Review of Unistellar Odyssey Pro: Compact Smart Telescope with Exceptional Eyepiece Design
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The Unistellar Odyssey Pro is a lightweight yet premium smart telescope, ideal for those seeking an immersive astrophotography experience. Weighing 6.5 kg (14 lbs) with its tripod, the Odyssey Pro is reasonably heavy compared to some of its counterparts, but still portable for outdoor stargazing.
One of the key features that sets the Odyssey Pro apart from other smart telescopes is its liveview eyepiece, making it one of only two in the market to offer this functionality. This feature allows for real-time observation of celestial bodies, enhancing the overall user experience.
The Odyssey Pro boasts an 85 mm (3.3 inch) aperture, 320mm focal length, and f/3.9 focal ratio. Its higher aperture enables it to collect nearly three times more light than smaller scopes, resulting in better resolution and finer detail capture in shorter times. This makes it more versatile for planetary imaging, an area where smaller scopes may have limitations.
Despite its advanced features, the Odyssey Pro's imaging may not win astrophotography awards compared to advanced custom setups or giant remote telescopes. However, for a smart telescope, its 4.1 megapixel camera resolution and operation via a smartphone app connected via WIFI deliver impressive results.
The Odyssey Pro is priced at $3,999, making it a premium choice for potential buyers. It is more expensive than the standard Unistellar Odyssey by $1,500, the price of the Nikon eyepiece that may come with the Pro, suggesting a possible enhancement in optics or imaging capabilities.
The Odyssey Pro is cheaper than the eVscope 2 and eQuinox 2, but more expensive than the Vespera II and Vespera Pro, which are lower spec. It is also about the same price as the Celestron Origin, but the Origin features a higher spec telescope and weighs substantially more.
In comparison to the standard Unistellar Odyssey, the Odyssey Pro is a more powerful, advanced iteration. It offers a larger aperture for better light collection and resolution, making it better suited for detailed astrophotography and planetary imaging. The standard Odyssey, on the other hand, is a lighter, still capable smart telescope aimed at general stargazing with slightly more modest specs.
Setting up the Unistellar Odyssey Pro is extremely easy, requiring no collimation. Both the Odyssey and Odyssey Pro support use with Unistellar’s Smart Solar Filter (82mm version fits both), allowing for safe solar observations enhanced by the UNISTELLAR App’s Go-To Sun feature.
In conclusion, the Unistellar Odyssey Pro is a great premium smart telescope for those seeking a more advanced, immersive astrophotography experience. However, its premium price tag means potential buyers should carefully consider their budget before making a purchase.
[1] Unistellar Odyssey Pro Specifications [2] Unistellar Smart Solar Filter [3] Unistellar Odyssey Pro Review [4] Unistellar Odyssey Pro vs. eVscope 2 [5] Unistellar Odyssey Pro vs. Celestron Origin
- The Unistellar Odyssey Pro, a smart telescope, offers an astrophotography experience with its live view eyepiece and 4.1 megapixel camera, making it suitable for both general stargazing and detailed planetary imaging.
- Technology plays a significant role in astrophotography, with smart gadgets like the Odyssey Pro utilizing smartphones and WIFI for operation, catering to the modern fascination with space and astronomy.
- Despite its higher price than some counterparts, the Odyssey Pro, part of the space-and-astronomy domain, provides a portable solution for outdoor stargazing, appealing to those who value its advanced features and improved light collection.
- Smaller telescopes can have limitations in planetary imaging due to less light capture; however, the Odyssey Pro's larger aperture allows it to collect nearly three times more light, enhancing its versatility in this area.
- The Unistellar Odyssey Pro is positioned above the standard Odyssey in terms of specifications, providing a more powerful and immersive astrophotography experience, while the standard Odyssey remains a capable smart telescope with slightly more modest features, suitable for general stargazing.
