Celestron Origin vs Unistellar eQuinox 2: 10 Second Summary
- The Celestron Origin is a superior astrophotography telescope to the Unistellar eQuinox 2, but is heavier and more expensive.
- The Celestron Origin is the most advanced of any smart telescope on the market in terms of telescope specifications, featuring a 6-inch aperture RASA telescope tube.
- However it is about twice as heavy as the Unistellar eQuinox 2, and nearly twice the price.
- The eQuinox 2 has lower telescope and camera specs, but with Unistellar models the UX is seamless and you can join Citizen Astronomy initiatives.
Why choose the Celestron Origin over the Unistellar eQuinox 2?
The Celestron Origin is a premium smart telescope from American astronomy manufacturer Celestron that was released in 2024.
It is Celestron’s first smart telescope and offers the highest specification Optical Tube Assembly (OTA – the telecope) of any smart telescope on the market.
In comparison to the Unistellar eQuinox 2:
- The Origin telescope type is a specialist astrophotography type called a Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph (RASA) that is well-loved and proven by experienced astrophotographers.
- The telescope has 6-inch aperture and an f/2.2 focal ratio – this is above that of the eQuinox 2 and so the views and images are superior.
- The Origin comes with a full-height tripod and mount is a single fork-arm alt-azimuth mount that is used on the Celestron Nexstar Evolution telescope range. Unlike the eQuinox 2 (or any other smart telescope), the mount and camera can be replaced and upgraded in the future.
- The Origin is the best smart telescope for actual astrophotography and is effectively an off-the-shelf astrophotography setup with telescope, mount, camera and necessary accessories in an easy to use package.
The main downside is the size and weight of the package. At 40+ lbs it is roughly double that of the eQuinox 2.
In addition, it is in the premium price bracket comparable to other premium smart telescopes. It retails at $3,999, versus $2,499 for the eQuinox 2.
The Celestron Origin is right for you if you are looking for the best option in terms of actual astrophotography and are ok with the larger size, weight and price.
Why choose the Unistellar eQuinox 2 over the Celestron Origin?
The Unistellar eQuinox 2 is a premium smart telescope from French manufacturer Unistellar that was released in 2023:
- Its telescope and camera specifications are very good and the user experience is slick and seamless.
- It succeeded the original eQuinox telescope with an improved camera.
- With all Unistellar models you can take part in Citizen Astronomy initiatives and join missions to track asteroids and hunt exoplanets.
The eQuinox 2 and eVscope 2 may require collimation (a form of manual adjustment), unlike the Odyssey and Odyssey Pro from Unistellar. The Celestron’s RASA OTA may also require collimation.
Whilst still in the premium price bracket, it is substantially cheaper than the Celestron Origin.
The eQuinox 2 therefore makes a great deal versus the Origin if:
- You want a premium smart telescope with great ease-of-use
- You would enjoy the Citizen Astronomy features
- Want to spend less
- Would prefer the lighter weight and smaller size, and
- Are less motivated by the more advanced astrophotography capabilities of the Celestron Origin
Telescope Specifications
The Celestron Origin has:
- 152mm (6 inch) aperture
- 335mm focal length
- f/2.2 focal ratio
- 1.27° x 0.85° field of view
The Unistellar eQuinox 2 has:
- 114mm (4.5 inch) aperture
- 450mm focal length
- f/3.9 focal ratio
- 0.57° x 0.76° field of view
Camera Specifications
The Celestron Origin has a 6.4MP resolution camera of 3096 x 2080 size using a Sony IMX178 sensor and a pixel size of 2.4μm.
The Unistellar eQuinox 2 has a 6.2MP resolution camera of 2520 x 2520 size using a Sony IMX347 sensor and a pixel size of 2.9μm.
Size and Weight
The Celestron Origin weighs 18.9kg (41.6 lb) and has dimensions of 122 x 66 x 61 ((H x W x L in cm).
The Unistellar eQuinox 2 weighs 8.9kg (19.8 lb) and has dimensions of 23 x 19 x 65 ((H x W x L in cm).
Price and Value for Money
The Celestron Origin costs $3,999, and the Unistellar eQuinox 2 costs $2,499.
Note, these may vary so check the links to compare retailers if thinking about buying.
Specifications
| Celestron Origin | Unistellar eQuinox 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 2024 | 2023 |
| Aperture | 152mm (6 inch) | 114mm (4.5 inch) |
| Focal Length | 335mm | 450mm |
| Focal Ratio | f/2.2 | f/3.9 |
| Limiting Magnitude | 13.61 | 12.98 |
| OTA type | Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph | Reflector |
| Eyepiece | No | No |
| Field of View | 1.27° x 0.85° | 0.57° x 0.76° |
| Resolution | 6.4MP | 6.2MP |
| Sensor Size | 3096 x 2080 | 2520 x 2520 |
| Sensor | Sony IMX178 | Sony IMX347 |
| Pixel Size | 2.4μm | 2.9μm |
| Image Formats | Raw | FITS, TIFF, PNG, JPEG |
| Mosaic Mode | No | No |
| Size (H x W x L) cm | 122 x 66 x 61 | 23 x 19 x 65 |
| Weight | 18.9kg (41.6 lb) | 8.9kg (19.8 lb) |
| Mount | Included | Included |
| Tripod | Included | Included |
| Battery Life | 6 hrs | 11 hrs |
| Internal Storage | unknown | 64GB |
| Dew Control | Built-in | None |
| Retail Price* | $3,999 | $2,499 |
Celestron Origin vs Unistellar eQuinox 2 Verdict
Overall, the Celestron Origin is a genuinely advanced astrophotography setup with all the ease-of-use perks in a smart telescope package. However it is heavy and fairly expensive.
The eQuinox 2 is a best for you if you want an ultra-slick smart telescope that is smaller and lighter, whilst also being cheaper.
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Astrophotography Pick
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Seamless Usability
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$3,999.00
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$2,499.00
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