Celestron Origin vs Unistellar eQuinox: 10 Second Summary
- The Celestron Origin is a superior astrophotography telescope to the Unistellar eQuinox, 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.
- The eQuinox was succeeded by the eQuinox 2 in 2023 but can still be bought and often at a significantly reduced price which makes it much cheaper than the Celestron Origin. This makes it a good option to get a premium smart telescope at a mid-range price.
- The eQuinox 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?
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:
- 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 (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.
In addition, it is in the premium price bracket comparable to other premium smart telescopes. It is more expensive than the eQuinox, especially if looking at the current discount prices as the eQuinox is faded out.
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 over the Celestron Origin?
The Unistellar eQuinox is a premium smart telescope from French manufacturer Unistellar that was released in 2022:
- Its telescope and camera specifications are very good and the user experience is slick and seamless.
- With all Unistellar models you can take part in Citizen Astronomy initiatives and join missions to track asteroids and hunt exoplanets.
It was succeeded by the upgraded eQuinox 2 in 2023, which used the same OTA (the telescope tube) but with an improved camera.
The eQuinox, eQuinox 2 and eVscope 2 all require collimation (adjustment), unlike the Odyssey and Odyssey Pro from Unistellar. The Celestron’s RASA OTA may also require collimation.
On release it was in the premium price bracket but since the release of the eQuinox 2 it can usually be found reduced at up to 50% off.
The eQuinox therefore makes a great deal if you want a premium smart telescope at a mid-range price. It has proven excellence in terms of the app and general ease-of-use.
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 has:
- 114mm (4.5 inch) aperture
- 450mm focal length
- f/3.9 focal ratio
- 0.61° × 0.46° 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 has a 4.8MP resolution camera of 2240 x 2240 size using a Sony IMX224 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 weighs 8.9kg (19.8 lb) and has dimensions of 23 x 19 x 65 ((H x W x L in cm).
The eQuinox is therefore significantly lighter and smaller.
Price and Value for Money
The Celestron Origin costs $3,999, and the Unistellar eQuinox was originally priced at $2,999 but can now be found available from $1,599 (at the time of writing).
Note, these may vary so check the links to compare retailers if thinking about buying.
Specifications
| Celestron Origin | Unistellar eQuinox | |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 2024 | 2022 |
| 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° | 0.61° × 0.46° |
| Resolution | 6.4MP | 4.8MP |
| Sensor Size | 3096 x 2080 | 2240 x 2240 |
| Sensor | Sony IMX178 | Sony IMX224 |
| 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 | 12 hrs |
| Internal Storage | unknown | 64GB |
| Dew Control | Built-in | None |
| Retail Price* | $3,999 | $1,599 |
Celestron Origin vs Unistellar eQuinox 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 makes a great deal if you want a premium smart telescope at a mid-range price. It has proven excellence in terms of the app and slick usability.
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