telescopecomparison · 2-way
Unistellar Equinox 2 vs Explore Scientific ED80 FCD-100
Unistellar
Equinox 2
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a backyard imaging setup.
Explore Scientific
ED80 FCD-100
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.
Key differences
-6% focal length
+43% aperture
Faster by 2.1 f-stops
Specifications
| Specification | Unistellar Equinox 2 | Explore Scientific ED80 FCD-100 |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | smart-telescope | refractor |
| Optical design | Newtonian all-in-one | Apo triplet FCD-100 |
| Aperture | 114mm | 80mm |
| Focal length | 450mm | 480mm |
| Native f/ratio | f/3.9 | f/6.0 |
| Image circle | — | 44mm |
| Full-frame support | No | No |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 9.0kg | 4.5kg |
Advantages of Unistellar Equinox 2
- 43% more light-gathering aperture
- Faster optics at f/3.9 vs f/6
Advantages of Explore Scientific ED80 FCD-100
- Larger image circle (44mm) — supports bigger sensors
- Lighter (4.5kg vs 9kg) — easier to travel with
Best for — Unistellar Equinox 2
- Large emission nebulae and star clusters
- Fast imaging — short exposures per sub
Best for — Explore Scientific ED80 FCD-100
- Large emission nebulae and star clusters
Unistellar Equinox 2 — 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
Explore Scientific ED80 FCD-100 — typical FOV & scale
- With Full-frame (36×24mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 4.30° × 2.86°Scale: 1.62"/px
- With APS-C (23.5×15.7mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 2.81° × 1.87°Scale: 1.62"/px
- With IMX533 square (11.3×11.3mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 1.35° × 1.35°Scale: 1.62"/px
Unistellar Equinox 2 — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a backyard imaging setup.
Explore Scientific ED80 FCD-100 — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.