telescopecomparison · 2-way
William Optics Zenithstar 61 II vs SharpStar 61EDPH III
William Optics
Zenithstar 61 II
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.
SharpStar
61EDPH III
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.
Key differences
+7% focal length
Slower by 0.4 f-stops
Specifications
| Specification | William Optics Zenithstar 61 II | SharpStar 61EDPH III |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | refractor | Refractor |
| Optical design | Apo doublet FPL-53 | Doublet APO |
| Aperture | 61mm | 61mm |
| Focal length | 360mm | 335mm |
| Native f/ratio | f/5.9 | f/5.5 |
| Image circle | 44mm | 32mm |
| Full-frame support | No | No |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 1.9kg | 2.4kg |
Advantages of William Optics Zenithstar 61 II
- Larger image circle (44mm) — supports bigger sensors
- Lighter (1.9kg vs 2.4kg) — easier to travel with
Advantages of SharpStar 61EDPH III
- Faster optics at f/5.5 vs f/5.9
Best for — William Optics Zenithstar 61 II
- Large emission nebulae and star clusters
Best for — SharpStar 61EDPH III
- Wide-field nebulae and Milky Way regions
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
SharpStar 61EDPH III — typical FOV & scale
- With Full-frame (36×24mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 6.16° × 4.11°Scale: 2.32"/px
- With APS-C (23.5×15.7mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 4.02° × 2.69°Scale: 2.32"/px
- With IMX533 square (11.3×11.3mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 1.93° × 1.93°Scale: 2.32"/px
William Optics Zenithstar 61 II — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.
SharpStar 61EDPH III — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.