Go behind the scenes with Celestrons product development team and learn more about our award-winning and patented innovations. Since the Celestron and Antares are supposed to have different focal lengths and spacing specs, I expected different results. At least these two units I tested make the answer - whatever. It's important to match the back focus to within a millimeter or two to get an optimal image, especially with cameras with larger sensors. Celestron Solar Safe filter technology is GUARANTEED SAFE for direct solar observation and has been independently tested by SAI Global Assurance Services. The focal length and design working distance for this focal reducer were not available from the manufacturer. Because of their distinct optical design, slower Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes (SCT) with focal ratios of f/10 require a different design of focal reducer compared to refractors. Who cares? But when not in the box or on the telescope, there is no cover for the other end. Never noticed any anomalies with this unit. For me, I was looking for, and planning to keep, the one that yielded the greatest reduction. However, this also came at a cost, as the sky background in the Antares was slightly brighter. It's usually specified from the base of the mounting threads on the reducer's housing, and this is the most practical way of providing this specification. These 0.63x focal reducers were originally designed to optimize for an image circle to match 36mm x 24mm film or its digital equivalent for astrophotography. No retailers currently carry this product. As one increases, the other decreases. Photographically you also get a wider field and much shorter exposures. I am a purely visual observer, so will evaluate for visual use only. Telescope Optics, Rutten and van Venrooij, Chapter 15, Willman-Bell (1988). When placed in the focal plane in front of a camera or eyepiece, a focal reducer leads to a wider field of view and a brighter image of extended objects, which is important for reducing the exposure times when imaging faint extended objects like nebulae or galaxies. Great report and verifies what I had thought all along, Fortunately, my neighbors are not out in their backyards at 11 pm, or they may have thought I was torturing a small mammal. I only have the Celestron f/6.3. This also resulted in the clear aperture of the Antares being about 39-39.5mm, versus the Celestrons 41mm. External Focusers for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes 3.1 The Basics of SCT Threads Since the focal length of the reducer, FR, is fixed, as d2 increases then MR decreases. Edited by Tony Bonanno, 16 April 2021 - 06:44 PM. This standard distance is a consequence of the design of DSLR cameras for which the distance of the sensor to the outer edge of the flanges is about 45 mm, while the T-ring that attaches to the flange for astrophotography is about 10mm thick. More details are found in the Appendix of this article. You also wont be unhappy spending the few extra bucks on the Celestron for the pretty orange lettering, particularly if you can pick one up used, as I did. Since 2008, Brian has taught astronomy to tens of thousands of stargazers through his websites OneMinuteAstronomer.com and CosmicPursuits.com. And when d1 = FR, that is, when the focal reducer is placed at a distance from the focal plane of the objective that's equal to the reducer's focal length, the focal length of the combined optical system is Fo, so it acts as a 0.5x reducer. If you want to save a few buck watch the classifieds on CN. The Reducer/Corrector is easy to install by threading the unit onto the rear cell of your Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (or the reducer plate of the C11 and C14). As another example,GSO makes focal reducers for their line of Ritchey-Chretien imaging telescopes. Another factor to consider: focal reducers also increase the angle at which light approaches the focal plane. It features a standard male SCT thread (2" OD, 24 TPI) on one side and a standard SCT female thread on the other. . Focus misses by about 1 turnof the focus knob.Here is my solution:Buy a shorter 1.25 visual back for my scope. The naming convention of SCT focal reducers is a little confusing. What I do know is that the Antares and the Celestron samples that I have perform exactly the same from the center right out to the edges. This "speeds up" the optical train by reducing the focal length and magnification of the scope, requiring less time to integrate the same signal. I wont bother with differences in packaging, caps, etc. Nebula Filters. I have a Raspberry HQ camera, a Sony TV Zoom 12.5-75mm f1.8 and a Astromania 1,25" 0.5x focal reducer. The distance d2, which measures the position of the new focal plane of the objective from the back of the focal reducer is given by Equation 5: In these equations, d1, d2, and MR are all variables that depend on each other through Equations 2 and 4. For this test, I used a single configuration R/C, Click-lock, and 1.25 diagonal with the adapter. For example, an 8" SCT without a focal reducer has an illuminated field of 38mm at 50% fall-off. This may be a problem if the focuser tube or the diagonal (for visual observing) is too narrow to accept light at this larger angle. Antares Click Lock Visual Back - posted in Cats & Casses: Here is the situation:I bought a Celestron CPC 1100 for visual use.Want to put on the scope simulteanously a6.3 focal reducer, filter wheel, and aneyepiece turret. It covers the basic optics and design specifications of a focal reducer, and goes through some practical factors to consider when selecting and using a focal reducer. Better images are also obtained when using these focal reducers at a reduction factor of 0.5x 0.8x, approximately. It might work but it does not tell us anything about how well or to what extent the product works to correct the field of an SCT. We will match any online price that we confirm as valid. If you want to use them for visual - try maybe long focal length eyepieces rather than the reducer. Again, these focal reducers are often provided by the telescope manufacturer. The lens has a knurled surface, providing a tremendous gripping surface for threading/unthreading. There are many different types of focal reducers and they all effect. 2023 OPT Telescopes. But I am rusty, can you condense a bit for me please? Whereas the Celestron threaded smoothly onto the scope, the Antares chattered and squeaked a bit more so when being removed. Unlike SCT telescopes, Ritchey-Chretien telescopes and Celestron Edge HD or Meade ACF scopes have internal optics that provide an inherently flat field, so these telescopes require a special focal reducer than does not provide additional correction for field curvature. All Rights Reserved. Fastar Technology allows imagers the option of drastically increasing the speed and sensitivity of their Celestron optical tube, allowing bright, detailed images with short exposures. You cannot, for example, use a 0.63x focal reducer intended for a standard Celestron or Meade SCT and use it on a Celestron Edge HD or a Meade ACF. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1400 At a significantly lower price point, the Antares is a steal, and theres no need to upgrade to the Celestron if you already have one. Unleash the full pointing accuracy of your Celestron computerized telescope with a specialized telescope control software suite. We tested GSO's 1.25" 0.5x focal reducer at a variety of operating distances and calculated the field of view through a telescope to derive the actual reduction factor that is plotted below. The stock Celestron visualback is just under 2 long. Shipping will be via the cheapest shipping method which will vary depending on the items in your order. Figure 2 shows the effective of a focal reducer on the light from a telescope objective. How does it look thats what matters. Celestron & Antares f/6.3 Reducer/Corrector Shoot-out Some are available in 1.25" barrel format but with C threads. Also, the focusers of most Newtonians do not have enough in-travel to accommodate a focal reducer. Manish Panjwani has been an active amateur astronomer since before Halley's Comet last flew by our neighborhood. No experience with the Antares reducers, but I haven't personally seen a difference between Celestron and my current pair of made in Japan Meade reducers. Reducer - Corrector Learn More. None of this was offensive, nor did it interfere with views in any significant way. By Celestron Focus Motor for SCT, EdgeHD & 8" RASA, Celestron C6 0.63 reducer/flattener back focus. The designed reduction factor (0.5x in the case of the GSO reducer example above) should be considered a rule of thumb or approximate value in most cases, rather than a very precise number. The Reduction Factor and the Amount of Reduction are inversely related. However, these will not impact optical performance. The Antares FR2-0.7X is the same 4-element f/6.3 lens system used for f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes but in a 2" barrel threaded for standard filters. OPT Product Number: AE-SCTFR specifications Warranty 2 Year Warranty Works as advertised! I focus using a moonlight electronic focuser and focusmax. More aggressive reduction, or using these reducers with larger sensors, will result in aberrations and distortions near the edge of the image. Can you help me? No results, please adjust your filters. However I've also read that the back focal distance on the Celestron is 105mm while the Antares is 81mm so they couldn't be identical. Rather than a direct side-by-side, I swapped the reducers so that I was using them on the exact same, well-collimated instrument. The author finds differences in throughput and color balance, but then says he thinks the lenses are identical and he reaches his conclusions based on very long observing session. if the illuminated field is 27mm wide without the reducer, it will be 27 x 0.63 = 17mm with it in place. Thank you so much for the informative article, I now understand better how to integrate my reducer into my system to get better performance. Most amateur astronomers are familiar with a Barlow lens (or a focal extender), a negative or diverging lens that effectively increases the focal length and the focal ratio of a telescope's objective lens. That was fun. When the camera sensor is placed at this distance, the reduction factor of these reducers is 0.75x. Sign up for a new account in our community. Some coma is visible in the corners, but the image is quite good for EAA applications. 800-483-6287 The focal length of a focal reducer is usually measured from the rear lens surface of the reducer (and not the reducer's housing). Completely stuck, completely frustrated. Reducer - Corrector | Celestron Most Feather Touch focusers cost between $300-$350. Figure 7 shows an example of an image of the Dumbbell Nebula taken with a 1.25" GSO focal reducer at a reduction factor of 0.63x with an 85mm f/7 refractor and a QHY5III-290M camera with a sensor with a 6.4mm diagonal. I must admit, as well, that I no longer place a lot of stock in the notion that Chinese optics are inferior to Japanese or Taiwanese any longer, as manufacturing technology has really leveled the playing field today, with most Chinese optics being excellent. Check out our 2022 telescope buying guide here! Most refractor manufacturers such as William Optics, Tele Vue Optics, Explore Scientific, Sky-Watcher, William Optics, and Stellarvue make their own focal reducers optimized for use with their telescopes. I have Hirsch focal reducer, which is yet another clone of the Celestron reducer. The Antares f/6.3 Focal Reducer for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes is a low-price option for reducing the focal length of your Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope from f/10 to f/6.3. The lens that the ZWO comes with give a perfect wide angle image of what is in front of it. This is the distance at which the reducer must be placed in front of the eyepiece or camera focal plane in order to operate at the design reduction factor. However, some focal reducers can be used over a wider range of working distances, especially those with simpler optical design, and especially when used with cameras with smaller sensors. Dedicated focal reducers for refractors are intended primarily for imaging, not visual observation. When using the diagonal, keep the field stops of the eyepieces under 20mm. Is there likely to be any differences in performance between using these on an 8 or something smaller like my 6SE? Years ago, I bought the Antares version, and moved over to the Celestron. Reproduction without permission prohibited. Does anyone know if the Antares 4000 focal reducer is as good as the Celestron focal reducer. If I had to chose one, I would base my decision on your level of light pollution perhaps the Antares for its slightly higher transmission if you live under less light polluted skies, but the Celestron for its greater contrast if you are dealing with a suburban or urban light dome. He tested this on an 8 Celestron , I have a Celestron 6SE. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Many focal reducers are meant to be used within a few millimeters of the specified working distance to achieve the best possible image results. Have always disliked the crude, noisy SCT threads, but I get it. The most popular accessories for your new telescope! Our patented SkyAlign alignment technology makes setting up a computerized telescope simple, fast, and accurate. I have a made in Japan 6.3 R/C and a made in China 6.3 R/C. Some faster refractors with a focal ratio of f/6, for example, only require field flatteners and not focal reducers. Both exhibited consistent reduction, identical field flattening, and edge correction properties, and both were high quality optically and mechanically. And when used in some refractors, the field flattening is not as accurate as it is in the f/10 SCTs. Some manufacturers will specify the working distance from the middle of the rear lens surface, and this number must then be converted into a practical working distance number by subtracting the amount by which the rear lens surface is recessed in its housing. The Antares is supposed to be pretty comparable. I think that the FRs made in Japan in the day may have been better. As per the OP I still can't see any reason to buy the Celestron for significantly more $$$. But nearly every observer who installs one of these devices is pleased with their performance. Antares' f/6.3 focal reducer provides a faster f/6.3 system for imaging or visual use when used with an f/10 SCT or other compatible telescopes. Community Forum Software by IP.BoardLicensed to: Cloudy Nights, E of San Francisco Bay and W of the Awahnee, This is not recommended for shared computers, reviews here that suggest a coating problem, Back to Celestron Computerized Telescopes, Looking for advice on first refractor and camera. With this telescope and this focal reducer, it does not help to move to a 2" eyepiece and a 2" diagonal as the visual view will be akin to looking through a porthole within the larger apparent field of view of the eyepiece. Depending on the design of the telescope, they may require separate focal reducers if they require focal reducers at all. And, the reality is that every F/6.3 RC out there Celestron, Hirsch, Astromania, etc., etc. Copyright 2003-2022 Agena AstroProducts. When placed in the focal plane in front of a camera or eyepiece, a focal reducer leads to a wider field of view and a brighter image of extended objects, which is important for reducing the exposure times when imaging faint extended objects like nebulae or galaxies. Focal reducers are essential optical accessories for astrophotography, electronically-assisted astronomy (EAA), and in some cases, for visual observation with long focal ratio telescopes. Overall, this reducer does a phenomenal job at preventing gradients due to internal reflections from the camera sensor back to the glass in the reducer, as I suffered with the Antares reducer. Powered by Invision Community. Antares f/6.3 Focal Reducer for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes - Agena Astro This is especially true when these reducers are used with cameras with smaller sensors with a dimension of about 1/4 to 1/3 the diameter of the reducer, and with telescopes with a focal ratio of f/7 or larger. The female end attaches to the rear cell of the telescope. The focus barely shifts between filters and I suspect any shifts I do get are down to the filters and changes in temp. Assuming you use the reducer with the stock 1.25" diagonal, it will operate at f/6.3. Antares Click Lock Visual Back - Cats & Casses - Cloudy Nights Description. If used before or beyond the working distance, unwanted image distortion may result. You currently have javascript disabled. Unique focal reducer and field corrector lens accessory, Reduces the focal length and f/ ratio of your Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope by 37%, Provides a dual focal ratio instrument, without sacrificing image quality, Compatible with all Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes (see compatible list in description). I have/had both the Celestron (Japan) and Antares units. 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antares vs celestron focal reducer

antares vs celestron focal reducer

Again, to my surprise, there was absolutely no difference between the Celestron and Antares on any star. This should not be the case if they have their purportedly different focal lengths. Can these economical focal reducers from GSO and other vendors result in good images? I have the Antares and have no complaints. Bear in mind you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip, i.e. A reducer is a set of converging (or positive) lenses that cause the light from a telescope objective to converge at a steeper angle to the focal plane as if it were coming from an objective with a faster (lower) focal ratio and a shorter focal length. For example, the focal reducer for an 8-inch Celestron EdgeHD telescope has a design reduction factor of 0.7x and a specified working distance (or back focus) of 105mm. No idea what the issue is. All rights reserved. Since the focal plane of an eyepiece is rarely precisely known(except for some brands such as Baader Planetarium and Tele Vue), and because the nosepiece of an eyepiece is of a fixed length, the actual reduction factor will be close to, but not exactly at, its designed reduction factor. On the trail, at the job site, in the classroom, or simply sitting at home relaxing the Celestron Elements ThermoTank 3 will keep your hands toasty. All Rights Reserved. This Antares 1.25" 0.5x focal reducer lens (tele-compressor) is used under the Orion brand name to thread into the nosepiece of Orion StarShoot Solar System cameras and StarShoot Deep Space Color Imaging Camera. Have a promo code? Focal reducers for refractors with focal ratio of f/7 to f/9, roughly, have a design reduction factor of about 0.75x to 0.8x and produce a flat field by correcting for the curvature of the objective lens. In some cases, focal reducers also act as field flatteners by correcting for field curvature and coma of the objective lens. Download the Celestron PWI Telescope Control Software. Celestron makes a series of focal reducers for the Edge HD line that are matched to the 8", 9.25", 11", and 14" apertures of these scopes. For example, with a 0.8x focal reducer, a telescope with a focal length of 800mm will operate at 800 x 0.8 = 640mm when the reducer is placed at the working distance specified by the manufacturer. High power views will provide flatter fields all the way to the edge, both visually and photographically. Steve In such cases, we will be happy to take the item back as per our standard return terms. I had a Celestron, Antares and Hirsch for awhile and compared them over about a year. A f/10 focal ratio now achieves a f/6.3, while an f/11 focal ratio now achieves a f/7. Increase that distance, and greater reduction results and visa versa. They both are great and I doubt my eyes could detect a difference in any one of them including the Japan version. These RC reducers cannot be used with other types of telescopes. Generally, views through the Antares seemed a little more transparent and brighter. (Note: Using the simple equations above, the focal length of this reducer can be estimated to be about 350mm). Once installed, you can add additional accessories like T-Adapters, 1.25 Visual Back, Star Diagonal, or Off-Axis Guider. Sharpness is essentially the same. The Antares f6.3 focal reducer screws directly to the visual-back thread of all popular SCTs and converts f10 instruments to f6.3. Opticstar F6.3 Focal Reducer / Corrector. As mentioned in Section 2.3, the reduction factor for these focal reducers can be varied by adding spacers to move the reducer further from the camera sensor or eyepiece. All additional accessories mount onto the exterior/male threads. This rugged, 3-in-1 device features a true tactical 3-mode flashlight, a hand warmer, and a portable power bank for recharging your personal electronics on the go. We have tested our current batch and it works with Meade, Celestron, and Baader SCT accessories. riklaunim Members 559 3,445 Location: Poland Posted October 11, 2010 They are reported as identical. To calculate how much back focus spacing you need to add, take the thickness of the filter and divide it by 3. First, I wanted to compare the actual reduction provided by these competitors, as many threads here cite different ideal spacing from the reducer to eyepiece focal plane to achieve the correct f/6.3 result. You don't need to follow these equations to use a focal reducer, but they do show how the reduction factor changes with the placement of the reducer. The Reducer/Corrector can also be used for terrestrial digiscoping. Looking forward to the day when I can do a shoot-out between a Japan and China Celestron, just for kicks. Go behind the scenes with Celestrons product development team and learn more about our award-winning and patented innovations. Since the Celestron and Antares are supposed to have different focal lengths and spacing specs, I expected different results. At least these two units I tested make the answer - whatever. It's important to match the back focus to within a millimeter or two to get an optimal image, especially with cameras with larger sensors. Celestron Solar Safe filter technology is GUARANTEED SAFE for direct solar observation and has been independently tested by SAI Global Assurance Services. The focal length and design working distance for this focal reducer were not available from the manufacturer. Because of their distinct optical design, slower Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes (SCT) with focal ratios of f/10 require a different design of focal reducer compared to refractors. Who cares? But when not in the box or on the telescope, there is no cover for the other end. Never noticed any anomalies with this unit. For me, I was looking for, and planning to keep, the one that yielded the greatest reduction. However, this also came at a cost, as the sky background in the Antares was slightly brighter. It's usually specified from the base of the mounting threads on the reducer's housing, and this is the most practical way of providing this specification. These 0.63x focal reducers were originally designed to optimize for an image circle to match 36mm x 24mm film or its digital equivalent for astrophotography. No retailers currently carry this product. As one increases, the other decreases. Photographically you also get a wider field and much shorter exposures. I am a purely visual observer, so will evaluate for visual use only. Telescope Optics, Rutten and van Venrooij, Chapter 15, Willman-Bell (1988). When placed in the focal plane in front of a camera or eyepiece, a focal reducer leads to a wider field of view and a brighter image of extended objects, which is important for reducing the exposure times when imaging faint extended objects like nebulae or galaxies. Great report and verifies what I had thought all along, Fortunately, my neighbors are not out in their backyards at 11 pm, or they may have thought I was torturing a small mammal. I only have the Celestron f/6.3. This also resulted in the clear aperture of the Antares being about 39-39.5mm, versus the Celestrons 41mm. External Focusers for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes 3.1 The Basics of SCT Threads Since the focal length of the reducer, FR, is fixed, as d2 increases then MR decreases. Edited by Tony Bonanno, 16 April 2021 - 06:44 PM. This standard distance is a consequence of the design of DSLR cameras for which the distance of the sensor to the outer edge of the flanges is about 45 mm, while the T-ring that attaches to the flange for astrophotography is about 10mm thick. More details are found in the Appendix of this article. You also wont be unhappy spending the few extra bucks on the Celestron for the pretty orange lettering, particularly if you can pick one up used, as I did. Since 2008, Brian has taught astronomy to tens of thousands of stargazers through his websites OneMinuteAstronomer.com and CosmicPursuits.com. And when d1 = FR, that is, when the focal reducer is placed at a distance from the focal plane of the objective that's equal to the reducer's focal length, the focal length of the combined optical system is Fo, so it acts as a 0.5x reducer. If you want to save a few buck watch the classifieds on CN. The Reducer/Corrector is easy to install by threading the unit onto the rear cell of your Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (or the reducer plate of the C11 and C14). As another example,GSO makes focal reducers for their line of Ritchey-Chretien imaging telescopes. Another factor to consider: focal reducers also increase the angle at which light approaches the focal plane. It features a standard male SCT thread (2" OD, 24 TPI) on one side and a standard SCT female thread on the other. . Focus misses by about 1 turnof the focus knob.Here is my solution:Buy a shorter 1.25 visual back for my scope. The naming convention of SCT focal reducers is a little confusing. What I do know is that the Antares and the Celestron samples that I have perform exactly the same from the center right out to the edges. This "speeds up" the optical train by reducing the focal length and magnification of the scope, requiring less time to integrate the same signal. I wont bother with differences in packaging, caps, etc. Nebula Filters. I have a Raspberry HQ camera, a Sony TV Zoom 12.5-75mm f1.8 and a Astromania 1,25" 0.5x focal reducer. The distance d2, which measures the position of the new focal plane of the objective from the back of the focal reducer is given by Equation 5: In these equations, d1, d2, and MR are all variables that depend on each other through Equations 2 and 4. For this test, I used a single configuration R/C, Click-lock, and 1.25 diagonal with the adapter. For example, an 8" SCT without a focal reducer has an illuminated field of 38mm at 50% fall-off. This may be a problem if the focuser tube or the diagonal (for visual observing) is too narrow to accept light at this larger angle. Antares Click Lock Visual Back - posted in Cats & Casses: Here is the situation:I bought a Celestron CPC 1100 for visual use.Want to put on the scope simulteanously a6.3 focal reducer, filter wheel, and aneyepiece turret. It covers the basic optics and design specifications of a focal reducer, and goes through some practical factors to consider when selecting and using a focal reducer. Better images are also obtained when using these focal reducers at a reduction factor of 0.5x 0.8x, approximately. It might work but it does not tell us anything about how well or to what extent the product works to correct the field of an SCT. We will match any online price that we confirm as valid. If you want to use them for visual - try maybe long focal length eyepieces rather than the reducer. Again, these focal reducers are often provided by the telescope manufacturer. The lens has a knurled surface, providing a tremendous gripping surface for threading/unthreading. There are many different types of focal reducers and they all effect. 2023 OPT Telescopes. But I am rusty, can you condense a bit for me please? Whereas the Celestron threaded smoothly onto the scope, the Antares chattered and squeaked a bit more so when being removed. Unlike SCT telescopes, Ritchey-Chretien telescopes and Celestron Edge HD or Meade ACF scopes have internal optics that provide an inherently flat field, so these telescopes require a special focal reducer than does not provide additional correction for field curvature. All Rights Reserved. Fastar Technology allows imagers the option of drastically increasing the speed and sensitivity of their Celestron optical tube, allowing bright, detailed images with short exposures. You cannot, for example, use a 0.63x focal reducer intended for a standard Celestron or Meade SCT and use it on a Celestron Edge HD or a Meade ACF. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1400 At a significantly lower price point, the Antares is a steal, and theres no need to upgrade to the Celestron if you already have one. Unleash the full pointing accuracy of your Celestron computerized telescope with a specialized telescope control software suite. We tested GSO's 1.25" 0.5x focal reducer at a variety of operating distances and calculated the field of view through a telescope to derive the actual reduction factor that is plotted below. The stock Celestron visualback is just under 2 long. Shipping will be via the cheapest shipping method which will vary depending on the items in your order. Figure 2 shows the effective of a focal reducer on the light from a telescope objective. How does it look thats what matters. Celestron & Antares f/6.3 Reducer/Corrector Shoot-out Some are available in 1.25" barrel format but with C threads. Also, the focusers of most Newtonians do not have enough in-travel to accommodate a focal reducer. Manish Panjwani has been an active amateur astronomer since before Halley's Comet last flew by our neighborhood. No experience with the Antares reducers, but I haven't personally seen a difference between Celestron and my current pair of made in Japan Meade reducers. Reducer - Corrector Learn More. None of this was offensive, nor did it interfere with views in any significant way. By Celestron Focus Motor for SCT, EdgeHD & 8" RASA, Celestron C6 0.63 reducer/flattener back focus. The designed reduction factor (0.5x in the case of the GSO reducer example above) should be considered a rule of thumb or approximate value in most cases, rather than a very precise number. The Reduction Factor and the Amount of Reduction are inversely related. However, these will not impact optical performance. The Antares FR2-0.7X is the same 4-element f/6.3 lens system used for f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes but in a 2" barrel threaded for standard filters. OPT Product Number: AE-SCTFR specifications Warranty 2 Year Warranty Works as advertised! I focus using a moonlight electronic focuser and focusmax. More aggressive reduction, or using these reducers with larger sensors, will result in aberrations and distortions near the edge of the image. Can you help me? No results, please adjust your filters. However I've also read that the back focal distance on the Celestron is 105mm while the Antares is 81mm so they couldn't be identical. Rather than a direct side-by-side, I swapped the reducers so that I was using them on the exact same, well-collimated instrument. The author finds differences in throughput and color balance, but then says he thinks the lenses are identical and he reaches his conclusions based on very long observing session. if the illuminated field is 27mm wide without the reducer, it will be 27 x 0.63 = 17mm with it in place. Thank you so much for the informative article, I now understand better how to integrate my reducer into my system to get better performance. Most amateur astronomers are familiar with a Barlow lens (or a focal extender), a negative or diverging lens that effectively increases the focal length and the focal ratio of a telescope's objective lens. That was fun. When the camera sensor is placed at this distance, the reduction factor of these reducers is 0.75x. Sign up for a new account in our community. Some coma is visible in the corners, but the image is quite good for EAA applications. 800-483-6287 The focal length of a focal reducer is usually measured from the rear lens surface of the reducer (and not the reducer's housing). Completely stuck, completely frustrated. Reducer - Corrector | Celestron Most Feather Touch focusers cost between $300-$350. Figure 7 shows an example of an image of the Dumbbell Nebula taken with a 1.25" GSO focal reducer at a reduction factor of 0.63x with an 85mm f/7 refractor and a QHY5III-290M camera with a sensor with a 6.4mm diagonal. I must admit, as well, that I no longer place a lot of stock in the notion that Chinese optics are inferior to Japanese or Taiwanese any longer, as manufacturing technology has really leveled the playing field today, with most Chinese optics being excellent. Check out our 2022 telescope buying guide here! Most refractor manufacturers such as William Optics, Tele Vue Optics, Explore Scientific, Sky-Watcher, William Optics, and Stellarvue make their own focal reducers optimized for use with their telescopes. I have Hirsch focal reducer, which is yet another clone of the Celestron reducer. The Antares f/6.3 Focal Reducer for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes is a low-price option for reducing the focal length of your Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope from f/10 to f/6.3. The lens that the ZWO comes with give a perfect wide angle image of what is in front of it. This is the distance at which the reducer must be placed in front of the eyepiece or camera focal plane in order to operate at the design reduction factor. However, some focal reducers can be used over a wider range of working distances, especially those with simpler optical design, and especially when used with cameras with smaller sensors. Dedicated focal reducers for refractors are intended primarily for imaging, not visual observation. When using the diagonal, keep the field stops of the eyepieces under 20mm. Is there likely to be any differences in performance between using these on an 8 or something smaller like my 6SE? Years ago, I bought the Antares version, and moved over to the Celestron. Reproduction without permission prohibited. Does anyone know if the Antares 4000 focal reducer is as good as the Celestron focal reducer. If I had to chose one, I would base my decision on your level of light pollution perhaps the Antares for its slightly higher transmission if you live under less light polluted skies, but the Celestron for its greater contrast if you are dealing with a suburban or urban light dome. He tested this on an 8 Celestron , I have a Celestron 6SE. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Many focal reducers are meant to be used within a few millimeters of the specified working distance to achieve the best possible image results. Have always disliked the crude, noisy SCT threads, but I get it. The most popular accessories for your new telescope! Our patented SkyAlign alignment technology makes setting up a computerized telescope simple, fast, and accurate. I have a made in Japan 6.3 R/C and a made in China 6.3 R/C. Some faster refractors with a focal ratio of f/6, for example, only require field flatteners and not focal reducers. Both exhibited consistent reduction, identical field flattening, and edge correction properties, and both were high quality optically and mechanically. And when used in some refractors, the field flattening is not as accurate as it is in the f/10 SCTs. Some manufacturers will specify the working distance from the middle of the rear lens surface, and this number must then be converted into a practical working distance number by subtracting the amount by which the rear lens surface is recessed in its housing. The Antares is supposed to be pretty comparable. I think that the FRs made in Japan in the day may have been better. As per the OP I still can't see any reason to buy the Celestron for significantly more $$$. But nearly every observer who installs one of these devices is pleased with their performance. Antares' f/6.3 focal reducer provides a faster f/6.3 system for imaging or visual use when used with an f/10 SCT or other compatible telescopes. Community Forum Software by IP.BoardLicensed to: Cloudy Nights, E of San Francisco Bay and W of the Awahnee, This is not recommended for shared computers, reviews here that suggest a coating problem, Back to Celestron Computerized Telescopes, Looking for advice on first refractor and camera. With this telescope and this focal reducer, it does not help to move to a 2" eyepiece and a 2" diagonal as the visual view will be akin to looking through a porthole within the larger apparent field of view of the eyepiece. Depending on the design of the telescope, they may require separate focal reducers if they require focal reducers at all. And, the reality is that every F/6.3 RC out there Celestron, Hirsch, Astromania, etc., etc. Copyright 2003-2022 Agena AstroProducts. When placed in the focal plane in front of a camera or eyepiece, a focal reducer leads to a wider field of view and a brighter image of extended objects, which is important for reducing the exposure times when imaging faint extended objects like nebulae or galaxies. Focal reducers are essential optical accessories for astrophotography, electronically-assisted astronomy (EAA), and in some cases, for visual observation with long focal ratio telescopes. Overall, this reducer does a phenomenal job at preventing gradients due to internal reflections from the camera sensor back to the glass in the reducer, as I suffered with the Antares reducer. Powered by Invision Community. Antares f/6.3 Focal Reducer for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes - Agena Astro This is especially true when these reducers are used with cameras with smaller sensors with a dimension of about 1/4 to 1/3 the diameter of the reducer, and with telescopes with a focal ratio of f/7 or larger. The female end attaches to the rear cell of the telescope. The focus barely shifts between filters and I suspect any shifts I do get are down to the filters and changes in temp. Assuming you use the reducer with the stock 1.25" diagonal, it will operate at f/6.3. Antares Click Lock Visual Back - Cats & Casses - Cloudy Nights Description. If used before or beyond the working distance, unwanted image distortion may result. You currently have javascript disabled. Unique focal reducer and field corrector lens accessory, Reduces the focal length and f/ ratio of your Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope by 37%, Provides a dual focal ratio instrument, without sacrificing image quality, Compatible with all Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes (see compatible list in description). I have/had both the Celestron (Japan) and Antares units.

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