The best telescopes under 100 euros

Exploring the universe does not have to cost a fortune. Unfortunately, in the price range up to €100, you will find a lot of plastic toys online: so-called ‘supermarket telescopes’ or ‘hobby-killers’ that are sold purely on the basis of impossible magnifications and immediately cause frustration. We have 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. You can find all entry-level models at a glance in our category telescopes for beginners.

Omegon AC 60/700 AZ-1 - €99.- euro

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 EUR

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 mount is a compact wooden table stand. No hassle with wobbly tripod feet; just place it on a garden table or picnic bench, aim it at the stars with your hand, and you can immediately start watching. The included manual makes this the most hassle-free start for children and beginners. Want to see what else is possible with this type of viewer? Check out our category Dobson telescopes.

Omegon - 50/600 Achromatic Refractor – €79 EUR

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 comfortably view from above without straining your neck. The lightweight aluminum tripod moves easily in any direction and is ready to use within a minute. A smart introduction to the universe that, during the day, with the included flip-up prism, also works perfectly as a spotting scope for birds or ships.

Zoomion 60mm AZ - €49.90 EUR

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.

Thanks to the included erecting lens, the image is nicely upright and mirror-inverted, which immediately turns this telescope into a powerful viewer for spotting birds, wildlife, or ships in the distance. Meanwhile, the 90° star diagonal ensures that you can comfortably view from above at night without straining your neck when pointing straight up. Thanks to the simple altazimuth mount, you can naturally steer the scope in the right direction by hand, exactly like pointing a camera. It is the ultimate, no-nonsense starter kit at an absolute rock-bottom price!

Need our help?

Choosing your very first telescope can be quite tricky, even with these top 4 models in mind. Are you unsure whether a model will fit on your small balcony, or do you want to make sure your children can operate it independently? You don’t have to figure it out on your own. Come by appointment in Sneek, or contact us! If you’d rather take a little more time to research, check out our 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.