Celestron Inspire 100AZ: Best telescope for quick setup

Best for quick installation: affordable but with great views of planets, stars, galaxies and nebulae.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Optical Design: Refractor
• Mount type: Alt-azimuth
• Opening: 4 inches (100 mm)
• Focal length: 660mm
• Highest useful magnification: 241x
• Minimum useful magnification: 15x
• Eyepieces supplied: 10mm, 25mm
• Weight: 9.07kg

REASONS TO BUY

✅ Want Hassle-Free Setup: Our top pick in this category, this telescope assembles and deploys very quickly and easily.

✅ Want to do basic astrophotography: There is a smart dust cap that also works as a smartphone holder, so you can easily take photos with your phone.

Celestron Inspire 100AZ Refractor Telescope Review

Beginner telescopes really don't get much better than the Celestron Inspire 100AZ . It is one of many in Celestron's Inspired range, including the Inspire 90AZ with a focal ratio of f/11 and the Celestron Inspire 70AZ with a focal ratio of f/10. But the 100AZ, which has the largest aperture of all and a focal ratio of f/6.5, lets in more light, giving you the brightest views in the range.

Above all, though, the Celestron Inspire 100AZ is very easy to use, and that's why we think it's one of the best telescopes for beginners. Setting it up is easy and there are numerous accessories in the box, meaning it's ready to use straight away.

While it is suitable for beginners, it is not a perfect telescope. During our review of the Celestron Inspire 100AZ, we detected some false colors (which we would expect at this price) and some blurring in the field of view. However, the latter is easily solved with careful selection of one of the best eyepieces.

The Inspire 100AZ comes with several accessories, including two eyepieces (20mm and 10mm), a red LED flashlight for low-light visibility without interrupting night vision, an accessory tray for storing equipment, a StarPointer Pro finderscope for locating celestial objects and a smartphone adapter for basic astrophotography. This telescope is versatile and suitable for both daytime (terrestrial) and nighttime (celestial) observation.

Unlike other beginner telescopes that have delicate optical finders limited to locating only the brightest stars, the StarPointer Pro on the Celestron Inspire 100AZ telescope presents a notable advance. With improved accuracy and reliability, it makes navigation easier for beginners. The StarPointer's impressive ability to identify faint stars, even in moderately light-polluted areas, enhances the overall stargazing experience.

Images credit: Jamie Carter