Most Feather Touch focusers cost between $300-$350. That was fun. We have corrected # (iii) after equations 6 & 7. Request stock alerts and we'll let you know when the item is back in stock. 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. These reducers can also be used for visual observing with SCT scopes with eyepieces with a field stop as large as 24-27mm. Try & buy if you like - usual mates rates. 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. Over the course of a several nights of general observing, I swapped back and forth between the Antares and Celestron R/Cs on a wide variety of objects open clusters, brighter galaxies, a couple of nebulae, and globular clusters as well. 2. Place the plastic covers on the lens when not in use to reduce the dust collection. Copyright 2021 Stargazers Lounge It threads onto the rear cell of 5" to 16" Celestron and Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, making it possible to have a dual focal ratio instrument without sacrificing image quality. Learn more about extra solar planets imagery, 3D Star rendering, observation planning, telescope control, multiple-panel printing, and much more. Unleash the full pointing accuracy of your Celestron computerized telescope with a specialized telescope control software suite. I found both to be very good. We have tested our current batch and it works with Meade, Celestron, and Baader SCT accessories. I would not use the reducer with a 2" diagonal or eyepiece in the C6. What an enjoyable read and detailed comparison. So ab6110 is asking for a FR only without coma correction, there are a couple of brands who make special reducers for the ACF. Given past experience with them, I decided not to include the Meade version in my little experiment, as I have never met one I liked from getting one of the too-short focal length models, to one with some overflow cement in the doublet, to focus difficulties with some eyepieces. Hello! Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback. Product Details 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. The internal surfaces are blackened and glare-threaded to provide the highest contrast. I have the Antares and have no complaints. This is a. I have Hirsch focal reducer, which is yet another clone of the Celestron reducer. Read our 101 article or get in touch. For imagers, the main purpose of a focal reducer is to increase the brightness of the image at the focal plane. In many cases, the answer is yes, especially for electronically-assisted astronomy (EAA). Explore Scientific Keys to the Universe Sale. The visual back must be removed first. 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. Dedicated focal reducers for refractors are intended primarily for imaging, not visual observation. No idea what the issue is. The telescope side of the barrel is often threaded with an M48 x 0.75 thread for standard 2" astronomy filters. More important, its clear that the Antares is a reducer/corrector, just like the Celestron and not merely a reducer. Telescope Optics, Rutten and van Venrooij, Chapter 15, Willman-Bell (1988). Some refractors such the TeleVue Nagler-Petzval (NP), the Takahashi "FSQ", and the William Optics Redcat/WhiteCat 51 have inherently flat fields because of internal optical elements. All rights reserved. . Turn it on and push Align. In about three minutes, youre ready to observe! Free shipping $189.95 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. The working distance (backfocus) of the Celestron f/6.3 reducer is specified to be 105mm from the base of the male SCT thread on the camera side. 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. In such cases, we will be happy to take the item back as per our standard return terms. My experience is that CN sellers are way above those listing elsewhere. This fully multi-coated lens provides maximum light transmission with near full-field illumination. Sky recognition technology that has revolutionized the manual telescope by eliminating the confusion common among beginners and enhancing the user experience for even seasoned telescope users. 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. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1100 Learn More. Perhaps not exactly- there will be some uncertainty because of manufacturing tolerances and so forth, but it will be close. Take control of your telescope! The focal length of a focal reducer is usually measured from the rear lens surface of the reducer (and not the reducer's housing). (Note: Using the simple equations above, the focal length of this reducer can be estimated to be about 350mm). Read our guide! 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. USD $80.00. You may need spacers or a T-adapter to ensure the correcting working distance. How about for visual observers? Even though they may have been slightly dimmer, galaxies were a bit easier to tease out of the urban light soup I deal with. For this test, I used a single configuration R/C, Click-lock, and 1.25 diagonal with the adapter. The stars at the edge could be worse or better. In some cases, focal reducers also act as field flatteners by correcting for field curvature and coma of the objective lens. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1400 Does anyone know if the Antares 4000 focal reducer is as good as the Celestron focal reducer. With the Celestron Reducer/Corrector Lens, thats precisely what you get. The equations in the Appendix show how this all works. 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. It works fine but you should stick with 1.25 EPs; or can use 2" EPs without corrector. A useful thing to know is how far from the objective lens (for a refractor) is the focal reducer located. Is there likely to be any differences in performance between using these on an 8 or something smaller like my 6SE? But the smaller image circle means there is a limit to the field stop of an eyepiece that can achieve an unvignetted image. In most cases, the easiest option is to choose the focal reducer made specifically for your telescope. 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. That is definitely a 2" eyepiece, but it is not a large or long focal length 2" eyepiece. I use it on my C8 SCT with a 1000d, and it seems to do everything written on the tin. With the barrel 1.25 reducer won't focus, all I get is fuzzy snowballs. This focal reducer and field flattener consists of a four-element multicoated 40mm lens in a metal cell. Focal reducers for many SCTs and their flat-field equivalents usually have a back-focus distance of 105mm. 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. However, because the field curvatures in refractors and SCTs vary a lot, I would predict unpredictable effects inre: field curvature. Meade once made an f/3.3 focal reducer for SCT scopes. As a Barlow's magnification increases with increasing distance from the Barlow, a focal reducer's reduction increases with increasing distance from the reducer. Newtonian reflectors will seldom be able to accommodate the in-focus travel demanded by focal reducers. I had a Celestron, Antares and Hirsch for awhile and compared them over about a year. Increase that distance, and greater reduction results and visa versa. The Celestron is both a corrector and focal reducer and the Antares is just a focal reducer. Sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive deals, observing tips, and new product announcements. Focal Reducer, 2", 0.7X. Wow, that is a very detailed discussion! Rather than a direct side-by-side, I swapped the reducers so that I was using them on the exact same, well-collimated instrument. . 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. 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. Not noticed any optical problems. Things change but when I rebought I got an Antares and it seems about the same to me. Never noticed any anomalies with this unit. All rights reserved. Just point the telescope at any three bright objectsstars, bright planets, or even the Moonand your telescope can orient itself with the night sky. I've only used it a few times but it looks good to me. The stock Celestron visualback is just under 2 long. In both cases will end with a similar tfov. Start Chat It can also be used with any other small chip CCD camera having a 1.25" nosepiece, such as the Celestron NexImage, Meade DSI . If the focal reducer is to be used for visual observation, the visual back is threaded onto the eyepiece side of the reducer, and then a star diagonal and eyepiece are installed as usual. 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 am a purely visual observer, so will evaluate for visual use only. Is that distance D= Fo-d1=Fo-(d2/MR)? 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. This focal reducer from Celestron reduces the effective focal length by 0.63X Enjoy the wider field of view & faster exposure times at f/6.3 with f/10 telescopes f/11 telescopes, such as the C14 will perform at f/7 The Celestron f/6.3 Reducer has four fully-multicoated elements Reduce your exposure times by a factor of 3! The threads were similar on the eyepiece end, but a bit smoother. Your eyepieces are the first accessories you should learn to use with your telescope. Better images are also obtained when using these focal reducers at a reduction factor of 0.5x 0.8x, approximately. 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. As another example,GSO makes focal reducers for their line of Ritchey-Chretien imaging telescopes. Ive owned Celestron, Meade, and Antares models over the years at least a couple of each. But when not in the box or on the telescope, there is no cover for the other end. Very helpful, thanks a lot for this article! I was going to measure the difference in grams, but my lovely wife caught me trying to use her precious, high-tech kitchen scale for the cause, and put the kibosh on it. It seems right to put some distance between the camera and the focal reducer, right? The reducer features fully coated optics in an anodized aluminum filter ring with an ergonomic rubber grip. Depending on the design of the telescope, they may require separate focal reducers if they require focal reducers at all. 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. 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. Yet, the Antares still easily and fully threaded without any hitches. No retailers currently carry this product. Please let us know what topics you are interested in. Planetarium software package which provides easy-to-understand explanations and impressive visuals of all kinds. 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. I wont bother with differences in packaging, caps, etc. F6.3 Focal reducer for F/10 or higher telescopes, 43mm aperture, 4-Element, Fully Multicoated. I doubt there is any difference between the Antares and the Celestron except price. It was used strictly for imaging, not visual observing. If you want to use them for visual - try maybe long focal length eyepieces rather than the reducer. 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. 800-483-6287 Easy solution found a very tiny dab of super lube on the threads and all was well and quiet.. The female end attaches to the rear cell of the telescope. 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. Well done. I have this one Opticstar F6.3 Focal Reducer / Corrector. 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. Focus misses by about 1 turnof the focus knob.Here is my solution:Buy a shorter 1.25 visual back for my scope. But is there a difference in quality between the Antares and the Celestron or Meade focal reducers? The Buyer's Guide To Eyepieces at the top of the Eyepieces forum has a column for this spec. Hi. 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. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. I've never found my 0.63 reducer causing CA when used with my SCT. Again, to my surprise, there was absolutely no difference between the Celestron and Antares on any star. Get ready for a night of astroimaging with your mount faster than previously thought possible with All-Star Polar Alignment. Based on Test 1 and Test 2, I think there is perhaps more validity to opposing statements here in these forums that the Antares and current China-made Celestron do, indeed, have exactly the same optics just with different housings and branding. 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. If you do so, you will achieve the design reduction factor. From the SkyProdigy, a telescope so smart it can align itself, to our high-performance EdgeHD optical system, weve revolutionized the hobby of astronomy for beginners and advanced amateurs alike. Photographically you also get a wider field and much shorter exposures. Brightness, color, and contrast were subtly different, but could be as much the day they were coated as any real difference in the two brands. 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. looks virtually identical, except for the lettering. Quite interestingly it bears the very same engravings of the Meade 4000 r/c (including "series 4000") except for "MEADE". 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. For Ritchey-Chretien telescopes such as those manufactured by GSO, there are also dedicated focal reducers with a reduction factor of 0.7x to 0.8x. In the 1960s, Celestrons founder, Tom Johnson, created groundbreaking new telescopes never before seen on the consumer market. I have/had both the Celestron (Japan) and Antares units. It has only one cover, which surprised me. It is recommended for . We only send interesting emails and will never sell your data. It must be in stock at the time of Price Match for us to make a guarantee. Much to my surprise, swapping back and forth between the two correctors using all three diagonal configurations, I also could detect absolutely no change in reduction between the two reducers. Edited by Tony Bonanno, 16 April 2021 - 06:44 PM. However, doesn't fit in the telescope and even if it did wouldn't work. 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. Thanks Peter! The Celestron f/6.3 is ~150 compared to the Antares at ~70. Thanks for any advice or experience you could share. I own both and concur heartily. Just one question. WiFi technology encircles the globe in a web of connectivity, knowledge, and information. 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. Thanks for pointing this out. This should not be the case if they have their purportedly different focal lengths. Most manufacturers provide this specification. Sign up to get exclusive deals, observing tips, and new product announcements. Reducer - Corrector Learn More. Field stop diameters are one of the specified specs of eyepieces. They both are great and I doubt my eyes could detect a difference in any one of them including the Japan version. Practical Considerations of Focal Reducers, 4.2 Back Focus Requirements of Focal Reducers, GSO makes focal reducers for their line of Ritchey-Chretien, Celestron makes a series of focal reducers for the Edge HD line, 0.75x focal reducers for these telescopes, focal reducer for an 8-inch Celestron EdgeHD, A Primer on T-Rings and T-Adapters for Astronomy and Astrophotography, Choosing the Best Telescope for Beginners 2023, Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in August 2022, Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in July 2022, Selecting a Baader Planetarium Star Diagonal, A Guide to Choosing Astronomy Eyepieces for Binoviewers, Choosing a Magnifying Finder Scope for Your Telescope, A focal reducer will provide its design reduction factor only when it is placed at the exact working distance from the focal plane of the eyepiece or camera, Reducing the operating distance, that is, moving a focal reducer closer to the eyepiece or camera increases its reduction factor, or conversely reduces the amount of focal reduction. Right off the bat, I was struck by how similar the two R/Cs were. Figure 6 shows a 1.25" focal reducer from GSO configured with a ZWO ASI224MC camera. So it provides a 0.63x design reduction factor when used with an f/10 SCT at the specified working distance. Explicitly designed for Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, this unique lens reduces your telescopes focal length and f/ ratio by 37%, turning your long focal length telescope into a fast, short focal length instrument. Stock focusers in an SCT move the mirror of the scope to change the position of the focal plane, and they have sufficient travel to accommodate a focal reducer. Hi - most interesting - may I ask .. the brighter guys - "if a camera sensor is too small for a n adaper, will a focal reduer allow me to get greater use from the camera? Copyright 2003-2022 Agena AstroProducts. For this shoot-out, I used a standard Celestron C8 with Starbright coatings. I'd favor the Japanese Celestron version over the others that are commercially available. 3. 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. 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. Many focal reducers for refractors have a working distance (or back focus distance) of 55mm. My Celestron was made in China and the Antares in Canada. 160K views 9 years ago This video is a complete overview of focal reducers and how they function applying to telescopes. 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. The most significant mechanical variation, however, is the quality and precision of the threading. This filter threads on to the rear cell of your Celestron or Meade SCT telescope. 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. If you are using a camera that has a back focus of less than 55mm, additional spacer rings will be required between the reducer and the camera. Celestron Focus Motor for SCT, EdgeHD & 8" RASA, Celestron C6 0.63 reducer/flattener back focus. Celestron Solar Safe filter technology is GUARANTEED SAFE for direct solar observation and has been independently tested by SAI Global Assurance Services. A focal reducer does just the opposite of a Barlow lens or focal extender. Celestrons FREE planetarium app is an astronomy suite that redefines how you experience the night sky. As per the OP I still can't see any reason to buy the Celestron for significantly more $$$. Download the Celestron PWI Telescope Control Software. Sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive deals, observing tips, and new product announcements. Article Agena AstroProducts, 2019. The lens that the ZWO comes with give a perfect wide angle image of what is in front of it. Style: A slight nod to the Antares for heft and higher transmission, but points to the Celestron for nice threads and better contrast. 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. As mentioned in Section 2 of this guide, the reduction factor of a focal reducer depends on its position in the optical path relative to the eyepiece or camera. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 800 Learn More. This also resulted in the clear aperture of the Antares being about 39-39.5mm, versus the Celestrons 41mm. The reducer is we might presume designed to correct to some as yet un-measured extent, the image of a standard SCT. Your price: $579.00. Orders placed over the weekend will be shipped on the following Monday. 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. For example, many focal reducers designed for f/7 or f/8 ED refractors such as those from Tele Vue, William Optics, Sky-Watcher, and Meade are designed to have a working distance (or back focus) of 55mm. 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.