antares vs celestron focal reducer

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. However, these will not impact optical performance. I don't know. If used before or beyond the working distance, unwanted image distortion may result. Please Log in to save it permanently. Not noticed any optical problems. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. This is one of our best-selling items, and customers have reported that this product is at least as good as, and probably better than, other leading f/6.3 focal reducers sold on the market for a lot more. There is one difference though the Antares came with only one lens cap whereas the Celestron had a cap for both ends. The Buyer's Guide To Eyepieces at the top of the Eyepieces forum has a column for this spec. There are many different types of focal reducers and they all effect. 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. I wish there was. 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. riklaunim Members 559 3,445 Location: Poland Posted October 11, 2010 They are reported as identical. Reducer - Corrector Learn More. The Reduction Factor and the Amount of Reduction are inversely related. Is there likely to be any differences in performance between using these on an 8 or something smaller like my 6SE? 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. A longer effective focal length leads to higher magnification with a given eyepiece for visual observers. . The telescope side of the barrel is often threaded with an M48 x 0.75 thread for standard 2" astronomy filters. Better images are also obtained when using these focal reducers at a reduction factor of 0.5x 0.8x, approximately. 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? Celestron or Antares? When using the diagonal, keep the field stops of the eyepieces under 20mm. 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. Please note, orders placed after 10am on 2/28/2023 will be delayed. 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. I have this one Opticstar F6.3 Focal Reducer / Corrector. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1100 Learn More. Field stop diameters are one of the specified specs of eyepieces. Your wishlist has been temporarily saved. Manish holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. USD $80.00. Telescope Optics, Rutten and van Venrooij, Chapter 15, Willman-Bell (1988). I have a made in Japan 6.3 R/C and a made in China 6.3 R/C. This appendix summarizes how this works based on simple equations from the book Telescope Optics by Rutten and van Venrooij. * Not a Retail Store * 16313 Arthur StreetCerritos, CA 90703, USA. Focus misses by about 1 turnof the focus knob.Here is my solution:Buy a shorter 1.25 visual back for my scope. This filter threads on to the rear cell of your Celestron or Meade SCT telescope. Equation 6 & 7 item two & three does not make sense, both say increase its reduction (one should say reduce its reduction?). Observing the microscopic world has never been easier! 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. [email protected]. 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. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 800 Using this same example of an 8" SCT and a 0.63x reducer, a visual observer can also enjoy brighter images and a wider field of view. 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. 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. Hello! 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. More important, its clear that the Antares is a reducer/corrector, just like the Celestron and not merely a reducer. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. 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? The stars at the edge could be worse or better. When the camera sensor is placed at this distance, the reduction factor of these reducers is 0.75x. F6.3 Focal reducer for F/10 or higher telescopes, 43mm aperture, 4-Element, Fully Multicoated. Housings, threads, reduction, correction, blah, blah, blah. Place the plastic covers on the lens when not in use to reduce the dust collection. Since 2008, Brian has taught astronomy to tens of thousands of stargazers through his websites OneMinuteAstronomer.com and CosmicPursuits.com. I've seen some older threads saying that the Celestron, Meade and Antares FRs are all the same and manufactured in the same factory. (Note: Using the simple equations above, the focal length of this reducer can be estimated to be about 350mm). One of the most important factors in a telescope is its transmissionthe percentage of light that reaches the focal plane. Sign up to receive sale alerts, news about upcoming celestial events, and telescope tips from our experts! The nominal design reduction factor of these reducers is typically 0.5x. 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. Perfect for the serious student, professional scientist and discriminating hobbyist. Years ago, I bought the Antares version, and moved over to the Celestron. if the illuminated field is 27mm wide without the reducer, it will be 27 x 0.63 = 17mm with it in place. However, the China 6.3 R/C has noticeable internal reflections that I haven't figured out yet. 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. Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback. Again, to my surprise, there was absolutely no difference between the Celestron and Antares on any star. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The most significant mechanical variation, however, is the quality and precision of the threading. Nada. I was referring to the C6 to answer you specifically. At least these two units I tested make the answer - whatever. However, manufacturers virtually never provide this specification. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1100. Style: Most different was that the sky background was a little darker and more uniform, providing a tiny contrast boost for fainter objects. Orders placed after 12:00 PM Pacific Time will be shipped the next business day. With the Celestron Reducer/Corrector Lens, thats precisely what you get. 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. This means that there must be sufficient travel on the telescope focuser to make up for this. This is the simplest way to attach your ASI121 to your telescope. No difference. The focal length and design working distance for this focal reducer were not available from the manufacturer. But in the Japan version I have never noticed any anomaly like the ghosting in the China R/C. 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. To calculate how much back focus spacing you need to add, take the thickness of the filter and divide it by 3. As a result, the smaller tube may cut into the light cone and effectively reduce the working aperture of the telescope. Celestron is considered better in terms of QA, less likely to come with free dust, hair or fingerprint. 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. 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. 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. This "speeds up" the optical train by reducing the focal length and magnification of the scope, requiring less time to integrate the same signal. It features a standard male SCT thread (2" OD, 24 TPI) on one side and a standard SCT female thread on the other. Focal reducers for many SCTs and their flat-field equivalents usually have a back-focus distance of 105mm. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Nowadays I tend to use the Celestron more with my refractors for imaging and viewing. This also resulted in the clear aperture of the Antares being about 39-39.5mm, versus the Celestrons 41mm. It must be in stock at the time of Price Match for us to make a guarantee. In your opinion, is the Celestron is worth the added cost ($150 vs. $90)? Bear in mind you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip, i.e. It's easy! Any comments gratefully received. Things change but when I rebought I got an Antares and it seems about the same to me. Ive owned Celestron, Meade, and Antares models over the years at least a couple of each. The reducer features fully coated optics in an anodized aluminum filter ring with an ergonomic rubber grip. 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. 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. Article Agena AstroProducts, 2019. 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. The lens that the ZWO comes with give a perfect wide angle image of what is in front of it. In terms of reduction and correction which are what reducer/correctors are supposed to do both are superb. 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. 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). Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1400 Just one question. Powered by Invision Community. There will be no shipments on 3/1/2023, 3/2/2023, or 3/3/2023 (March 1st - March 3rd, 2023). * Not a Retail Store * 16313 Arthur StreetCerritos, CA 90703, USA, Availability: Item has been discontinued by Agena and we no longer carry this item. These reducers can also be used for visual observing with SCT scopes with eyepieces with a field stop as large as 24-27mm. Your mileage may vary. With both, using the same diagonal set-up, the exact same stars were visible at the very edge of the FOV. That is definitely a 2" eyepiece, but it is not a large or long focal length 2" eyepiece. 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. SKU: CEL-94245. More aggressive reduction, or using these reducers with larger sensors, will result in aberrations and distortions near the edge of the image. In many cases, the answer is yes, especially for electronically-assisted astronomy (EAA). Does anyone have any experience with the Celestron and Antares focal reducers? For imagers, the main purpose of a focal reducer is to increase the brightness of the image at the focal plane. Each focal reducer has a fixed specification called the working distance or required back focus. One focal reducer will not achieve optimum results with all types of telescopes, so there is no universal' focal reducer. Focal reducers also move the effective focal plane of the objective inward, that is, towards the objective (see Figure 1). The previous post shows the reducer on what appear to be two different refractors. 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. Easy solution found a very tiny dab of super lube on the threads and all was well and quiet. 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. I have Hirsch focal reducer, which is yet another clone of the Celestron reducer. Who cares? For both imaging and visual observing, these reducers also improve image sharpness at the edge of the field by correcting for coma and field curvature. I wont bother with differences in packaging, caps, etc. However, even though the imprint on the item states "Reducer / Corrector" please note that his is a reducer only. But I am rusty, can you condense a bit for me please? 2023 Celestron, LLC. The focus barely shifts between filters and I suspect any shifts I do get are down to the filters and changes in temp. Assuming you use the reducer with the stock 1.25" diagonal, it will operate at f/6.3. Again, swapping back and forth for a couple of hours on M44, M35, and several brighter stars, I examined the shape of specific stars near the edge of the field with both correctors. a Tele Vue Panoptic), or a Plossl eyepiece with an apparent field of view of 50 and a focal length of 32mm. Celestrons FREE planetarium app is an astronomy suite that redefines how you experience the night sky. It seems right to put some distance between the camera and the focal reducer, right? You can probably eke out 1.2 without noticing serious vignetting, which is a field stop of 31.5mm. Easy solution found a very tiny dab of super lube on the threads and all was well and quiet.. Most Feather Touch focusers cost between $300-$350. The equations in the Appendix show how this all works. Again, these focal reducers are often provided by the telescope manufacturer. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use. We will be glad to help. Obviously bright objects like Jupiter or The Moon show the reflections. This article explained the basics of how focal reducers work with various kinds of telescopes and how their working distance affects their reduction factor, and it provided sufficient detail to help amateur astronomer choose and use the right focal reducer for a particular application. You attach the focal reducer to the rear port on a SCT and can keep it covered.

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antares vs celestron focal reducer