telescopecomparison · 2-way
Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED vs William Optics Zenithstar 61 II
Sky-Watcher
Esprit 120ED
Best suited for intermediate imagers building a versatile kit running a backyard imaging setup.
William Optics
Zenithstar 61 II
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.
Key differences
+133% focal length
+97% aperture
Slower by 1.1 f-stops
Specifications
| Specification | Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED | William Optics Zenithstar 61 II |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | Refractor | refractor |
| Optical design | Triplet APO | Apo doublet FPL-53 |
| Aperture | 120mm | 61mm |
| Focal length | 840mm | 360mm |
| Native f/ratio | f/7.0 | f/5.9 |
| Image circle | 44mm | 44mm |
| Full-frame support | Yes | No |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 11.5kg | 1.9kg |
Advantages of Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED
- Tighter framing — 840mm vs 360mm focal length
- 97% more light-gathering aperture
Advantages of William Optics Zenithstar 61 II
- Wider field — 360mm vs 840mm focal length
- Faster optics at f/5.9 vs f/7
- Lighter (1.9kg vs 11.5kg) — easier to travel with
Best for — Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED
- Medium-sized galaxies and planetary nebulae
- Full-frame astro cameras and DSLRs
Best for — William Optics Zenithstar 61 II
- Large emission nebulae and star clusters
Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED — typical FOV & scale
- With Full-frame (36×24mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 2.46° × 1.64°Scale: 0.92"/px
- With APS-C (23.5×15.7mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 1.60° × 1.07°Scale: 0.92"/px
- With IMX533 square (11.3×11.3mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 0.77° × 0.77°Scale: 0.92"/px
William Optics Zenithstar 61 II — typical FOV & scale
- With Full-frame (36×24mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 5.73° × 3.82°Scale: 2.15"/px
- With APS-C (23.5×15.7mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 3.74° × 2.50°Scale: 2.15"/px
- With IMX533 square (11.3×11.3mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 1.80° × 1.80°Scale: 2.15"/px
Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED — recommended user
Best suited for intermediate imagers building a versatile kit running a backyard imaging setup.
William Optics Zenithstar 61 II — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.