Zhumell
Zhumell Z114 Tabletop Reflector
A 114mm tabletop reflector that gives a real telescope's aperture in a package a child can carry, the classic recommendation for a first scope under $250.
83/ 100
Aperture
114mm
Focal Length
450mm
Focal Ratio
f/3.9
Mount Type
Tabletop Dobsonian
Optical Design
Newtonian
Weight
5.0 kg
From$239.99
Lowest in 90 daysLowest ever tracked
Price tracked by PolarisObserved 52 timesTracking since Mar 2026
01What it's good atWhat it's best at — and the trade-offs.
114mm gathers enough light to show lunar craters, Jupiter's moons, Saturn's rings and the brighter clusters and nebulae
01What it's good at
What it's best at — and the trade-offs.
114mm gathers enough light to show lunar craters, Jupiter's moons, Saturn's rings and the brighter clusters and nebulae
Best at
✓114mm gathers enough light to show lunar craters, Jupiter's moons, Saturn's rings and the brighter clusters and nebulae
✓The tabletop Dobsonian base is intuitive: set it on any surface, point where you look, and observe
✓At under 3kg the whole scope lifts with one hand, so it actually gets used instead of staying in a closet
✓The fast f/3.9 optics give bright, wide views that make finding objects easier for a beginner
Trade-offs
!It needs a table, chair or ledge to sit on, since there is no tripod
!f/3.9 is fast and steep, so the edge of the field softens and it is fussy about eyepieces
!The short focal length limits usable magnification on planets
!The included eyepieces are basic and are the first thing worth upgrading
02In plain EnglishWhat These Numbers Mean
114mm · f/3.9 · 450mm FL · Tabletop Dobsonian
02In plain English
What These Numbers Mean
114mm · f/3.9 · 450mm FL · Tabletop Dobsonian
Aperture
114 mm
Four and a half inches of mirror gathers about 265 times the light of your eye, which is a great deal for a telescope this small and inexpensive. Expect the Moon in detail, Jupiter's belts and moons, Saturn's rings and the brighter Messier objects.
Focal length
450 mm
Short, which gives wide low-power views that are easy to navigate without a finder. High magnification depends on short eyepieces and has a practical ceiling around 150x.
Focal ratio
f/3.9
Very fast, which is what keeps the tube short but also makes it demanding: inexpensive eyepieces show soft, distorted stars away from centre, and collimation errors are immediately visible. A better low-power eyepiece is the highest-value upgrade.
Optical design
Tabletop Newtonian reflector
A spherical-to-parabolic primary with no colour error, in the simplest possible package. Collimation needs checking more often than on a slower scope because of the fast ratio.
Weight
2.9 kg
About 6.4 lb complete. One hand carries it to a garden table, which is why this style of telescope tends to be used far more often than larger ones that need setting up.
Mount
Tabletop Dobsonian base
Simple and steady, but it needs a table, wall or sturdy box at roughly waist height. There is no tracking, so you nudge to follow objects across the field.
03The Polaris ScoreHow it scores, and why.
83/100 · #1 of 6 tabletop reflector
03The Polaris Score
How it scores, and why.
83/100 · #1 of 6 tabletop reflector
83/ 100
Zhumell Z114 Tabletop Reflector
#1 of 6 tabletop reflector
Performance70
Ease of use90
Portability95
Upgrade potential50
Polaris weighs optical capability, how easy the scope is to live with, how portable it is, and how far it takes you before you outgrow it — not list price or brand.
04Who it's forAn honest fit check.
Absolute beginners and children who need simplicity above all
04Who it's for
An honest fit check.
Absolute beginners and children who need simplicity above all
Buy it if you
✓Absolute beginners and children who need simplicity above all
✓People with no storage space for a full-size tube
✓Anyone who wants a cheap, capable grab-and-go to keep alongside a bigger scope
Look elsewhere if you
!Observers who want high-power planetary detail, which needs more aperture and focal length
!Anyone expecting deep-sky imaging, which the simple base cannot support
!Buyers who will quickly outgrow 114mm and would rather start with an 8-inch Dob
05Build your rigWhat to buy next — and where it leads.
6 pieces of gear, ordered by what changes the view most
05Build your rig
What to buy next — and where it leads.
6 pieces of gear, ordered by what changes the view most
Recommended upgrades
Sharper planets & lunar detail★ Top pickCelestron X-Cel LX 9mm
A sharp mid-power eyepiece that fixes the biggest weakness of a budget scope
$109.95View details →
Tame lunar glareGSO Moon Filter 13pct 1.25-inch
Tames the dazzling full Moon in a fast 114mm
$11.95View details →
A worthwhile upgradeApertura Laser Collimator
Keeps the fast f/3.9 mirror aligned for the sharpest views
$59.95View details →
Observe better
Make nebulae popSVBony UHC 1.25-inch
Commonly paired with this telescope
$28.99View details →
Sharper planets & lunar detailSVBony Redline 9mm Ultra Wide Angle
$40.99View details →
A sharper everyday viewSVBony Redline 20mm Ultra Wide Angle
$39.99View details →
06The numbersFull specifications.
6 measured and stated values
06The numbers
Full specifications.
6 measured and stated values
Optics
Optical DesignNewtonian
Aperture114mm
Focal Length450mm
Focal Ratiof/3.9
Mount & drive
Mount TypeTabletop Dobsonian
Physical
Weight5.0 kg
07AlternativesFor a different goal, start here.
3 alternatives, each mapped to the goal it wins at
07Alternatives
For a different goal, start here.
3 alternatives, each mapped to the goal it wins at
More aperture
→Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P
A 130mm tabletop with a collapsible tube for a bit more reach in a similar footprint
Step up
→Sky-Watcher Heritage 150P
150mm tabletop if you want noticeably brighter views and can store a larger scope
The real jump
→Sky-Watcher Classic 8 Dobsonian
8 inches on the floor if you are ready to commit to a full-size first Dob
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