beyond purely nocturnal astronomy.

On pricing, price-tracking sites (as of 2026-03-15) show the A80Mf at approximately ¥58,080 (~$390 USD) as a low-end listing. Actual prices vary by retailer and time.

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R130Sf

The R130Sf is a fundamentally different instrument. Its 130 mm reflector tube at 650 mm focal length shifts the priorities from planetary detail toward light-gathering and wide-field coverage. Where the A80Mf is a careful, high-contrast look at bright objects, the R130Sf is built to sweep up fainter ones — star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies become accessible at a level that 80 mm can't match.

The shorter focal length means a wider field at any given magnification, which suits open clusters and extended objects well. Sweeping across a rich star field or framing a large nebula feels natural. The trade-off is that planetary magnification requires more Eyepiece work than a long focal-ratio scope.

The Porta II mount carries over intact: friction-stop pointing, slow-motion controls, Vixen-style dovetail saddle. The operating style is the same as the A80Mf — just pointed at a different category of sky. What changes is the range of rewarding targets.

One honest caveat: the R130Sf is a reflector, which means collimation is part of ownership. It's not difficult once you've done it, but it adds a step that the A80Mf's refractor design doesn't require. Anyone prioritizing minimal setup would notice the difference.

Firm retail pricing for the R130Sf wasn't available at the time of this review, so the comparison here focuses on optical character rather than cost. As a generalization, though: if deep-sky is the goal, the R130Sf is the more direct path.

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AE81M

The AE81M slots in as a newer alternative in the Porta II family. From what's confirmed, it's an 81 mm class refractor on the same Porta II alt-azimuth mount, which means the core workflow — friction-stop sweep, slow-motion refinement, dovetail saddle — carries over from the A80Mf.

The bundled specifications include 46× and 140× alongside an erecting prism for daytime use. That operating range is close enough to the A80Mf that the two scopes fit roughly the same beginner use case: low power for navigation, high power for Moon and planets, and the ability to use the scope in daylight.

What separates the AE81M from the A80Mf right now is information. Full specifications — focal length, tube weight, full accessory list — aren't widely published yet, which makes a thorough apples-to-apples comparison difficult. The A80Mf has years of user reviews, forum discussion, and community knowledge behind it. The AE81M is an interesting option for someone who wants a slightly newer design, but the A80Mf offers more certainty about what you're getting.

Price-tracking sites (as of 2026-03-15) show the AE81M at approximately ¥59,541 (~$400 USD). Prices will vary.

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Which One Should You Choose?

The Porta II mount is the constant in this comparison — it's the same excellent alt-azimuth with the same friction-stop motion, slow-motion controls, and Vixen-style dovetail saddle regardless of which tube you choose. The decision comes down to what you put on it.

Short version: Moon and planets → A80Mf. Faint deep-sky is the priority → R130Sf. Open to a newer entry-level option → AE81M.

The A80Mf's 80 mm, 910 mm refractor design is legible from day one, and the community knowledge base around it makes troubleshooting and accessory choices straightforward. The R130Sf's 130 mm reflector opens the door to fainter targets that the A80Mf simply can't reach. The AE81M's erecting prism and dual-magnification kit lean into daytime versatility and approachability.

Who Should Buy It — and What to Think Through First

The decision is simpler than it might seem. If Moon and planet observing is the core interest — and if daytime terrestrial use for the whole family sounds useful — the A80Mf is the straightforward recommendation. Its long track record means there's extensive community support, plenty of accessory compatibility information, and realistic user reviews to set expectations.

On the other hand, if ultralight portability is non-negotiable, this system will feel heavy. If faint nebulae and galaxies are the primary draw, the R130Sf is a better starting point.

Price-tracking sites (as of 2026-03-15) show the A80Mf at around ¥58,080 (~$390 USD) and the AE81M at around ¥59,541 (~$400 USD) as low-end listings. Actual prices shift with time and retailer — check the current listing before purchasing, and verify what accessories are included in the bundle.

If you want to extend the system, the priorities are clear. The Vixen Flexible Handle 300mm improves comfort and control for seated or low-angle observing — worth adding early. A 10–12 mm 31.7 mm Eyepiece fills in a useful mid-power range between the two included magnifications, well suited to the Moon and planets. A wide 30–32 mm Eyepiece opens up low-power fields for star clusters if you want them. If the full Moon's brightness starts bothering you, a Vixen Moon Filter (ND) solves it cleanly.

At the end of the deliberation, one axis makes the call: Moon and planets as the main event, or faint deep-sky as the main event? If it's the former, the A80Mf earns its long reputation as a beginner scope. If it's the latter, start with the R130Sf and save yourself the upgrade later.