antares vs celestron focal reducer

Description. If the reducer is placed closer to the eyepiece or camera than the distance D, the reduction factor decreases. 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. Take control of your telescope! How does it look thats what matters. I think I remember hearing the reduction factor is slightly different, cant remember more or less reduction. - thanks. 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. Opticstar F6.3 Focal Reducer / Corrector. Sign up for a new account in our community. The more focal reduction, the further inward the focal plane will be. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. It features a standard male SCT thread (2" OD, 24 TPI) on one side and a standard SCT female thread on the other. Today, our world-class team of optical and electronic engineers continues to push the boundaries of technology. We have tested our current batch and it works with Meade, Celestron, and Baader SCT accessories. 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. The threads were similar on the eyepiece end, but a bit smoother. Or, when the distance of the focal reducer to the focal plane of the objective d1 equals the focal length of the focal reducer FR, the reduction factor MR = 0.5x. Also, the focusers of most Newtonians do not have enough in-travel to accommodate a focal reducer. Celestron or Antares? I have a made in Japan 6.3 R/C and a made in China 6.3 R/C. So, this past week I challenged the Antares and Celestron models to a head-to-hear on my C8 on some decent nights of good seeing and transparency in my Bortle 5-6 urban skies. Regardless, the difference was miniscule and is more than adequate on both and exceeds a 8 or 6 SCTs baffle tube diameter. I wont bother with differences in packaging, caps, etc. 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). Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality. But is there a difference in quality between the Antares and the Celestron or Meade focal reducers? The internal surfaces are blackened and glare-threaded to provide the highest contrast. The Best Dedicated Astronomy Cameras for Beginners, Astronomik OIII 12nm CCD Filter - T-Threads, Pegasus Astro Dual Motor Focus Controller, 10 Micron 12kg (26.45lbs) Stainless Steel Counterweight- GM 2000, I would like more information regarding stock availability dates. Like you, I am primarily visually observing but I have everything together now that so I am going to start experimenting with photography so we'll see how it does there. I had a Celestron, Antares and Hirsch for awhile and compared them over about a year. 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. Most reducers have a design reduction factor, MRD, that assumes the reducer is placed at a specific working distance, D, from the back surface of the focal reducer itself. It is not a corrector or flattener. This is very impressive performance given how hard this problem is to mitigate in general. Getting the proper back-focus for your imaging camera is a vital step in getting the best data possible out of your telescope imaging/research rig. The lens is housed in machined aluminum for are machined aluminum black anodized. Because most modern Newtonians already have relatively fast focal ratios, these telescopes do not usually use focal reducers. These RC reducers cannot be used with other types of telescopes. That is definitely a 2" eyepiece, but it is not a large or long focal length 2" eyepiece. Things change but when I rebought I got an Antares and it seems about the same to me. 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. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 925 Sign up to receive sale alerts, news about upcoming celestial events, and telescope tips from our experts! I really don't see any difference in the current crop except the "Meade" is usually the cheapest. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. In these equations: The combined focal length of the objective and focal reducer is given by Equation 1: For example, when d1=0, that is, the focal reducer is at the focal plane of the objective, Fcomb=Fo, so the focal reducer has no effect. 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. This focal reducer and field flattener consists of a four-element multicoated 40mm lens in a metal cell. Powered by Invision Community. Besides observing from his heavily light polluted backyard in Los Angeles, Manish enjoys conducting astronomy outreach programs in local schools. They only publish the value of D, the working distance (sometimes called the back focus distance) and the design reduction factor MRD. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. This award-winning optical system reduces visual defects like field curvature and coma, creating an ultra-flat field for pinpoint stars all the way to the edge of todays largest imaging sensors. I happily cycle through LRGB filters to build the image rather than do a whole run of one filter at a time. However, in principle, the reduction factor of a focal reducer can be varied by changing the distance from the back of the focal reducer to the camera or eyepiece. But nearly every observer who installs one of these devices is pleased with their performance. I have the Antares and am not unhappy with it, but for AP I would want more back focal distance if those numbers are accurate. I was originally hoping to do this with a made in Japan Celestron, but ended up with a newer China version but thats probably better in the end since it is the version now available, with the Japan ones rarer and only available used. No difference. 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. Focal reducers for refractors are easy to use. However, I noticed immediately that the Antares had a bit more of an heft to it, giving it a solid feel the Celestron didnt possess. We process your personal data as stated in our. Even though they may have been slightly dimmer, galaxies were a bit easier to tease out of the urban light soup I deal with. Free shipping $189.95 Celestron Nexstar+ 127 SLT, several budget plossl eyepieces, Celestron 8-24mm zoom EP and a 12.5mm illuminated double reticle EP, Svbony SV205 camera w/.5 focal reducer, Celestron SkyMaster 20x80 binos on a 40 yr old QuickSet PanHead tripod, Stellarium, Sharpcap and ManyCam on my laptop, SkyView and Nightshift on my phone and a dandy little $9 . Planetarium software package which provides easy-to-understand explanations and impressive visuals of all kinds. Not a bit. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 800 Focus misses by about 1 turnof the focus knob.Here is my solution:Buy a shorter 1.25 visual back for my scope. There are many different types of focal reducers and they all effect. The Antares focal reducer comes in small box. In the 1960s, Celestrons founder, Tom Johnson, created groundbreaking new telescopes never before seen on the consumer market. 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. Manish holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. That was fun. Torazz 160K views 9 years ago This video is a complete overview of focal reducers and how they function applying to telescopes. However, because the field curvatures in refractors and SCTs vary a lot, I would predict unpredictable effects inre: field curvature. If used with other f/ratios, the field flattening characteristic may be unpredictable. Benefits limited to hardware and conditions? 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. I have/had both the Celestron (Japan) and Antares units. Ive owned Celestron, Meade, and Antares models over the years at least a couple of each. I've seen some older threads saying that the Celestron, Meade and Antares FRs are all the same and manufactured in the same factory. 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. This focal reducer is made to attach to the rear cell of Schmidt-Cassegrain or Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes. I've heard and read all kinds of things about the Antares being only a reducer and not a corrector, etc. Using this same example of an 8" SCT and a 0.63x reducer, a visual observer can also enjoy brighter images and a wider field of view. Figure 6 shows a 1.25" focal reducer from GSO configured with a ZWO ASI224MC camera. Explore Scientific - Keys to the Universe Sale. Using these numbers in equation 4 in the Appendix, below, we can easily calculate that the focal length of this unit is approximately103mm (it will be 103mm plus the small amount by which the rear lens surface of the reducer is recessed beneath the reducer housing). if the illuminated field is 27mm wide without the reducer, it will be 27 x 0.63 = 17mm with it in place. Unscrew that wide angle lens and put it away, then attach the ASI120 to the nose-piece that came with the camera and fit that into the eyepiece holder. Focal reducers for these relatively fast ED refractors are generally for imaging only, not for visual observation. The telescope side of the barrel is often threaded with an M48 x 0.75 thread for standard 2" astronomy filters. These scopes are compatibles with focal reducers. Observing the microscopic world has never been easier! Anyway, when purchased my R/C the "original" Celestron unit was not readily available and was offered instead the one sold under the shop's own label (in my case Tecnosky, but I saw the same product offered under TS label). Scope size might influence choice as well, as a C6 might benefit from the Antares' transparency, while larger scopes might benefit from the Celestron's higher contrast. But the smaller image circle means there is a limit to the field stop of an eyepiece that can achieve an unvignetted image. The Antares f6.3 focal reducer screws directly to the visual-back thread of all popular SCTs and converts f10 instruments to f6.3. Years ago, I bought the Antares version, and moved over to the Celestron. The distances d1 andd2 can also be expressed in terms of the focal length of the focal reducer FR with the lens equation: Using Equation 2, Equation 1 can also be expressed in terms of d2: The focal reduction factor of the focal reducer depends on its focal length and its distance from the focal plane of the objective as shown by Equation 4: Again, for example, when the focal reducer is placed at the original focal plane of the objective, d1=0 and MR=1, which means there is no focal reduction. In this configuration, the 29.5mm camera nosepiece and a 6mm extension ring positions the reducer at a working distance of 53.5mm from the camera sensor, which is located 12.5mm inside the front edge of the camera. This also resulted in the clear aperture of the Antares being about 39-39.5mm, versus the Celestrons 41mm. Melotte 15 - First Process in PixInsight (easy! It can also be used with any other small chip CCD camera having a 1.25" nosepiece, such as the Celestron NexImage, Meade DSI . Sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive deals, observing tips, and new product announcements. and you will be fine. Steve Sign up for OPT news, exclusive offers, and updates on the latest gear! 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. However, manufacturers virtually never provide this specification. I have had the Japan unit on the back of my C5 since 1994 or thereabouts. 1.2" in that scope is a field stop of 43mm at f/10 and 27mm at f/6.3. Most Feather Touch focusers cost between $300-$350. These reducers can also be used for visual observing with SCT scopes with eyepieces with a field stop as large as 24-27mm. Not noticed any optical problems. It's usually specified in millimeters. But in the Japan version I have never noticed any anomaly like the ghosting in the China R/C. Using one on such a scope would make demands on the eyepiece design and increase the exit pupil to an extent that focal reduction on fast Newts is not practical. The focus barely shifts between filters and I suspect any shifts I do get are down to the filters and changes in temp. All Rights Reserved. I use the Celestron version and it seems OK for both visual and imaging. Learn more about extra solar planets imagery, 3D Star rendering, observation planning, telescope control, multiple-panel printing, and much more. An image of about 24mm across, approximately, allows an observer to use a 1.25" eyepiece with a maximal field stop. During a twenty-year scientific career, he developed laser systems to detect molecules found in interstellar space and planetary atmospheres, and leveraged his expertise to create laser technology for optical communications networks. This part is no longer in production, but it is sometimes available used and may be used with cameras with smaller sensors. With spring galaxy season here, I decided to pick up a couple more to compare in a head-to-head shoot out. Increasing the operating distance, that is, moving a focal reducer away from the eyepiece or camera reduces its reduction factor, or conversely increases the amount of reduction. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1100. The reduction factor MR can also be written in terms of d2 as: When the focal reducer is placed at the working distance, D, that is when d2=D, then the reduction factor MR is equal to the design reduction factor MRD: Equations (6) and (7) imply these important considerations: Most manufacturers do not publish the focal length of their focal reducers, so it is not usually possible to calculate the working distance and design reduction factor. As I understand it, compared to the old Meade SCT's, the ACF is already "coma corrected", so the standard Meade, Celestron etc F6.3 focal reducers are not suitable and will only worsen the images. Since the focal length of the reducer, FR, is fixed, as d2 increases then MR decreases. I would not use the reducer with a 2" diagonal or eyepiece in the C6. . As per the OP I still can't see any reason to buy the Celestron for significantly more $$$. I've looked through one from Meade and first impression was that it was like the Celestron version. Once installed, you can add additional accessories like T-Adapters, 1.25 Visual Back, Star Diagonal, or Off-Axis Guider. Despite never removing it no matter what I was looking at. looks virtually identical, except for the lettering. This should not be the case if they have their purportedly different focal lengths. EclipSmart solar products feature Solar Safe filter technology providing the ultimate protection from harmful solar radiation, including both IR and UV light, and filters 99.999% of visible light. ), but stars seemed a bit tighter and their colors were richer and more dramatic. Start Chat A former wireless communications consulting engineer and management consultant to various Fortune 500 companies, Manish started Agena AstroProducts in 2003. So ab6110 is asking for a FR only without coma correction, there are a couple of brands who make special reducers for the ACF. . A f/10 focal ratio now achieves a f/6.3, while an f/11 focal ratio now achieves a f/7. Another factor to consider: focal reducers also increase the angle at which light approaches the focal plane. The reducer fits all Meade and Celestron . You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. 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. The reducer features fully coated optics in an anodized aluminum filter ring with an ergonomic rubber grip. 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. Most focal reducers are designed to operate optimally at the working distance in the optical path to achieve their specified reduction factor, which is usually between 0.5x and 0.8x. I wonder whether, for example, Antares focal reducer for SCT belongs to the latter category. Meade once made an f/3.3 focal reducer for SCT scopes. Telescope Optics, Rutten and van Venrooij, Chapter 15, Willman-Bell (1988). But the diameter of the image circle decreases by a factor of 0.63 to about 24mm. The click-lock with a 2 dielectric diagonal with a somewhat shorter light path, using both a 2 ES 28mm/68 and the same low-profile adapter with a 1.25 ES 24mm/68. Please let us know what topics you are interested in. 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) Share Customers Also Purchased Description The Celestron f/6.3 is ~150 compared to the Antares at ~70. With the barrel 1.25 reducer won't focus, all I get is fuzzy snowballs. InternetSales@optcorp.com, 800-483-6287 These reducers have a back focus (or design working distance) of 80mm. Right off the bat, I was struck by how similar the two R/Cs were. To calculate how much back focus spacing you need to add, take the thickness of the filter and divide it by 3. Wonder how they would stack up with a Japanese 6.3. This filter threads on to the rear cell of your Celestron or Meade SCT telescope. Both exhibited consistent reduction, identical field flattening, and edge correction properties, and both were high quality optically and mechanically. More about this below. I am new to these optic topics, and I want to ask you what happens with Masutov like SW or Celestron 4 or 7 inches. I am a purely visual observer, so will evaluate for visual use only. All rights reserved. The design reduction factor of a focal reducer is the relative amount by which the effective focal length of the telescope is reduced when the focal reducer is used at its specified working distance or back focus. He tested this on an 8 Celestron , I have a Celestron 6SE. No results, please adjust your filters. 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. Best evidence would by obtained by using a camera and evaluating the image both by eye and with a computer analysis. If a stronger level of focal reduction is used, say 0.5x, then the image circle may be too small to fill the sensor of larger cameras. Well done. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Never noticed any anomalies with this unit. They are also less expensive than many external focusers of similar build quality. Sign up to get exclusive deals, observing tips, and new product announcements. In some cases, focal reducers also act as field flatteners by correcting for field curvature and coma of the objective lens. In most cases, the easiest option is to choose the focal reducer made specifically for your telescope. External Focusers for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes 3.1 The Basics of SCT Threads Edited by Tony Bonanno, 16 April 2021 - 06:44 PM. In such cases, we will be happy to take the item back as per our standard return terms. Style: Yet, the Antares still easily and fully threaded without any hitches. We do not price match competitors if they are out of stock. GSO, for example, has a 0.75x reducer for RC scopes with a back focus of 80mm, which is usually enough room for a wide range of astronomy cameras and accessories and spacers as needed. Equation 6 & 7 item two & three does not make sense, both say increase its reduction (one should say reduce its reduction?). It seems right to put some distance between the camera and the focal reducer, right? Thanks Peter! Celestron Focus Motor for SCT, EdgeHD & 8" RASA, Celestron C6 0.63 reducer/flattener back focus. While most Barlow lenses and focal extenders work with most kinds of telescopes available to amateur astronomers, focal reducers are designed to work in a narrow range of focal ratios of a telescope objective. Is that distance D= Fo-d1=Fo-(d2/MR)? To further factor out my natural astigmatism (I normally wear glasses while observing), I did the tests with my regular progressive lenses, single vision glasses I use when observing, and naked eye. The easiest way to use a focal reducer is to make sure you place it at the specified working distance in front of your camera or eyepiece. Fortunately, my neighbors are not out in their backyards at 11 pm, or they may have thought I was torturing a small mammal. What is likely is that fatigue sets in, and also that as the targets move toward or a way from the meridian there will be changes for that reason alone.

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