{"id":18295,"date":"2025-09-15T18:49:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T18:49:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/18295\/"},"modified":"2025-09-15T18:49:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T18:49:15","slug":"stellamira-86mm-ed-f-7-quadruplet-refractor-telescope-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/18295\/","title":{"rendered":"StellaMira 86mm ED f\/7 quadruplet refractor telescope review"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2025, First Light Optics announced a new addition to its in-house brand of telescopes, the StellaMira range.<\/p>\n

The StellaMira 86mm ED f\/7 quadruplet refractor refractor is the first four-element telescope in the collection, with two extra-low-dispersion (ED) elements and a built-in flattener that promises a perfectly flat field of view, from corner to corner.<\/p>\n

\"BestCredit: bjdlzx \/ Getty<\/p>\n

It provides 602mm of focal length<\/a>, which is perfect for a wide variety of popular targets.<\/p>\n

And despite the rapidly disappearing darkness of our spring skies, we were excited to make the most of every clear moment to try it out.<\/p>\n

\"StellaMira
\nUnboxing and setting up<\/p>\n

The StellaMira 86mm ED f\/7 quadruplet refractor is provided in a sturdy aluminium carry case, with a fitted foam insert to protect the refractor and its accessories.<\/p>\n

Out of the box, the quality of the build and all of the fittings is immediately obvious.<\/p>\n

The tube feels very solid without being heavy, while other elements are CNC machined, with no plastic in sight.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s an integrated, retractable aluminium dew shield that extends with a twist motion, which we knew we would welcome in the humid evenings.<\/p>\n

We were also pleasantly surprised to see a Losmandy dovetail.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"StellaMira<\/p>\n

As is usual with First Light Optics\u2019s own-brand telescopes, the StellaMira 86mm ED quadruplet comes with lots of small extras as standard.<\/p>\n

Apart from the carry case, these include not one but two finder shoes, M54 and M48 adaptors, and a carrying handle on top which doubles as a finderscope clamp.<\/p>\n

Even though this telescope is marketed as primarily for imaging, there\u2019s a 2-inch-to-1.25-inch adaptor at the back that could take a diagonal and eyepieces for visual observation.<\/p>\n

\"StellaMira
\nGetting ready<\/p>\n

To make the best of the last few hours of true darkness, we decided to test the StellaMira 86mm ED f\/7 quadruplet refractor on a galaxy using our ZWO ASI2600MC Air camera.<\/p>\n

To attach the camera to the telescope, we had to first find a 1.5mm Allen key to detach the 2-inch-to-1.25-inch adaptor from the back, which is held in place by three small grub screws.<\/p>\n

This step may not be immediately obvious to first-time users, and there was no instruction manual or even a basic setup diagram to guide us.<\/p>\n

If components require screwing or unscrewing, the appropriate tool should be supplied.<\/p>\n

A brief manual would also help users who want to fit an electronic focuser, or switch between imaging setups.<\/p>\n

\"StellaMira<\/p>\n

When a clear night finally arrived, setting up the telescope proved quick and effortless.<\/p>\n

The built-in flattener meant we wasted no time making fiddly adjustments; instead, we simply had to plug the camera in and focus.<\/p>\n

This design will be greatly appreciated by all who, like us, need to make use of every minute and start imaging with no fuss.<\/p>\n

Focusing was also a speedy job. The rack-and-pinion focuser has a buttery-smooth action and there were no vibrations even when focusing manually.<\/p>\n

\"StellaMira
\nHow the StellaMira 86mm ED performed<\/p>\n

Over the following nights, we aimed the StellaMira 86mm ED f\/7 quadruplet refractor at M101, the Pinwheel Galaxy, as well as some star clusters.<\/p>\n

This gave us the opportunity to check stars across the frame \u2013 and we were genuinely impressed.<\/p>\n

There was no visible chromatic aberration, and star shapes were round and tight.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Pinwheel Galaxy showed no chromatic aberration, 180x 60\u201d. Image taken with a ZWO ASI2600MC Air on board. Credit: Ivana Peranic<\/p>\n

Under extreme scrutiny, we noticed a minuscule variation in the roundness of stars at the very edge of two corners, but this truthfully was not enough to warrant any attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n

During later imaging sessions, we were able to test out the optional extra to our setup: a 0.8x reducer\/flattener supplied by First Light Optics.<\/p>\n

\"GlobularGlobular cluster M13 had round, tight stars from corner to corner, 120x 30\u201d. Image taken with a ZWO ASI2600MC Air on board. Credit: Ivana Peranic<\/p>\n

It delivered excellent performance and, importantly, did so without compromising the built-in flattener \u2013 one of the telescope\u2019s standout features.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We were left very impressed with the capabilities of this astrograph, especially considering its price point.<\/p>\n

The StellaMira 86mm ED f\/7 quadruplet refractor would make the perfect winter companion for any astrophotographer.<\/p>\n

\"PassingPassing the star test with flying colours, with open cluster IC4756 from 120x 30\u201d exposures. Image taken with a ZWO ASI2600MC Air on board. Credit: Ivana Peranic
\nStellaMira 86mm ED’s four-element optics<\/p>\n

Inside the StellaMira 86mm quadruplet refractor are two extra-low-dispersion (ED)lens elements, with fully coated optics that deliver high contrast and minimal chromatic aberration.<\/p>\n

We were pleased to see both these characteristics were evident in our resulting images, which were crisp and detailed even under lighter skies.<\/p>\n

We were also impressed to note that the optics are bench-tested \u2013 that\u2019s not always the case, so it\u2019s worth highlighting.<\/p>\n

\"StellaMira<\/p>\n

The built-in flattener design of a quadruplet telescope not only corrects field curvature, but eliminates tedious back-focus calculations or the need for a separate accessory: simply attach your camera and focus.<\/p>\n

This simplicity makes it an especially attractive option if you\u2019re looking for your first astrograph and want a hassle-free introduction to imaging.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also appealing if you\u2019re more experienced and aiming to simplify your setup and maximise precious imaging time.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d still like the flexibility of using a reducer, StellaMira offers an optically matched 0.8x reducer\/flattener designed specifically for this telescope and keeps the flat field intact.<\/p>\n

\"StellaMira
\nStellaMira 86mm ED’s five best features
\nHigh-quality build<\/p>\n

The body of the StellaMira 86mm ED refractor has a stylish and sturdy feel, with an aluminium tube, integrated dew shield and CNC-machined tube rings and handle. All the components feel solid without being bulky. The red anodised camera-angle adjuster and fine focuser are a lovely touch on the black tube.<\/p>\n

Dew shield<\/p>\n

On the front of the StellaMira is a 123mm metal dew shield that can be extended and retracted with a twist motion. For an extra layer of protection against dew on very humid or damp nights, dew heaters can be easily attached behind the dew shield and front cell.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Focuser<\/p>\n

The focuser is a 3.2-inch dual-speed rack-and-pinion type, with 1:10 gearing \u2013 perfect for fine focusing. It provides a pleasingly smooth action that makes manual focus easy. On the back, there\u2019s also a 360\u00b0 camera-angle adjuster ring which rotates and can be secured by the metal thumbscrew.<\/p>\n

Losmandy plate<\/p>\n

Unlike many of its counterparts on the market, the StellaMira 86mm ED comes with a Losmandy-type dovetail plate, which is wider than the more common Vixen type. This allows the telescope to sit on a flat surface with more stability, while it felt very secure and balanced on the mount.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Carry case<\/p>\n

The telescope comes packed in a sturdy aluminium case with a top handle, making it an ideal travel companion for dark-sky seekers. Inside is a custom-shaped foam insert to keep the scope snug, as well as space for the accessories. For extra security, it comes with a key.<\/p>\n

Key specs<\/p>\n

Price: \u00a31,199
\nOptics: Quadruplet refractor
\nAperture: 86mm
\nFocal length: 602mm, f\/7
\nFocuser: Dual-speed rack and pinion
\nExtras: Tube rings with finder clamp handle, Losmandy-type dovetail, camera adaptors, two finder shoes, carry case
\nWeight: 5.8kg
\nSupplier: First Light Optics
\nEmail: questions@firstlightoptics.com
\nwww.firstlightoptics.com<\/a><\/p>\n

This review appeared in the September 2025 issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In 2025, First Light Optics announced a new addition to its in-house brand of telescopes, the StellaMira range.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":18296,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[85,46,141,145],"class_list":["post-18295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-space","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-science","tag-space"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18295"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18295\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}