telescopecomparison · 2-way
Takahashi FSQ-85EDX vs Takahashi Epsilon-180ED
Takahashi
FSQ-85EDX
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.
Takahashi
Epsilon-180ED
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a permanent observatory setup.
Key differences
-10% focal length
-53% aperture
Slower by 2.5 f-stops
Specifications
| Specification | Takahashi FSQ-85EDX | Takahashi Epsilon-180ED |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | Refractor | astrograph |
| Optical design | Petzval APO | Hyperbolic Newtonian |
| Aperture | 85mm | 180mm |
| Focal length | 450mm | 500mm |
| Native f/ratio | f/5.3 | f/2.8 |
| Image circle | 44mm | 44mm |
| Full-frame support | Yes | Yes |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 4.0kg | 12.5kg |
Advantages of Takahashi FSQ-85EDX
- Lighter (4kg vs 12.5kg) — easier to travel with
Advantages of Takahashi Epsilon-180ED
- Tighter framing — 500mm vs 450mm focal length
- 112% more light-gathering aperture
- Faster optics at f/2.8 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-180ED
- 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-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
Takahashi FSQ-85EDX — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.
Takahashi Epsilon-180ED — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a permanent observatory setup.