Telescope Reviews · 2026
From beginner-ready achromatics to premium ED glass APOs — every refractor worth buying, ranked and compared.
Refractor telescopes use a lens to gather light. They offer sharp, high-contrast views, zero maintenance, and a comfortable observing experience. The trade-off: you pay more per millimeter of aperture than with a reflector. This guide ranks every refractor worth buying in 2026 — from affordable entry-level picks to serious APO optics for visual observers and imagers.
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For visual observing: 70mm is a good minimum, 80–102mm is the practical sweet spot, and 120mm+ is a serious planetary instrument. For astrophotography: 80mm APO is ideal for wide fields; 102mm APO handles most targets.
Long focal ratios (f/10–f/15): less chromatic aberration, better planetary contrast, easier to use with budget eyepieces. Short focal ratios (f/5–f/7): wider field for deep sky and imaging — but require high-quality eyepieces; APO glass needed to control CA.
Achromatic (standard) refractors show some color fringing on bright objects. ED (extra-low dispersion) glass dramatically reduces this. A semi-APO at f/6 with ED elements is a major step up. True APO (apochromatic) corrects CA across the entire visible spectrum.
Alt-azimuth mounts are simplest for visual use. Equatorial mounts enable slow-motion tracking of objects. For astrophotography, a motorized EQ mount is essential. Don't underestimate the mount — a shaky mount ruins otherwise fine optics.
70mm f/13 achromatic refractor · Alt-azimuth mount · Two eyepieces included
The gold standard beginner refractor. The long f/13 focal ratio minimizes chromatic aberration on this achromatic design — lunar and planetary images are impressively sharp for the price. The alt-azimuth mount is smooth and intuitive; no polar alignment required. Includes a 20mm and 10mm Kellner eyepiece, giving 45× and 90× respectively. Setup takes under 10 minutes with no tools. The AstroMaster 70AZ is the telescope we recommend to virtually every beginner asking "what should I buy first?"
Best for: Moon, Saturn's rings, Jupiter's moons, double stars, beginners aged 12+
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102mm f/9.8 achromatic refractor · CG-4 equatorial mount · XLT coatings (97% transmission)
Step up to 102mm aperture on a genuine equatorial mount. The XLT coatings push light throughput above 97%, noticeably improving contrast on planets. At 150×–200×, Saturn's Cassini Division and Jupiter's equatorial belts are clearly visible. The CG-4 equatorial mount supports slow-motion tracking via manual slow-motion cables. This is the scope to buy when you're ready to take planets seriously but don't want to spend APO prices.
Best for: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Moon, double stars, visual planetary observing
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102mm f/6.5 achromatic refractor · WiFi GoTo alt-azimuth mount · Celestron SkyPortal app
The Astro Fi 102 bridges the gap between a basic achromatic refractor and a fully computerized GoTo scope. Built-in WiFi connects to the free Celestron SkyPortal app — point at any target in the app and the mount slews to it automatically. At 102mm aperture, lunar and planetary views are genuinely good, and the app-driven alignment makes this the most beginner-friendly route into GoTo observing at this price. Perfect for observers who want guided tours of the night sky without learning manual star-hopping.
Best for: GoTo beginners, families, guided sky tours, casual planetary and lunar observing
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120mm f/7.5 ED doublet APO · 2" dual-speed Crayford focuser · Includes 2" diagonal
The Evostar 120ED is the most capable visual refractor in this lineup. The 120mm ED doublet delivers a noticeable step up over the 80ED — finer double-star splits, more globular cluster resolution, and planetary views that rival much larger instruments. ED glass keeps chromatic aberration to near-zero at f/7.5. On a quality equatorial mount this is a lifetime telescope: extraordinary on Jupiter, Saturn, and the Moon at 150×–200×, and a capable wide-field imaging platform on a tracking mount.
Best for: Serious planetary and lunar observing, double star splitting, premium wide-field imaging, advanced visual all-rounder
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80mm f/7.5 ED doublet APO · 2" Crayford focuser · Includes 2" dielectric diagonal
The Evostar-80ED is the benchmark entry-level apochromatic refractor — praised by astrophotographers and visual observers alike. The ED doublet lens virtually eliminates chromatic aberration. Star images remain pinpoint across the field. As an imaging platform on an EQ5 or HEQ5 mount, it's capable of capturing the Orion Nebula, Andromeda Galaxy, and the California Nebula in a single wide frame. For visual use, the views of the Moon and Jupiter are noticeably cleaner and higher-contrast than any comparable achromat.
Best for: Astrophotography, serious planetary/lunar visual, all-around premium grab-and-go
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| Telescope | Aperture | Focal Ratio | Type | Mount | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AstroMaster 70AZ | 70mm | f/13 | Achro | Alt-az | Beginners, Moon, planets |
| Omni XLT 102 | 102mm | f/9.8 | Achro | EQ (CG-4) | Planets, double stars |
| Astro Fi 102 | 102mm | f/6.5 | Achro | WiFi GoTo alt-az | GoTo beginners, guided sky tours |
| Evostar 120ED | 120mm | f/7.5 | APO (ED) | Various | Serious visual, planetary, wide-field imaging |
| Evostar-80ED | 80mm | f/7.5 | APO (ED) | Various | Astrophotography, premium visual |
Best if: budget is limited, main targets are Moon/planets/double stars, or you're a first-time buyer.
Best if: astrophotography is planned, ultimate planetary contrast is desired, or you want the best possible visual experience.
The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ is our top pick for beginners. It requires zero maintenance (sealed tube, no collimation), provides comfortable eye placement at the rear, and delivers sharp views of the Moon, Saturn, and Jupiter. At 70mm f/13, chromatic aberration is minimal. It's lightweight, quick to set up, and ships with two eyepieces.
Neither is strictly "better" — they excel in different areas. Refractors are better for sharp planetary/lunar views, zero maintenance, and portability. Reflectors (especially Dobsonians) provide far more aperture per dollar and are better for deep-sky objects. For a detailed comparison, see our reflector vs refractor guide.
No — this is one of refractors' biggest advantages. The objective lens is permanently aligned inside the sealed tube. Unlike Newtonian reflectors, refractors never need collimation under normal use. Collimation can only be required if the lens cell is physically damaged or impacted.
You can see Saturn's rings clearly with a 60mm refractor at 50×. To resolve the Cassini Division (the dark gap in the rings), you need at least 100mm aperture and excellent seeing conditions. With a 102mm refractor at 150×–200×, you'll see the Cassini Division as a distinct dark band on good nights.
APO refractors are among the best telescopes for wide-field astrophotography. Their flat field (no coma), absence of diffraction spikes, and excellent color correction make them ideal for nebulae and galaxy imaging. An 80ED on a tracking EQ mount is a capable and popular imaging rig. Standard achromats are less suitable for imaging due to chromatic aberration that appears in long exposures.