StellaMira 86ED2 telescope reviewed by AstroFarsography

A perfectly clear night is a rare thing in astrophotography, and for Ruzeen, known as AstroFarsography, this one was even more special. Not only were the skies predicted to be clear from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., but it was also a Friday night and a new moon, meaning there would be no interference from moonlight and no reason to cut the session short. To top it all off, this was the first night he would be using a brand-new telescope, the StellaMira 86mm ED2, a quadruplet refractor optimized for astrophotography.

This telescope is no average refractor. Designed with a four-lens optical system that includes two ED (extra-low dispersion) elements, the StellaMira ED2 delivers sharp, high-contrast images with minimal chromatic aberration. Unlike many standard doublets or triplets, it includes a built-in field flattener. That means edge-to-edge star sharpness is already handled by the optical tube assembly itself, without needing to purchase or attach a separate flattener. That alone makes it especially attractive for astrophotographers working with APS-C or full-frame sensors.

StellaMira 86ED2 telescope reviewed by Ruzeen aka AstroFarsography

Ruzeen had also installed the optional 0.8x reducer that ships with the scope. This reducer doesn't function as a flattened, again, that’s built in, but it does shorten the focal length from 602mm down to around 482mm. A shorter focal length means a wider field of view and faster imaging, which is particularly useful for extended objects and deep-sky galaxies. With the reducer in place, Ruzeen paired the scope with his ZWO ASI585MC color camera. This pairing gave him a setup that was both versatile and responsive, with just the right balance of detail and sky coverage for the start of galaxy season.

Even though it was still February, just a couple of days shy of March, Ruzeen was determined to kick off galaxy season strong. He chose to image the well-known pair of galaxies, M81 and M82, also known as Bode’s Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy. These galaxies are located in Ursa Major and are bright, detailed, and close enough to fit in the same frame at a moderate focal length. Some might argue that imaging circumpolar galaxies like these doesn’t technically count as galaxy season, since they’re always above the horizon, but Ruzeen dismissed that idea. It was still too early in the year to image other classic targets like the Leo Triplet due to their low altitude and obstruction by buildings. So M81 and M82 were not just a convenient fallback, they were a smart early-season choice.

The ASI585MC camera used in this session doesn’t have a built-in UV/IR cut filter. That can cause problems with color accuracy and star bloat if left uncorrected. Since Ruzeen didn’t have a UV/IR filter available, he used an L-Pro broadband light pollution filter instead. This was a practical decision, given that his garden is surrounded by streetlights. Three lights shine in from one direction and another comes in from the side. While some bushes and trees help reduce the direct light, the L-Pro filter played a major role in controlling background gradients and preserving contrast in the images.

As with any good imaging session, setup began before dark. Ruzeen placed the telescope outside in advance to allow it to thermally acclimate. Letting a telescope cool to ambient temperature before imaging is important for optical performance and keeping focus steady throughout the night. He also installed dew bands, although he mentioned wanting to upgrade them soon. His current bands were aging, and he had his eye on some newer, ASIAIR-compatible models. One small hiccup in the setup was the lack of a USB extension cable, which meant he couldn’t power the cooling fan on his camera. It wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it was something to fix before the next session.

StellaMira 86ED2 telescope specifications

• 86mm aperture
• f/7 focal ratio (602mm focal length)
• Air-spaced quadruplet optical design with two ED glass elements
• Fully multi-coated optics for high light transmission and contrast
• Strong aluminium tube with retractable dew shield
• Tube length (dew shield retracted): 46cm (17.9")
• Tube length (dew shield extended): 55.5cm (21.9")
• Tube diameter: 107mm (4.2")
• Dew shield external diameter: 123mm (4.8")
• Tube weight: 4kg (8lb 13oz)
• Tube weight with rings, dovetail, and handle: 5.8kg (12lb 13oz)
• CNC-machined aluminium fittings
• 3.2" dual-speed Rack & Pinion focuser
• 1:10 fine focus mechanism
• Focuser adjustment range: 85mm (3.3")
• 360º camera angle adjuster (CAA)
• Non-marring brass compression rings (2" and 1.25" clamps)
• Focuser threads: M68x1, M54x0.75, M48x0.75
• Supplied with M68, M54, and M48 astrophotography adapters
• Includes tube rings, carry handle, and Losmandy-style dovetail
• Carry handle includes integrated Synta-style finder clamp
• Two Synta-style finder shoes included on the tube
• Additional M6 threaded holes on dovetail, handle, and tube rings
• Heavy-duty aluminium carry case with die-cut foam included
• Refractor type telescope
   

A smooth setup, dual imaging rigs, and a night that just worked

Sunset came and went, and by twilight he had already completed polar alignment. That meant everything was locked in, cooled down, and stable by the time true darkness arrived. Calibration frames were taken, guiding was dialed in, and test exposures started rolling in. He noted that seeing conditions seemed excellent, steady skies with minimal turbulence. That’s exactly the kind of atmosphere that helps with fine detail, particularly when imaging galaxies with tight cores and faint outer arms.

Another new experiment for the night was mounting his Canon 70D DSLR on top of the telescope using a piggyback bracket. He installed a 300mm lens at f/8 to reduce chromatic aberration. The plan was to try wide-field imaging of the same galaxy pair or possibly switch over to Orion or the Pleiades. His logic was that if the main scope was tracking in right ascension properly, then the piggybacked DSLR should be able to get solid exposures too. This was a bit of an unknown, but it added another dimension to the session and let him maximize the sky time.

Framing for M81 and M82 was done using Stellarium and a quick preview confirmed that both galaxies fit beautifully within the field. A three-minute sub from the main scope looked great, even though a satellite streak passed through one test frame. The stars were sharp, framing was tight, and guiding remained stable despite a small bump caused by him brushing against the mount. On the DSLR, the 2.5-minute exposures at ISO 800 came out nicely as well. The f/8 setting helped tame color fringing, and the resulting wide-field shots promised a nice complement to the main telescope data.

With confidence in both setups, Ruzeen launched the main imaging plan. He set up the ASIAIR to run an autorun routine consisting of 150 exposures at three minutes each. That would give him 7.5 hours of integration time, and with dithering and autofocus factored in, he expected the session to stretch to nearly 8.5 hours. Whether or not he stayed with the same target the whole night was undecided, he kept the door open to switching targets if conditions or inspiration changed.

As the night progressed, he monitored both imaging systems. The piggybacked Canon was working better than expected, and he planned to discard only frames with noticeable star trailing. Meanwhile, the StellaMira scope with the ASI585MC was collecting consistent, clean subs. The built-in field flattener appeared to be doing its job, star shapes held their integrity across the field with no noticeable curvature or coma. The reducer brought the galaxies into a wide enough field that their surrounding environment could also be captured, giving the final image both clarity and context.

The L-Pro filter also seemed to be doing its job. Sodium lights, though ever-present, didn’t ruin contrast or overwhelm the darker sky areas. And without an active cooling fan, the camera’s sensor still performed well thanks to the cooler evening air. Everything from focus to tracking to image download was running smoothly. There were no glitches, freezes, or alignment issues, a rare kind of session where everything actually goes to plan.

Rediscovering the joy of broadband imaging with the StellaMira 86mm ED2

What stood out most during this session was not just the gear, but the attitude. Ruzeen approached the night not just as a test of a new telescope, but as a chance to reengage with broadband imaging in a meaningful way. He hadn’t done a proper RGB session in a while, and the excitement of using new glass made it all the more rewarding. He kept things grounded, acknowledged the limitations of his light-polluted location, and worked around them with smart choices like the L-Pro filter and strategic target selection. And through it all, he was transparent with his viewers, whether the images came out perfect or not, he’d share both sets at the end of the video.

That mindset is what makes Ruzeen’s approach to astrophotography so relatable. He’s not chasing perfection or pretending every session is flawless. He shows what it’s really like to image from a backyard under far-from-ideal conditions, making smart compromises, and still walking away with great data. It’s a reminder that you don’t need dark-sky sites or top-tier observatories to capture the night sky. You need patience, planning, and a willingness to work with what you’ve got.

This first session with the StellaMira 86mm ED2 showed that the scope lives up to its promise. Its optics are sharp, its integrated field flattener works well, and when paired with a modern camera, it delivers crisp, flat-field images across a wide range of targets. The optional reducer makes it even more versatile, expanding the field of view and increasing speed without introducing obvious optical issues. In short, the telescope proved itself as a serious tool for any astrophotographer looking for performance and value.

As dawn approached and the imaging plan wrapped up, Ruzeen reflected on the night. He’d captured two iconic galaxies, tested a new optical setup, and added wide-field DSLR shots for variety. More than anything, he’d gotten back into the rhythm of deep-sky imaging, reconnected with the process, and rediscovered the satisfaction of a well-executed night under the stars.

Whether you're new to astrophotography or a seasoned veteran, nights like this are the reason we keep doing it. The gear changes, the challenges evolve, but the feeling of seeing those first test frames come down, clean, detailed, and full of promise, is always the same. For Ruzeen, this wasn’t just a night of successful imaging. It was a reminder of why he started, why he continues, and what still lies ahead.

I Finally Used A QUADRUPLET Telescope! | Astrophotography Stories

Buy the StellaMira 86ED2 telescope