Telescope · Achromat Refractor
Telescope, Telescope for Adults & Kids
A lightweight 70mm refractor that punches above its price for Moon, planets, and casual stargazing
Performance Scores
Overview
At 70mm aperture and 400mm focal length, this refractor delivers a fast f/5.71 focal ratio that works well for wide-field views of the Moon, open star clusters, and brighter deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula. The fully multi-coated optics genuinely help at this price point, improving contrast and reducing the chromatic aberration that cheaper coatings tend to leave on bright targets like the Moon and Jupiter. The three included eyepieces (20mm, 12mm, and 6mm) give you magnifications of 20x, 33x, and 67x respectively.
The 3x Barlow pushes that to a theoretical 200x, though at that magnification atmospheric turbulence and the limits of a 70mm aperture will soften your views considerably. Stick to 60x to 100x for the sharpest planetary detail. The alt-azimuth mount is simple and adequate for casual use, though it requires manual nudging to track objects.
At 1.6kg total weight, the whole kit is genuinely portable. The included smartphone adapter and wireless remote are practical additions for lunar photography. For a budget under $50, this is a reasonable first telescope for a curious beginner or a young astronomer, as long as expectations stay appropriately calibrated to the aperture.
At a Glance
70mm
Aperture
f/5.71
Focal Ratio
1.6kg
Weight
400mm
Focal Length
Specifications
Key Features
- 70mm aperture gathers enough light for clear lunar detail, the brighter planets, and nearby star clusters
- Fully multi-coated lenses improve contrast and reduce color fringing compared to basic single-coated optics at this price
- Three eyepieces plus a 3x Barlow lens provide a useful range of magnifications from 20x up to a practical ceiling of roughly 100x to 120x
- Tripod adjusts from 20 to 48 inches, making it workable for both seated and standing observers of different heights
- Smartphone adapter and wireless remote allow shake-free lunar photos without additional equipment
- Compact and lightweight at 1.6kg, suitable for backyard use, travel, or daytime nature observation
- Simple tool-free assembly makes it accessible for first-time users, though the alt-azimuth mount requires manual tracking with no motorized option
Customer Reviews
45 reviews
bought this telescope as a gift for my daughter so she could study the Moon for a school project, and it exceeded all our expectations! The image quality is great for beginners, and she was able to clearly see the craters and details on the lunar surface. The setup was quick and easy, the tripod is ...
We got this for kids as a gift. It is so special and kids were amazed by it. Quality is great. Super easy to use.
The media could not be loaded. I picked up this 70mm aperture, 400mm focal length refractor hoping for a solid beginner telescope, but it ended up being a mixed experience. The listing advertised up to 200x magnification, which I later found out just isn’t realistic for a scope of this size. Anythin...