As a digital technology expert and avid astronomer, I‘m always on the lookout for the latest innovations in telescope technology that make the hobby more accessible to beginners. When Hexeum released their new line of low-cost, computerized telescopes a few years ago, I was intrigued by their potential to disrupt the entry-level market. I‘ve now had a chance to extensively test their popular 80mm refractor model, and I‘m excited to share my in-depth review and findings.
A Closer Look at the Hexeum 80mm Refractor
Let‘s start with the technical specifications. The Hexeum 80mm uses an air-spaced achromatic doublet objective lens design with a focal length of 600mm, yielding a focal ratio of f/7.5. The lenses are fully multi-coated to maximize light transmission and minimize aberrations. This is fairly standard for a refractor in this size and price range, but still a step up from the single-coated or uncoated optics you might find on cheaper department store telescopes.
The 1.25" rack-and-pinion focuser is smooth and precise, with no noticeable slop or backlash. It can handle eyepieces and accessories up to about 2 lbs without flexure, which is sufficient for all but the heaviest equipment. The included 25mm and 10mm Kellner eyepieces are decent starter choices, providing 24x and 60x magnification respectively. I did notice some mild edge distortion and chromatic aberration with the 10mm, but nothing unexpected at this price point.
One standout feature of the Hexeum is its included smartphone adapter and Bluetooth remote shutter button. Astrophotography is one of the fastest growing segments of the hobby, and it‘s great to see manufacturers catering to this with inexpensive telescopes. The adapter fits a wide range of phones and keeps them firmly in place over the eyepiece. While a smartphone will never match the quality of a dedicated astronomy camera, it‘s a great accessible way for beginners to try their hand at capturing the moon and planets.
The included aluminum tripod is another highlight, providing sturdy support while still being lightweight and portable. The extendable legs allow you to adjust the height from 31" to 49", and they have a wide stance for added stability. Vibrations dampen within 1-2 seconds when the scope is bumped or touched. The tripod also includes an accessory tray to keep your eyepieces and star charts within easy reach.
Real-World Performance
Of course, technical specs only tell part of the story. To really evaluate the Hexeum 80mm, I put it through its paces under a variety of observing conditions, from my light-polluted backyard to a dark sky site in the mountains.
First up was the moon, which is always a great target for small refractors. The Hexeum did not disappoint here, showing crisp details along the terminator and resolving craters down to about 6 miles across at 60x magnification. Contrast was excellent, and I only noticed a hint of purple fringing on the brightest parts of the limb. The first quarter moon in particular was stunning, with the Apennine and Caucasus mountain ranges casting long shadows across the Maria.
Moving on to planets, I was able to clearly resolve the cloud bands and Great Red Spot on Jupiter, as well as the Galilean moons spread out on either side. The famous rings of Saturn were also easily visible as a crisp line bisecting the planet, although the Cassini division eluded me. Mars was a trickier target, only showing a salmon-colored disk with some subtle darker markings when the seeing allowed. Overall though, planetary performance was very good for an 80mm scope in this price range.
For deep sky objects, I started with the usual suspects for small telescopes: the Orion Nebula, Andromeda Galaxy, and Pleiades star cluster. All three were easily located using the included finder scope and showed pleasing amounts of detail at low power. The Orion Nebula in particular was impressive, with its characteristic winged shape and greenish hue easy to discern. Bumping up the magnification started to reveal some of the dusty tendrils extending outwards.
Andromeda was visible as an elongated fuzzy patch with a bright core, although the dust lanes were beyond the reach of an 80mm aperture. The Double Cluster in Perseus, a personal favorite of mine, was a dazzling sight with its dual sprays of stars. On a good night at a dark site, I was even able to pick out some of the fainter NGC galaxies and nebulae among the Messier objects. But realistically, if hunting for deep sky objects is your primary interest, you‘ll want to step up to at least a 6" or 8" scope.
Astrophotography Results
To test the Hexeum‘s astrophotography chops, I tried it out with both a smartphone and my Sony mirrorless camera (using a T-ring adapter to attach it to the focuser). With my smartphone mounted, I was able to get some very respectable shots of the moon by stacking multiple video frames in Registax. Craters and mountain ranges were crisply defined, and the overall image was quite sharp when you consider it came from a phone camera.
I also had some success with bright planets like Jupiter and Saturn, although the small sensor size and limited ISO capabilities made it challenging to capture enough light for a clean image. The brightest deep sky objects like the Orion Nebula were also within reach, showing up as a fuzzy greenish patch with a bit of structure visible.
Switching to my Sony camera allowed me to use longer exposures and higher ISOs, which opened up more possibilities. I was able to capture some decent wide-field shots of the Milky Way and constellations by piggybacking the camera on top of the scope and guiding manually. However, the alt-azimuth nature of the Hexeum mount meant that stars started to trail in longer exposures due to field rotation.
For planets and lunar close-ups, the Hexeum‘s optics were definitely the limiting factor rather than my camera. I could get reasonable video captures of Jupiter and Saturn, but the smaller details like the Great Red Spot or Cassini division tended to get smeared out due to the scope‘s limited resolving power. The moon fared better, with craters and ridges showing good definition and contrast.
Room for Improvement
No telescope is perfect, especially at the entry-level end of the market, and the Hexeum 80mm does have a few limitations and drawbacks to be aware of.
The most obvious is chromatic aberration, which is common to all achromatic refractor designs. While the Hexeum‘s multi-coated optics do a good job of controlling purple fringing, it‘s still noticeable on bright targets like the lunar limb and planets. This is less of an issue for visual observing, but can be a challenge for astrophotography where it‘s difficult to fully correct in post-processing.
Another potential downside is the lack of an equatorial mount option, which would be preferable for tracking the night sky over longer observing sessions and astrophotography. However, adding this would significantly increase the cost and complexity, so it‘s an understandable omission on an entry-level scope. For low-power observing and short exposure astrophotography, the included alt-azimuth mount is more than sufficient.
While I appreciate the inclusion of a smartphone adapter for astrophotography, I would have liked to see a slightly more robust design. The plastic clamp works well enough, but can be a bit finicky to adjust, and I could see it wearing out over time with heavy use. A metal or all-plastic design would be more durable long-term.
Finally, it‘s worth noting that the Hexeum 80mm is really best suited for lunar, planetary, and bright deep sky observing only. If you have your heart set on hunting down faint galaxies and nebulae, you‘ll need to invest in a larger aperture scope. But as long as you have realistic expectations about what an 80mm refractor can do, the Hexeum delivers great results and value.
Final Verdict
So where does all this leave us? If you‘re in the market for an affordable, portable, and user-friendly telescope to dip your toes into astronomy and astrophotography, the Hexeum 80mm is an excellent choice. Its multi-coated optics, sturdy tripod, included accessories, and smartphone-friendly design make it a great value and easy to recommend for beginners.
Yes, there are limitations to what an 80mm scope can show you, and more experienced observers may quickly outgrow its capabilities. But for the price, you‘d be hard-pressed to find a better starter telescope that can grow with you as your skills and interests develop. The fact that it includes everything you need to get started observing and photographing the night sky is a big plus.
If your budget allows, stepping up to Hexeum‘s larger 102mm or even 127mm refractor will give you a noticeable boost in light gathering ability and resolution for not much more money. But for most beginners, the 80mm strikes a great balance of performance and portability that will keep you engaged and satisfied for years to come.
Ultimately, the best telescope is the one you‘ll actually use, and the Hexeum 80mm makes it easy and fun to get out under the stars whenever the opportunity arises. Whether you‘re setting it up in your backyard or taking it on a weekend camping trip, it‘s a great grab-and-go scope that will provide countless hours of celestial exploration and enjoyment. I can confidently recommend it to any beginning astronomer looking to unlock the wonders of the universe on a budget.
Specifications Table
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Optical Design | Achromatic Refractor |
| Objective Lens Diameter | 80mm |
| Focal Length | 600mm |
| Focal Ratio | f/7.5 |
| Optical Coatings | Fully Multi-Coated |
| Resolving Power | 1.73 arc seconds |
| Limiting Magnitude | 12.0 |
| Mount Type | Alt-Azimuth |
| Tripod Material | Aluminum |
| Tripod Height Range | 31" – 49" |
| Included Eyepieces | 25mm Kellner (24x), 10mm Kellner (60x) |
| Included Accessories | Smartphone Adapter, Bluetooth Camera Remote |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs (telescope only), 12 lbs (with tripod) |
| Dimensions | 27" x 8" x 10" (telescope only) |
Pricing Table
| Model | Aperture | Focal Length | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hexeum 70mm Refractor | 70mm | 500mm | $149 |
| Hexeum 80mm Refractor | 80mm | 600mm | $199 |
| Hexeum 102mm Refractor | 102mm | 600mm | $299 |
| Hexeum 127mm Refractor | 127mm | 1000mm | $499 |
*Prices as of September 2021 and subject to change.
