Is the Odyssey faster than the Origin?

From a Bortle 6 sky the Origin is 14× faster on the 30 most popular deep-sky targets; from Bortle 3 the Origin is 22× 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: which is faster for deep-sky imaging?

Unistellar Odyssey against Celestron Origin, 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 is 14× 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 is 22× faster.

Field of view. The Origin shows 1.27° × 0.85° 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 1.48″, so it pulls finer structure from small targets: planetary nebulae, globular cores, galaxy arms.

Subs and dark skies. The Origin 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
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 IMX178, 6.4 MP
Pixel size	1.45 µm	2.4 µm
Pixel scale	0.93″/px	1.48″/px
Field of view	0.75° × 0.56°	1.27° × 0.85°
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⁻	1.4 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	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	6 h 07 min5,505 subs	23 min139 subs	Origin 16×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	1 h 08 min1,016 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin 14×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	9 h 33 min8,594 subs	36 min215 subs	Origin 16×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	20 h17,741 subs	1 h 13 min439 subs	Origin 16×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	28 min422 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin 6×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	10 h9,406 subs	39 min235 subs	Origin 16×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	28 min419 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin 6×
PleiadesReflection nebula	11 h10,297 subs	43 min257 subs	Origin 16×

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	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	4 h 05 min3,683 subs	8 min48 subs	Origin 31×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	47 min701 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin 9×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	6 h 21 min5,721 subs	12 min72 subs	Origin 32×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	13 h11,739 subs	23 min138 subs	Origin 34×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	21 min309 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin 4×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	6 h 57 min6,257 subs	13 min78 subs	Origin 32×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	20 min297 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin 4×
PleiadesReflection nebula	7 h 36 min6,843 subs	14 min84 subs	Origin 33×

Try the Odyssey in the calculator Try the Origin

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

The first-generation Origin: a 6-inch f/2.2 RASA in a smart package and the fastest system here by a wide margin. Superseded by the Mark II in late 2025 and no longer sold new; Celestron offers a camera upgrade to the Mark II sensor.

Where to buy the OriginAmazon UK Amazon USAffiliate links: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Other comparisons

All comparisons · Buying guide · Odyssey page · Origin page