antares vs celestron focal reducer

This appendix summarizes how this works based on simple equations from the book Telescope Optics by Rutten and van Venrooij. Opticstar F6.3 Focal Reducer / Corrector. Does anyone have any experience with the Celestron and Antares focal reducers? It seems right to put some distance between the camera and the focal reducer, right? 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. This is a. Most manufacturers provide this specification. They only publish the value of D, the working distance (sometimes called the back focus distance) and the design reduction factor MRD. InternetSales@optcorp.com, 800-483-6287 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. 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. 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. 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. Celestron Focus Motor for SCT, EdgeHD & 8" RASA, Celestron C6 0.63 reducer/flattener back focus. It is recommended for . 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. 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 two samples I have PERFORM IDENTICALLY. A little longer light path with a 2 Baader click-lock, low profile 1.25 adapter, and the 1.25 diagonal; Images made with my ZWO 533 camera testing both show them to be essentially the same. I'd favor the Japanese Celestron version over the others that are commercially available. In the 1960s, Celestrons founder, Tom Johnson, created groundbreaking new telescopes never before seen on the consumer market. I think that the FRs made in Japan in the day may have been better. Normal shipments will resume on Monday, March 6, 2023. nleash the full pointing accuracy of your Celestron computerized telescope with a specialized telescope control software suite. A wider field of view and a lower magnification is also useful, with some focal reducers and with some eyepieces, for visual observers with telescopes with long focal ratios. Again, these focal reducers are often provided by the telescope manufacturer. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The visual back must be removed first. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1100 Learn More. Never used one, but read the reviews here that suggest a coating problem. If you want to save a few buck watch the classifieds on CN. I even lost track of which reducer I was using. You attach the focal reducer to the rear port on a SCT and can keep it covered. However, manufacturers virtually never provide this specification. More about this below. However, these will not impact optical performance. The resultant reduction factor was measured to be 0.46x. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality. In every configuration, there were essentially parfocal, requiring only a tiny fine focus adjustment when changing correctors. 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. a Tele Vue Panoptic), or a Plossl eyepiece with an apparent field of view of 50 and a focal length of 32mm. Sign up to get exclusive deals, observing tips, and new product announcements. As a consequence, the standard f/6.3 and f/3.3 focal reducers for SCT scopes do not work. M44 was a perfect target for this, as its large size maxes out the FOV on a C8 with a corrector, and its bright stars make great targets for measuring the very edge of the visible field. Things change but when I rebought I got an Antares and it seems about the same to me. But while the image gets brighter, the size of the image circle gets proportionately smaller. 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. 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. The lens has a knurled surface, providing a tremendous gripping surface for threading/unthreading. 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. But is there a difference in quality between the Antares and the Celestron or Meade focal reducers? My Celestron was made in China and the Antares in Canada. I had a Celestron, Antares and Hirsch for awhile and compared them over about a year. 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. 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. A few people have reported issues with the male SCT thread diameter on this item being a bit larger than necessary. Who cares? Field stop diameters are one of the specified specs of eyepieces. Maybe I got a lemon. Also, the focusers of most Newtonians do not have enough in-travel to accommodate a focal reducer. Start Chat Very helpful, thanks a lot for this article! However, some focal reducers can be used on other models of telescopes, but this is not always possible. 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. To calculate how much back focus spacing you need to add, take the thickness of the filter and divide it by 3. 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. 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. The more focal reduction, the further inward the focal plane will be. I wish there was. I have an 8SE, and am thinking about getting a focal reducer. 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 Article Agena AstroProducts, 2019. Even though they may have been slightly dimmer, galaxies were a bit easier to tease out of the urban light soup I deal with. USD $80.00. In terms of reduction and correction which are what reducer/correctors are supposed to do both are superb. The Buyer's Guide To Eyepieces at the top of the Eyepieces forum has a column for this spec. However, even though the imprint on the item states "Reducer / Corrector" please note that his is a reducer only. Sign up to receive sale alerts, news about upcoming celestial events, and telescope tips from our experts! That's partly because focal reducers correct for field curvature, which itself depends on the focal ratio and other optical design factors of the telescope. I've never found my 0.63 reducer causing CA when used with my SCT. That includes, for example, a 1.25" eyepiece with an apparent field of view of 68 and a focal length of 24mm (eg. Observing the microscopic world has never been easier! The key points are as follows: So just remember that a smaller distance (from the camera or eyepiece) means a lower amount of reduction (and vice versa). Our patented SkyAlign alignment technology makes setting up a computerized telescope simple, fast, and accurate. 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. 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. This was most noticeable on the eyepiece end of the RC, where the metal rim surrounding the lens was about 1mm thicker than on the Celestron. I have this one Opticstar F6.3 Focal Reducer / Corrector. Reducer - Corrector Learn More. Just point the telescope at any three bright objectsstars, bright planets, or even the Moonand your telescope can orient itself with the night sky. They are reported as identical. 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. Now It only focuses near things, like some kind of macro zoom. If I had to guess, the difference is maybe 10-15 grams. But the smaller image circle means there is a limit to the field stop of an eyepiece that can achieve an unvignetted image. Many Ritchey-Chretien telescopes available today are made by GSO. Copyright 2003-2022 Agena AstroProducts. Enter it during checkout! Perfect for the serious student, professional scientist and discriminating hobbyist. control and Sky Viewer display makes selecting your target easy. The Celestron is both a corrector and focal reducer and the Antares is just a focal reducer. ), ASI Air Plus - Connected items are 'greyed out', Cost of ordering used equipment U.S. - Can can more than double figure, Tuthill Isostatic Mount and Star Trap Power Module. ), but stars seemed a bit tighter and their colors were richer and more dramatic. 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. Contiguous US Customers:All items we sell ship for free within the Contiguous US. 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. But the diameter of the image circle decreases by a factor of 0.63 to about 24mm. Copyright 2003-2022 Agena AstroProducts. 2023 OPT Telescopes. 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. Using an eyepiece with a 27mm field stop with the reducer will illuminate the edge the same as using an eyepieces with a 42.9mm field stop without it. An eyepiece with a 27mm field stop yields a true field of 1.03 in the C6 at f/10. I've looked through one from Meade and first impression was that it was like the Celestron version. We process your personal data as stated in our. With both, using the same diagonal set-up, the exact same stars were visible at the very edge of the FOV. Assuming you use the reducer with the stock 1.25" diagonal, it will operate at f/6.3. All Rights Reserved. Celestron Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 925 The EdgeHD .7x Focal Reducer Lens makes your EdgeHD 925 one full F-Stop faster than f/10, reducing your exposure time by half to capture the same brightness of object 5-element lens design Maintains similar. If used before or beyond the working distance, unwanted image distortion may result, especially when using cameras with larger sensors. They both are great and I doubt my eyes could detect a difference in any one of them including the Japan version. Celestrons FREE planetarium app is an astronomy suite that redefines how you experience the night sky. 2023 Celestron, LLC. Given the results of Test #1, I wanted to see if there was any truth to this assumption. Such an image circle is still large enough to encompass the relatively large sensor of many deep-sky astronomy cameras. If you place your camera at a different working distance, you will get a different reduction factor and perhaps unwanted distortion in the image. 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. Today, our world-class team of optical and electronic engineers continues to push the boundaries of technology. The same illumination you have at the edge of a 27mm field, the C8 has at the edge of a 38mm field. October 11, 2010 in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups. 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. So Celestron buyers like Celestron, Meade buyers like the Meade and Antares buyer like the Antares. Like many of us with SCTs, I have bought and sold a number of f/6.3 reducer/correctors over the years, and I have always been curious how they really stack up to each other. A f/10 focal ratio now achieves a f/6.3, while an f/11 focal ratio now achieves a f/7. and you will be fine. Focal reducers for refractors are easy to use. Please let us know what topics you are interested in. The reducer is we might presume designed to correct to some as yet un-measured extent, the image of a standard SCT. The faster f/ratio allows you to use slower film or shoot in lower light level situations and still properly expose your subject. 160K views 9 years ago This video is a complete overview of focal reducers and how they function applying to telescopes. There may have been an almost imperceptible difference, but the Antares and Celestron were producing precisely the same reduction. But nearly every observer who installs one of these devices is pleased with their performance. When using the diagonal, keep the field stops of the eyepieces under 20mm. 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. 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. Focal reducers (and focal reducer/field flatteners combos) are usually used with two types of telescopes, refractors and compound telescopes such as Schmidt-Cassegrain or Ritchey-Chretien. One of the most important factors in a telescope is its transmissionthe percentage of light that reaches the focal plane. This means that there must be sufficient travel on the telescope focuser to make up for this. As per the OP I still can't see any reason to buy the Celestron for significantly more $$$. I have a made in Japan 6.3 R/C and a made in China 6.3 R/C. 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. Can you help me? It's an either/or proposition: reducer and 1.25", or 2", but not 2" and reducer. riklaunim Members 559 3,445 Location: Poland Posted October 11, 2010 They are reported as identical. More details are found in the Appendix of 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. I wont bother with differences in packaging, caps, etc. We have corrected # (iii) after equations 6 & 7. Product Details. Since the focal length of the reducer, FR, is fixed, as d2 increases then MR decreases. At least these two units I tested make the answer - whatever. Your eyepieces are the first accessories you should learn to use with your telescope. This innovative software solves the time-consuming problem of trying to pinpoint the North Celestial Pole. Besides observing from his heavily light polluted backyard in Los Angeles, Manish enjoys conducting astronomy outreach programs in local schools. Michael 1 ronin Members These reducers can also be used for visual observing with SCT scopes with eyepieces with a field stop as large as 24-27mm. Sign up for OPT news, exclusive offers, and updates on the latest gear! CPWI has an extensive object database, employs PointXP mount modeling, and more. Thanks Peter! There are many different types of focal reducers and they all effect. This article explains the basics of how focal reducers work with an astronomy telescope. No difference. This focal reducer is made to attach to the rear cell of Schmidt-Cassegrain or Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes. For me, I was looking for, and planning to keep, the one that yielded the greatest reduction. The Antares is supposed to be pretty comparable. Torazz 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. Equation (4) shows the relationship between the distance d2 and the reduction factor MR. Figure 1 shows the relationship between the focal reduction factor MR and the position of the reducer in the optical path. 1.2" in that scope is a field stop of 43mm at f/10 and 27mm at f/6.3. During checkout, you may also be shown other optional faster shipping choices.US Customers in Hawaii and Alaska: Free shipping applies to almost all products. And, the reality is that every F/6.3 RC out there Celestron, Hirsch, Astromania, etc., etc. All additional accessories mount onto the exterior/male threads. looks virtually identical, except for the lettering. 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. Theres a long-running debate in these forums and even statements from some reputable dealers that the Antares is just a reducer (even though it is labeled Reducer/Corrector), whereas the Celestron is a true R/C, which flattens the SCTs naturally curved field and provides some edge correction. If I had to go out on a very thick limb, I would have to say that these two reducers/correctors are, indeed, identical the exact same glass in slightly different housings with different lettering. Several functions may not work. Nada. Celestron or Antares f/6.3 focal reducer for SCT? 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! I happily cycle through LRGB filters to build the image rather than do a whole run of one filter at a time. For this test, I used a single configuration R/C, Click-lock, and 1.25 diagonal with the adapter. A focal reducer does just the opposite of a Barlow lens or focal extender. The f/6.3 reducer is operating at f/5-f/5.5 with a 2" diagonal, depending on the back focus length of the diagonal. Equation 6 & 7 item two & three does not make sense, both say increase its reduction (one should say reduce its reduction?). 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. Focal reducers for SCT, RC, and field-flattened Edge HD or ACF telescopes thread onto the back of the telescope tube with 2"-24 or 3"-28 SCT threads. 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. Can these economical focal reducers from GSO and other vendors result in good images? External Focusers for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes 3.1 The Basics of SCT Threads 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. Please Log in to save it permanently. Focal Reducer, 2", 0.7X. InternetSales@optcorp.com. The focal length and design working distance for this focal reducer were not available from the manufacturer. Brian Ventrudo is a writer, scientist, and astronomy educator. Description. 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. Turn it on and push Align. In about three minutes, youre ready to observe! This factor is designated by a power that is less than 1, and it usually lies between 0.5x or 0.8x. So it provides a 0.63x design reduction factor when used with an f/10 SCT at the specified working distance. In this case, an additional T-adapter (with an optical length of 50mm) is needed to get the spacing correct for a DSLR or other camera with a 55mm back focus. Any comments gratefully received. Focus misses by about 1 turnof the focus knob.Here is my solution:Buy a shorter 1.25 visual back for my scope.

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