Astronomical Telescope Comparison: 23 Scopes

Compared!
Includes: Celestron C60, Celestron SP-C80, C90 Astro,
Celestron Omni XLT 102, Celestron Omni XLT 102ED,
Celestron Omni XLT 150, Celestron SP-C6, Celestron C6-A-
XLT, Celestron C8-A-XLT, Meade ETRS-90, Meade 114mm
Reflector, Skywatcher BK1021EQ3-2, Skywatcher
BKP15075NEQ3, Stellarvue SV80ST, Stellarvue SV90T,
Stellarvue SV102ED, Stellarvue SVR105-3 Raptor, Stellarvue
SV115T, Stellarvue SV160, Vixen A80Mf, Vixen A105M, Vixen
R150S and Vixen VC200L
By the Astronomy and Photography Online Staff

This is a comparison of commercially made, portable, astronomical telescopes. These are

telescopes you can take into the field and use on portable mounts, not permanently mounted
observatory telescopes. Portability is a subjective matter, but for our purposes an optical tube
assembly (OTA) should not weigh more than about 21 pounds or exceed 9.25" of clear apreture.

This article is concerned only with the optical tube assembly, not the merits of the mounting system
that is available for, or supplied with, the OTA. The mounting system is as important as the OTA, but
mounts are dealt with in other articles and most telescopes can be adapted to a variety of mounts.
Beware of optically good scopes that are sold with integral mounts (usually some sort of fork mount)
of inferior quality, such as the Meade ETX-90.

This is a subjective comparison by reasonably experienced observers. It reflects our consensus

opinion about individual telescopes with which we are familiar or have reviewed. The basic criteria
are simple: our observations of the night sky, viewing common planetary and deep sky objects. This
is the same basic method used by amateur astronomers around the world to compare and evaluate
their telescopes. We view a variety of objects with all of our telescopes, including the moon and
planets, single and double stars, open star clusters, globular star clusters, galaxies, nebula and the
like.

Optically, getting the best views of relatively bright objects, such as the moon, planets, open star
clusters and splitting double stars, emphasizes resolution, contrast and optical correction.
Observing dim deep sky objects, especially nebulas and galaxies, primarily emphasizes light
grasp. (As deep sky observers like to say, "Aperture rules.") All telescopes are the result of a series
of design and production compromises. No telescope combines the best of all possible worlds.

Rather that try to grade individual optical qualities like resolution, contrast, light grasp, residual
aberrations and so forth separately, we have simply rated the telescopes in terms of their clear
aperture, general optical quality, build quality and construction, focusing ease and precision,
planetary observing capability, deep sky observing capability and visual quality. Our scoring is done
on a numerical 1-10 scale, where 1 is the lowest score, 4-6 is the average range and 10 is the top
rating. Here is a brief explanation of our comparison scoring and criteria.

Category/User Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert.

Clear aperture: One point per inch up to 9.25". (Scopes over 9.25" are not included in this
comparison.)

Optical quality: Compared to other telescopes of the same aperture and basic design (refractor,
reflector or catadioptric) among refractors, for example, a department store scope would be "1"
(poor) and a top quality APO triplet would be "10" (excellent).

Physical quality and construction: A department store telescope would be a "1" (poor) and a
Questar would be a "10" (excellent).

Focusing ease and precision: 1 (focuser slips, gritty or hard to focus), 2 (focus by turning the lens
barrel), 4 (1.25" standard rack and pinion focuser or typical SCT), 6 (2" single speed Crayford or
refined rack and pinion focuser), 8 (2" dual speed Crayford focuser), 10 (2" dual speed
Feathertouch reverse Crayford focuser). These are general guidelines for typical focusers, so
individual scores may vary.

Deep sky observing: 1 (60mm refractor), 3 (75-80mm refractor or 90mm reflector), 5 (4" refractor or
4.5-5" reflector), 6 (4.5-5" refractor or 6" reflector), 7 (5.5" refractor or 7" reflector) 8 (6" refractor or
8" reflector), 9 (9" reflector). These are general aperture guidelines for observing that assume very
good optical quality and a medium (f/8-f/11) focal ratio. Individual telescope scores may vary.

Planetary observing: Similar in concept and aperture to the Deep Sky rating, but long focal length,
high magnification capability, superior resolution and high contrast are important factors.

Visual quality: Image quality as (subjectively) seen by the human eye compared to all other scopes
of similar aperture, regardless of type, and given a numerical rating. APO triplet refractors will
typically score highest (10) in this category.

Overall ranking: Averaging the scores of the Astronomy and Photography Online staff members
and using our matrix, we rated the telescope with the highest point total in the comparison #1, the
second highest score #2 and so on. The overall rank list is at the end of this article.

Here are the telescopes, with ratings, listed alphabetically by brand:

Celestron 60 (60LCM, C60)

Type: Achromatic refractor

Category: Beginner
Focal length: 700mm
Focal ratio: f/11.67
Clear aperture: 60mm = 2.4"
Optical Quality = 4
Physical quality and construction = 4
Focusing ease and precision = 3
Deep sky observing = 1
Planetary observing = 2
Visual quality = 5

Celestron C80 (Discontinued, made in Japan by Vixen)

Type: Achromatic refractor

Category: Beginner
Focal length: 910mm
Focal ratio: f/11.4
Clear aperture: 80mm = 3.2"
Optical Quality = 6
Physical quality and construction = 7
Focusing ease and precision = 5
Deep sky observing = 3
Planetary observing = 3
Visual quality = 6

Celestron C90 Astro (Discontinued, made in USA)

Type: Maksutov-Cassegrain
Category: Beginner
Focal length: 1000mm
Focal ratio: f/11
Clear aperture: 90mm = 3.5"
Optical Quality = 6
Physical quality and construction = 7
Focusing ease and precision = 2
Deep sky observing = 3
Planetary observing = 3
Visual quality = 6

Celestron Omni XLT 102

Type: Achromatic refractor

Category: Intermediate
Focal length: 1000mm
Focal ratio: f/9.8
Clear aperture: 102mm = 4"
Optical Quality = 6
Physical quality and construction = 6
Focusing ease and precision = 5
Deep sky observing = 5
Planetary observing = 5
Visual quality = 6

Celestron Omni XLT 102ED

Type: ED doublet refractor

Category: Intermediate
Focal length: 900mm
Focal ratio: f/8.8
Clear aperture: 102mm = 4"
Optical Quality = 8
Physical quality and construction = 7
Focusing ease and precision = 6
Deep sky observing = 5
Planetary observing = 5
Visual quality = 8

Celestron Omni XLT 150

Type: Newtonian Reflector

Category: Intermediate
Focal length: 750mm
Focal ratio: f/5
Clear aperture: 150mm = 6"
Optical Quality = 7
Physical quality and construction = 6
Focusing ease and precision = 4
Deep sky observing = 6
Planetary observing = 4
Visual quality = 7

Celestron SP-C6 (Discontinued, made in Japan by Vixen)

Type: Newtonian Reflector

Category: Intermediate
Focal length: 750mm
Focal ratio: f/5
Clear aperture: 150mm = 6"
Optical Quality = 8
Physical quality and construction = 7
Focusing ease and precision = 7
Deep sky observing = 6
Planetary observing = 4
Visual quality = 7

Celestron C6-A XLT

Type: Schmidt-Cassegrain
Category: Intermediate
Focal length: 1500mm
Focal ratio: f/10
Clear aperture: 150mm = 6"
Optical Quality = 8
Physical quality and construction = 7
Focusing ease and precision = 4
Deep sky observing = 6
Planetary observing = 6
Visual quality = 7

Celestron C8-A XLT

Type: Schmidt-Cassegrain
Category: Advanced
Focal length: 2032mm
Focal ratio: f/10
Clear aperture: 203mm = 8"
Optical Quality = 8
Physical quality and construction = 7
Focusing ease and precision = 4
Deep sky observing = 8
Planetary observing = 8
Visual quality = 7

Meade ETX-90

Type: Maksutov-Cassegrain
Category: Beginner
Focal length: 1250mm
Focal ratio: f/13.9
Clear aperture: 90mm = 3.5"
Optical Quality = 7
Physical quality and construction = 6
Focusing ease and precision = 4
Deep sky observing = 3
Planetary observing = 4
Visual quality = 7

Meade 114mm Reflector (AZ, EQ, DS series)

Type: Newtonian reflector

Category: Beginner
Focal length: 1000mm
Focal ratio: f/8.8
Clear aperture: 114mm = 4.5"
Optical Quality = 2
Physical quality and construction = 2
Focusing ease and precision = 3
Deep sky observing = 5
Planetary observing = 2
Visual quality = 2

Skywatcher BK1021EQ3-2

Type: Achromatic refractor

Category: Intermediate
Focal length: 1000mm
Focal ratio: f/9.8
Clear aperture: 102mm = 4"
Optical Quality = 6
Physical quality and construction = 6
Focusing ease and precision = 5
Deep sky observing = 5
Planetary observing = 5
Visual quality = 6

Skywatcher BKP15075NEQ3

Type: Newtonian Reflector

Category: Intermediate
Focal length: 750mm
Focal ratio: f/5
Clear aperture: 150mm = 6"
Optical Quality = 7
Physical quality and construction = 6
Focusing ease and precision = 4
Deep sky observing = 6
Planetary observing = 4
Visual quality = 7

Stellarvue SVR80ST2

Type: Apochromatic triplet refractor

Category: Intermediate
Focal length: 480mm
Focal ratio: f/6
Clear aperture: 80mm = 3.2"
Optical Quality = 10
Physical quality and construction = 9
Focusing ease and precision = 10
Deep sky observing = 3
Planetary observing = 2
Visual quality = 10

Stellarvue SV90T

Type: Apochromatic triplet refractor

Category: Intermediate
Focal length: 630mm
Focal ratio: f/7
Clear aperture: 90mm = 3.5"
Optical Quality = 10
Physical quality and construction = 9
Focusing ease and precision = 8
Deep sky observing = 4
Planetary observing = 3
Visual quality = 10

Stellarvue SV102ED

Type: ED doublet refractor

Category: Intermediate
Focal length: 710mm
Focal ratio: f/6.95
Clear aperture: 102mm = 4"
Optical Quality = 8
Physical quality and construction = 7
Focusing ease and precision = 8
Deep sky observing = 5
Planetary observing = 5
Visual quality = 8

Stellarvue SVR105 (FT) Raptor

Type: Apochromatic triplet refractor

Category: Advanced
Focal length: 735mm
Focal ratio: f/7
Clear aperture: 105mm = 4"
Optical Quality = 10
Physical quality and construction = 9
Focusing ease and precision = 10
Deep sky observing = 5
Planetary observing = 5
Visual qualilty = 10

Stellarvue SV115T (FT)

Type: Apochromatic triplet refractor

Category: Advanced
Focal length: 800mm
Focal ratio: f/7
Clear aperture: 115mm = 4.5"
Optical Quality = 10
Physical quality and construction = 9
Focusing ease and precision = 10
Deep sky observing = 6
Planetary observing = 6
Visual quality = 10

Stellarvue SV160 (FT)

Type: Apochromatic triplet refractor

Category: Expert
Focal length: 1300mm
Focal ratio: f/8.1
Clear aperture: 160mm = 6.3"
Optical Quality = 10
Physical quality and construction = 9
Focusing ease and precision = 10
Deep sky observing = 8
Planetary observing = 9
Visual quality = 10

Vixen A80M, A80Mf

Type: Achromatic refractor

Category: Beginner
Focal length: 910mm
Focal ratio: f/11.4
Clear aperture: 80mm = 3.2"
Optical Quality = 6
Physical quality and construction = 7
Focusing ease and precision = 5
Deep sky observing = 3
Planetary observing = 3
Visual quality = 6

Vixen A105M

Type: Achromatic refractor

Category: Intermediate
Focal length: 1000mm
Focal ratio: f/9.5
Clear aperture: 105mm = 4"
Optical Quality = 6
Physical quality and construction = 7
Focusing ease and precision = 5
Deep sky observing = 5
Planetary observing = 5
Visual quality = 6

Vixen R150S (Discontinued)

Type: Newtonian Reflector

Category: Intermediate
Focal length: 750mm
Focal ratio: f/5
Clear aperture: 150mm = 6"
Optical Quality = 8
Physical quality and construction = 7
Focusing ease and precision = 6
Deep sky observing = 6
Planetary observing = 4
Visual quality = 7

Vixen VC200L

Type: VISAC Cassegrain

Category: Expert
Focal length: 1800mm
Focal ratio: f/9
Clear aperture: 200mm = 8"
Optical Quality = 10
Physical quality and construction = 9
Focusing ease and precision = 7
Deep sky observing = 9
Planetary observing = 7
Visual quality = 8

Here are the overall rankings of all the telescopes compared in this article according to our matrix.
This is an averaged score based on adding the points for Clear aperture, Optical quality, Physical
Quality, Focusing and Visual quality categories. Figuring that observing is the point of owning a
telescope, we gave the "Planetary" observing category 2x weighting (multiplied the score by two)
and the "Deep sky" observing category 3x weighting (multiplied the score by three) to reflect what
we consider normal astronomical use. "Aperture rules," so we gave 4"-5" scopes a one point
bonus, 6"-7" scopes a two point bonus and 8"-9.25" scopes a three point bonus. Our rankings do
not consider price we have no way of knowing our readers' price range. Tie breakers, if necessary,
are (1) aperture and (2) focal length.

Weighting the categories differently will alter the results shown here. For example, a dedicated
deep sky observer might give the "Deep sky observing" score a 2x weighting, but not the "Planetary
Observing" score. A dedicated planetary observer might do the opposite. If points were awarded
for lower price, the expensive scopes would drop in the ratings. Another person might consider the
optical quality more important than the focuser, or change the point scale from arithmetic to a
geometric or exponential progression. There is practically no limit to how an individual might weight
the matrix.

1. Stellarvue SV160 (89.3 points)

2. Vixen VC200L (86 points)
3. Celestron C8-A XLT (77 points)
4. Stellarvue SV115T (74 points)
5. Stellarvue SVR105 Raptor (69 points)
6. Celestron C6-A XLT (64 points)
7. Celestron SP-C6 (63 points)
8. Vixen R150S (62 points)
9. Stellarvue SV102ED (61 points)
10. Celestron Omni XLT 102ED (59 points)
11. Stellarvue SV90T (58.5 points)
12. (tie) Celestron Omni XLT 150, Skywatcher BKP15075NEQ3 (58 points)
13. -
14. Stellarvue SVR80ST2 (55.2 points)
15. Vixen A105M (54 points)
16. (tie) Celestron Omni XLT 102, Skywatcher BK1021EQ3-2 (53 points)
17. -
18. Meade ETX-90 (44.5 points)
19. (tie) Vixen A80M, Celestron C80 (42.2 points)
20. -
21. Celestron C90 Astro (39.5 points)
22. Meade 114mm Reflector (33.5 points)
23. Celestron 60 (25.4 points)

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