antares vs celestron focal reducer

If you place your camera at a different working distance, you will get a different reduction factor and perhaps unwanted distortion in the image. We have tested our current batch and it works with Meade, Celestron, and Baader SCT accessories. 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). I was referring to the C6 to answer you specifically. Celestron or Antares? 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. We will match any online price that we confirm as valid. Celestron or Antares f/6.3 focal reducer for SCT? Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1100 Learn More. 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. The distances d1 andd2 can also be expressed in terms of the focal length of the focal reducer FR with the lens equation: Using Equation 2, Equation 1 can also be expressed in terms of d2: The focal reduction factor of the focal reducer depends on its focal length and its distance from the focal plane of the objective as shown by Equation 4: Again, for example, when the focal reducer is placed at the original focal plane of the objective, d1=0 and MR=1, which means there is no focal reduction. Equation 6 & 7 item two & three does not make sense, both say increase its reduction (one should say reduce its reduction?). Please let us know what topics you are interested in. If you want to use them for visual - try maybe long focal length eyepieces rather than the reducer. If the focal reducer is to be used for visual observation, the visual back is threaded onto the eyepiece side of the reducer, and then a star diagonal and eyepiece are installed as usual. 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. Planetarium software package which provides easy-to-understand explanations and impressive visuals of all kinds. I have the Antares and have no complaints. In both cases will end with a similar tfov. Manish Panjwani has been an active amateur astronomer since before Halley's Comet last flew by our neighborhood. Even though the manufacturer did not specify the working distance or focal length of this reducer, it is easy to see from this plot that this item provides its stated reduction of 0.5x when it is placed at a working distance of 51.5mm between the base of the threads on the mount and the focal plane of the eyepiece or camera. So ab6110 is asking for a FR only without coma correction, there are a couple of brands who make special reducers for the ACF. Not one detectable iota of discernable difference. Many reducers, such as the Celestron HD focal reducer mentioned above, and many focal reducers for apochromatic refractors, are meant to be used within a few millimeters (or less) of the specified working distance to achieve the best possible image results. How to Set the Correct Back Focus for Your Telescope (Guide) F6.3 Focal reducer for F/10 or higher telescopes, 43mm aperture, 4-Element, Fully Multicoated. The Best Dedicated Astronomy Cameras for Beginners, Astronomik OIII 12nm CCD Filter - T-Threads, Pegasus Astro Dual Motor Focus Controller, 10 Micron 12kg (26.45lbs) Stainless Steel Counterweight- GM 2000, I would like more information regarding stock availability dates. ED glass is specially formulated and contains rare-earth compounds that greatly reduce a visual defect called chromatic aberration. 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. More aggressive reduction, or using these reducers with larger sensors, will result in aberrations and distortions near the edge of the image. 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. Style: 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 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. DUE TO EXTREMELY HIGH DEMAND, WE WILL NOT BE TAKING NEW ORDERS UNTIL MONDAY, DECEMBER 14. The Reduction Factor and the Amount of Reduction are inversely related. When the camera sensor is placed at this distance, the reduction factor of these reducers is 0.75x. Just one question. They never really recovered from selling a few 15 years back with element reversed. By I've seen some older threads saying that the Celestron, Meade and Antares FRs are all the same and manufactured in the same factory. 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. 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. As one increases, the other decreases. The internal surfaces are blackened and glare-threaded to provide the highest contrast. The Reducer/Corrector can also be used for terrestrial digiscoping. Nebula Filters. They provide 0.75x focal reducers for these telescopes that takes an f/8 instrument down to f/6. Get ready for a night of astroimaging with your mount faster than previously thought possible with All-Star Polar Alignment. 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). Brian Ventrudo is a writer, scientist, and astronomy educator. No difference. I had a Celestron, Antares and Hirsch for awhile and compared them over about a year. I own both and concur heartily. We will be glad to help. You currently have javascript disabled. It's highly unlikely that they could be so precisely identical unless they were. 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. Request stock alerts and we'll let you know when the item is back in stock. Also, the focusers of most Newtonians do not have enough in-travel to accommodate a focal reducer. Weasner's Meade and Antares Focal Reducers Review An f/6.3 reducer is designed to reduce the focal ratio of an f/10 SCT to f/6.3. 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. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. 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. 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. Your eyepieces are the first accessories you should learn to use with your telescope. 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. Celestron Solar Safe filter technology is GUARANTEED SAFE for direct solar observation and has been independently tested by SAI Global Assurance Services. Very helpful, thanks a lot for this article! A longer effective focal length leads to higher magnification with a given eyepiece for visual observers. This focal reducer is made to attach to the rear cell of Schmidt-Cassegrain or Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes. I wonder whether, for example, Antares focal reducer for SCT belongs to the latter category. 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. 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. Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback. You may need spacers or a T-adapter to ensure the correcting working distance. This innovative software solves the time-consuming problem of trying to pinpoint the North Celestial Pole. Now, Celestron is using that same technology to allow star gazers to connect to the night sky and enhance their experience of the cosmos in fun and unique ways. Please note, orders placed after 10am on 2/28/2023 will be delayed. This fully multi-coated lens provides maximum light transmission with near full-field illumination. Oceanside Photo & Telescope wants our customers to shop with confidence knowing that you will always get the best deal available. 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. Hi. ), but stars seemed a bit tighter and their colors were richer and more dramatic. 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. 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. The resultant reduction factor was measured to be 0.46x. CEL-94245. Never noticed any anomalies with this unit. 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. Once installed, you can add additional accessories like T-Adapters, 1.25 Visual Back, Star Diagonal, or Off-Axis Guider. Celestron or Antares f/6.3 focal reducer for SCT? Enter it during checkout! Does anyone have any experience with the Celestron and Antares focal reducers? Yellow and orange members of open clusters stood out a bit more as the various stars displayed their individuality. Better images are also obtained when using these focal reducers at a reduction factor of 0.5x 0.8x, approximately. Newtonian reflectors will seldom be able to accommodate the in-focus travel demanded by focal reducers. Since then, Agena has become one of the leading online retailers of telescopes and astronomical accessories worldwide. All rights reserved. Depending on the design of the telescope, they may require separate focal reducers if they require focal reducers at all. The equations in the Appendix show how this all works. 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. Since the focal length of the reducer, FR, is fixed, as d2 increases then MR decreases. Michael 1 ronin Members 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). The focus barely shifts between filters and I suspect any shifts I do get are down to the filters and changes in temp. 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). This filter threads on to the rear cell of your Celestron or Meade SCT telescope. More important, its clear that the Antares is a reducer/corrector, just like the Celestron and not merely a reducer. Meade and Celestron both sell such SCT-T adapters with the correct optical length. I have this one Opticstar F6.3 Focal Reducer / Corrector. I've seen some older threads saying that the Celestron, Meade and Antares FRs are all the same and manufactured in the same factory. But in the end they both do pretty much the same thing and it sounds like any performance difference is subtle. Try & buy if you like - usual mates rates. The equations and argument in the Appendix of this article shows the relationship between the working distance and the reduction factor. Hmmm . Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 925 A slight nod to the Antares for heft and higher transmission, but points to the Celestron for nice threads and better contrast. The focal length of a focal reducer is usually measured from the rear lens surface of the reducer (and not the reducer's housing). No rainchecks will be issued for items out of stock at OPTcorp.com to match a competitor's price. 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. because they really dont matter. 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. 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 more focal reduction, the further inward the focal plane will be. 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. Antares F/6.3 SCT Focal Reducer | OPT Telescopes Nowadays I tend to use the Celestron more with my refractors for imaging and viewing. 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. Quite interestingly it bears the very same engravings of the Meade 4000 r/c (including "series 4000") except for "MEADE". 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 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. 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. Still not sure what is the right gear for you? 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. They are reported as identical. It can also be used with any other small chip CCD camera having a 1.25" nosepiece, such as the Celestron NexImage, Meade DSI . But I am rusty, can you condense a bit for me please? My experience is that CN sellers are way above those listing elsewhere. This focal reducer and field flattener consists of a four-element multicoated 40mm lens in a metal cell. These reducers can also be used for visual observing with SCT scopes with eyepieces with a field stop as large as 24-27mm. 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. 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. One problem with getting opinions is that most of use do not have both reducers or have never done a side by side comparison. Given the results of Test #1, I wanted to see if there was any truth to this assumption. 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. Celestrons FREE planetarium app is an astronomy suite that redefines how you experience the night sky. The lens is housed in machined aluminum for are machined aluminum black anodized. Some are available in 1.25" barrel format but with C threads. 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. Easy solution found a very tiny dab of super lube on the threads and all was well and quiet. I've never found my 0.63 reducer causing CA when used with my SCT. which looks like the same one. A f/10 focal ratio now achieves a f/6.3, while an f/11 focal ratio now achieves a f/7. 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. Sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive deals, observing tips, and new product announcements. 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. Stars in the corner of the image frame are indistinguishable between the Antares and the Celestron. The naming convention of SCT focal reducers is a little confusing. Start Chat How about for visual observers? 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. If used before or beyond the working distance, unwanted image distortion may result, especially when using cameras with larger sensors. One focal reducer will not achieve optimum results with all types of telescopes, so there is no universal' focal reducer. We have corrected # (iii) after equations 6 & 7. I've looked through one from Meade and first impression was that it was like the Celestron version. Read our guide! I only have the Celestron f/6.3. The Antares is supposed to be pretty comparable. Yet, the Antares still easily and fully threaded without any hitches. Is there likely to be any differences in performance between using these on an 8 or something smaller like my 6SE? Melotte 15 - First Process in PixInsight (easy! 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. The review is a subjective visual impression, which is interesting but not best evidence. However, this also came at a cost, as the sky background in the Antares was slightly brighter. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1100 - Celestron Focal reducers for these relatively fast ED refractors are generally for imaging only, not for visual observation. Clearly cost is a big factor for satisfied users. 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. Images in the Celestron tended to appear ever-so-slightly dimmer (maybe? The female end attaches to the rear cell of the telescope. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 925 Learn More. With both, using the same diagonal set-up, the exact same stars were visible at the very edge of the FOV. No negative issues to report. The threads were similar on the eyepiece end, but a bit smoother. 160K views 9 years ago This video is a complete overview of focal reducers and how they function applying to telescopes. If you do so, you will achieve the design reduction factor. Wow, that is a very detailed discussion! 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. 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. Photographically you also get a wider field and much shorter exposures. They are also less expensive than many external focusers of similar build quality. Thanks for the extremely valuable article. Explore Scientific Keys to the Universe Sale. 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. But in the Japan version I have never noticed any anomaly like the ghosting in the China R/C. The EdgeHD .7x Focal Reducer Lens makes your EdgeHD 1100 one full F-Stop faster than f/10, reducing your exposure time by half to capture the same brightness of object . I found both to be very good. Contiguous US Customers:All items we sell ship for free within the Contiguous US. Maybe I got a lemon. Another factor to consider: focal reducers also increase the angle at which light approaches the focal plane. Powered by Invision Community. The Celestron is both a corrector and focal reducer and the Antares is just a focal reducer. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. This may be a problem if the focuser tube or the diagonal (for visual observing) is too narrow to accept light at this larger angle. 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. An eyepiece with a 27mm field stop yields a true field of 1.03 in the C6 at f/10. Celestron makes a series of focal reducers for the Edge HD line that are matched to the 8", 9.25", 11", and 14" apertures of these scopes. Antares f/6.3 Focal Reducer for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes - Agena Astro Will not focus with the stuff I have. 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. I am a purely visual observer, so will evaluate for visual use only. When using the diagonal, keep the field stops of the eyepieces under 20mm. Some third-party vendors also make reducers for SCT scopes. First, let's have a look at some key optical parameters are needed to understand focal reducers. 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.

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