telescopecomparison · 2-way
Celestron RASA 8 vs Takahashi Epsilon-160ED
Celestron
RASA 8
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a backyard imaging setup.
Takahashi
Epsilon-160ED
Best suited for intermediate imagers building a versatile kit running a backyard imaging setup.
Key differences
-25% focal length
+27% aperture
Faster by 1.3 f-stops
Specifications
| Specification | Celestron RASA 8 | Takahashi Epsilon-160ED |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | SCT | Newtonian |
| Optical design | Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt | Hyperbolic astrograph |
| Aperture | 203mm | 160mm |
| Focal length | 400mm | 530mm |
| Native f/ratio | f/2.0 | f/3.3 |
| Image circle | 32mm | 44mm |
| Full-frame support | No | Yes |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 7.7kg | 10.0kg |
Advantages of Celestron RASA 8
- Wider field — 400mm vs 530mm focal length
- 27% more light-gathering aperture
- Faster optics at f/2 vs f/3.3
- Lighter (7.7kg vs 10kg) — easier to travel with
Advantages of Takahashi Epsilon-160ED
- Tighter framing — 530mm vs 400mm focal length
- Larger image circle (44mm) — supports bigger sensors
Best for — Celestron RASA 8
- Large emission nebulae and star clusters
- Fast imaging — short exposures per sub
- Faint-object imaging under dark skies
Best for — Takahashi Epsilon-160ED
- Large emission nebulae and star clusters
- Fast imaging — short exposures per sub
- Full-frame astro cameras and DSLRs
Celestron RASA 8 — typical FOV & scale
- With Full-frame (36×24mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 5.16° × 3.44°Scale: 1.94"/px
- With APS-C (23.5×15.7mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 3.37° × 2.25°Scale: 1.94"/px
- With IMX533 square (11.3×11.3mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 1.62° × 1.62°Scale: 1.94"/px
Takahashi Epsilon-160ED — typical FOV & scale
- With Full-frame (36×24mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 3.89° × 2.59°Scale: 1.46"/px
- With APS-C (23.5×15.7mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 2.54° × 1.70°Scale: 1.46"/px
- With IMX533 square (11.3×11.3mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 1.22° × 1.22°Scale: 1.46"/px
Celestron RASA 8 — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a backyard imaging setup.
Takahashi Epsilon-160ED — recommended user
Best suited for intermediate imagers building a versatile kit running a backyard imaging setup.