Telescope Buying Guide

Comparing Telescopes
So which Stellarvue telescope is best for me? This telescope buying guide will help you make an informed decision. Each telescope is listed and subjectively rated in relation to each other. Light gain is measured compared to the naked eye.

PORTABILITY

A telescope that is easy to use will be used often. Do not overlook this fact when making a decision to buy your first telescope. It is also true that if you can take your telescope out of the city and into a dark environment you will see much more than in a light polluted environment.

We rate our telescopes to the right in terms of portability and ease in carrying. Obviously, the smaller the telescope the more portable it will be. But do not chose only for a small telescope. The large the objective lens, the more light it will gather; you will see more in a larger telescope. So weigh portability against performance to decide which telescope is right for you.

USES

Our telescopes were each specifically designed with an emphasis on one or more areas of use. Some of our telescopes are optimized for visual use and some were designed primarily for imaging using a DSLR or CCD camera. This does not mean that you cannot use our visual-oriented telescopes for imaging or vice versa. But as a potential user, you should know the approach we took with each model to make sure it operates best in your particular area of interest or area of emphasis.

Our telescopes are comparatively rated in order for their visual performance on the next list. The higher the telescope is on the list, the more you will see in terms of resolution and contrast.

Telescope	Comparitive Portability	Light Gain
SV70ED	10	100X
SV80ED	9	131X
SVR80ED Raptor	10	131X
SV80ED Deluxe	9	131X
SVR80	9	131X
SVR90 Raptor	10	165X +
SV90TBV	9	165X +
SV102	7	212X
SV105	7	240X +
SV110	6	240X +
SV115	5	240X
SV130	5.5	270X +
SV160	4	345X

Rating	Visual Performance - Planets and Double Stars
1	SV160
2	SV115 and SV130
2.5	SV105-3AP & SVR105
3	SV90 - All models
4	SV80S & SV80ST2
5	SV110AP
6	SV102AP
7	SV80ED All Models
8	SV70ED

Rating	Visual Performance - Nebulae and Galaxies
1	SV160
2	SV115 & SV130
3	SV105-3AP & SVR105
4	SV110AP
5	SV90 All Models
6	SV102ED
7	SV80S & SV80ST2
8	SV80ED All Models
9	SV70ED

Imaging

If you plan to become deeply involved in imaging (using a DSLR or CCD camera) we specifically recommend the telescopes listed below. The triplets listed below were designed as 3 element visual and either five or six element photographic instruments. You add the dedicated flattener to the telescope when imaging to get a flat field.


Rating	Telescope	Notes
1	SV160	Designed as a five element imaging system with the SFF160 flattener. As our flagship telescope, this one has a larger image scale and reaches the deepest.
2	SV105 All Models	Designed as a five element imaging system with our standard or large chip dedicated flatteners. This telescope reaches deep.
3	SVR90T-AP	Excellent correction. This one has the Stellarvue SVF25 focuser or optional 2.5” Feather Touch focuser, both accept the SFF25 field flattener. The threaded camera connection is superior to slide in connections.
4	SV90TBV & SVR90T Raptor	Same optical performance as above but these are designed to work with the SFF7-21 flattener which is slid into 2” focuser for use with APS or smaller chip cameras (most cameras on the market).
5	SV80S & SVR80ST2	Great wide field imager with Feather Touch Focuser. Requires the dedicated SFF6 plug in flattener or a new threaded SFF25-6 flattener.
6	SV102 / SV110	Great for imaging on a budget. Some work in photoshop required to minimize CA around the brightest stars. All of our ED doublets use the same lens design and routinely outperform more expensive doublets and mass produced triplets which do not meet our optical spec. These two models now come with the Stellarvue 2.5” SVF25 dual speed focuser. This focuser works with the SFF25 field flattener which threads directly to the focuser. This is far better than a plug in field flattener.
7	Stellarvue 70 & 80 mm ED Doublet Refractors	Great for imaging on a budget. Some work in photoshop required to minimize CA around the brightest stars. All of our ED doublets use the same lens design and routinely outperform more expensive doublets and mass produced triplets which do not meet our optical spec. These models use a 2” focuser so the field flattener must be inserted into the drawtube. Use the SFF7-21 flattener on the 80ED and the SFF6 flattener for the SV70ED.


	* Comparitive ratings may change when new products become available

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Stellarvue® designs and handcrafts the finest refractor telescopes and provides programs and experiences to foster a greater appreciation of our natural world and to encourage individual exploration of the universe.

All specifications and prices are subject to change without notice. Designs and materials are often modified to improve them. All copy and photographs are copyright 2011 and may not be used without permission.

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