antares vs celestron focal reducer antares vs celestron focal reducer

Is there likely to be any differences in performance between using these on an 8 or something smaller like my 6SE? I think there may be some confusion here, because Antares makes a variety of reducers for eyepieces and scopes in addition to this SCT R/C but this definitely is a reducer/corrector. 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. However, the China 6.3 R/C has noticeable internal reflections that I haven't figured out yet. control and Sky Viewer display makes selecting your target easy. 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. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. There are many different types of focal reducers and they all effect. InternetSales@optcorp.com, 800-483-6287 When you said, "in some cases" a focal reducer also works as a flattener/corrector, are you saying that not all focal reducers are flatteners/corrector? So ab6110 is asking for a FR only without coma correction, there are a couple of brands who make special reducers for the ACF. CPWI has an extensive object database, employs PointXP mount modeling, and more. Besides observing from his heavily light polluted backyard in Los Angeles, Manish enjoys conducting astronomy outreach programs in local schools. 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. Celestrons patented StarSense Technology makes it easier than ever to locate objects in the night sky, even if youve never used a telescope before. Because I have not heard any complaints about the made in China R/C. Increase that distance, and greater reduction results and visa versa. If it's positioned further from the eyepiece or camera and closer to the telescope objective, the reduction factor increases. I wonder whether, for example, Antares focal reducer for SCT belongs to the latter category. However, these will not impact optical performance. 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. Very helpful, thanks a lot for this article! Fortunately, my neighbors are not out in their backyards at 11 pm, or they may have thought I was torturing a small mammal. It seems right to put some distance between the camera and the focal reducer, right? This filter threads on to the rear cell of your Celestron or Meade SCT telescope. Once installed, you can add additional accessories like T-Adapters, 1.25 Visual Back, Star Diagonal, or Off-Axis Guider. I read another thread in a different forum about F6.3 reducer correctors and one amateur posted an image about glue coming out of an astromania f6.3 reducer which he planned to return. 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. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. So, if you have a filter that is 3mm thick, you need to add 1mm of spacing to your imaging train to retain the correct back focus. As a consequence, the standard f/6.3 and f/3.3 focal reducers for SCT scopes do not work. 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. Thanks for the extremely valuable article. I only have the Celestron f/6.3. This factor is designated by a power that is less than 1, and it usually lies between 0.5x or 0.8x. This article explains the basics of how focal reducers work with an astronomy telescope. 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. If the reducer is placed closer to the eyepiece or camera than the distance D, the reduction factor decreases. No idea what the issue is. Can you tell me about the use of reducers in Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes? The most commonly available focal reducers for SCTs are the f/6.3 reducers from Celestron and a similar f/6.3 focal reducer from Meade. However, some focal reducers can be used on other models of telescopes, but this is not always possible. An image of about 24mm across, approximately, allows an observer to use a 1.25" eyepiece with a maximal field stop. I'm going with the Celestron. They both are great and I doubt my eyes could detect a difference in any one of them including the Japan version. Your eyepieces are the first accessories you should learn to use with your telescope. For this shoot-out, I used a standard Celestron C8 with Starbright coatings. Many focal reducers are meant to be used within a few millimeters of the specified working distance to achieve the best possible image results. 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. The amount of reduction is simply the percentage by which a reducer shortens the effective focal length of a telescope and is calculated as (1 Reduction Factor) x 100%. 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. However, manufacturers virtually never provide this specification. Take control of your telescope! Again, swapping back and forth for a couple of hours on M44, M35, and several brighter stars, I examined the shape of specific stars near the edge of the field with both correctors. Figure 2 shows the effective of a focal reducer on the light from a telescope objective. Thanks for any advice or experience you could share. 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. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 925 Opticstar F6.3 Focal Reducer / Corrector. Unleash the full pointing accuracy of your Celestron computerized telescope with a specialized telescope control software suite. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. 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. Meade does not make an equivalent line of focal reducers for the ACF scopes, although some models of Meade ACF are already at f/8, faster than the f/10 ratio of Celestron Edge HD scopes. For me, I was looking for, and planning to keep, the one that yielded the greatest reduction. As a Barlow's magnification increases with increasing distance from the Barlow, a focal reducer's reduction increases with increasing distance from the reducer. because they really dont matter. A few large telescopes and mounts are excluded from this free shipping offer. . I wont bother with differences in packaging, caps, etc. 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. 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. The stars at the edge could be worse or better. We only send interesting emails and will never sell your data. We have corrected # (iii) after equations 6 & 7. He tested this on an 8 Celestron , I have a Celestron 6SE. USD $80.00. StevieDvd Members 1,182 1,812 Location: Stevenage, UK Posted March 9, 2021 (edited) Don't know but your welcome to try out my Meade 6.3 sct reducer next time you are passing. I use the same back spacing for both on a small 6" Celestron SCT. This also resulted in the clear aperture of the Antares being about 39-39.5mm, versus the Celestrons 41mm. With spring galaxy season here, I decided to pick up a couple more to compare in a head-to-head shoot out. Wow, that is a very detailed discussion! We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. It was also a little brighter in the center of the field with subtle darkening in the outer 20% or so. For visual use, this means you get lower power with the same eyepiece and a wider field of view. I found both to be very good. Nada. This "speeds up" the optical train by reducing the focal length and magnification of the scope, requiring less time to integrate the same signal. How about for visual observers? 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. Obviously bright objects like Jupiter or The Moon show the reflections. 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. Theoretically each of these combinations all varied-length light paths should have resulted in slightly different reductions between the Celestron and Antares, since they supposedly have different focal lengths. Possibly the design of the Antares was changed .. I would pay slightly more for the Japan produced version, just because Hirsch was not bad either but sold it since I had 2 already. 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. Some are available in 1.25" barrel format but with C threads. Another factor to consider: focal reducers also increase the angle at which light approaches the focal plane. Go behind the scenes with Celestrons product development team and learn more about our award-winning and patented innovations. * Not a Retail Store * 16313 Arthur StreetCerritos, CA 90703, USA, Availability: Item has been discontinued by Agena and we no longer carry this item. 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. Also, the focusers of most Newtonians do not have enough in-travel to accommodate a focal reducer. JavaScript seems to be disabled 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. Photographically you also get a wider field and much shorter exposures. A former wireless communications consulting engineer and management consultant to various Fortune 500 companies, Manish started Agena AstroProducts in 2003. 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). These reducers have a back focus (or design working distance) of 80mm. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. This is a. Sign up for a new account in our community. At least these two units I tested make the answer - whatever. I have the Japanese version and although I haven't used it in quite awhile, the views through it were superb with no internal reflections at all. This superb fully multi-coated multi-element focal reducer takes advantage of the latest computer aided design techniques to achieve the highest standards of performance set by the brand leaders at a fraction of the cost. A f/10 focal ratio now achieves a f/6.3, while an f/11 focal ratio now achieves a f/7. But I am rusty, can you condense a bit for me please? ), but stars seemed a bit tighter and their colors were richer and more dramatic. Does anyone have any experience with the Celestron and Antares focal reducers? 2. And, the reality is that every F/6.3 RC out there Celestron, Hirsch, Astromania, etc., etc. The threads were similar on the eyepiece end, but a bit smoother. The Celestron is both a corrector and focal reducer and the Antares is just a focal reducer. For imaging, a T-adapter is threaded to the camera side of the focal reducer, which in turns connects to the camera with the appropriate hardware. 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. The equations in the Appendix show how this all works. 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. Perfect for the serious student, professional scientist and discriminating hobbyist. 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. Here, there was a subtle difference . Explore Scientific Keys to the Universe Sale, Antares f/6.3 Focal Reducer for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes, Skip to the beginning of the images gallery. The lens has a knurled surface, providing a tremendous gripping surface for threading/unthreading. And when used in some refractors, the field flattening is not as accurate as it is in the f/10 SCTs. Figure 6 shows a 1.25" focal reducer from GSO configured with a ZWO ASI224MC camera. The working distance or required back focus, explained above, is usually specified and is far more important in practice. 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. 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. This article explained the basics of how focal reducers work with various kinds of telescopes and how their working distance affects their reduction factor, and it provided sufficient detail to help amateur astronomer choose and use the right focal reducer for a particular application. and you will be fine. Meade once made an f/3.3 focal reducer for SCT scopes. Despite never removing it no matter what I was looking at. Sign up to receive sale alerts, news about upcoming celestial events, and telescope tips from our experts! Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1100. For Stephen Wilkerson: The ZWO ASI120MC-S does come with a wide angle lens, HOWEVER, it is NOT intended to used when you are using the ASI120 camera attached to your telescope. Newtonian reflectors will seldom be able to accommodate the in-focus travel demanded by focal reducers. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use. Great for home, classroom, or home-school use, this kit includes all the essential items youll need to begin exploring the wonders of the microscopic world. This is the simplest way to attach your ASI121 to your telescope. Images made with my ZWO 533 camera testing both show them to be essentially the same. Quite interestingly it bears the very same engravings of the Meade 4000 r/c (including "series 4000") except for "MEADE". 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. How does it look thats what matters. With the barrel 1.25 reducer won't focus, all I get is fuzzy snowballs. 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. Stars in the corner of the image frame are indistinguishable between the Antares and the Celestron. (Note: Using the simple equations above, the focal length of this reducer can be estimated to be about 350mm). An f/6.3 reducer is designed to reduce the focal ratio of an f/10 SCT to f/6.3. Advanced designs for Schmidt-Cassegrain scopes such as the Meade ACF or Celestron Edge HD have optical elements in the tube to correct for coma and field flatness. But is there a difference in quality between the Antares and the Celestron or Meade focal reducers? 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 . 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. If used before or beyond the working distance, unwanted image distortion may result, especially when using cameras with larger sensors. The equations and argument in the Appendix of this article shows the relationship between the working distance and the reduction factor. Thank you so much for the informative article, I now understand better how to integrate my reducer into my system to get better performance. I had a Celestron, Antares and Hirsch for awhile and compared them over about a year. Today, our world-class team of optical and electronic engineers continues to push the boundaries of technology. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1400 Our proprietary StarBright XLT optical coatings dramatically increase transmission, up to 97.4% on our Schmidt corrector lenses. Copyright 2003-2022 Agena AstroProducts. Right off the bat, I was struck by how similar the two R/Cs were. You can probably eke out 1.2 without noticing serious vignetting, which is a field stop of 31.5mm. I wish there was. Melotte 15 - First Process in PixInsight (easy! Torazz Never noticed any anomalies with this unit. If you want to use them for visual - try maybe long focal length eyepieces rather than the reducer. Celestrons award-winning Nature DX binocular gets a major upgrade with the addition of ED objective lenses. For me the Antares was a little brighter and had the least scatter by a bit so the better coatings won. Celestron's EdgeHD reducers feature a custom 5 element optical design engineered to maintain the flat-field performance of our award-winning EdgeHD optical system. Some third-party vendors also make reducers for SCT scopes. It can also be used with any other small chip CCD camera having a 1.25" nosepiece, such as the Celestron NexImage, Meade DSI . It is recommended for . 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. Sign up for OPT news, exclusive offers, and updates on the latest gear! Since 2008, Brian has taught astronomy to tens of thousands of stargazers through his websites OneMinuteAstronomer.com and CosmicPursuits.com. 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. Does anyone know if the Antares 4000 focal reducer is as good as the Celestron focal reducer. Your price: $579.00. 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 They never really recovered from selling a few 15 years back with element reversed. Because most modern Newtonians already have relatively fast focal ratios, these telescopes do not usually use focal reducers. That is definitely a 2" eyepiece, but it is not a large or long focal length 2" eyepiece. Thanks Peter! Perhaps not exactly- there will be some uncertainty because of manufacturing tolerances and so forth, but it will be close. The focal length and design working distance for this focal reducer were not available from the manufacturer. This telescope control software replaces the hand control and allows the user to remotely control their Celestron computerized telescope from their personal PC or laptop.