antares vs celestron focal reducer

The nominal design reduction factor of these reducers is typically 0.5x. A f/10 focal ratio now achieves a f/6.3, while an f/11 focal ratio now achieves a f/7. They are reported as identical. Nowadays I tend to use the Celestron more with my refractors for imaging and viewing. Bear in mind you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip, i.e. 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. 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. There are many different types of focal reducers and they all effect. Any comments gratefully received. More important, its clear that the Antares is a reducer/corrector, just like the Celestron and not merely a reducer. As a Barlow's magnification increases with increasing distance from the Barlow, a focal reducer's reduction increases with increasing distance from the reducer. Torazz Despite never removing it no matter what I was looking at. USD $80.00. Whereas the Celestron threaded smoothly onto the scope, the Antares chattered and squeaked a bit more so when being removed. 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 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. 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. But nearly every observer who installs one of these devices is pleased with their performance. I use the Celestron version and it seems OK for both visual and imaging. 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. 2023 OPT Telescopes. Still not sure what is the right gear for you? The brightness, shape, and distortion of specific stars in the exact same position at the edge of the field was precisely identical in both reducers. I use it on my C8 SCT with a 1000d, and it seems to do everything written on the tin. For example, an 8" SCT without a focal reducer has an illuminated field of 38mm at 50% fall-off. A longer effective focal length leads to higher magnification with a given eyepiece for visual observers. During check-out, you will be presented with several shipping choices and costs. Copyright 2003-2022 Agena AstroProducts. But while the image gets brighter, the size of the image circle gets proportionately smaller. More about this below. I had a Celestron, Antares and Hirsch for awhile and compared them over about a year. The visual back must be removed first. 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. Also, the focusers of most Newtonians do not have enough in-travel to accommodate a focal reducer. The equations and argument in the Appendix of this article shows the relationship between the working distance and the reduction factor. Housings, threads, reduction, correction, blah, blah, blah. 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. This filter threads on to the rear cell of your Celestron or Meade SCT telescope. Get ready for a night of astroimaging with your mount faster than previously thought possible with All-Star Polar Alignment. 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. 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. 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. The Antares focal reducer comes in small box. The Reducer/Corrector can also be used for terrestrial digiscoping. That was fun. a Tele Vue Panoptic), or a Plossl eyepiece with an apparent field of view of 50 and a focal length of 32mm. 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. Request stock alerts and we'll let you know when the item is back in stock. Opticstar F6.3 Focal Reducer / Corrector. What an enjoyable read and detailed comparison. 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. I don't know. For example, a 0.8x reducer placed at the working distance provides a reduction of (1 0.8) x 100 = 20%. Details: The item must be the identical item, brand name, size, weight, color, quantity and model number. This focal reducer and field flattener consists of a four-element multicoated 40mm lens in a metal cell. Our proprietary StarBright XLT optical coatings dramatically increase transmission, up to 97.4% on our Schmidt corrector lenses. The threads were similar on the eyepiece end, but a bit smoother. 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. I'd favor the Japanese Celestron version over the others that are commercially available. Given the results of Test #1, I wanted to see if there was any truth to this assumption. Focal reducers for refractors are easy to use. Turn it on and push Align. In about three minutes, youre ready to observe! Specially-designed focal reducers are available for use with these telescopes. Does anyone have any experience with the Celestron and Antares focal reducers? However, some focal reducers can be used on other models of telescopes, but this is not always possible. Just one question. 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. They are commonly available in 1.25" and 2" threaded cells that conveniently thread into the nosepiece of a compatible camera or the barrel of an eyepiece. Reviews. They are also less expensive than many external focusers of similar build quality. SKU: CEL-94245. For visual use, this means you get lower power with the same eyepiece and a wider field of view. 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. Performance wise what differences might there be using the reducer on a smaller scope. A useful thing to know is how far from the objective lens (for a refractor) is the focal reducer located. Manish holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. 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. Article Agena AstroProducts, 2019. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1100 Learn More. The working distance of the GSO 0.5x focal reducer with 1.25" barrel and the GSO 0.5x focal reducer with 2" barrel is about 51mm to 53mm, approximately, from the middle of the metal cell that holds the lens. 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. The equations in the Appendix show how this all works. I have both the Antares and the Celestron reducers. Hello! If used before or beyond the working distance, unwanted image distortion may result, especially when using cameras with larger sensors. Photographically you also get a wider field and much shorter exposures. 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. There is one difference though the Antares came with only one lens cap whereas the Celestron had a cap for both ends. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 800 Learn More. These scopes are compatibles with focal reducers. A few people have reported issues with the male SCT thread diameter on this item being a bit larger than necessary. Manish Panjwani has been an active amateur astronomer since before Halley's Comet last flew by our neighborhood. 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. I found both to be very good. I have this one Opticstar F6.3 Focal Reducer / Corrector. There are also third-party vendors such as Hotech. There may have been an almost imperceptible difference, but the Antares and Celestron were producing precisely the same reduction. It works fine but you should stick with 1.25 EPs; or can use 2" EPs without corrector. The problem with those SCT reducers is that they cause chromatic aberration and require refocusing when using parfocal RGB/other filters. Celestrons aplanatic EdgeHD optics revolutionized astroimaging. The female end attaches to the rear cell of the telescope. It was used strictly for imaging, not visual observing. This means that there must be sufficient travel on the telescope focuser to make up for this. 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. Once installed, you can add additional accessories like T-Adapters, 1.25 Visual Back, Star Diagonal, or Off-Axis Guider. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use. However, the China 6.3 R/C has noticeable internal reflections that I haven't figured out yet. 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. Description. DUE TO EXTREMELY HIGH DEMAND, WE WILL NOT BE TAKING NEW ORDERS UNTIL MONDAY, DECEMBER 14. Steve 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. Perhaps not exactly- there will be some uncertainty because of manufacturing tolerances and so forth, but it will be close. ), but stars seemed a bit tighter and their colors were richer and more dramatic. However, the export of some items may be restricted outside the US due to size or manufacturer restrictions. Focus misses by about 1 turnof the focus knob.Here is my solution:Buy a shorter 1.25 visual back for my scope. Ive owned Celestron, Meade, and Antares models over the years at least a couple of each. In every configuration, there were essentially parfocal, requiring only a tiny fine focus adjustment when changing correctors. Yellow and orange members of open clusters stood out a bit more as the various stars displayed their individuality. CPWI has an extensive object database, employs PointXP mount modeling, and more. I wont bother with differences in packaging, caps, etc. 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. The focal length of a focal reducer is usually measured from the rear lens surface of the reducer (and not the reducer's housing). 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. 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. 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 results, please adjust your filters. The camera side of the focal reducer is threaded for a T-adapter with wide M48 threads, or in some cases, with smaller M42 threads. 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 previous post shows the reducer on what appear to be two different refractors. Celestron Focus Motor for SCT, EdgeHD & 8" RASA, Celestron C6 0.63 reducer/flattener back focus. As a result, the smaller tube may cut into the light cone and effectively reduce the working aperture of the telescope. This is very impressive performance given how hard this problem is to mitigate in general. CPWI has an extensive object database, employs PointXP mount modeling, and more. If used before or beyond the working distance, unwanted image distortion may result. 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. Some are available in 1.25" barrel format but with C threads. Nada. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. It is recommended for . Melotte 15 - First Process in PixInsight (easy! However, doesn't fit in the telescope and even if it did wouldn't work. They never really recovered from selling a few 15 years back with element reversed. As a real-world example plot showing the above relationships, let's look at the 1.25" GSO focal reducer that provides a design reduction factor of 0.5x. 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. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Copyright 2021 Stargazers Lounge He received his first telescope at the age of 5 and completed his first university course in astronomy at the age of 12, eventually receiving a master's degree in the subject. 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. Focal reducers for these relatively fast ED refractors are generally for imaging only, not for visual observation. They only publish the value of D, the working distance (sometimes called the back focus distance) and the design reduction factor MRD. Who cares? The new Lithium Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery chemistry has significant advantages over other battery chemistries, great for for those Astronomers on the go. October 11, 2010 in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups. The lens is housed in machined aluminum for are machined aluminum black anodized. Its a good thing I have the super lube handy or my neighbors wont be happy with me.come to think of it, Im sure the small mammals here wouldnt be thrilled either! . The Antares is supposed to be pretty comparable. 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. Because most modern Newtonians already have relatively fast focal ratios, these telescopes do not usually use focal reducers. In both cases will end with a similar tfov. The most popular accessories for your new telescope! As often noted in reviews and forum threads, Antares products tend to have threads that are a little less precise, and this specimen certainly demonstrated this. Several functions may not work. 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. This would tell us exactly how well aberrations are corrected. These reducers can also be used for visual observing with SCT scopes with eyepieces with a field stop as large as 24-27mm. Contiguous US Customers:All items we sell ship for free within the Contiguous US. 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. Well done. because they really dont matter. . Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1400 Learn More. I own both and concur heartily. It seems right to put some distance between the camera and the focal reducer, right? All rights reserved. Does anyone know if the Antares 4000 focal reducer is as good as the Celestron focal reducer. We do not price match competitors if they are out of stock. 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. Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback. . Celestrons FREE planetarium app is an astronomy suite that redefines how you experience the night sky. 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. 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? 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. You can probably eke out 1.2 without noticing serious vignetting, which is a field stop of 31.5mm. Another factor to consider: focal reducers also increase the angle at which light approaches the focal plane. The resultant reduction factor was measured to be 0.46x. F6.3 Focal reducer for F/10 or higher telescopes, 43mm aperture, 4-Element, Fully Multicoated. Regardless, the difference was miniscule and is more than adequate on both and exceeds a 8 or 6 SCTs baffle tube diameter. First, let's have a look at some key optical parameters are needed to understand focal reducers. 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. 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. 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. This factor is designated by a power that is less than 1, and it usually lies between 0.5x or 0.8x. Edited by Tony Bonanno, 16 April 2021 - 06:44 PM. A couple of tiny dust particles between lens elements, uneven lens edge blackening, very minor coating blemishes, or even a very small fine lens scratch or two are very common in this Antares product and must be accepted as normal for this item. Some faster refractors with a focal ratio of f/6, for example, only require field flatteners and not focal reducers. 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. and you will be fine. Depending on the design of the telescope, they may require separate focal reducers if they require focal reducers at all. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 800 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 lens that the ZWO comes with give a perfect wide angle image of what is in front of it. I've never found my 0.63 reducer causing CA when used with my SCT. Explore Scientific - Keys to the Universe Sale. In some cases, focal reducers also act as field flatteners by correcting for field curvature and coma of the objective lens. Your mileage may vary. We reserve the right to verify a competitor's advertised price and the availability of the item. Meade and Celestron both sell such SCT-T adapters with the correct optical length. 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. The Celestron f/6.3 is ~150 compared to the Antares at ~70. The Celestron is both a corrector and focal reducer and the Antares is just a focal reducer. ED glass is specially formulated and contains rare-earth compounds that greatly reduce a visual defect called chromatic aberration. We only send interesting emails and will never sell your data. If used with other f/ratios, the field flattening characteristic may be unpredictable. How about for visual observers? Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality. The working distance or required back focus, explained above, is usually specified and is far more important in practice. For me the Antares was a little brighter and had the least scatter by a bit so the better coatings won. However, because the field curvatures in refractors and SCTs vary a lot, I would predict unpredictable effects inre: field curvature. Equation 6 & 7 item two & three does not make sense, both say increase its reduction (one should say reduce its reduction?). Stars had a tiny bit more sparkle and pop. 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. Free shipping $189.95 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. We process your personal data as stated in our. The reducer is we might presume designed to correct to some as yet un-measured extent, the image of a standard SCT. The same illumination you have at the edge of a 27mm field, the C8 has at the edge of a 38mm field. Now It only focuses near things, like some kind of macro zoom. In some cases, focal reducers also act as field flatteners by correcting for field curvature and coma of the objective lens. 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. This part is no longer in production, but it is sometimes available used and may be used with cameras with smaller sensors. Keep in mind that these differences were very subtle, and could be due to normal variations in coatings among different runs, and not necessarily unique to the brands. That said any comparison reviews are helpful. Unlike . 3. He tested this on an 8 Celestron , I have a Celestron 6SE. When using the diagonal, keep the field stops of the eyepieces under 20mm. 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. 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. I think I remember hearing the reduction factor is slightly different, cant remember more or less reduction. Is there likely to be any differences in performance between using these on an 8 or something smaller like my 6SE?

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