telescopecomparison · 2-way
Celestron RASA 11 vs Takahashi Epsilon-180ED
Celestron
RASA 11
Best suited for intermediate imagers building a versatile kit running a permanent observatory setup.
Takahashi
Epsilon-180ED
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a permanent observatory setup.
Key differences
+24% focal length
+55% aperture
Faster by 0.6 f-stops
Specifications
| Specification | Celestron RASA 11 | Takahashi Epsilon-180ED |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | astrograph | astrograph |
| Optical design | Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph | Hyperbolic Newtonian |
| Aperture | 279mm | 180mm |
| Focal length | 620mm | 500mm |
| Native f/ratio | f/2.2 | f/2.8 |
| Image circle | 43mm | 44mm |
| Full-frame support | Yes | Yes |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 20.0kg | 12.5kg |
Advantages of Celestron RASA 11
- Tighter framing — 620mm vs 500mm focal length
- 55% more light-gathering aperture
- Faster optics at f/2.22 vs f/2.8
Advantages of Takahashi Epsilon-180ED
- Wider field — 500mm vs 620mm focal length
- Lighter (12.5kg vs 20kg) — easier to travel with
Best for — Celestron RASA 11
- Large emission nebulae and star clusters
- Fast imaging — short exposures per sub
- Faint-object imaging under dark skies
- Full-frame astro cameras and DSLRs
Best for — Takahashi Epsilon-180ED
- Large emission nebulae and star clusters
- Fast imaging — short exposures per sub
- Full-frame astro cameras and DSLRs
Celestron RASA 11 — typical FOV & scale
- With Full-frame (36×24mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 3.33° × 2.22°Scale: 1.25"/px
- With APS-C (23.5×15.7mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 2.17° × 1.45°Scale: 1.25"/px
- With IMX533 square (11.3×11.3mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 1.04° × 1.04°Scale: 1.25"/px
Takahashi Epsilon-180ED — typical FOV & scale
- With Full-frame (36×24mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 4.13° × 2.75°Scale: 1.55"/px
- With APS-C (23.5×15.7mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 2.69° × 1.80°Scale: 1.55"/px
- With IMX533 square (11.3×11.3mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 1.29° × 1.29°Scale: 1.55"/px
Celestron RASA 11 — recommended user
Best suited for intermediate imagers building a versatile kit running a permanent observatory setup.
Takahashi Epsilon-180ED — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a permanent observatory setup.