telescopecomparison · 2-way
Takahashi FSQ-85EDX vs Takahashi Epsilon-160ED
Takahashi
FSQ-85EDX
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.
Takahashi
Epsilon-160ED
Best suited for intermediate imagers building a versatile kit running a backyard imaging setup.
Key differences
-15% focal length
-47% aperture
Slower by 2.0 f-stops
Specifications
| Specification | Takahashi FSQ-85EDX | Takahashi Epsilon-160ED |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | Refractor | Newtonian |
| Optical design | Petzval APO | Hyperbolic astrograph |
| Aperture | 85mm | 160mm |
| Focal length | 450mm | 530mm |
| Native f/ratio | f/5.3 | f/3.3 |
| Image circle | 44mm | 44mm |
| Full-frame support | Yes | Yes |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 4.0kg | 10.0kg |
Advantages of Takahashi FSQ-85EDX
- Wider field — 450mm vs 530mm focal length
- Lighter (4kg vs 10kg) — easier to travel with
Advantages of Takahashi Epsilon-160ED
- Tighter framing — 530mm vs 450mm focal length
- 88% more light-gathering aperture
- Faster optics at f/3.3 vs f/5.3
Best for — Takahashi FSQ-85EDX
- Large emission nebulae and star clusters
- Full-frame astro cameras and DSLRs
Best for — Takahashi Epsilon-160ED
- Large emission nebulae and star clusters
- Fast imaging — short exposures per sub
- Full-frame astro cameras and DSLRs
Takahashi FSQ-85EDX — typical FOV & scale
- With Full-frame (36×24mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 4.58° × 3.06°Scale: 1.72"/px
- With APS-C (23.5×15.7mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 2.99° × 2.00°Scale: 1.72"/px
- With IMX533 square (11.3×11.3mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 1.44° × 1.44°Scale: 1.72"/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
Takahashi FSQ-85EDX — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.
Takahashi Epsilon-160ED — recommended user
Best suited for intermediate imagers building a versatile kit running a backyard imaging setup.