Best refractor telescope for astrophotography - When someone is fascinated about astrophotography as a pastime, among of the initial questions they ask are, "Which telescopes are really the best to start with, and how much can I get them for?"
When you have no prior knowledge in the subject, it can be very challenging to come up with a precise response to these questions. You are merely attempting to discover how to begin!
The greatest entry-level telescopes to buy when you start Astrophotography are covered in this article.
We will presume that you are anxious to begin imaging the heavens and have little to no experience with telescopes. We have recommended the telescopes on this list based on our expertise and information gathered over the past few years. If you are not satisfied by any of the telescopes listed here, do not hesitate to conduct your own study; keep in mind that this will constitute one of the most crucial components of your setup.
Whichever telescope you choose to purchase will have a significant impact on your images, and you'll probably develop strong attachments to it.
Orion EON 130mm ED Triplet Apochromatic - Best refractor telescope for astrophotography
The Orion 09565 EON ED Triplet Apochromatic Refractor, one of Orion's top-tier products, is a professional astrophotographer's preferred model. It is a 23-pound showcase example of a triplet apo refractor telescope with a big aperture.
The large 5.1′′ aperture is versatile because it is suitable for both visual observing and astro-imaging, and it boasts a low price compared to competitor models of the same size.
With a solid magnification range of 19x to 260x, this triplet is ideal for wide-field images while also having the ability to capture considerably more detailed nighttime scenes. Amazingly, the overall focal length is 910 mm, resulting in a mid-speed focal ratio of f/7.0.
The Orion 130mm seems to have a flatter field than average triplet refractors, which typically don't. However, a field flattener is still advised for best results since it helps produce sharp contrast throughout the full field.
For perfect control over your astro-images, this model has a dual-speed Crayford 3′′ focuser with millimeter-engraved drawtube and focus lock. It can accommodate common 2′′ eyepieces and features a step-down to 2′′. With your camera attached, you may keep focus whilst rotating the focuser, which includes the adjustment wheels, to get a new perspective.
Amazing images from this refractor telescope
The photos you take with this instrument are gorgeous. The ED glass used in the lens virtually eliminates false colour on DSOs (deep space objects). Brighter objects may exhibit slight aberration effects, but this is unimportant.
Split clam tube rings securely fasten it on any appropriate mount with minimum effort because they are sturdy and small for both the weight and length.
However, given that this scope weighs 23 lbs (10 kg), installation assistance may be helpful. This scope's dew shield extends to a length of 38 inches, but it can be folded up for storage and transportation, reducing the length to 32 inches.
The only components of the telescope are the lens and telescope body; it does not have a finderscope or an eyepiece. Although a protective case is included with the EON 130mm to ensure its safety during transport.
Pros
- Smooth, accurate and solid focuser
- Excellent sharp optical performance
- Great contrast as well as color correction
Cons
- Case doesn’t adapt to modifications
- A heavy scope to mount
- Doesn’t come with accessories
Sky-Watcher ProED 100mm
Our list's first doublet is the Sky-Watcher ProED APO refractor telescope. It is included because it is intended to resolve the majority of the chromatic aberration issues that several doublets are known to encounter.
The "ProED" glass used in this Sky-Watcher provides the color correcting necessary for excellent astroimaging. They almost remove false color thanks to their unique Metallic High Transmission Coatings.
This 10-pound telescope's optical tube is matte-black coated inside and baffled to virtually eliminate stray light. The magnitude of the limiting star is stated as 12.7.
With a 900mm focal length, the Sky-Watcher refractor scope has an f/9.0 focal ratio. It can easily offer planetary, lunar and DSO astrophotography and has a maximum practical magnification of 200x. When used in conjunction with an appropriate eyepiece, the field of view is broad.
In the end, it is a true jack of all trades. It is the cheapest telescope on our list, making it an excellent choice for beginning astrophotographers because of how reasonably priced it is given the variety of activities it can perform.
Unfortunately, there are several issues with the focuser's precision and fragility. Compared to more expensive designs, these Sky-Watchers' focusing mechanism might require more frequent maintenance.
However, you could do a lot worse than this model if you're looking for an entry-level astrophotography scope. Particularly given that it also includes an 850 finderscope, a 2-inch 28mm eyepiece, and a two-inch diagonal with a one and a half-inch adaptor.
Pros
- Very adaptable
- Great value for your money
- Important accessories
Cons
- It’s fragile
- You may need to upgrade the focuser