Stella Mira 86mm ED f/7 quadruplet refractor

Pin-sharp stars, rock-solid build and easy imaging - we're impressed

- IVANA PERANIC

Earlier this year, First Light Optics announced a new addition to its in-house brand of telescopes, the StellaMira range.

The 86mm f/7 quadruplet refractor is the first four-element telescope in the collection, with two extra-low-dispersion (ED) elements and a builtin flattener which promises a perfectly flat field of view, from corner to corner. It provides 602mm of focal length, which is perfect for a wide variety of popular targets, and despite the rapidly disappearing darkness of our spring skies we were excited to make the most of every clear moment to try it out.

The telescope is provided in a sturdy aluminium carry case, with a fitted foam insert to protect the refractor and its accessories. Out of the box, the quality of the build and all of the fittings is immediately obvious. The tube feels very solid without being heavy, while other elements are CNC machined, with no plastic in sight. There's an integrated, retractable aluminium dew shield that extends with a twist motion, which we knew we would welcome in the humid evenings. We were also pleasantly surprised to see a Losmandy dovetail.

As is usual with First Light Optics's own-brand telescopes, the StellaMira 86mm ED quadruplet comes with lots of small extras as standard. Apart from the carry case, these include not one but two finder shoes, M54 and M48 adaptors, and a carrying handle on top which doubles as a finderscope clamp. Even though this telescope is marketed as primarily for imaging, there's a 2-inch-to-1.25-inch adaptor at the back that could take a diagonal and eyepieces for visual observation.

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