VERY nice entry level telescope. Well made.

It was worth every penny, just to see the look on the children's faces (Christmas morning). I was impressed with the build quality, and how sturdy the entire package is.

Bought this as a Christmas gift for my husband and that night we saw the moon! It was clear and we saw craters close up. Great for us beginners and pretty easy to set up. I recommend it!

Awesome telescope for the amateur and the skilled. Provides everything you need to become familiar with our galaxy and near by star systems. It's a great investment for the mind.

First, let me say I like this 80mm refractor telescope. It is a good balance of technology for the price. It is fairly easy to setup, although I had a few issues. Assembly took me a few hours, during which time I turned to the manual and got through all the steps. I didn't have to turn to Youtube.com or their website, which I appreciated.
A few nights after we got this telescope, the local astronomy society put on a viewing at our elementary school, so I got to compare it against the big telescopes. The Polaris 80mm refractor compared favorably, at least when looking at the moon. The image was comparable, but just a little less bouncy than the big telescopes.
It has a cool red viewfinder that can really help identify where you are aiming. To be honest, doing the fine tuning of that viewfinder is where I spent most of my setup time. I got it in the neighborhood, but I feel like I may need to do some more research to truly zero it in.
The balance of the mounting system is nice, and the blue finish on the outside of the tube makes it look very professional. The tray underneath the stand is useful for holding extra lenses. It is heavy but not too heavy, more for feeling solid and not moving around too much.
At the price, this is a good package of performance and flexibility. Recommended.