Is the Odyssey faster than the Origin Mark II?

From a Bortle 6 sky the Origin Mark II is 10× faster on the 30 most popular deep-sky targets; from Bortle 3 the Origin Mark II is 19× faster.

Which is better for small targets like planetary nebulae?

The Odyssey, with its finer pixel scale of 0.93″ per pixel.

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

Unistellar Odyssey 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 10× 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 19× faster.

Field of view. The Origin Mark II shows 1.32° × 0.75° against 0.75° × 0.56°, so big targets such as the Andromeda Galaxy, the North America Nebula and the Pleiades fit with room to spare where the Odyssey needs a mosaic or a tight crop.

Detail. The Odyssey samples at 0.93″ per pixel against 1.23″, so it pulls finer structure from small targets: planetary nebulae, globular cores, galaxy arms.

Subs and dark skies. The Origin Mark II goes up to 30 s subs in EQ mode, the Odyssey tops out at 4 s. That matters little from a city, where skyglow sets the floor, and a lot from a dark site, where read noise does.

Filters. Neither has a built-in dual-band filter, so emission nebulae from a lit sky are slow going on both.

Specifications side by side

Spec	Odyssey	Origin Mark II
Aperture	85 mm	152 mm
Focal length	320 mm (f/3.8)	335 mm (f/2.2)
Sensor	IMX415-class, 1.45 µm (Unistellar does not name it), 6.2 MP	Sony IMX678, 8.4 MP
Pixel size	1.45 µm	2 µm
Pixel scale	0.93″/px	1.23″/px
Field of view	0.75° × 0.56°	1.32° × 0.75°
Sub exposures	4 s	10 s, 15 s, 30 s
Dual-band filter	None	Drawer option (Nebula Filter)
“No filter” position	No filter	No filter
Read noise used	1.2 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	Odyssey	Origin Mark II	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	6 h 07 min5,505 subs	32 min191 subs	Origin Mark II 12×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	1 h 08 min1,016 subs	6 min38 subs	Origin Mark II 11×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	9 h 33 min8,594 subs	49 min295 subs	Origin Mark II 12×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	20 h17,741 subs	1 h 40 min600 subs	Origin Mark II 12×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	28 min422 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin Mark II 6×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	10 h9,406 subs	54 min322 subs	Origin Mark II 12×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	28 min419 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin Mark II 6×
PleiadesReflection nebula	11 h10,297 subs	59 min352 subs	Origin Mark II 12×

Rural sky (Bortle 3)

Total integration for a solid image from a Bortle 3 sky, default subs, recommended filter for each scope.
Target	Odyssey	Origin Mark II	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	4 h 05 min3,683 subs	10 min60 subs	Origin Mark II 25×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	47 min701 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin Mark II 9×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	6 h 21 min5,721 subs	15 min88 subs	Origin Mark II 26×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	13 h11,739 subs	28 min168 subs	Origin Mark II 28×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	21 min309 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin Mark II 4×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	6 h 57 min6,257 subs	16 min95 subs	Origin Mark II 26×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	20 min297 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin Mark II 4×
PleiadesReflection nebula	7 h 36 min6,843 subs	17 min103 subs	Origin Mark II 27×

Try the Odyssey in the calculator Try the Origin Mark II

About the Unistellar Odyssey

Unistellar’s compact 85 mm with autofocus and tiny pixels. Sharp, but the fine sampling costs time on faint extended targets. The Odyssey Pro is the same telescope with an eyepiece added, so these figures apply to both.

Where to buy the OdysseyAmazon UK Unistellar UK Amazon US Unistellar USAffiliate 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 · Odyssey page · Origin Mark II page