<p>Magnification is (mostly) done by the eyepiece. You can change the magnification by using a different eyepiece. Whether it is a reflector or refractor doesn't make much difference.</p>

<p>There is a limit to the useful magnification that can be done. At a certain point, you are just magnifying the blur. Larger apertures can resolve better, and so can allow greater magnification. Using more magnification also makes the view dimmer. A bigger aperture collects more light, so also allows for more magnification.</p>

<p>The choice between reflector or refractor is not about magnification. Lenses work by refraction, and this can create coloured fringes (which can be compensated for, but this increases the cost). Thicker lenses also absorb light, but so do mirrors to some degree.  Generally, bigger is better, but other factors (stability of mount, ease of use, ease of transport, computer control etc.) may be significant. "Magnification" is often not a good measure of quality.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-17T19:58:18.580Z
2018-10-17T19:58:18.580Z
James K
<p>Magnification is calculated as scope focal length / eyepiece focal length (so shorter focal length eyepieces give you a more magnified result).</p>

<p>And the more you magnify, the more the captured light is spread out, so the image gets darker the more you magnify it.</p>

<p>Also - and more importantly - you eventually get to a point where magnifying the image more doesn't show you any more detail, it just gets bigger, dimmer, and fuzzier.</p>

<p>Theoretical maximum magnification is detemined by aperture - the size of the objective lens (for refractors) or primary mirror (for reflectors). The bigger the scope, the higher the maximum useful magnification. For everyday conditions, the maximum useful magnification is around the scopes aperture in mm (and you get it with an eyepiece with focal around the focal ratio of the scope - so around 6mm for an f/6 scope.</p>

<p>Given good seeing conditions (steady atmosphere) you can go to around double that magnification, which is closer to what what manufacturers usually quote. What they fail to say is that seeing conditions good enough to allow it can be rare. </p>

<p>However, other factors also come into play. Inexpensive refractors are usually what's known as "achromatic" - they don't focus all colours of light at the same point, which causes what's called "chromatic aberration". This usually shows up as a violet halo around bright objects, which makes the high magnification performance suffer (slower long tube refractors - with larger f-ratio numbers are less affected than fast, short tube refractors). By contrast, reflectors reflect all colours of light the same, so don't suffer from this.</p>

<p>You can get more expensive refractors - ED or Apochromatic ("Apo") designs that have much better colour correction than achromats, but the cost goes up significantly.</p>

<p>However, don't get too hung up on magnification - it's handy for looking at planets or the moon, but many deep sky objects actually look better at lower magnification; a bigger scope helps here because it captures more light.</p>

<p>Reflectors have  the advantage when you're looking for a large light bucket; you can get reflectors with much bigger apertures (8 to 16" or larger) than you can with practical amateur refractors (around 6" or so).</p>

<p>On the other hand, refractors don't have a central obstruction, and tend to give higher contrast views than an equivalent sized reflector - but reflectors don't suffer from chromatic aberration (but fast reflectors suffer from coma, which refractors don't).</p>

<p>Note that newtonian reflectors aren't really suited to non-astronomical uses, while refractors usually do better for terrestrial use (depending on the diagonal, you may end up with a left/right reversed view, but at least it won't be upside down).</p>

<p>With entry level scopes, you'll probably find that a dobsonian style mount (as used by many reflectors) is more stable than the tripod for a refractor; entry level scopes are built down to a price point, and for scopes with a tripod, that usually means that the tripod is fairly flimsy and vibration prone - so it may take a little while to settle down after adjusting something (either pointing or focus).</p>

<p>Of the two scopes you mention, the refractor is likely to do better at low power wide field views than at high magnifications. With no chromatic aberration, the reflector is likely to do a better job on planets. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-20T23:14:17.010Z
2018-10-20T23:14:17.010Z
JerryTheC
<p>In this price range some telescopes are stripped-down "real" telescopes, and some telescopes are "toys".  Meade is generally a reputable brand, but I suspect a 4" f/5.9 refractor for $200 is essentially going to be a "toy" (bad color correction, shaky mount) or at best a spotting scope designed for daytime use (where bad color correction is less noticeable). High quality refractors of the same size are apochromats and go for 5-10x the price (or more...)</p>

<p>The Orion telescope seems to be more of a "real" telescope stripped down (very small dobsonian reflector, standard size eyepieces).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-19T21:31:27.990Z
I don't understand why you think that the reflectors are better quality than the refractors. The meade refractors all have great reviews, and for an amateur like me it should def do the job. I don't believe that you have to break the bank in order to get a decent telescope, a good brand should be able to sell decent telescopes for a decent price. I think meade fits the bill just fine!
Bach
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-18T17:58:42.980Z
2018-10-18T17:58:42.980Z
antlersoft
<p>I'm thinking about getting a telescope and i'm debating between these 2 telescopes: <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B00LY8JWAQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer">meade</a> and <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B00D12U1IK" rel="nofollow noreferrer">orion</a>. Theyre both the same price so this question is not about the money, but about getting the most out of your money. I like the Meade 102 mm (or 4 inches) because it is a refractor, which means it is more lightweight and compact. The orion starblast 4.5 on the other hand is a reflector and therefore more clumsy.  </p>

<p>My question is, is a reflector necessarily better than a refractor in terms of magnification and sharpness of image? The orion does have a slightly bigger aperture (half inch bigger) but I don't think that makes a huge difference. The question really is, a reflector vs a refractor, which one is more desirable in terms of magnification, and how much of a difference does it make? </p>

<p>Just judging from the reviews it would seem like the reflector (orion) wins the fight. For example, Saturn's rings according to some reviewers are "clearly visible" in the reflector, but not so with the refractor which most reviewers agree, Saturn will be very tiny and the rings barely visible.  </p>

<p>So will I settle for magnification if I get the refractor instead of the reflector, or are they basically the same and in that case I would choose the refractor (meade) over the reflector since it is more compact, and is also easier for beginners like me?</p>

<telescope>
Reflector vs refractor in terms of magnification, which one wins?
Bach
# Reflector vs refractor in terms of magnification, which one wins?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-10-17)

I'm thinking about getting a telescope and i'm debating between these 2 telescopes: [meade](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B00LY8JWAQ) and [orion](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B00D12U1IK). Theyre both the same price so this question is not about the money, but about getting the most out of your money. I like the Meade 102 mm (or 4 inches) because it is a refractor, which means it is more lightweight and compact. The orion starblast 4.5 on the other hand is a reflector and therefore more clumsy.

My question is, is a reflector necessarily better than a refractor in terms of magnification and sharpness of image? The orion does have a slightly bigger aperture (half inch bigger) but I don't think that makes a huge difference. The question really is, a reflector vs a refractor, which one is more desirable in terms of magnification, and how much of a difference does it make?

Just judging from the reviews it would seem like the reflector (orion) wins the fight. For example, Saturn's rings according to some reviewers are "clearly visible" in the reflector, but not so with the refractor which most reviewers agree, Saturn will be very tiny and the rings barely visible.

So will I settle for magnification if I get the refractor instead of the reflector, or are they basically the same and in that case I would choose the refractor (meade) over the reflector since it is more compact, and is also easier for beginners like me?

**Tags:** telescope


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-10-17. Score: 7

Magnification is (mostly) done by the eyepiece. You can change the magnification by using a different eyepiece. Whether it is a reflector or refractor doesn't make much difference.

There is a limit to the useful magnification that can be done. At a certain point, you are just magnifying the blur. Larger apertures can resolve better, and so can allow greater magnification. Using more magnification also makes the view dimmer. A bigger aperture collects more light, so also allows for more magnification.

The choice between reflector or refractor is not about magnification. Lenses work by refraction, and this can create coloured fringes (which can be compensated for, but this increases the cost). Thicker lenses also absorb light, but so do mirrors to some degree. Generally, bigger is better, but other factors (stability of mount, ease of use, ease of transport, computer control etc.) may be significant. "Magnification" is often not a good measure of quality.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2018-10-20. Score: 5

Magnification is calculated as scope focal length / eyepiece focal length (so shorter focal length eyepieces give you a more magnified result).

And the more you magnify, the more the captured light is spread out, so the image gets darker the more you magnify it.

Also - and more importantly - you eventually get to a point where magnifying the image more doesn't show you any more detail, it just gets bigger, dimmer, and fuzzier.

Theoretical maximum magnification is detemined by aperture - the size of the objective lens (for refractors) or primary mirror (for reflectors). The bigger the scope, the higher the maximum useful magnification. For everyday conditions, the maximum useful magnification is around the scopes aperture in mm (and you get it with an eyepiece with focal around the focal ratio of the scope - so around 6mm for an f/6 scope.

Given good seeing conditions (steady atmosphere) you can go to around double that magnification, which is closer to what what manufacturers usually quote. What they fail to say is that seeing conditions good enough to allow it can be rare.

However, other factors also come into play. Inexpensive refractors are usually what's known as "achromatic" - they don't focus all colours of light at the same point, which causes what's called "chromatic aberration". This usually shows up as a violet halo around bright objects, which makes the high magnification performance suffer (slower long tube refractors - with larger f-ratio numbers are less affected than fast, short tube refractors). By contrast, reflectors reflect all colours of light the same, so don't suffer from this.

You can get more expensive refractors - ED or Apochromatic ("Apo") designs that have much better colour correction than achromats, but the cost goes up significantly.

However, don't get too hung up on magnification - it's handy for looking at planets or the moon, but many deep sky objects actually look better at lower magnification; a bigger scope helps here because it captures more light.

Reflectors have the advantage when you're looking for a large light bucket; you can get reflectors with much bigger apertures (8 to 16" or larger) than you can with practical amateur refractors (around 6" or so).

On the other hand, refractors don't have a central obstruction, and tend to give higher contrast views than an equivalent sized reflector - but reflectors don't suffer from chromatic aberration (but fast reflectors suffer from coma, which refractors don't).

Note that newtonian reflectors aren't really suited to non-astronomical uses, while refractors usually do better for terrestrial use (depending on the diagonal, you may end up with a left/right reversed view, but at least it won't be upside down).

With entry level scopes, you'll probably find that a dobsonian style mount (as used by many reflectors) is more stable than the tripod for a refractor; entry level scopes are built down to a price point, and for scopes with a tripod, that usually means that the tripod is fairly flimsy and vibration prone - so it may take a little while to settle down after adjusting something (either pointing or focus).

Of the two scopes you mention, the refractor is likely to do better at low power wide field views than at high magnifications. With no chromatic aberration, the reflector is likely to do a better job on planets.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2018-10-18. Score: 3

In this price range some telescopes are stripped-down "real" telescopes, and some telescopes are "toys". Meade is generally a reputable brand, but I suspect a 4" f/5.9 refractor for $200 is essentially going to be a "toy" (bad color correction, shaky mount) or at best a spotting scope designed for daytime use (where bad color correction is less noticeable). High quality refractors of the same size are apochromats and go for 5-10x the price (or more...)

The Orion telescope seems to be more of a "real" telescope stripped down (very small dobsonian reflector, standard size eyepieces).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I don't understand why you think that the reflectors are better quality than the refractors. The meade refractors all have great reviews, and for an amateur like me it should def do the job. I don't believe that you have to break the bank in order to get a decent telescope, a good brand should be able to sell decent telescopes for a decent price. I think meade fits the bill just fine!  

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