16 Telescope Brands & Manufacturers You Need To Know
Telescopes are designed, manufactured and distributed by a wide variety of companies. Each brand distinguishes itself through unique specializations, ranging from advanced technology and premium optics to affordability and user-friendliness. This diversity allows astronomers to determine the optimal telescope for a specific observation.
Knowing a specific telescope brand’s manufacturers provides observers with deep insight into the quality of its optics. The most reputable telescope brands and manufacturers are shared below.
- Celestron
- Orion
- Meade
- Tasco
- Gskyer
- Vivitar
- Sky-watcher
- Zhumell
- Questar
- Apertura
- Explore Scientific
- Vixen Optics
- Vaonis
- Bresser
- William Optics
- Tele Vue
1. Celestron
Celestron is a renowned telescope brand originally from the United States. The company was founded in Torrance, California in 1964. However, Celestron’s telescope production has been moved overseas to mitigate manufacturing costs. Celestron offers a diverse range of telescopes, including refractors, reflectors, and compound telescopes. They also produce a wide range of telescope accessories, such as eyepieces.
Celestron telescopes are commonly used by both beginners and professional astronomers due to their high-quality optics and sturdy construction. Their telescopes range in price from around $50 (€46.60) for child-oriented models to over $3000 (€2,796.21) for advanced setups.
2. Orion
Orion Telescopes & Binoculars is a telescope brand that was established in Santa Cruz, California in 1975. Orion has shifted a majority of its telescope production to Synta, a Taiwanese telescope manufacturer, to reduce manufacturing costs. Orion’s product line includes a wide variety of telescope types, with the Dobsonian being one of their most notable models due to its high light-gathering power and low cost. Orion also crafts high-quality telescope accessories, including eyepieces and filters.
Orion telescopes cater to a broad spectrum of astronomers due to their reliable optics and robust designs. The price points for Orion telescopes start at approximately $100 (€93.20) for basic models and cost beyond $2500 (€2,330.14) for their more intricate systems.
3. Meade
Meade Instruments is a prominent telescope brand founded in Irvine, California in 1972. Meade has engaged in international partnerships, including Mexico and Taiwan, to streamline production and provide more cost-effective designs. Meade’s telescope lineup features various designs, but they are most commonly known for their refractors. Beyond telescopes, Meade offers an array of precision-crafted eyepieces.
Meade telescopes are a preferred choice for a wide range of observers, but it’s most commonly used among experienced astronomers. This is because some designs implement innovative and complex technology that is difficult for beginners. The pricing for Meade telescopes begins at $200 (€186.40) but exceed $5,000 (€4,647.80) for their high-end observational systems.
4. Tasco
Tasco is an established telescope brand that is commonly used due to its affordable, high-quality optics. Tasco began in Miramar, Florida in 1954, and has partnered with manufacturers in Asia to maintain its low costs. Tasco’s array of telescopes primarily leans towards reflectors, although they offer high-quality refractors and compound telescopes as well. Tasco produces a wide variety of optical devices, ranging from telescopes to rangefinders.
Tasco telescopes tend to cater to beginner and intermediate astronomers, making it a popular choice for those entering the world of stargazing. Their designs, while being cost-effective, provide decent clarity and functionality. In terms of cost, Tasco telescopes typically start at around $85 (€79.22) and go up to $200 (€186.40) for some of their more advanced models.
5. Gskyer
Gskyer is a telescope brand, founded in Germany. Gskyer has since collaborated with multiple manufacturers across different continents, ensuring efficient production. The brand offers a versatile range of telescopes, with refractors being especially prevalent in their catalog. In addition to telescopes, Gskyer also produces a selection of optical accessories, including cost-effective eyepieces.
Gskyer targets mainly amateur astronomers and enthusiasts, earning a reputation as reliable starter equipment. Their offerings balance price with performance, ensuring users receive a high-quality astronomical experience without the high costs. Price-wise, Gskyer telescopes usually start at a modest point, with some models being available for less than $100 (€93.20), while their advanced offerings rise to about $350 (€326.20) for their more innovative models.
6. Vivitar
Vivitar stands out as one of the most cost-effective telescope brands. Vivitar was established in Santa Monica, California in 1938 and moved to Edison, New Jersey due to an acquisition in August 21, 2008. Vivitar produced telescopes in partnership with manufacturers around the globe, providing cost-effective designs. Vivitar primarily designed camera lenses, but their low-cost telescope designs made astronomy significantly more accessible.
Vivitar is renowned for producing dependable introductory equipment for new astronomers. The brand bridges the gap between affordability and functionality, allowing users to delve into the wonders of the cosmos without incurring exorbitant costs. When it comes to pricing, Vivitar telescopes are budget-friendly, with their cheapest model starting at $15 (€13.98).
7. Sky-Watcher
Sky-Watcher is a telescope brand that was established by Synta Technology Corporation of Taiwan. Synta is the manufacturer of many of Celestron, Orion and Meade’s telescopes, serving as a testimony to their high-quality optics. Sky-Watcher manufactures their own telescopes at Suzhou Synta Optical Technology in mainland China. Sky-Watcher offers 11 series of telescopes, as well as telescope eyepieces.
Sky-Watcher aims to provide reliable and affordable equipment for all proficiency levels, serving a large demographic. Sky-Watcher telescopes offer a broad range, starting from $200 (€186.40), and going beyond $5,000 (€4,647.80) for devices for advanced observations.
8. Zhumell
Zhumell is a telescope brand that was founded in Duluth, Minnesota, but they changed locations numerous times due to changes in ownership. Zhumell partners with top-notch manufacturers, primarily in Asia, to optimize both quality and affordability in their telescope designs. Beyond just telescopes, Zhumell also offers an assortment of telescope accessories, including a selection of eyepieces.
Zhumell’s telescopes are designed to cater to both novice stargazers and experienced astronomers. Their products combine robust build quality with high optical clarity, making them a popular choice within the astronomical community. Zhumell telescopes offer a competitive price range, typically from $100 (€93.20) to $200 (€186.40).
9. Questar
Questar is a high-end telescope brand founded in New Hope, Pennsylvania in 1950. Questar primarily produces Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes. Questar emphasizes precision and superior quality in its designs, justifying its high costs. Alongside its telescopes, Questar produces a curated line of optical accessories, including bespoke eyepieces.
Questar is primarily used by professionals in astronomy due to the high costs. These telescopes are higher in cost because of their vivid observational experiences, attributed to their meticulous craftsmanship and advanced technology. Questar telescopes generally begin at around $3,000 (€2,796.21).
10. Apertura
Apertura is a telescope brand that was launched in 2011 with the goal of providing the highest-quality Dobsonian telescope for the lowest cost. The most popular of Apertura’s telescopes is the Apertura AD Dobsonian Telescope series, but they offer a wide variety of telescope types.
Apertura is primarily used by beginners, but they provide a variety of designs for unique goals, preferences and budgets. Apertura telescopes range from $200 (€186.40) to over $1,000 (€932.00).
11. Explore Scientific
Explore Scientific is a telescope brand founded by an ex-employee of Meade Instruments in 2008, in Laguna Hills, CA. Explore Scientific collaborates with manufacturers in various locations to ensure efficient production coupled and high quality. This company offers a broad and diverse range of telescopes, including reflectors, refractors and compound telescopes. Explore Scientific also has an extensive catalog of accessories, which includes high-quality eyepieces.
This brand serves nearly every demographic, providing cost-effective designs for entry-level stargazers as well as high-tech designs for institutional astronomers. Telescopes from Explore Scientific ranges from around $40 (€37.28) for beginner models to $100,000 (€93,200.00) for their advanced Newtonians.
12. Vixen Optics
Vixen Optics is a Japanese telescope brand, founded in October 1949 as Koyu Company, Limited. Vixen offers a broad range of telescopes and accessories, including eyepieces, mounts and field flatteners.
Vixen Optics is a high-rated telescope brand in the astronomical community due to its rich history of high-quality optics. The diverse range of telescopes provides options for everyone for all skill levels and observational pursuits. Vixen Optics telescopes range from approximately $200 (€186.40) to $2,000 (€1,864.00).
13. Vaonis
Vaonis is a high-end telescope brand, established in Clapiers, Languedoc-Roussillon, France in 2016. This innovative company is known for its modern designs and high-tech accessories, providing a world-class observational experience.
Vaonis is a renowned brand in the astronomical community with its combination of user-friendly software and advanced optics. Beyond the ease of use, Vaonis emphasizes modernity in design, providing sleek and unique designs. Vaonis telescopes are generally more expensive than its competitors due to their innovative design, ranging from $1500 (€1,398.00) to $5,000 (€4,647.80).
14. Bresser
Bresser is a German-based optics brand, established in 1957 by Josef Bresser. The company offers an extensive range of telescopes, as well as various other optical products, such as binoculars, microscopes, and camera lenses.
Bresser has built a solid reputation in the astronomy community for providing reliable optics suitable for both beginners and advanced observers. Their telescopes cater to a diverse audience, ensuring functionality and quality optics across the board. Pricing for Bresser telescopes vary widely due to their diverse offerings, ranging from less than $100 (€93.20) to over $15,000 (€13,980.00).
15. William Optics
William Optics is a telescope brand, established in Taipei, Taiwan in 1996. The brand is known for its high-quality craftsmanship and precision optics, often featuring signature touches such as the gold-anodized finish on some models. They offer a broad spectrum of telescopes, including high-end refractors, as well as various accessories such as diagonals and eyepieces.
The astronomy community holds William Optics in high regard due to its commitment to quality and performance. Their versatile selection of telescopes are commonly used by both new astronomers and seasoned professionals. The pricing for William Optics telescopes starts from approximately $100 (€93.20) and go above $4,000 (€3,728.00), reflecting their wide range of offerings from beginner scopes to professional-grade equipment
16. Tele Vue
Tele Vue is a telescope brand founded by Al Nagler in Chester, New York in 1977. They’re particularly acclaimed for their exceptional eyepieces and refractor telescopes. Tele Vue’s designs focus on providing the best visual experience, ensuring vibrant, crisp views of celestial objects. Their eyepieces, in particular, have set industry standards, and many astronomers regard them as among the finest available.
In the astronomical community, Tele Vue’s reputation for quality and innovation stands out. Their offerings cater to enthusiasts who prioritize premium optical performance, from amateurs to professionals. The pricing for Tele Vue equipment begins at about $400 (€372.80) for basic designs, while their more advanced systems command prices over $5,000 (€4,647.80).
Which Telescope Brands Are Considered the Best?
The best telescope brands are Celestron, Orion, Meade, and Sky-Watcher due to their long-standing histories of providing high-quality optics. Celestron is commonly used by a wide range of experience levels because of its precision-crafted optics and durable construction. Orion stands out due to its versatile range of telescopes, with the Dobsonian models being the most commonly used due to their high light-gathering power and affordability.
Meade is another highly regarded company due to its innovation. Meade offers a wide range of designs, with some designs implementing complex technology that appeals to more experienced observers. Sky-Watcher was created by the company that manufactures Celestron and Orion’s optics, Synta. Synta leverages its vast manufacturing expertise to ensure reliable quality across Sky-Watcher’s products. Collectively, these brands are considered the best because they deliver reliable, high-quality optics with a range of options suitable for all levels of expertise.
Which Telescope Brands Are the Best For Beginners?
The best telescope brands for beginners are Tasco and Gskyer. Both brands are designed with cost-efficiency and ease of use in mind to provide the best observational experience for beginner to intermediate astronomers.
Tasco has been a reputable optical brand since 1954. Throughout this time, they have continuously refined their manufacturing process to provide more cost-efficient and high-quality telescopes. Tasco’s history of high-quality telescopes frequently positions the company as the best telescope brand for beginners.
Gskyer’s history isn’t nearly as thorough as Tasco’s, but it’s compensated through extremely competitive pricing and simple setup and usage. Gskyer’s telescope quality isn’t generally as good as Tasco’s, but this is because their telescopes are priced much lower.
Tasco and Gskyer are commonly recommended for beginners within the astronomical community. However, choosing the best telescope brand is often dictated by individuals’ goals, experience and preferences.
What to Know About Telescopes Before Choosing a Brand?
Before choosing a telescope brand, it’s important to know the type, quality and reputation. The type of telescope will largely determine its observational capabilities. For example, a Dobsonian telescope is generally ideal for wide-field views of celestial objects, while a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope excels in planetary and deep-sky observations.
The quality of a telescope also dictates its performance, making it crucial to know before choosing a telescope. High-quality materials in the optics, optical tube, mount and accessories will determine the clarity and stability of observations.
A telescope brand’s reputation provides insight into its quality and performance in real-world observations. By hearing how a telescope performs over time, astronomers are able to gauge a telescope’s prospective performance. To choose the best brand, astronomers must consider all factors: type, quality and reputation.
What Telescope Types are Produced More Often By Brands?
The most common telescope types are reflectors and compound telescopes. This is because reflectors and compound telescopes are often more versatile and provide larger apertures for lower costs than refractors.
Every brand produces different types of telescopes, but some designs appear more frequently than others. For example, brands like Orion and Apertura are known for frequently producing Dobsonian reflectors while Celestron produces a high quantity of Schmidt-Cassegrain designs. Different brands produce different designs based on their objectives, target demographics and manufacturing processes.
