Is the Draco faster than the Origin Mark II?

From a Bortle 6 sky the Origin Mark II is 1.8× faster on the 30 most popular deep-sky targets; from Bortle 3 the Origin Mark II is 3.0× faster.

Which is better for small targets like planetary nebulae?

The Origin Mark II, with its finer pixel scale of 1.23″ per pixel.

Draco vs Origin Mark II: which is faster for deep-sky imaging?

DwarfLab Draco against Celestron Origin Mark II, on the same targets from the same skies, using the same photon-budget model as the rest of the site. Times are for a solid image; the calculator gives quick-look and showpiece figures too.

Speed. Across the 30 most popular targets from a suburban Bortle 6 sky, the Origin Mark II is 1.8× faster (geometric mean of the solid-image times, each scope on its recommended filter and default subs). From a rural Bortle 3 sky the Origin Mark II is 3.0× faster.

Field of view. The Draco shows 1.66° × 1.24° against 1.32° × 0.75°, so big targets such as the Andromeda Galaxy, the North America Nebula and the Pleiades fit with room to spare where the Origin Mark II needs a mosaic or a tight crop.

Detail. The Origin Mark II samples at 1.23″ per pixel against 1.46″, so it pulls finer structure from small targets: planetary nebulae, globular cores, galaxy arms.

Subs and dark skies. The Draco goes up to 300 s subs in Pro Mode, the Origin Mark II tops out at 30 s. That matters little from a city, where skyglow sets the floor, and a lot from a dark site, where read noise does.

Filters. The Draco has a dual-band filter built in; the Origin Mark II does not, which costs it heavily on emission nebulae from any suburban sky.

Specifications side by side

Spec	Draco	Origin Mark II
Aperture	90 mm	152 mm
Focal length	340 mm (f/3.8)	335 mm (f/2.2)
Sensor	1/1.3″ 50 MP, 2 × 2 binned (DwarfLab does not name it), 12.6 MP	Sony IMX678, 8.4 MP
Pixel size	2.4 µm	2 µm
Pixel scale	1.46″/px	1.23″/px
Field of view	1.66° × 1.24°	1.32° × 0.75°
Sub exposures	30 s, 60 s, 120 s, 300 s	10 s, 15 s, 30 s
Dual-band filter	Built in (Hα + OIII)	Drawer option (Nebula Filter)
“No filter” position	No filter	No filter
Read noise used	1.8 e⁻	0.6 e⁻

Timed on the same targets

Suburban sky (Bortle 6)

Total integration for a solid image from a Bortle 6 sky, default subs, recommended filter for each scope.
Target	Draco	Origin Mark II	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	1 h 12 min144 subs	32 min191 subs	Origin Mark II 2.3×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	15 min30 subs	6 min38 subs	Origin Mark II 2.4×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	1 h 08 min136 subs	49 min295 subs	Origin Mark II 1.4×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	3 h 47 min454 subs	1 h 40 min600 subs	Origin Mark II 2.3×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	15 min30 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin Mark II 3×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	1 h 13 min147 subs	54 min322 subs	Origin Mark II 1.4×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	15 min30 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin Mark II 3×
PleiadesReflection nebula	2 h 13 min266 subs	59 min352 subs	Origin Mark II 2.3×

Rural sky (Bortle 3)

Total integration for a solid image from a Bortle 3 sky, default subs, recommended filter for each scope.
Target	Draco	Origin Mark II	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	27 min55 subs	10 min60 subs	Origin Mark II 2.7×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	15 min30 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin Mark II 3×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	46 min92 subs	15 min88 subs	Origin Mark II 3×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	1 h 20 min160 subs	28 min168 subs	Origin Mark II 2.9×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	15 min30 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin Mark II 3×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	50 min100 subs	16 min95 subs	Origin Mark II 3×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	15 min30 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin Mark II 3×
PleiadesReflection nebula	48 min97 subs	17 min103 subs	Origin Mark II 2.8×

Try the Draco in the calculator Try the Origin Mark II

About the DwarfLab Draco

DwarfLab’s big scope: 90 mm of folded f/3.8 optics, the most aperture of any Seestar or DWARF, a narrow 13 nm dual-band filter and 300 s subs with built-in guiding. A small-target scope; big nebulae need its mosaic mode.

Where to buy the DracoDwarfLab store UK DwarfLab store US Amazon UK Amazon USThe DwarfLab store link is a plain link; the others are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

About the Celestron Origin Mark II

The Origin Mark II (late 2025): the same 6-inch f/2.2 RASA with an 8 MP IMX678 in place of the original 6 MP IMX178. Smaller pixels for finer detail, a quieter sensor, and still the fastest system here by a wide margin.

Where to buy the Origin Mark IICelestron store Direct Amazon UK Amazon USThe Celestron store link is a plain link; the others are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Other comparisons

All comparisons · Buying guide · Draco page · Origin Mark II page