Ten telescopes were analyzed in twenty different categories and the Orion StarBlast winner took the coveted Red Ribbon Award
Telescopes reviewed were the (1) Celestron CGX/L 14-inch edge HD, (2) Celestron CGX/L 9.25-inch Edge HD, (3) Orion StarBlast Dobsonian, (4) Orion CT80 Refractor, (5) Celestron FirstScope Dobsonian, (6) Orion StarBlast II EQ, (7) Unistellar eVscope digital telescope, (8) Meade 60AT Refractor, (9) Celestron 9x50 refractor, 10) Meade ETX/90
It's agreed that analyzing a telescope may in part be directly dependent on a person's goal. For example, will the telescope go into a permanent observatory or is it designed as a lightweight grab and go scope? This contest is an overall average and an overview of the most likely and desirable key points.
The telescopes were rated in twenty categories, with ratings from 0 to 10 with 10 best. Points were added up and the telescope with the highest number of points is the winner.
The telescopes were rated in twenty categories, with ratings from 0 to 10 with 10 best. Points were added up and the telescope with the highest number of points is the winner.
1) Weight: easy to lift, carry
2) Size: ability to move through door, assembled
3) Portability
Telescopes Analyzed
4) Setup time
5) Takedown time
6) Learning curve
7) Ease of use
8) Ability & ease of calibration
9) Number of defects: does it work?
0) Amount of time used
12) Diameter: light gathering ability
13) Optical Quality
13) Optical Quality
14) Rich Field Ability or Planets
15) Tracking ability
16) Grab and go
17) Convenience: power, computer, usb, cables
18) Cost
19) Availability
20) Support
Telescopes Analyzed
Celestron CGX/L 14-inch Edge HD
Celestron CGX/L 9.25-inch Edge HD
Orion StarBlast Dobsonian
Orion CT80 Refractor
Celestron FirstScope Dobsonian
Celestron FirstScope Dobsonian
Orion StarBlast II EQ
Unistellar eVscope digital telescope
Meade 60AT Refractor
Celestron 9x50 refractor
Meade ETX/90
The Winner: Orion StarBlast II EQ with Motor Drive
In summary, key award winning points and amazing features of the Orion StarBlast II EQ were ease of use, portability, light weight, easy to lift and carry, and with a very small learning curve. The telescope is easy to initially assemble, has a small footprint, fits through doors and inside cars when fully setup, and sports parabolic quality optics at f/4.
Unistellar eVscope digital telescope
Meade 60AT Refractor
Celestron 9x50 refractor
Meade ETX/90
The Winner: Orion StarBlast II EQ with Motor Drive
In summary, key award winning points and amazing features of the Orion StarBlast II EQ were ease of use, portability, light weight, easy to lift and carry, and with a very small learning curve. The telescope is easy to initially assemble, has a small footprint, fits through doors and inside cars when fully setup, and sports parabolic quality optics at f/4.
It's fast and large enough optics to show deep sky objects, setup and takedown time is either none or very fast and easy, no computer or AC electricity needed, it has good slow motion controls, and is good for astrophotography with a cell phone camera and camera mount. It can be used for lucky imaging with a CMOS camera, the scope and mount have a fast setup time of about 2 minutes or none at all.
The StarBlast telescope is low cost, has a one button motor clock drive, has calibration ability and is very easy to calibrate, it's supported by Orion, However availability is at high demand: I waited 2.5 years for new stock to arrive. The number of defects is 1 (locked on toe stopper). The PTA has rich field wide angle ability and is outstanding for the Moon, deep sky objects, and moons around planets, it's an excellent star hopper - it can upgrade to the lens-based Celestron finderscope with matching mounting bolts.
Orion has fast shipping, the telescope by choice is used very frequently, features include grab and go, German Equatorial with rapid takedown time, sets up in seconds with a compass, and this telescope has extra powers - the aperture is ideal for more seeing days due to its size, the primary has glass conducive to rapid cool down thermal, it sees better through window glass, and has adjustable secondary diagonal).
Included eyepieces are excellent. Focuser is tight and smooth. Upgrades with with a Bahtinov mask for achieving good focus, a front end full diameter specialty solar filter for studying the sun, and an iPhone for making a push to goto DIY finder. The telescope has many uses for many projects.
