telescopecomparison · 2-way
William Optics Zenithstar 81 II vs William Optics Zenithstar 73 II
William Optics
Zenithstar 81 II
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.
William Optics
Zenithstar 73 II
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.
Key differences
+11% focal length
+11% aperture
Specifications
| Specification | William Optics Zenithstar 81 II | William Optics Zenithstar 73 II |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | refractor | refractor |
| Optical design | Apo doublet FPL-53 | Apo doublet FPL-53 |
| Aperture | 81mm | 73mm |
| Focal length | 478mm | 430mm |
| Native f/ratio | f/5.9 | f/5.9 |
| Image circle | 44mm | 44mm |
| Full-frame support | Yes | No |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 3.6kg | 2.4kg |
Advantages of William Optics Zenithstar 81 II
- Tighter framing — 478mm vs 430mm focal length
- 11% more light-gathering aperture
Advantages of William Optics Zenithstar 73 II
- Wider field — 430mm vs 478mm focal length
- Lighter (2.4kg vs 3.6kg) — easier to travel with
Best for — William Optics Zenithstar 81 II
- Large emission nebulae and star clusters
- Full-frame astro cameras and DSLRs
Best for — William Optics Zenithstar 73 II
- Large emission nebulae and star clusters
William Optics Zenithstar 81 II — typical FOV & scale
- With Full-frame (36×24mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 4.32° × 2.88°Scale: 1.62"/px
- With APS-C (23.5×15.7mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 2.82° × 1.88°Scale: 1.62"/px
- With IMX533 square (11.3×11.3mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 1.35° × 1.35°Scale: 1.62"/px
William Optics Zenithstar 73 II — typical FOV & scale
- With Full-frame (36×24mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 4.80° × 3.20°Scale: 1.80"/px
- With APS-C (23.5×15.7mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 3.13° × 2.09°Scale: 1.80"/px
- With IMX533 square (11.3×11.3mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 1.51° × 1.51°Scale: 1.80"/px
William Optics Zenithstar 81 II — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.
William Optics Zenithstar 73 II — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.