Top 23 Amazon Prime Day 2025 Deals on Telescopes and Binoculars
In the world of amateur astronomy and astrophotography, choosing the right equipment can make a significant difference in your observing and imaging experiences. Here are some recommended choices, catering to various skill levels and budgets.
Telescopes
Budget-friendly Options
For beginners and casual stargazers, budget-friendly models like the Celestron FirstScope 76 and its counterparts offer an affordable entry into the hobby. These scopes are perfect for casual visual observing and occasional astrophotography [1].
Mid-range Picks
For those seeking a balance between portability, smart features, and deep-sky performance, the Vaonis Vespera II stands out. With its high-resolution 8.3MP sensor, CovalENS mosaic mode, and Wi-Fi app for auto-alignment, tracking, and image stacking, it excels in deep-sky imaging [1]. However, its limited aperture and focal length may reduce performance on planetary details, and its battery life is about 4 hours, requiring a power bank for longer use [1].
Premium Choices
For serious astrophotographers and those with a higher budget, premium telescopes like the Unistellar eVscope 2 deliver superior imaging and tracking. With a large aperture (114 mm) and high resolution (3200 x 2400), it is best suited for serious astrophotography and planetary details [2]. However, its high cost ($4,899) and weight (9 kg) make it less portable and suitable mostly for enthusiasts [2].
Compact and Versatile
The ZWO Seestar S30 is a newcomer offering promising advanced optics and AI processing in a compact format. With its super ED triplet APO optics and AI-powered live stacking and enhancement, it is versatile for surveying wide vistas and deep sky objects [3][4].
Cameras
The Canon EOS RP is a bargain full-frame model that gives you all you need for astrophotography. Meanwhile, the Sony A7 III is consistently the most used camera for top nightscape photographers [5].
Lenses
For Canon users, the Samyang 24mm f/1.4 is a recommended lens for astrophotography. Sony shooters might prefer the Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM. For Nikon Z, the VILTROX 20mm f2.8 is a suitable option [6].
Tripods
For astrophotography, the Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod and the SIRUI AM-324 Carbon Fiber Tripod are recommended choices [7].
Star Trackers and Smart Telescopes
The MpveShootMove Nomad is a lightweight star tracker currently on Holiday Sale with a 10% discount using the code METEOR10 [8]. The Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i is an all-time top star tracker [9].
For those on a budget, the ZWO Seestar S50 and the Red Unistellar Odyssey Pro are great choices for smart telescopes. The Vaonis Hestia can enhance your smartphone astrophotography [10].
Publications and Community
For more information, insights, and community engagement, check out Skies & Scopes, a publication and community focused on amateur astronomy and astrophotography. Its founder, Anthony Robinson, has been featured in various prestigious publications such as Amateur Astrophotography, Forbes, the Guardian, DIY Photography, PetaPixel, and Digital Camera World [11].
Sales and Deals
Don't miss out on Amazon's annual Prime Day sale [12]. Unistellar is also running a flash sale with $300 off all smart telescopes (US, UK, EU store links) [13].
[1] Skies & Scopes: https://www.skiesandscopes.com/
[2] Vaonis Vespera II: https://www.vaonis.com/vespera-ii
[3] ZWO Seestar S30: https://www.zwoamerica.com/products/seestar-s30
[4] ZWO Seestar S50: https://www.zwoamerica.com/products/seestar-s50
[5] Skies & Scopes: https://www.skiesandscopes.com/
[6] Canon EOS RP: https://www.canon.com/ca/en/learn/photography/tutorials/astrophotography-with-the-eos-rp
[7] Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod: https://www.peakdesign.com/products/travel-tripod
[8] MpveShootMove Nomad: https://www.mpveshootmove.com/collections/nomad
[9] Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i: https://www.skywatcher.com/products/star-adventurer-2i-eq-go-to-system
[10] Unistellar eVscope 2: https://www.unistellaroptics.com/products/evscope-2
[11] Skies & Scopes: https://www.skiesandscopes.com/
[12] Amazon Prime Day: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prime-Day/ref=nav_pm_pd_pmd_desktop_1
[13] Unistellar Flash Sale: https://www.unistellaroptics.com/pages/flash-sale
- Budget-friendly telescopes like the Celestron FirstScope 76 are perfect for beginners, offering an affordable entry into the world of amateur astronomy and astrophotography.
- For those who want a balance between portability, smart features, deep-sky performance, and an occasional planetary detail, the Vaonis Vespera II is a mid-range pick that stands out.
- Serious astrophotographers may prefer premium telescopes such as the Unistellar eVscope 2, which delivers superior imaging and tracking capabilities.
- The ZWO Seestar S30 offers advanced optics and AI processing in a compact format, making it versatile for surveying wide vistas and deep sky objects.
- The Canon EOS RP and Sony A7 III are popular camera choices among astrophotographers, while the Samyang 24mm f/1.4 is a recommended lens for Canon users.
- Star trackers like the MpveShootMove Nomad and the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i, or smart telescopes such as the ZWO Seestar S50, Red Unistellar Odyssey Pro, and Vaonis Hestia can enhance your astrophotography experiences, and these are recommended choices for those on a budget.
