A Swing at Celestron Origin vs Unistellar eQuinox 2: The Clash of Stellar Scopes
- The Celestron Origin offers superior astrophotography capabilities over the Unistellar eQuinox 2, albeit at a heavier and pricier weight.
- The Celestron Origin is the crème de la crème of smart telescopes, flaunting a top-tier RASA telescope tube and outperforming the eQuinox 2 in terms of views and images.
- But at around 40+ lbs, the Origin is twice as heavy, and its price tag might put a dent in your wallet at $3,999, whereas the eQuinox 2 tips the scales at around 19.8 lbs and is more pocket-friendly at $2,499.
- If sleek usage and joining citizen astronomy initiatives floats your boat, the Unistellar eQuinox 2 is the cat's meow.
Telescope Showdown: Celestron Origin vs Unistellar eQuinox 2 - Detailed Side-by-Side Evaluation
*Check Celestron Origin Price*Check Unistellar eQuinox 2 Price**Read the Celestron Origin review**Read the Unistellar eQuinox 2 review**## Here's why you'll love the Celestron Origin over the Unistellar eQuinox 2:
The Celestron Origin is more than just a pretty face – it's a premium smart telescope raised by American manufacturers Celestron, making its debut in 2024.
It soars above the competition as the crown jewel of smart telescopes in terms of its stellar OTA (optical tube assembly) tuned for astrophotography.
With the Origin, you'll find it hard to keep up with the pace of your expectations:
- The Origin sports a teleste type called a Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA), cherished by experienced astrophotographers.
- The Origin comes with a whopping 6-inch aperture and an impressive f/2.2 focal ratio, superior to the eQuinox 2, promising breathtaking sights and images.
- The Origin's single fork-arm alt-azimuth mount, from the Celestron Nexstar Evolution telescope range, can be swapped and upgraded, unlike the eQuinox 2's firmament-locked camera and mount.
- The Origin is the ultimate astrophotography playground, boxed with telescope, mount, camera and all the essential accessories in an easy-to-use package.
The Origin's Hail Mary is its hefty size and weight of 41.6 lbs, more than double the eQuinox 2's 19.8 lbs. Also, it's priced for performance, setting you back $3,999 compared to the eQuinox 2's $2,499.
Get your wallet ready if you're into serious astrophotography and don't mind hefting around the Origin's weight.
Astrophotography Pick
Take my word for it: the Unistellar eQuinox 2
The Unistellar eQuinox 2, built by French manufacturers Unistellar, also shares the spotlight and boasts impressive specifications that don't feel out of place when compared to the Celestron Origin.
Seamless Usability
- The eQuinox 2 flaunts an outstanding user experience, as seamless as a satin sheet wrapped around you.
- It's the heiress to the original eQuinox telescope, sporting a fancier camera.
- Take part in exciting citizen astronomy initiatives and join missions to track asteroids and hunt exoplanets.
You might have to fine-tune the telescope and camera collimation (a type of adjustment) with both the eQuinox 2 and Celestron's RASA OTA.
The eQuinox 2 is also in the premium price range but offers better value for money than the Origin if you prioritize:
- Effortless usage
- Citizen astronomy initiatives
- Saving a buck
- Small size and weight
- Fancy astrophotography techniques aren't your forte
Celestron Origin
The gorgeous details dished up by the telescope specs
The Celestron Origin incorporates:
Unistellar eQuinox 2
- 152mm (6 inch) aperture
- 335mm focal length
- f/2.2 focal ratio
- 1.27° x 0.85° field of view
The Unistellar eQuinox 2 brandishes:
- 114mm (4.5 inch) aperture
- 450mm focal length
- f/3.9 focal ratio
- 0.57° x 0.76° field of view
Beautiful imagery wrapped in pixels
$3,999.00
The Celestron Origin boasts a 6.4MP resolution camera, using a Sony IMX178 sensor and a pixel size of 2.4μm.
In comparison, the Unistellar eQuinox 2 showcases a 6.2MP resolution camera with a Sony IMX347 sensor and a larger pixel size of 2.9μm.
$2,499.00
Size matters: A heavyweight contender vs a slender foe
The Celestron Origin weighs 18.9kg (41.6 lbs) and measures 122 x 66 x 61 (H x W x L in cm).
The Unistellar eQuinox 2, with a more slender frame, tips the scales at 8.9kg (19.8 lbs) and stretches over 23 x 19 x 65 (H x W x L in cm).
Pricing for the stars
Buy at Agena Astro
The Celestron Origin demands $3,999, while the Unistellar eQuinox 2 asks for $2,499.
These prices may vary, so make sure to compare retailers before taking the plunge.
Buy on Amazon
Final verdict: More than just a blast from the past
At the end of the day, the Celestron Origin is undeniably advanced, dishing out ease-of-use features packed inside a smart telescope. However, its weight and price might give you pause.
On the other hand, the eQuinox 2 is the perfect pick if you want a state-of-the-art smart telescope that is lightweight, easy to carry, and cost-effective.
| | || --- | --- || Stellar Astrophotography | Lightweight Swank || Celestron Origin | Unistellar eQuinox 2 || $3,999.00 | $2,499.00 || Buy at Agena Astro | Buy on Amazon || Check All Stores | Check All Stores |
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Celestron Origin........Buy at Agena Astro.......Check All Stores......Unistellar eQuinox 2.......Buy on Amazon.......Check All Stores## Links to Related Content:
- Smart Telescope Showdown
- Unistellar website
- eQuinox 2 review
- Celestron Origin website
- Celestron Origin review
- Celestron Origin vs Unistellar eQuinox
- Celestron Origin vs Dwarf II
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Author's Bio
Anthony Robinson stands at the helm of Skies & Scopes, a beacon for amateur astronomy and astrophotography enthusiasts. His work has been graced by publications such as Amateur Astrophotography, Forbes, the Guardian, DIY Photography, PetaPixel, and Digital Camera World – read more.
- Bluesky
- The Celestron Origin is a premium smart telescope raised by American manufacturers Celestron, making its debut in 2024, catering to serious astrophotographers with its stellar OTA tuned for astrophotography.
- The Celestron Origin comes with a top-tier Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA) telescope tube, resulting in breathtaking astrophotography images.
- The Unistellar eQuinox 2, although impressive in its specifications, provides better value for money if you prioritize effortless usage, citizen astronomy initiatives, saving a buck, small size and weight, or if you're not into fancy astrophotography techniques.
- In tandem with data-and-cloud-computing technology, both telescopes—Celestron Origin and Unistellar eQuinox 2—offer smart capabilities, opening the door for mobile astrophotography gadgets like smartphones to join the fun.
