You can probably eke out 1.2 without noticing serious vignetting, which is a field stop of 31.5mm. There is a way to make subjective data more useful and that way is proper blind, or better still. He also holds a Ph.D. in engineering physics from McMaster University. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 800 Learn More. In some cases, focal reducers also act as field flatteners by correcting for field curvature and coma of the objective lens. A slight nod to the Antares for heft and higher transmission, but points to the Celestron for nice threads and better contrast. Clearly cost is a big factor for satisfied users. 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. 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. Edited by bluewater, 05 September 2020 - 11:27 AM. They both are great and I doubt my eyes could detect a difference in any one of them including the Japan version. However, even though the imprint on the item states "Reducer / Corrector" please note that his is a reducer only. Rather than a direct side-by-side, I swapped the reducers so that I was using them on the exact same, well-collimated 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. The Celestron f/6.3 is ~150 compared to the Antares at ~70. The lens is housed in machined aluminum for are machined aluminum black anodized. 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. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1100. And, the reality is that every F/6.3 RC out there Celestron, Hirsch, Astromania, etc., etc. 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. 2. Easy solution found a very tiny dab of super lube on the threads and all was well and quiet.. 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. 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. For this test, I used a single configuration R/C, Click-lock, and 1.25 diagonal with the adapter. High power views will provide flatter fields all the way to the edge, both visually and photographically. The Antares focal reducer comes in small box. An eyepiece with a 27mm field stop yields a true field of 1.03 in the C6 at f/10. I've heard and read all kinds of things about the Antares being only a reducer and not a corrector, etc. Best evidence would by obtained by using a camera and evaluating the image both by eye and with a computer analysis. This is the simplest way to attach your ASI121 to your telescope. As a Barlow's magnification increases with increasing distance from the Barlow, a focal reducer's reduction increases with increasing distance from the reducer. Orders placed after 12:00 PM Pacific Time will be shipped the next business day. 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. Using one on such a scope would make demands on the eyepiece design and increase the exit pupil to an extent that focal reduction on fast Newts is not practical. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The focal length and design working distance for this focal reducer were not available from the manufacturer. The lens that the ZWO comes with give a perfect wide angle image of what is in front of it. Download the Celestron PWI Telescope Control Software. The resultant reduction factor was measured to be 0.46x. 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. 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. I have an 8SE, and am thinking about getting a focal reducer. I have/had both the Celestron (Japan) and Antares units. Michael 1 ronin Members 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. Meade once made an f/3.3 focal reducer for SCT scopes. 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. Does anyone know if the Antares 4000 focal reducer is as good as the Celestron focal reducer. How about for visual observers? A former wireless communications consulting engineer and management consultant to various Fortune 500 companies, Manish started Agena AstroProducts in 2003. You currently have javascript disabled. Optically, it consists of a four-element lens that is fully multi-coated for high contrast and resolution. I would not use the reducer with a 2" diagonal or eyepiece in the C6. Therefore, a 55mm back focus with a filter that is 3mm thick added to the imaging train would become 56mm. Product Details. Celestron is considered better in terms of QA, less likely to come with free dust, hair or fingerprint. 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. 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. I have had the Japan unit on the back of my C5 since 1994 or thereabouts. 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. Most refractor manufacturers such as William Optics, Tele Vue Optics, Explore Scientific, Sky-Watcher, William Optics, and Stellarvue make their own focal reducers optimized for use with their telescopes. 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. Also read the reviews here, including those at 4 stars. But in the Japan version I have never noticed any anomaly like the ghosting in the China R/C. However I've also read that the back focal distance on the Celestron is 105mm while the Antares is 81mm so they couldn't be identical. The Antares f6.3 focal reducer screws directly to the visual-back thread of all popular SCTs and converts f10 instruments to f6.3. CPWI has an extensive object database, employs PointXP mount modeling, and more. For imagers using longer focal-length refractors and SCTs, especially when using smaller sensors that place less demand on the focal reducer, there are economical alternatives for focal reducers from manufacturers such as GSO, Agena, and Antares. Check out our 2022 telescope buying guide here! I had a Celestron, Antares and Hirsch for awhile and compared them over about a year. Ive owned Celestron, Meade, and Antares models over the years at least a couple of each. Celestrons FREE planetarium app is an astronomy suite that redefines how you experience the night sky. I doubt there is any difference between the Antares and the Celestron except price. 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. Go behind the scenes with Celestrons product development team and learn more about our award-winning and patented innovations. As a consequence, the standard f/6.3 and f/3.3 focal reducers for SCT scopes do not work. Figure 1 shows the relationship between the focal reduction factor MR and the position of the reducer in the optical path. 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. The reducer fits all Meade and Celestron . 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. . Photographically you also get a wider field and much shorter exposures. Can you help me? Sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive deals, observing tips, and new product announcements. Place the plastic covers on the lens when not in use to reduce the dust collection. This article explains the basics of how focal reducers work with an astronomy telescope. The same illumination you have at the edge of a 27mm field, the C8 has at the edge of a 38mm field. We have tested our current batch and it works with Meade, Celestron, and Baader SCT accessories. Have always disliked the crude, noisy SCT threads, but I get it. In terms of reduction and correction which are what reducer/correctors are supposed to do both are superb. The stock Celestron visualback is just under 2 long. Images in the Celestron tended to appear ever-so-slightly dimmer (maybe? Some manufacturers will specify the working distance from the middle of the rear lens surface, and this number must then be converted into a practical working distance number by subtracting the amount by which the rear lens surface is recessed in its housing. Try & buy if you like - usual mates rates. Fumbling around in the dark, fine threads might be a problem. The reducer is we might presume designed to correct to some as yet un-measured extent, the image of a standard SCT. 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. This would tell us exactly how well aberrations are corrected. which looks like the same one. 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! In some cases, focal reducers also act as field flatteners by correcting for field curvature and coma of the objective lens. The price for an item/offer must be listed and valid at the time of match. Planetarium software package which provides easy-to-understand explanations and impressive visuals of all kinds. 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. 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. In your opinion, is the Celestron is worth the added cost ($150 vs. $90)? Watch this before you buy Celestron 8SE SCT, or a Focal Reducer or a Hyperstar 7,758 views Mar 28, 2018 145 Dislike Share Ray's Astrophotography 42.3K subscribers Note: I am not paid or. I've seen some older threads saying that the Celestron, Meade and Antares FRs are all the same and manufactured in the same factory. We reserve the right to verify a competitor's advertised price and the availability of the item. The Reduction Factor and the Amount of Reduction are inversely related. Meade and Celestron both sell such SCT-T adapters with the correct optical length. On the camera side, the focal reducer has male M42x0.75 or M48x0.75 threads that attach directly to the T-ring (with an M42-M48 adapter if necessary). The nominal design reduction factor of these reducers is typically 0.5x. He tested this on an 8 Celestron , I have a Celestron 6SE. It also leads to larger (although fainter) images of extended objects like the Moon or planets for astrophotographers or visual observers. Does anyone have any experience with the Celestron and Antares focal reducers? I'd favor the Japanese Celestron version over the others that are commercially available. These RC reducers cannot be used with other types of telescopes. The naming convention of SCT focal reducers is a little confusing. In the 1960s, Celestrons founder, Tom Johnson, created groundbreaking new telescopes never before seen on the consumer market. However, these will not impact optical performance. 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. If the reducer is placed closer to the eyepiece or camera than the distance D, the reduction factor decreases. 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. However, some focal reducers can be used on other models of telescopes, but this is not always possible. 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. For example, an 8" SCT without a focal reducer has an illuminated field of 38mm at 50% fall-off. At a significantly lower price point, the Antares is a steal, and theres no need to upgrade to the Celestron if you already have one. ), but stars seemed a bit tighter and their colors were richer and more dramatic. I use the same back spacing for both on a small 6" Celestron SCT. The threads were similar on the eyepiece end, but a bit smoother. However, the China 6.3 R/C has noticeable internal reflections that I haven't figured out yet. I've looked through one from Meade and first impression was that it was like the Celestron version. Bear in mind you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip, i.e. Wonder how they would stack up with a Japanese 6.3. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1400 Learn More. ED stands for "extra-low dispersion," which refers to the composition and optical properties of the glass used for the lenses. Another factor to consider: focal reducers also increase the angle at which light approaches the focal plane. 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. Hence, there is a chance that you may not be able to thread your SCT diagonal or other SCT accessory on to this reducer for these or for any other brand. 2023 OPT Telescopes. 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. Is there likely to be any differences in performance between using these on an 8 or something smaller like my 6SE? I have the Antares and am not unhappy with it, but for AP I would want more back focal distance if those numbers are accurate. I have a made in Japan 6.3 R/C and a made in China 6.3 R/C. It is not a corrector or flattener. That is definitely a 2" eyepiece, but it is not a large or long focal length 2" eyepiece. We have corrected # (iii) after equations 6 & 7. Focal Reducer, 2", 0.7X. Refractors, or SCTs with external focusers, may not have sufficient in-travel to reach focus in some configurations. 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). For me the Antares was a little brighter and had the least scatter by a bit so the better coatings won. 3. The more focal reduction, the further inward the focal plane will be. ), 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. It has only one cover, which surprised me. Thanks for the extremely valuable article. 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. Generally, views through the Antares seemed a little more transparent and brighter. That said any comparison reviews are helpful. For example, a 0.8x reducer placed at the working distance provides a reduction of (1 0.8) x 100 = 20%. The most significant mechanical variation, however, is the quality and precision of the threading. During check-out, you will be presented with several shipping choices and costs. 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 have the Antares and have no complaints. The Buyer's Guide To Eyepieces at the top of the Eyepieces forum has a column for this spec. That was fun. Imagine having two telescopes in one a long focal length instrument for lunar and planetary work and a short focal length scope for deep sky observing and astrophotography. But I am rusty, can you condense a bit for me please? 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. 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 female end attaches to the rear cell of the telescope. Antares or Celestron? Nowadays I tend to use the Celestron more with my refractors for imaging and viewing. The internal surfaces are blackened and glare-threaded to provide the highest contrast. Figure 6 shows a 1.25" focal reducer from GSO configured with a ZWO ASI224MC camera. This filter threads on to the rear cell of your Celestron or Meade SCT telescope. Any comments gratefully received. 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. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. control and Sky Viewer display makes selecting your target easy. Blue Fireball M42 T/T2 Thread Camera Adapter for Prime Focus Photography - 2" # P-06, Celestron T-Ring for Canon EOS Camera # 93419, GSO 2" Crayford Focuser for SCTs - Dual Speed, Length of male SCT thread = 5mm (0.2") but this is preceded by an unthreaded part on the eyepiece side making the total length = 8.8mm (0.35"), Length of female SCT thread = 7.5mm (0.3"). The most popular accessories for your new telescope! 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? Anyway, when purchased my R/C the "original" Celestron unit was not readily available and was offered instead the one sold under the shop's own label (in my case Tecnosky, but I saw the same product offered under TS label). And when used in some refractors, the field flattening is not as accurate as it is in the f/10 SCTs. 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. 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. Since the Celestron and Antares are supposed to have different focal lengths and spacing specs, I expected different results. The new Lithium Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery chemistry has significant advantages over other battery chemistries, great for for those Astronomers on the go. Explore Scientific - Keys to the Universe Sale. Celestrons award-winning Nature DX binocular gets a major upgrade with the addition of ED objective lenses. The Reducer/Corrector can also be used for terrestrial digiscoping. The Antares is supposed to be pretty comparable. More important, its clear that the Antares is a reducer/corrector, just like the Celestron and not merely a reducer. Contiguous US Customers:All items we sell ship for free within the Contiguous US. Still not sure what is the right gear for you? 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. 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. 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. It's usually specified in millimeters. 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. 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. No negative issues to report. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1400 Nebula Filters. Copyright 2021 Stargazers Lounge Meade once made an f/3.3 focal reducer for SCT scopes. This focal reducer is made to attach to the rear cell of Schmidt-Cassegrain or Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes. Several functions may not work. Unlike . Looking forward to the day when I can do a shoot-out between a Japan and China Celestron, just for kicks. Field stop diameters are one of the specified specs of eyepieces. As another example,GSO makes focal reducers for their line of Ritchey-Chretien imaging telescopes. For imagers, the main purpose of a focal reducer is to increase the brightness of the image at the focal plane. InternetSales@optcorp.com, 800-483-6287 No results, please adjust your filters. A focal reducer does just the opposite of a Barlow lens or focal extender. In every configuration, there were essentially parfocal, requiring only a tiny fine focus adjustment when changing correctors. Since 2008, Brian has taught astronomy to tens of thousands of stargazers through his websites OneMinuteAstronomer.com and CosmicPursuits.com. For me, I was looking for, and planning to keep, the one that yielded the greatest reduction. Never noticed any anomalies with this unit. I must admit, as well, that I no longer place a lot of stock in the notion that Chinese optics are inferior to Japanese or Taiwanese any longer, as manufacturing technology has really leveled the playing field today, with most Chinese optics being excellent. I even lost track of which reducer I was using. 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. Both exhibited consistent reduction, identical field flattening, and edge correction properties, and both were high quality optically and mechanically. 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. It works fine but you should stick with 1.25 EPs; or can use 2" EPs without corrector. Celestron or Antares? This fully multi-coated lens provides maximum light transmission with near full-field illumination. This focal reducer and field flattener consists of a four-element multicoated 40mm lens in a metal cell. . However, this also came at a cost, as the sky background in the Antares was slightly brighter.
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antares vs celestron focal reducer