0.5X focal reducer for Celestron, Meade, and Orion CCD imaging cameras 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. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Well done. Optically, it consists of a four-element lens that is fully multi-coated for high contrast and resolution. This should not be the case if they have their purportedly different focal lengths. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use. With the Celestron Reducer/Corrector Lens, thats precisely what you get. Reducer - Corrector | Celestron 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. October 11, 2010 in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups. Orders placed after 12:00 PM Pacific Time will be shipped the next business day. Planetarium software package which provides easy-to-understand explanations and impressive visuals of all kinds. 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. We do not price match competitors if they are out of stock. Oceanside Photo & Telescope wants our customers to shop with confidence knowing that you will always get the best deal available. Hi. One of the most important factors in a telescope is its transmissionthe percentage of light that reaches the focal plane. If used with other f/ratios, the field flattening characteristic may be unpredictable. They are designed (assuming you are referring to the f/6.3 version) for the f/10 light cone. Thanks for the extremely valuable article. All rights reserved. It can also be used with any other small chip CCD camera having a 1.25" nosepiece, such as the Celestron NexImage, Meade DSI . Is there likely to be any differences in performance between using these on an 8 or something smaller like my 6SE? At least these two units I tested make the answer - whatever. Never noticed any anomalies with this unit. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality. My experience is that CN sellers are way above those listing elsewhere. It has only one cover, which surprised me. Focal reducers for these relatively fast ED refractors are generally for imaging only, not for visual observation. 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. 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). https://www.celestron.com/products/reducer-corrector, //cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1935/4371/products/94175_reducer_corrector_01.jpg?v=1603736883, //cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1935/4371/products/94175_reducer_corrector_01_medium.jpg?v=1603736883, Popular Science by Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 5" Smartphone App-Enabled Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope, Advanced VX 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, C9.25 Optical Tube Assembly (CGE Dovetail), Advanced VX 6" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, Advanced VX 700 Maksutov Cassegrain Telescope, CGX-L Equatorial 925 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, CPC 1100 GPS (XLT) Computerized Telescope, CGX-L Equatorial 1400 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, CGX-L Equatorial 1100 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, CGX Equatorial 925 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, CGX Equatorial 800 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, CGX Equatorial 1100 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, CGEM II 1100 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, Advanced VX 9.25" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, Advanced VX 11" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope, Not compatible with #93648 Off-Axis Guider, not compatible with #93519 2" Mirror Diagonal (discontinued), Currently not compatible due to mechanical interferences. Celestrons award-winning Nature DX binocular gets a major upgrade with the addition of ED objective lenses. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. Antares f/6.3 Focal Reducer for SCTs - Awesome Astro riklaunim Members 559 3,445 Location: Poland Posted October 11, 2010 They are reported as identical. We have tested our current batch and it works with Meade, Celestron, and Baader SCT accessories. The Reduction Factor and the Amount of Reduction are inversely related. They usually have a 2" barrel that slides into the telescope focuser. Telescope Focal Reducers & Correctors - High Point Scientific You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. 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. You currently have javascript disabled. When the camera sensor is placed at this distance, the reduction factor of these reducers is 0.75x. I have Hirsch focal reducer, which is yet another clone of the Celestron reducer. I've seen some older threads saying that the Celestron, Meade and Antares FRs are all the same and manufactured in the same factory. External Focusers for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes 3.1 The Basics of SCT Threads I wish there was. With spring galaxy season here, I decided to pick up a couple more to compare in a head-to-head shoot out. 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 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. 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? So Celestron buyers like Celestron, Meade buyers like the Meade and Antares buyer like the Antares. They provide 0.75x focal reducers for these telescopes that takes an f/8 instrument down to f/6. Both exhibited consistent reduction, identical field flattening, and edge correction properties, and both were high quality optically and mechanically. It's important to match the back focus to within a millimeter or two to get an optimal image, especially with cameras with larger sensors. As another example,GSO makes focal reducers for their line of Ritchey-Chretien imaging telescopes. * Not a Retail Store * 16313 Arthur StreetCerritos, CA 90703, USA, Availability: Item has been discontinued by Agena and we no longer carry this item. Housings, threads, reduction, correction, blah, blah, blah. Product Details. That is definitely a 2" eyepiece, but it is not a large or long focal length 2" eyepiece. Once installed, you can add additional accessories like T-Adapters, 1.25 Visual Back, Star Diagonal, or Off-Axis Guider. Copyright 2003-2022 Agena AstroProducts. 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. Your mileage may vary. Figure 6 shows a 1.25" focal reducer from GSO configured with a ZWO ASI224MC camera. 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. Our proprietary StarBright XLT optical coatings dramatically increase transmission, up to 97.4% on our Schmidt corrector lenses. Now It only focuses near things, like some kind of macro zoom. Sign up for a new account in our community. Start here to find the perfect telescope for you! All additional accessories mount onto the exterior/male threads. It works fine but you should stick with 1.25 EPs; or can use 2" EPs without corrector. Figure 1 shows the relationship between the focal reduction factor MR and the position of the reducer in the optical path. Antares Click Lock Visual Back - Cats & Casses - Cloudy Nights 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. 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. Thanks guys, I'm trying to get my ZWO ASI120MC-S to work with my 90mm Meade. It must be in stock at the time of Price Match for us to make a guarantee. ), 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. 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. Focal reducer for 8SE - Celestron vs. Antares - Cloudy Nights Not noticed any optical problems. Regardless, the difference was miniscule and is more than adequate on both and exceeds a 8 or 6 SCTs baffle tube diameter. Obviously bright objects like Jupiter or The Moon show the reflections. 2. I have both the Antares and the Celestron reducers. But in the end they both do pretty much the same thing and it sounds like any performance difference is subtle. 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. And when used in some refractors, the field flattening is not as accurate as it is in the f/10 SCTs. As a consequence, the standard f/6.3 and f/3.3 focal reducers for SCT scopes do not work. We only send interesting emails and will never sell your data. 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. We will match any online price that we confirm as valid. For these items, please contact us to obtain a shipping quote before you check out using the online shopping cart.International Customers:Free shipping does not apply to international orders. Contiguous US Customers:All items we sell ship for free within the Contiguous US. So it provides a 0.63x design reduction factor when used with an f/10 SCT at the specified working distance. Generally, views through the Antares seemed a little more transparent and brighter. 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 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. Upgrading the Focuser of Your Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope - Agena Astro 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. Figure 2 shows the effective of a focal reducer on the light from a telescope objective. For this shoot-out, I used a standard Celestron C8 with Starbright coatings. Take control of your telescope! For Stephen Wilkerson: The ZWO ASI120MC-S does come with a wide angle lens, HOWEVER, it is NOT intended to used when you are using the ASI120 camera attached to your telescope. 3. 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). Can you help me? Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1400 These reducers can also be used for visual observing with SCT scopes with eyepieces with a field stop as large as 24-27mm. Yellow and orange members of open clusters stood out a bit more as the various stars displayed their individuality. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 800 Learn More. 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. 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. Images in the Celestron tended to appear ever-so-slightly dimmer (maybe? There are many different types of focal reducers and they all effect. As a Barlow's magnification increases with increasing distance from the Barlow, a focal reducer's reduction increases with increasing distance from the reducer. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Like many of us with SCTs, I have bought and sold a number of f/6.3 reducer/correctors over the years, and I have always been curious how they really stack up to each other. Antares or Celestron? Focal Reducer, 2", 0.7X - Antares 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. Go behind the scenes with Celestrons product development team and learn more about our award-winning and patented innovations. 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. Is that distance D= Fo-d1=Fo-(d2/MR)? 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. In many cases, the answer is yes, especially for electronically-assisted astronomy (EAA). No retailers currently carry this product. - thanks. The resultant reduction factor was measured to be 0.46x. Thks for that and its not for visual it for astrophotography. There may have been an almost imperceptible difference, but the Antares and Celestron were producing precisely the same reduction. if the illuminated field is 27mm wide without the reducer, it will be 27 x 0.63 = 17mm with it in place. Any comments gratefully received. In such cases, we will be happy to take the item back as per our standard return terms. Easy solution found a very tiny dab of super lube on the threads and all was well and quiet.. Nebula Filters. 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. 160K views 9 years ago This video is a complete overview of focal reducers and how they function applying to telescopes. Sign up to get exclusive deals, observing tips, and new product announcements. 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. 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. Completely stuck, completely frustrated. If you place your camera at a different working distance, you will get a different reduction factor and perhaps unwanted distortion in the image. 2023 Celestron, LLC. The focal length and design working distance for this focal reducer were not available from the manufacturer. Not a bit. I've seen some older threads saying that the Celestron, Meade and Antares FRs are all the same and manufactured in the same factory. If used before or beyond the working distance, unwanted image distortion may result. 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. control and Sky Viewer display makes selecting your target easy. In terms of reduction and correction - which are what reducer/correctors are supposed to do - both are superb. Read our 101 article or get in touch. For example, a 0.8x reducer placed at the working distance provides a reduction of (1 0.8) x 100 = 20%. 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. Wow, that is a very detailed discussion! 3. 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? However, some focal reducers can be used on other models of telescopes, but this is not always possible. However, these will not impact optical performance. Our patented SkyAlign alignment technology makes setting up a computerized telescope simple, fast, and accurate. 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 . Again, to my surprise, there was absolutely no difference between the Celestron and Antares on any star. More details are found in the Appendix of this article. The focus barely shifts between filters and I suspect any shifts I do get are down to the filters and changes in temp. Michael 1 ronin Members I am new to these optic topics, and I want to ask you what happens with Masutov like SW or Celestron 4 or 7 inches. Clearly cost is a big factor for satisfied users. It was used strictly for imaging, not visual observing. For example, an 8" SCT without a focal reducer has an illuminated field of 38mm at 50% fall-off. 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. I had a Celestron, Antares and Hirsch for awhile and compared them over about a year. 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. 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. Never used one, but read the reviews here that suggest a coating problem. Also, the focusers of most Newtonians do not have enough in-travel to accommodate a focal reducer. The reducer features fully coated optics in an anodized aluminum filter ring with an ergonomic rubber grip. That means the base of the mounting threads of the focal reducer needs to be 55mm from the camera sensor to achieve the design reduction factor, which is usually 0.8x or 0.85x. 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. InternetSales@optcorp.com. Manish Panjwani has been an active amateur astronomer since before Halley's Comet last flew by our neighborhood. Clean, fun jokes the tradition continues - Page 106 I have this one Opticstar F6.3 Focal Reducer / Corrector. Description. 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. The Buyer's Guide To Eyepieces at the top of the Eyepieces forum has a column for this spec. Hmmm . Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1100 - Celestron Photographically you also get a wider field and much shorter exposures. The Antares is supposed to be pretty comparable. Your price: $579.00. I found both to be very good. Explore Scientific Keys to the Universe Sale. This factor is designated by a power that is less than 1, and it usually lies between 0.5x or 0.8x. This would tell us exactly how well aberrations are corrected. 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. In practice, it's important to remember that you will rarely operate at the exact working distance and at the exact reduction factor that is specified. Copyright 2021 Stargazers Lounge You attach the focal reducer to the rear port on a SCT and can keep it covered. 2023 OPT Telescopes. Easy solution found a very tiny dab of super lube on the threads and all was well and quiet. InternetSales@optcorp.com, 800-483-6287 Sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive deals, observing tips, and new product announcements. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. For this test, I used a single configuration R/C, Click-lock, and 1.25 diagonal with the adapter. This focal reducer is made to attach to the rear cell of Schmidt-Cassegrain or Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes. This focal reducer and field flattener consists of a four-element multicoated 40mm lens in a metal cell. Years ago, I bought the Antares version, and moved over to the Celestron. 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.