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This fully multi-coated lens provides maximum light transmission with near full-field illumination. Watch this before you buy Celestron 8SE SCT, or a Focal Reducer or a 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. Like you, I am primarily visually observing but I have everything together now that so I am going to start experimenting with photography so we'll see how it does there. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. Download the Celestron PWI Telescope Control Software. The Celestron f/6.3 is ~150 compared to the Antares at ~70. No idea what the issue is. Add a 0.63x reducer, and the brightness of extended objects increases by (1/0.63)2 = 2.5. This factor is designated by a power that is less than 1, and it usually lies between 0.5x or 0.8x. With the Celestron Reducer/Corrector Lens, thats precisely what you get. 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. If used before or beyond the working distance, unwanted image distortion may result. Things change but when I rebought I got an Antares and it seems about the same to me. Thks for that and its not for visual it for astrophotography. The stars at the edge could be worse or better. I have/had both the Celestron (Japan) and Antares units. However, even though the imprint on the item states "Reducer / Corrector" please note that his is a reducer only. InternetSales@optcorp.com. This filter threads on to the rear cell of your Celestron or Meade SCT telescope. The resultant reduction factor was measured to be 0.46x. Clean, fun jokes the tradition continues - Page 106 We will match any online price that we confirm as valid. Focal reducers are essential optical accessories for astrophotography, electronically-assisted astronomy (EAA), and in some cases, for visual observation with long focal ratio telescopes. Is there likely to be any differences in performance between using these on an 8 or something smaller like my 6SE? a Tele Vue Panoptic), or a Plossl eyepiece with an apparent field of view of 50 and a focal length of 32mm. I have had the Japan unit on the back of my C5 since 1994 or thereabouts. For imaging, a T-adapter is threaded to the camera side of the focal reducer, which in turns connects to the camera with the appropriate hardware. Antares f/6.3 Focal Reducer for SCTs - Awesome Astro When using the diagonal, keep the field stops of the eyepieces under 20mm. There is one difference though the Antares came with only one lens cap whereas the Celestron had a cap for both ends. looks virtually identical, except for the lettering. F 6.3 focal reducer/corrector. - Discussions - Stargazers Lounge Enter it during checkout! 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. Antares f/6.3 Focal Reducer for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes - Agena Astro 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. As another example,GSO makes focal reducers for their line of Ritchey-Chretien imaging telescopes. 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 every configuration, there were essentially parfocal, requiring only a tiny fine focus adjustment when changing correctors. 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. However, with appropriate spacers and a camera with a known back-focus, it is easy to determine the exact amount of focal reduction for a given setup (some imaging software packages will also let you derive this from images). 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. The new Lithium Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery chemistry has significant advantages over other battery chemistries, great for for those Astronomers on the go. 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. Edited by bluewater, 05 September 2020 - 11:27 AM. Can you help me? Equation 6 & 7 item two & three does not make sense, both say increase its reduction (one should say reduce its reduction?). 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 doubt there is any difference between the Antares and the Celestron except price. As a result, the smaller tube may cut into the light cone and effectively reduce the working aperture of the telescope. I have both the Antares and the Celestron reducers. Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback. For this shoot-out, I used a standard Celestron C8 with Starbright coatings. To further factor out my natural astigmatism (I normally wear glasses while observing), I did the tests with my regular progressive lenses, single vision glasses I use when observing, and naked eye. In both cases will end with a similar tfov. Focal Reducer for SCT - ACF - Stargazers Lounge No results, please adjust your filters. We only send interesting emails and will never sell your data. . Article Agena AstroProducts, 2019. CEL-94245. 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. Nowadays I tend to use the Celestron more with my refractors for imaging and viewing. InternetSales@optcorp.com, 800-483-6287 If the reducer is placed elsewhere, at a position called the operating distance, the focal reduction factor will not be as advertised. Copyright 2003-2022 Agena AstroProducts. I've looked through one from Meade and first impression was that it was like the Celestron version. Please Log in to save it permanently. This focal reducer is made to attach to the rear cell of Schmidt-Cassegrain or Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes. Therefore, a 55mm back focus with a filter that is 3mm thick added to the imaging train would become 56mm. 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. Copyright 2021 Stargazers Lounge With both, using the same diagonal set-up, the exact same stars were visible at the very edge of the FOV. 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, doesn't fit in the telescope and even if it did wouldn't work. Focal reducers also move the effective focal plane of the objective inward, that is, towards the objective (see Figure 1). 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. Celestron Solar Safe filter technology is GUARANTEED SAFE for direct solar observation and has been independently tested by SAI Global Assurance Services. Here, there was a subtle difference . 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. It was also a little brighter in the center of the field with subtle darkening in the outer 20% or so. And when used in some refractors, the field flattening is not as accurate as it is in the f/10 SCTs. CPWI has an extensive object database, employs PointXP mount modeling, and more. These RC reducers cannot be used with other types of telescopes. Depending on the design of the telescope, they may require separate focal reducers if they require focal reducers at all. It was used strictly for imaging, not visual observing. Increasing the operating distance, that is, moving a focal reducer away from the eyepiece or camera reduces its reduction factor, or conversely increases the amount of reduction. 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. This superb fully multi-coated multi-element focal reducer takes advantage of the latest computer aided design techniques to achieve the highest standards of performance set by the brand leaders at a fraction of the cost. I've seen some older threads saying that the Celestron, Meade and Antares FRs are all the same and manufactured in the same factory. I've only used it a few times but it looks good to me. 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. You can probably eke out 1.2 without noticing serious vignetting, which is a field stop of 31.5mm. The focal length of a focal reducer is usually measured from the rear lens surface of the reducer (and not the reducer's housing). If you place your camera at a different working distance, you will get a different reduction factor and perhaps unwanted distortion in the image. Powered by Invision Community. In terms of reduction and correction which are what reducer/correctors are supposed to do both are superb. However, in principle, the reduction factor of a focal reducer can be varied by changing the distance from the back of the focal reducer to the camera or eyepiece. * Not a Retail Store * 16313 Arthur StreetCerritos, CA 90703, USA. Free shipping $189.95 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. Never used one, but read the reviews here that suggest a coating problem. 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. Very helpful, thanks a lot for this article! Just point the telescope at any three bright objectsstars, bright planets, or even the Moonand your telescope can orient itself with the night sky. 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. 3. We have tested our current batch and it works with Meade, Celestron, and Baader SCT accessories. We do not price match competitors if they are out of stock. 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. If I had to guess, the difference is maybe 10-15 grams. Does anyone know if the Antares 4000 focal reducer is as good as the Celestron focal reducer. Thanks. But in the end they both do pretty much the same thing and it sounds like any performance difference is subtle. This is the simplest way to attach your ASI121 to your telescope. Most manufacturers provide this specification. Hmmm . Back-Focus 101: DSLR Cameras & the Celestron f/6.3 Reducer - YouTube 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. These scopes are compatibles with focal reducers. Yet, the Antares still easily and fully threaded without any hitches. And, the reality is that every F/6.3 RC out there Celestron, Hirsch, Astromania, etc., etc. 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. Because I have not heard any complaints about the made in China R/C. In this case, d2 = FR/2, which means the back of the focal reducer is located at a distance FR/2 from the camera or eyepiece. Request stock alerts and we'll let you know when the item is back in stock. It also leads to larger (although fainter) images of extended objects like the Moon or planets for astrophotographers or visual observers. Manish holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. The Antares is supposed to be pretty comparable. 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. Reducer - Corrector | Celestron Antares f/6.3 SCT Focal Reducer - Rother Valley Optics Ltd These reducers can also be used for visual observing with SCT scopes with eyepieces with a field stop as large as 24-27mm. Can you tell me about the use of reducers in Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes? The internal surfaces are blackened and glare-threaded to provide the highest contrast. Celestron is considered better in terms of QA, less likely to come with free dust, hair or fingerprint. I really don't see any difference in the current crop except the "Meade" is usually the cheapest. Easy solution found a very tiny dab of super lube on the threads and all was well and quiet.. None of this was offensive, nor did it interfere with views in any significant way. Housings, threads, reduction, correction, blah, blah, blah. 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. There may have been an almost imperceptible difference, but the Antares and Celestron were producing precisely the same reduction. With the barrel 1.25 reducer won't focus, all I get is fuzzy snowballs. Focal Reducer, 2", 0.7X. What an enjoyable read and detailed comparison. The equations in the Appendix show how this all works. Most focal reducers are designed to operate optimally at the working distance in the optical path to achieve their specified reduction factor, which is usually between 0.5x and 0.8x. 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. However, the China 6.3 R/C has noticeable internal reflections that I haven't figured out yet. 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. This focal reducer and field flattener consists of a four-element multicoated 40mm lens in a metal cell. The threads were similar on the eyepiece end, but a bit smoother. Many focal reducers for refractors have a working distance (or back focus distance) of 55mm. In many cases, the answer is yes, especially for electronically-assisted astronomy (EAA). Product Details. EclipSmart solar products feature Solar Safe filter technology providing the ultimate protection from harmful solar radiation, including both IR and UV light, and filters 99.999% of visible light. A few large telescopes and mounts are excluded from this free shipping offer. 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 you want to save a few buck watch the classifieds on CN. However, manufacturers virtually never provide this specification. Have always disliked the crude, noisy SCT threads, but I get it. Celestrons award-winning Nature DX binocular gets a major upgrade with the addition of ED objective lenses. 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've seen some older threads saying that the Celestron, Meade and Antares FRs are all the same and manufactured in the same factory. Not noticed any optical problems. Telescope Optics, Rutten and van Venrooij, Chapter 15, Willman-Bell (1988). I wont bother with differences in packaging, caps, etc. In most cases, the easiest option is to choose the focal reducer made specifically for your telescope. One focal reducer will not achieve optimum results with all types of telescopes, so there is no universal' focal reducer. If you want to use them for visual - try maybe long focal length eyepieces rather than the reducer. This would tell us exactly how well aberrations are corrected. 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. They usually have a 2" barrel that slides into the telescope focuser. Regardless, the difference was miniscule and is more than adequate on both and exceeds a 8 or 6 SCTs baffle tube diameter. Rather than a direct side-by-side, I swapped the reducers so that I was using them on the exact same, well-collimated instrument. 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. Celestron or Antares? External Focusers for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes 3.1 The Basics of SCT Threads Photographically you also get a wider field and much shorter exposures. 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. Reducer - Corrector Learn More. No small animals were harmed in making these observations. Possibly the design of the Antares was changed .. Yellow and orange members of open clusters stood out a bit more as the various stars displayed their individuality. For this test, I used a single configuration R/C, Click-lock, and 1.25 diagonal with the adapter. Antares Click Lock Visual Back - Cats & Casses - Cloudy Nights I even lost track of which reducer I was using. 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. Easy solution found a very tiny dab of super lube on the threads and all was well and quiet. 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. I only have the Celestron f/6.3. This innovative software solves the time-consuming problem of trying to pinpoint the North Celestial Pole. Optically, it consists of a four-element lens that is fully multi-coated for high contrast and resolution. Your eyepieces are the first accessories you should learn to use with your telescope. Celestrons aplanatic EdgeHD optics revolutionized astroimaging. 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. Completely stuck, completely frustrated. The same illumination you have at the edge of a 27mm field, the C8 has at the edge of a 38mm field. Using these numbers in equation 4 in the Appendix, below, we can easily calculate that the focal length of this unit is approximately103mm (it will be 103mm plus the small amount by which the rear lens surface of the reducer is recessed beneath the reducer housing). Our patented SkyAlign alignment technology makes setting up a computerized telescope simple, fast, and accurate. Focus misses by about 1 turnof the focus knob.Here is my solution:Buy a shorter 1.25 visual back for my scope. It can also be used with any other small chip CCD camera having a 1.25" nosepiece, such as the Celestron NexImage, Meade DSI . 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.