At Telescoop.nl, we strive to match you with a telescope that will meet your specific needs and help you create memories that will last for years to come. Amateur astronomy can be pricey, and our wallets might not be as deep as the infinity of the universe. But should that stop you from exploring the universe? We hope not, because we’ve put together a list of telescopes under 300 euros that we think will spark that sense of wonder!
Omegon AC 70/700 AZ-2 Achromatic Refractor
The Omegon AC 70/700 AZ-2 is a good choice for anyone looking for a traditional, reliable refractor telescope. Thanks to its 70 mm aperture, this telescope captures enough light to produce a sharp image of the mountains and craters on the Moon. The long focal length of 700 mm minimizes chromatic aberrations, resulting in a smooth, high-contrast image of the planets in our solar system.
With the included 10 mm and 20 mm Kellner eyepieces and the 2x Barlow lens, you can easily switch between different magnifications. The diagonal prism ensures that you look into the telescope comfortably from above, so you won't strain your neck during long evenings outside. The altazimuth tripod mount works intuitively: you move the scope by hand up, down, left, and right.
Omegon Newton 76/700 AZ-1
If you prefer a reflector telescope with a substantial tube length, the Omegon Newton 76/700 AZ-1 offers great value. The 76 mm mirror gathers just a bit more light than the smallest refractors, allowing subtle details on planets to stand out better. With the three included eyepieces and the Barlow lens, you immediately have a wide range of magnifications at your disposal, while the finder scope helps you locate objects quickly.
What makes this set suitable for families is the included erecting lens. This lens corrects the image, which in reflector telescopes is normally upside down. Because of this, this telescope also works during the day for spotting ships at sea or wildlife in the distance. The lightweight AZ-1 mount ensures that you can easily point the telescope in any desired direction without technical prior knowledge.
Bresser Pluto 114mm Newton
The Bresser Pluto 114/500 is the telescope for those who want to get started seriously right away. With a 114 mm mirror, this telescope captures a large amount of light, allowing you to see more than just our solar system. Fainter, distant objects such as the Orion Nebula or the Andromeda Nebula become visible with this as grey gas clouds. Moreover, the shorter tube gives you a wide field of view.
The strong point of the Pluto is the stable equatorial (EQ) mount. This system requires a bit of practice at first, but allows you to compensate for the Earth's rotation using slow-motion controls. This keeps a planet in the center of your view for a long time without it constantly drifting away. Ideal for anyone who wants to take their time studying details.
Sky-Watcher Evostar-90 AZ3
The Sky-Watcher Evostar-90 AZ3 is the top-of-the-line refractor in this segment. With a 90 mm glass objective lens, you’re getting an optical instrument that excels in contrast and sharpness. The long focal length of 900 mm makes it suitable for high magnifications: Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s cloud bands can be seen in detail without any distracting blur.
Sky-Watcher supplies this set with an erecting prism, which provides an upright and correctly oriented image. Combined with the heavy, stable AZ3 mount with flexible slow-motion cables, this telescope is a pleasure to work with. You move smoothly across the starry sky, and during the day you can use it as a spotting scope for long-distance nature observations.
Sky-Watcher Heritage-100P Dobsonian
Do you want the largest possible mirror, but don't feel like dealing with a heavy, clumsy tripod? The Sky-Watcher Heritage-100P offers a 100 mm mirror in a compact housing. Thanks to this aperture, the telescope gathers a lot of light, bringing distant star clusters and gas clouds into view. The included eyepieces and Barlow lens give you the freedom to both scan wide star fields and zoom in on the moon.
The mount is the well-known Heritage Dobson table mount. You place this telescope on a sturdy garden table, a picnic bench, or at the campsite and you can get started right away. It is the most stable and frustration-free way of stargazing in this price range: vibration-free, sturdy, and ready to use within a minute for the whole family. You can find more compact reflector telescopes in our category Dobson telescopes.
Omegon MightyMak 80/900
It may look small, but it packs a punch. By folding the light inside the tube, this telescope achieves a long focal length of 900 mm, even though the tube itself is barely twenty centimeters long. That makes the MightyMak a great travel companion. The 80-mm aperture delivers sharp, high-contrast images, and the included LED viewfinder makes locating objects easy.
This compact design takes up hardly any space in the closet or in the car, making it suitable for vacations. Because it provides standard sharp, upright images, it also works as a spotting scope during the day. If you are looking for a portable all-rounder that fits on any photographic tripod, this is a good choice. Also check out the other compact models in our category Maksutov telescopes.
Bresser Nano 70/700
With a 70 mm aperture and a 700 mm focal length, this is a well-balanced instrument that provides clear images of the lunar surface and the larger planets, such as Jupiter. Bresser supplies this set complete with a 20 mm and a 10 mm eyepiece, and includes a 3x Barlow lens to allow you to see deeper into the lunar craters.
The advantage of this set is the Nano mount. This tripod feels more solid and stable than many standard entry-level tripods in this price range. You smoothly guide the telescope to the desired object by hand, which ensures a steady image while viewing. A reliable set for the beginner who values quality and design.
Bresser Solarix SET
The foundation is a 114 mm reflector telescope that gathers a lot of light. But what makes this kit different are the accessories. Thanks to the included, certified solar filter, you can safely look at the sun during the day and study sunspots. In addition, you get an HD color camera to connect the telescope to your computer, plus a smartphone holder and color filters.
The telescope is on a simple alt-azimuth mount, which keeps manual aiming accessible. This is a good choice for the beginner who not only wants to look with their own eyes, but also wants to experiment directly with digital photography and solar observation, without having to order separate accessories.
Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P FlexTube
The largest mirror in this list: with a 130 mm aperture and a parabolic primary mirror, the Heritage 130P gathers more light than everything above it. You can see this immediately in Saturn's rings, Jupiter's cloud bands, and the Orion Nebula, which finally truly takes shape. Thanks to the collapsible FlexTube design, it is only 37 cm high when retracted and weighs about 6 kilos. You place it on a garden table, aim with the red-dot finder, and look.
It's no coincidence that this is one of our best-selling telescopes and our favorite in this price range for visual observation. The set is complete with two eyepieces, a red-dot finder, and a collimation cap. Want to know exactly what you're seeing and which accessories make a difference? Then read our extensive Heritage 130P review.
Need our help?
Choosing your very first telescope can be quite challenging, even with these telescopes lined up. Are you unsure if a model will fit on your small balcony, or do you want to be sure your children can use it independently? You don't have to figure it out alone. Visit us in Burgum by appointment, or contact us! Would you rather read up on it first? Then check out our here Astronomy Knowledge Base and you find your subject!
Does your budget differ slightly? Then also check out the best telescopes under 100 euros and under 500 euros, or read our complete Telescope Buying Guide for Beginners.
Are you ordering from Belgium? That works exactly the same as for Dutch customers, with Bancontact and delivery within two working days. On the page buy telescope in Belgium Read about shipping costs and how warranty and returns work.
Prefer to browse by merk? In this price range, you'll find the most models at Bresser (Messier and entry-level series), Omegon (Horizon and Advanced), Sky-Watcher (Heritage) and for children, National Geographic. If it is a gift for a young stargazer, then the Celestial Buddies plush planets a small addition that is often ordered along with a first telescope.
