Exploring the universe doesn't have to cost a fortune. In the price range up to €100, you'll unfortunately find a lot of plastic toys online: so-called 'supermarket telescopes' or 'hobby killers' that are sold purely based on impossible magnifications and directly lead to frustration. We've refined the selection for you. The four models below are real optical instruments with glass lenses or mirrors, with which you can take a solid first step into astronomy without exceeding your budget. All entry-level models in a row can be found in our category telescopes for beginners.
Omegon AC 60/700 AZ-1 €99.00
The Omegon AC 60/700 AZ-1 is one of the best choices under 100 euros if you're looking for a classic refractor telescope. With a 60mm aperture and a long 700mm focal length, this telescope delivers sharp images with remarkably little chromatic aberration. Thanks to the three included eyepieces (20 mm, 12.5 mm, and 4 mm), you can easily switch between 35x, 56x, and a powerful 175x magnification. While lower magnifications provide a wide overview of moon craters and bright gas clouds, the 4mm eyepiece lets you zoom in deep on Jupiter's cloud bands and Saturn's rings.
The aluminum tripod and the light AZ-1 mount ensure the set is ready to go outside in just a few minutes. You move the telescope intuitively by hand up, down, left, and right, just like a camera tripod. No complicated fuss or technical knowledge needed; this makes the Omegon AC 60/700 a wonderfully compact and accessible entry-level telescope for the whole family or as a gift for a young explorer.
Omegon Dobson 76/300 - 89 euros
If you want to see most details for less than 90 euros, then the Omegon Dobson 76/300 is your telescope. Because this is a mirror telescope with a 76 mm aperture, it collects significantly more light than the lens telescopes in this segment. The short focal length of 300 mm ensures a wide field of view, allowing you to see not only the moon in sharp focus, but also to easily locate larger, faint objects like the Orion Nebula or the star cluster the Pleiades.
The great advantage is the complete package: you immediately get 4 eyepieces, a Barlow lens for extra magnification, and an erecting lens for terrestrial daytime observations. The de-mount is a compact, wooden table tripod. No fuss with wobbly tripod legs; you simply place it on a garden table or picnic bench, point it towards the stars by hand, and you can start observing immediately. The included manual makes this the most frustration-free start for children and beginners. Want to see what else you can do with this type of telescope? Then check out our category Dobson telescopes.
Omegon - 50/600 Achromatic Refractor - €79
The Omegon AC 50/600 AZ is the most accessible telescope on the list, perfect for young children or as an affordable gift. The 50mm lens is made of coated glass instead of the plastic you often find in toy stores. The long 600mm focal length ensures a sharp image with good contrast. With the included 20mm and 12.5mm eyepieces, you immediately get 30x and 48x magnification, which you can use to easily spot the craters on the moon and the four largest moons of Jupiter.
Thanks to the included zenith mirror, you can look comfortably into the viewer from above without straining your neck. The lightweight aluminum tripod moves easily in any direction and is ready for use within a minute. A smart introduction to the universe that also works perfectly as a spotting scope for birds or ships during the day with the included erecting prism.
Zoomion 60mm AZ - €49.90
For under 50 euros, you get a complete refracting telescope with a 60 mm glass objective lens, perfect for taking your first steps into astronomy. What's truly unique in this price range is the included steel tripod. This provides a much sturdier foundation for the telescope than the flimsy plastic tripods typically found in this segment, resulting in a significantly steadier image while observing. Thanks to the included 20 mm and 12.5 mm eyepieces, you can easily switch between magnifications.
With the included erecting lens, the image is neatly upright and in mirror image, which instantly transforms this telescope into a powerful binoculars for spotting birds, wildlife, or ships in the distance. The 90° zenith mirror, meanwhile, ensures that you can comfortably observe from above at night without straining your neck when looking straight up. Thanks to the simple alt-azimuth mount, you can steer the binoculars in the right direction very naturally by hand, just like you aim a camera. It's the ultimate, no-nonsense starter set at an absolute bargain price!
Need our help?
Choosing your very first telescope can be quite challenging, even with this top 4 lineup. 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. Make an appointment to visit us in Burgum, or contact us! Would you rather read up on it first? Then check out our here Astronomy Knowledge Base and you find your subject!
If your budget is a little more generous, take a look at the best telescopes too. under 300 euros and under 500 euros, or read our complete Telescope Buying Guide for Beginners.
