This is a user review of the ToupTek Astro HOPE D60 astronomical telescope by A&B photo Enif. Click here to read the original blog.
A newly released compact imaging telescope from ToupTek Astro With a 60mm aperture and F4.66 focal ratio, I conducted an actual deep-sky imaging test—and the results were impressively sharp, fully matching the performance specifications. It also comes standard with rails and accessories, making it an excellent entry-level astronomical telescope for beginners in astrophotography.
The New ToupTek Astro Imaging Telescope: HOPE D60
The name ToupTek Astro has been appearing more frequently in recent discussions.
Previously, the brand was mainly associated with relatively affordable cooled astronomy cameras. Then last year, it also drew attention with the release of “StellaVita,” a controller system similar to ZWO’s ASIAIR—but with broader compatibility.
Many users who missed out on ZWO systems were particularly interested.
As I see it: While the product lineup is still limited, it already feels like a brand offering good-value equipment, especially focused on cooled cameras.
Now, ToupTek Astro has expanded into the telescope with its first series. The HOPE D60 is a 60mm refractor designed specifically for astrophotography.
The carrying case is well organized. Almost all required plates and tools are included in the package.
According to the official specifications from ToupTek Astro:
At first glance, it appears to be a typical 5-element apochromatic telephoto—but the spot diagrams and MTF charts suggest exceptional optical performance.
The spot size remains nearly unchanged across the full-frame field, down to extremely small levels (around 100 microns), which is surprisingly impressive if accurate.
To verify this, I conducted a full-frame monochrome cooled camera star field test.
Note: The HOPE D60 telescope was provided by ToupTek Astro for testing.
Accessories and Included Components in HOPE D60 Telescope
Let’s start with the unboxing.
The inside of the case looks like this (already partially assembled with the focuser installed).
One thoughtful design detail is that the telescope can be stored with the focuser attached—no need to repeatedly mount and dismount it. A small but very practical improvement.
The telescope itself is compact but surprisingly heavy.
It feels like a solid block of metal and glass. Once a camera is attached, a relatively robust equatorial mount is definitely required. The focuser side looks like this (with knobs removed before installation).
A mini rail is also included, and the handle itself can function as a dovetail mount. This allows configurations such as attaching a guide scope or StellaVita.
Everything needed is essentially included in the softcase.
The rear connection supports both M48 and M54 threads. For full-frame cameras, M54 is recommended to reduce vignetting. M48 may still work, but some edge darkening could occur. For APS-C or smaller sensors, M48 is generally sufficient.
Rotatilter: Tilt Adjustment System (Now Standard) of HOPE D60 Telescope
There is an important addition to mention regarding the focuser section.
Shortly after launch, a new accessory called “Rotatilter” was introduced.
This is a tilt-adjustment ring, essential for high-precision astrographs where sensor alignment is critical.
It replaces the original ring on the imaging side (installation requires some force, as the fit is tight).
Adjustment requires fine tuning, typically using Torx or hex tools to modify tilt at four points while monitoring star shapes.
In newer production batches, this system is now included by default, so manual installation is no longer necessary. However, older units may still circulate in the used market, so caution is needed.
This tilt mechanism has a significant impact on image quality and is essentially mandatory for a high-end astrograph.
I still haven’t achieved perfect alignment yet—it’s extremely sensitive. However, the advantage is that adjustments can be made while viewing actual images, without disassembling the imaging train.
Stunning Real-World Imaging Test of HOPE D60 Telescope
Now let’s look at the actual astrophotography result: the “Seagull Nebula.”
・QHYCCD QHY11 (Gain21, Offset114, -20℃) / cropped to APS-C
・Astrodon LRGB filters (L=450X16sec, RGB=450X2sec, 2X2binning)
Originally, the image was captured using the full-frame field of view. However, because the framing appeared too wide, the final image was cropped to APS-C size. The imaging parameters for both sample images were identical; the only difference was a slight variation in background processing. The original full-frame image is shown below:
Although the acquisition settings are identical to previous tests (only background levels differ slightly), the optical performance is clearly evident.
Even faint stars remain tight and well-defined across the full frame. Bright stars also remain round, with minimal distortion or splitting.
This is where a properly designed astrograph excels—optimized for infinite-distance point sources.
Compared to camera lenses, especially fast telephoto lenses, optical compromises often lead to star distortion or “splitting.” Image stabilization systems can also introduce issues.
Telescopes, on the other hand, are designed specifically for this purpose.
Note: Not only are the corners sharp, but bright stars also remain clean and round—this is a major advantage.
Corner Star Examination (1:1 Crop)
Slight misalignment is visible in the upper-right region, indicating that further tilt adjustment is needed.
However, the fact that stars remain well-defined across the full frame strongly suggests that the optical design is genuinely high quality, consistent with the published specifications.
Final Thoughts of HOPE D60 Telescope
Overall, the ToupTek Astro HOPE D60 is a very capable astrograph.
If properly adjusted to fully extract its optical performance, it can deliver outstanding results.
However, the system is sensitive to alignment, and slight tilt issues were observed in this unit. Fortunately, newer versions include improved correction mechanisms as standard.
Stars remain pinpoint sharp across the full frame—something that is becoming more common nowadays. With proper adjustment, the HOPE D60 belongs in that category.