Telescope Comparison
Askar 103APO vs Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre
The price gap is real. The question is whether the extra capability is worth it at your stage.
First light
Askar · 103mm · £1,199
The custom-rig optical tube
- 103mm refractor — optical tube only, no mount included
- 700mm focal length at f/6.8
- Requires a compatible mount before you can observe anything
- Best for: observers who already own a suitable mount or are building a specific imaging rig
- Not a complete purchase — budget at least £100–300 extra for a mount before observing
Explore Scientific · 102mm · £649
The custom-rig optical tube
- 102mm refractor — optical tube only, no mount included
- 714mm focal length at f/7
- Requires a compatible mount before you can observe anything
- Best for: observers who already own a suitable mount or are building a specific imaging rig
- Not a complete purchase — budget at least £100–300 extra for a mount before observing
The full picture
The numbers that separate these two scopes — and what they mean at the eyepiece.
Aperture
Askar 103APO gathers 1× more light. On bright targets — Moon, Saturn, Jupiter — you won't notice. On fainter targets — dim galaxies, faint globular clusters — the gap is real.
Focal length
Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre's longer focal length reaches higher magnification with the same eyepiece — better reach for planetary detail. Askar 103APO's shorter focal length gives a wider true field — better for large open clusters and extended nebulae.
Focal ratio
Askar 103APO's faster f/6.8 delivers wider fields with any eyepiece — better for open clusters and large nebulae. Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre's f/7 provides more magnification per eyepiece — better for fine planetary detail.
Mount type
Neither scope includes a mount — both require a separate purchase before you can observe.
Weight (OTA)
Similar optical tube weight. Any portability difference between these setups comes from the mount, not the tube itself.
Optical design
Both are refractors — no mirrors to collimate, good contrast, colour-free stars with ED or APO glass. The differences between them are in aperture, focal ratio, and glass quality.
At the eyepiece
Both scopes · same aperture
Both refractors share essentially the same aperture — views through each will be very similar on all standard targets. The hallmarks of good refractor optics are sharp stars and good contrast on planetary targets, with no false colour on ED or apochromatic glass. Saturn's rings are distinct from the disk; Jupiter shows two equatorial bands. The Orion Nebula (M42) is bright and well-defined. Open clusters are a strength — the Double Cluster in Perseus and the Pleiades look good at low power. The differences between these two scopes show up in focal ratio, focal length, and what they're optimised for, not in fundamental light-gathering capability.
The real tradeoff
Both scopes are capable. The question is which one fits the way you actually observe.
The Askar 103APO costs 85% more. It delivers 1mm more aperture — a real and visible advantage on faint targets. For a first telescope, the Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre is the smarter entry point. Return to the Askar 103APO when you know from experience what you actually need.
The dark side
Every scope has a personality. Here’s where each one gets difficult.
Askar
Askar 103APO
No mount included
You cannot observe until you buy a separate compatible mount — add at least £100–300 before you have a working telescope.
Nothing to look through on day one
Until a mount arrives, the optical tube is a piece of glass you cannot point at the sky.
Explore Scientific
Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre
No mount included
You cannot observe until you buy a separate compatible mount — add at least £100–300 before you have a working telescope.
Nothing to look through on day one
Until a mount arrives, the optical tube is a piece of glass you cannot point at the sky.
Which is right for you?
Two different buyers. Two different right answers.
The custom-rig optical tube
Askar · Askar 103APO
You’ll love this if…
- You already own a compatible equatorial or alt-az mount — this is the optical tube you've specifically chosen to put on it
- You're building an imaging rig piece by piece and know exactly what you need at the end of a focuser
- Choosing an optical tube independently of the mount gives you more flexibility over your overall system
This will frustrate you if…
- You buy it without fully accounting for the mount — add at least £100–300 to the purchase price before you have a working telescope
- You expected a complete package and didn't realise this is a bare optical tube that cannot be used without a separate mount
The custom-rig optical tube
Explore Scientific · Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre
You’ll love this if…
- You already own a compatible equatorial or alt-az mount — this is the optical tube you've specifically chosen to put on it
- You're building an imaging rig piece by piece and know exactly what you need at the end of a focuser
- Choosing an optical tube independently of the mount gives you more flexibility over your overall system
This will frustrate you if…
- You buy it without fully accounting for the mount — add at least £100–300 to the purchase price before you have a working telescope
- You expected a complete package and didn't realise this is a bare optical tube that cannot be used without a separate mount
Our verdict
At £649 versus £1,199, the Askar 103APO costs 85% more. It delivers 1mm more aperture — a real and visible advantage on faint targets.
If budget is a genuine constraint, the Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre will make you a happy observer. The Askar 103APO's optical advantage on faint targets is real and you are unlikely to regret it if you can stretch. If I had to choose without knowing your situation: start with the Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre, use it for a year, then upgrade knowing exactly what you want.
Askar 103APO
View Askar 103APO →Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre
View Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre →Deep field: Full specifications
Every data point, for those who want to go further.
Full specifications
Fields highlighted in blue or amber indicate the better value for that spec. Data is manufacturer-stated and may vary.
How much can it see?
| Spec | Askar 103APO | Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre |
|---|---|---|
Apertureⓘ The most important spec — bigger = more light = better views | 103mm | 102mm |
Focal Length Longer = more magnification potential | 700mm | 714mm |
Focal Ratio Lower f-number = wider field of view; higher = more magnification per eyepiece | f/6.8 | f/7 |
Optical Design The type of optics — each design has different strengths | Refractor | Refractor |
Coatings Better coatings = more light transmission through the optics | Fully multi-coated ED triplet on all air-to-glass surfaces | Fully multi-coated ED triplet (FCD-100 glass) |
How do you point it?
| Spec | Askar 103APO | Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre |
|---|---|---|
Mount Type The mechanical system that holds and moves the telescope | None (OTA only) | None (OTA only) |
GoTo Computer-controlled pointing — finds any of thousands of objects automatically | ||
Tracking Motor keeps objects centred as the Earth rotates — essential for astrophotography |
The focuser
| Spec | Askar 103APO | Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre |
|---|---|---|
Focuser Size 2" accepts wider eyepieces and gives better low-power views | 2" / 1.25" | 2" |
Focuser Type Rack-and-pinion is standard; Crayford and dual-speed are smoother | Dual-speed Crayford 2" (10:1 reduction) | 3-inch dual-speed Crayford |
Size & weight
| Spec | Askar 103APO | Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre |
|---|---|---|
OTA Weightⓘ Optical tube only — useful for comparing mount load capacity | 3.8kg | 2.9kg |
Tube Length | 550mm | 660mm |
Tube Material | Aluminium | Carbon fibre |
What's in the box?
| Spec | Askar 103APO | Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre |
|---|---|---|
Diagonal Tilts the eyepiece 90° for comfortable viewing — useful on refractors |
Blue highlight: Askar 103APO advantage · Amber highlight: Explore Scientific ED102 Carbon Fibre advantage · Greyed cells: equal or subjective.