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Telescopes

There is no best telescope, only the telescope that matches your sky, your targets and how much you are willing to carry. A fast apochromatic refractor and a large Dobsonian are both excellent instruments and almost nothing alike in use. David Astro stocks telescopes in Canada — refractors, reflectors, Dobsonians, Schmidt-Cassegrains, Maksutovs and dedicated astrographs — shipping from Canadian inventory.

Our team observes and images with these instruments under Canadian conditions, and we will tell you honestly when a smaller scope you will actually set up beats a larger one that stays in the closet.

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Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope (Bundle)
CA$1,680.00 - CA$1,680.00
CA$1,680.00
CA$1,680.00 - CA$1,680.00
CA$1,680.00

Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope (Bundle)

ES-ED-0806-FF-IEXOS100

ED80 Air-Spaced Triplet Apochromatic Refractor iEXOS-100 GoTo German Equatorial Mount Wireless PMC-Eight Precision Motion Control System Includes ...

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CA$1,680.00 - CA$1,680.00
CA$1,680.00
CA$1,680.00 - CA$1,680.00
CA$1,680.00
Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope + Field Flattener f/5 to f/7 (Bundle)
CA$1,120.00 - CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00 - CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00

Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope + Field Flattener f/5 to f/7 (Bundle)

ES-ED-0806-FF

80mm Aperture Air-Spaced Apochromatic Triplet Optics Features HOYA FCD1 Extra-Low Dispersion Glass Includes Field Flattener for f/5 to f/7 Telesco...

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CA$1,120.00 - CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00 - CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00
Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope with 0.8x Focal Reducer and iEXOS-100-2 PMC-Eight Equatorial Tracker System
CA$1,680.00 - CA$1,680.00
CA$1,680.00
CA$1,680.00 - CA$1,680.00
CA$1,680.00

Explore Scientific ED80 Essential Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope with 0.8x Focal Reducer and iEXOS-100-2 PMC-Eight Equatorial Tracker System

ES-ED-0806-FR0.8x-IEXOS100

80mm Air-Spaced Apochromatic Triplet Refractor iEXOS-100-2 GoTo Equatorial Mount with PMC-Eight Controller Includes 0.8x Two-Element Focal Reducer...

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CA$1,680.00 - CA$1,680.00
CA$1,680.00
CA$1,680.00 - CA$1,680.00
CA$1,680.00
Explore Scientific ED80-FCD100 Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope with 0.8x Focal Reducer (Bundle)
CA$2,380.00 - CA$2,380.00
CA$2,380.00
CA$2,380.00 - CA$2,380.00
CA$2,380.00

Explore Scientific ED80-FCD100 Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope with 0.8x Focal Reducer (Bundle)

ES-FCD100-0806-FR0.8x-IEXOS100

80mm Air-Spaced Triplet Apochromatic OTA Includes a matched 0.8x Focal Reducer iEXOS-100 Equatorial Mount with GoTo PMC-Eight wireless control sys...

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CA$2,380.00 - CA$2,380.00
CA$2,380.00
CA$2,380.00 - CA$2,380.00
CA$2,380.00
Explore Scientific ED80-FCD100 Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope (Bundle)
CA$2,380.00 - CA$2,380.00
CA$2,380.00
CA$2,380.00 - CA$2,380.00
CA$2,380.00

Explore Scientific ED80-FCD100 Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope (Bundle)

ES-FCD100-0806-FF-IEXOS100

Complete astrophotography bundle with 80mm triplet refractor and GoTo mount 80mm aperture and 480mm focal length for wide-field imaging HOYA FCD10...

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CA$2,380.00 - CA$2,380.00
CA$2,380.00
CA$2,380.00 - CA$2,380.00
CA$2,380.00
Explore Scientific ED80-FCD100 Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope + 0.8x Focal Reducer (Bundle)
CA$1,820.00 - CA$1,820.00
CA$1,820.00
CA$1,820.00 - CA$1,820.00
CA$1,820.00

Explore Scientific ED80-FCD100 Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope + 0.8x Focal Reducer (Bundle)

ES-FCD100-0806-FR0.8x

80mm Aperture 480mm Focal Length (f/6) HOYA FCD100 ED Air-Spaced Triplet Optics Includes 0.8x Focal Reducer/Corrector 2.5" Hexagonal Focuser De...

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CA$1,820.00 - CA$1,820.00
CA$1,820.00
CA$1,820.00 - CA$1,820.00
CA$1,820.00
Explore Scientific ED80-FCD100 Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope + Field Flattener f/5 to f/7 (Bundle)
CA$1,820.00 - CA$1,820.00
CA$1,820.00
CA$1,820.00 - CA$1,820.00
CA$1,820.00

Explore Scientific ED80-FCD100 Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor Telescope + Field Flattener f/5 to f/7 (Bundle)

ES-FCD100-0806-FF

80mm Aperture Triplet Apochromatic Refractor Features Hoya FCD100 ED Glass Element Air-Spaced Triplet Objective Lens Includes Field Flattener for ...

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CA$1,820.00 - CA$1,820.00
CA$1,820.00
CA$1,820.00 - CA$1,820.00
CA$1,820.00
CA$1,567.99 - CA$1,567.99
CA$1,567.99
CA$1,567.99 - CA$1,567.99
CA$1,567.99

Explore Scientific ED80-FCD100 Series Triplet APO Refractor

ES-FCD100-0806-02

Apochromatic Triplet Refractor Genuine HOYA FCD100 ED Glass Air-Spaced Optical Design Proprietary EMD Multi-Layer Coatings Heavy-Duty Hexagonal Fo...

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CA$1,567.99 - CA$1,567.99
CA$1,567.99
CA$1,567.99 - CA$1,567.99
CA$1,567.99
Explore Scientific ED80-FCD100 Triplet Refractor & iEXOS-100-02 Mount Bundle
CA$1,120.00 - CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00 - CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00

Explore Scientific ED80-FCD100 Triplet Refractor & iEXOS-100-02 Mount Bundle

ES-ED-0806-FR0.8x

Features genuine HOYA FCD100 ED glass for superior color correction Air-spaced triplet optical design virtually eliminates chromatic aberration Li...

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CA$1,120.00 - CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00 - CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00
Explore Scientific Explore FirstLight 80mm CF Telescope Go-To Tracker Combo with Solar Filter
CA$700.00 - CA$700.00
CA$700.00
CA$700.00 - CA$700.00
CA$700.00

Explore Scientific Explore FirstLight 80mm CF Telescope Go-To Tracker Combo with Solar Filter

ES-FLAR80640CF-IEXOS

80mm Refractor Telescope Lightweight Carbon Fiber Optical Tube iEXOS-100 PMC-Eight GoTo Equatorial Mount Includes Professional-Grade Solar Filter ...

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CA$700.00 - CA$700.00
CA$700.00
CA$700.00 - CA$700.00
CA$700.00
Explore Scientific Explore FirstLight 80mm CF Telescope with Solar Filter
CA$196.00 - CA$196.00
CA$196.00
CA$196.00 - CA$196.00
CA$196.00

Explore Scientific Explore FirstLight 80mm CF Telescope with Solar Filter

ES-FL-80640OTA-CF

80mm Achromatic Refractor Professional-Grade Solarlite Solar Filter Included 25mm Plössl Eyepiece and 90° Diagonal Smartphone and DSLR Camera Adap...

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CA$196.00 - CA$196.00
CA$196.00
CA$196.00 - CA$196.00
CA$196.00
CA$3,499.99 - CA$3,499.99
CA$3,499.99
CA$3,499.99 - CA$3,499.99
CA$3,499.99

Explore Scientific FCD100 Series 127mm f/7.5 Triplet APO Refractor - Aluminum with 2.5" HEX Focuser

ES-FCD100-127075-02

127mm (5") Aperture f/7.5 Focal Ratio Air-Spaced Triplet Apochromatic Optics HOYA FCD100 ED Glass Element 2.5" Hexagonal Rack-and-Pinion Focuser ...

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CA$3,499.99 - CA$3,499.99
CA$3,499.99
CA$3,499.99 - CA$3,499.99
CA$3,499.99
CA$3,919.99 - CA$3,919.99
CA$3,919.99
CA$3,919.99 - CA$3,919.99
CA$3,919.99

Explore Scientific FCD100 Series 127mm f/7.5 Triplet APO Refractor - Carbon Fiber with 2.5" HEX Focuser

ES-FCD100-127075-CF-01

127mm Aperture f/7.5 Focal Ratio / 952mm Focal Length Air-Spaced Triplet Apochromat with FCD100 Glass Carbon Fiber Optical Tube 2.5" HEX Focuser ...

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CA$3,919.99 - CA$3,919.99
CA$3,919.99
CA$3,919.99 - CA$3,919.99
CA$3,919.99
CA$419.99 - CA$419.99
CA$419.99
CA$419.99 - CA$419.99
CA$419.99

Explore Scientific FirstLight 100mm Mak-Cassegrain with Twilight Nano Mount

ES-FL-MC1001400TN

100mm Maksutov-Cassegrain OTA 1400mm Focal Length (f/14) Twilight Nano Alt-Azimuth Mount 25mm Plössl Eyepiece (1.25") Includes Smartphone Adapter ...

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CA$419.99 - CA$419.99
CA$419.99
CA$419.99 - CA$419.99
CA$419.99
CA$419.99 - CA$419.99
CA$419.99
CA$419.99 - CA$419.99
CA$419.99

Explore Scientific FirstLight 114mm Newtonian with EQ3 Mount

ES-FL-N114500EQ3
2 in stock

114mm (4.5") Newtonian Reflector Optics Stable EQ3-Class German Equatorial Mount Full-Size Tripod with Accessory Tray Includes Plössl Eyepiece and...

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CA$419.99 - CA$419.99
CA$419.99
CA$419.99 - CA$419.99
CA$419.99
CA$699.99 - CA$699.99
CA$699.99
CA$699.99 - CA$699.99
CA$699.99

Explore Scientific FirstLight 127mm Mak-Cassegrain

ES-FL-MC1271900

127mm (5") Maksutov-Cassegrain Optical Tube 1900mm Focal Length f/15 Focal Ratio Includes 25mm Plössl Eyepiece & 1.25" Diagonal Smartphone Ada...

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CA$699.99 - CA$699.99
CA$699.99
CA$699.99 - CA$699.99
CA$699.99
Explore Scientific Galileoscope Refractor Telescope STEM Kit
CA$35.00 - CA$35.00
CA$35.00
CA$35.00 - CA$35.00
CA$35.00

Explore Scientific Galileoscope Refractor Telescope STEM Kit

ES-GSCOPE

Hands-On Telescope Assembly: Build a functional refractor telescope from the ground up. No Tools Required: All components snap together in minut...

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CA$35.00 - CA$35.00
CA$35.00
CA$35.00 - CA$35.00
CA$35.00
Explore Scientific Sidara Essential 102 Refractor Telescope
CA$700.00 - CA$700.00
CA$700.00
CA$700.00 - CA$700.00
CA$700.00

Explore Scientific Sidara Essential 102 Refractor Telescope

ES-AR102660-MAZ01-ST10

102mm Refractor Optical Tube Alt-Azimuth Mount with Slow-Motion Controls Dual-Axis Tracking Capability SkyAssist Guided Navigation Compatibility ...

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CA$700.00 - CA$700.00
CA$700.00
CA$700.00 - CA$700.00
CA$700.00
Explore Scientific Sidara Essential 130 Telescope
CA$560.00 - CA$560.00
CA$560.00
CA$560.00 - CA$560.00
CA$560.00

Explore Scientific Sidara Essential 130 Telescope

ES-N130650-MAZ01-ST10

130mm (5.1") Newtonian Reflector Optics 650mm Focal Length (f/5) Essential Alt-Azimuth Mount Dual-Axis Slow-Motion Controls Integrated SkyAssist N...

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CA$560.00 - CA$560.00
CA$560.00
CA$560.00 - CA$560.00
CA$560.00
Explore Scientific Sidara Nano 114 Telescope
CA$280.00 - CA$280.00
CA$280.00
CA$280.00 - CA$280.00
CA$280.00

Explore Scientific Sidara Nano 114 Telescope

ES-N114500-MAZ-NANO

114mm Newtonian Reflector Optics Lightweight Nano Alt-Azimuth Mount Slow-Motion Controls for Precise Tracking Integrated SkyAssist Navigation Aid ...

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CA$280.00 - CA$280.00
CA$280.00
CA$280.00 - CA$280.00
CA$280.00
Explore Scientific Sidara Nano 90 Telescope System
CA$420.00 - CA$420.00
CA$420.00
CA$420.00 - CA$420.00
CA$420.00

Explore Scientific Sidara Nano 90 Telescope System

ES-AR90700-MAZ-NANO

Refractor Optical Design Compact Alt-Azimuth Mount Slow-Motion Controls for Smooth Tracking SkyAssist Navigation Compatibility Optimized for Lunar...

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CA$420.00 - CA$420.00
CA$420.00
CA$420.00 - CA$420.00
CA$420.00
Explore Scientific Sidara Plus 127 Refractor Telescope
CA$1,260.00 - CA$1,260.00
CA$1,260.00
CA$1,260.00 - CA$1,260.00
CA$1,260.00

Explore Scientific Sidara Plus 127 Refractor Telescope

ES-AR127820-MAZ01

127mm (5-inch) Refractor Optics 820mm Focal Length Lightweight Nano Alt-Azimuth Mount Dual-Axis Slow-Motion Controls SkyAssist Digital Guidance Co...

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CA$1,260.00 - CA$1,260.00
CA$1,260.00
CA$1,260.00 - CA$1,260.00
CA$1,260.00
Explore Scientific Sidara Plus 150 Reflector Telescope
CA$980.00 - CA$980.00
CA$980.00
CA$980.00 - CA$980.00
CA$980.00

Explore Scientific Sidara Plus 150 Reflector Telescope

ES-N150750-MAZ01

150mm Newtonian Reflector 750mm Focal Length (f/5) Nano Alt-Azimuth Mount Smooth Slow-Motion Controls SkyAssist Navigation Aid Description FAQ ...

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CA$980.00 - CA$980.00
CA$980.00
CA$980.00 - CA$980.00
CA$980.00
Explore Scientific Sidara Pro 102 Telescope System
CA$1,120.00 - CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00 - CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00

Explore Scientific Sidara Pro 102 Telescope System

ES-AR102660-SAGT-ST10

102mm Refractor Telescope Sidara Pro GoTo Mount SkyAssist Guided Navigation System Designed for Visual Astronomy Suitable for Planetary & Deep...

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CA$1,120.00 - CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00 - CA$1,120.00
CA$1,120.00

Telescope Designs and What Each Does Best

Aperture gathers light, focal length sets image scale, and focal ratio determines how fast you collect photons. The optical design determines how those three behave in practice.

  • Refractors: Sealed lens systems with high contrast and no central obstruction. Apochromatic triplets and doublets with ED glass are the workhorse choice for wide-field deep-sky imaging.
  • Newtonian reflectors: The most aperture for the money. Fast Newtonians and imaging astrographs deliver bright, wide fields; they need periodic collimation and a coma corrector.
  • Dobsonians: A Newtonian on a simple alt-azimuth base — the most practical route to large aperture for visual deep-sky observing.
  • Schmidt-Cassegrains and Maksutovs: Long focal length folded into a short tube, ideal for planetary, lunar and small galaxy work where image scale matters more than field width.
  • Solar telescopes: Dedicated hydrogen-alpha instruments for prominences and surface detail, usable in daylight.
  • Astrographs: Optics designed only for imaging, with flat, well-corrected fields across large sensors and no visual compromise.

Why Choose David Astro for Telescopes

A telescope is a system purchase. What goes on the mount, behind the focuser and in front of the sensor matters as much as the tube.

  • Matched to your sky: We ask about your light pollution, your typical seeing and where you observe before recommending an aperture and focal ratio.
  • Complete system quoting: We specify the mount, diagonal, eyepieces or imaging train alongside the tube, so the telescope arrives usable rather than half-usable.
  • Authorized dealer: Full manufacturer warranty, verified authenticity, and warranty service handled inside Canada.
  • Canadian stock and safe shipping: Telescopes ship from our Canadian warehouse, avoiding duties, brokerage fees and extra cross-border handling.
  • Collimation and setup support: In-house help with first light, collimation and troubleshooting after the sale.

Telescopes in Canada — Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good first telescope?
For visual observing, a 6 or 8 inch Dobsonian gives the most aperture for the money and needs no electronics. For imaging, a short apochromatic refractor on a solid equatorial mount is far more forgiving than a large tube.
Can one telescope do both visual and imaging?
Yes, but with compromises. A fast refractor around f/6 handles both reasonably. Long, slow Schmidt-Cassegrains are superb visually and demanding to image with; large Dobsonians are visual instruments.
How much aperture do I need for galaxies?
Visually, dark skies matter more than aperture, though 8 inches and up makes structure visible. For imaging, integration time substitutes for aperture — a small refractor with many hours will out-resolve a large scope with few.
Do telescopes ship safely within Canada?
Yes. Everything in stock ships from our Canadian warehouse, which removes a border crossing and the handling that goes with it, and Canadian buyers pay no duties or brokerage.

Choosing your next telescope?

Tell us your sky, your targets and your budget, and we will recommend a complete working setup. Canadian stock, worldwide shipping.