telescopecomparison · 2-way
Takahashi Epsilon-180ED vs Celestron RASA 8
Takahashi
Epsilon-180ED
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a permanent observatory setup.
Celestron
RASA 8
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a backyard imaging setup.
Key differences
+25% focal length
-11% aperture
Slower by 0.8 f-stops
Specifications
| Specification | Takahashi Epsilon-180ED | Celestron RASA 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | astrograph | SCT |
| Optical design | Hyperbolic Newtonian | Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt |
| Aperture | 180mm | 203mm |
| Focal length | 500mm | 400mm |
| Native f/ratio | f/2.8 | f/2.0 |
| Image circle | 44mm | 32mm |
| Full-frame support | Yes | No |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 12.5kg | 7.7kg |
Advantages of Takahashi Epsilon-180ED
- Tighter framing — 500mm vs 400mm focal length
- Larger image circle (44mm) — supports bigger sensors
Advantages of Celestron RASA 8
- Wider field — 400mm vs 500mm focal length
- 13% more light-gathering aperture
- Faster optics at f/2 vs f/2.8
- Lighter (7.7kg vs 12.5kg) — easier to travel with
Best for — Takahashi Epsilon-180ED
- Large emission nebulae and star clusters
- Fast imaging — short exposures per sub
- Full-frame astro cameras and DSLRs
Best for — Celestron RASA 8
- Large emission nebulae and star clusters
- Fast imaging — short exposures per sub
- Faint-object imaging under dark skies
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 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-180ED — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a permanent observatory setup.
Celestron RASA 8 — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a backyard imaging setup.