antares vs celestron focal reducer

In every configuration, there were essentially parfocal, requiring only a tiny fine focus adjustment when changing correctors. The most popular accessories for your new telescope! 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. 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. Edited by bluewater, 05 September 2020 - 11:27 AM. Download the Celestron PWI Telescope Control Software. 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. No small animals were harmed in making these observations. All rights reserved. . 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. All additional accessories mount onto the exterior/male threads. They only publish the value of D, the working distance (sometimes called the back focus distance) and the design reduction factor MRD. It has only one cover, which surprised me. You currently have javascript disabled. In terms of reduction and correction which are what reducer/correctors are supposed to do both are superb. Hmmm . With the Celestron Reducer/Corrector Lens, thats precisely what you get. 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. 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. Orders placed over the weekend will be shipped on the following Monday. We process your personal data as stated in our. The nominal design reduction factor of these reducers is typically 0.5x. Most manufacturers provide this specification. Can you help me? if the illuminated field is 27mm wide without the reducer, it will be 27 x 0.63 = 17mm with it in place. No negative issues to report. For Ritchey-Chretien telescopes such as those manufactured by GSO, there are also dedicated focal reducers with a reduction factor of 0.7x to 0.8x. Focal Reducer, 2", 0.7X. It's usually specified in millimeters. Reproduction without permission prohibited. Try & buy if you like - usual mates rates. 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. Some faster refractors with a focal ratio of f/6, for example, only require field flatteners and not focal reducers. ED stands for "extra-low dispersion," which refers to the composition and optical properties of the glass used for the lenses. 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. 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. If you want to save a few buck watch the classifieds on CN. 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 Reduction Factor and the Amount of Reduction are inversely related. Thanks for pointing this out. I've never found my 0.63 reducer causing CA when used with my SCT. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. The distance d2, which measures the position of the new focal plane of the objective from the back of the focal reducer is given by Equation 5: In these equations, d1, d2, and MR are all variables that depend on each other through Equations 2 and 4. 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. 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. In some cases, focal reducers also act as field flatteners by correcting for field curvature and coma of the objective lens. Bear in mind you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip, i.e. For this test, I used a single configuration R/C, Click-lock, and 1.25 diagonal with the adapter. 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. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 800 Learn More. Reviews. Celestrons award-winning Nature DX binocular gets a major upgrade with the addition of ED objective lenses. Also, the focusers of most Newtonians do not have enough in-travel to accommodate a focal reducer. The Antares focal reducer comes in small box. Learn more about extra solar planets imagery, 3D Star rendering, observation planning, telescope control, multiple-panel printing, and much more. These reducers have a back focus (or design working distance) of 80mm. 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. Still not sure what is the right gear for you? Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 925 To test this, I used three set-ups: 1. If used before or beyond the working distance, unwanted image distortion may result, especially when using cameras with larger sensors. How does it look thats what matters. 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). But nearly every observer who installs one of these devices is pleased with their performance. Such an image circle is still large enough to encompass the relatively large sensor of many deep-sky astronomy cameras. Due to the design, the Reducer/Corrector lens does diminish a small amount of field curvature common to all Schmidt Cassegrain telescopes but does not eliminate it. Celestrons aplanatic EdgeHD optics revolutionized astroimaging. And when used in some refractors, the field flattening is not as accurate as it is in the f/10 SCTs. So it provides a 0.63x design reduction factor when used with an f/10 SCT at the specified working distance. If used with other f/ratios, the field flattening characteristic may be unpredictable. Steve Oceanside Photo & Telescope wants our customers to shop with confidence knowing that you will always get the best deal available. Quite interestingly it bears the very same engravings of the Meade 4000 r/c (including "series 4000") except for "MEADE". The equations in the Appendix show how this all works. ED glass is specially formulated and contains rare-earth compounds that greatly reduce a visual defect called chromatic aberration. 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. The resultant reduction factor was measured to be 0.46x. It must be in stock at the time of Price Match for us to make a guarantee. Never noticed any anomalies with this unit. 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. Assuming you use the reducer with the stock 1.25" diagonal, it will operate at f/6.3. 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"). Hello! 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. 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 would pay slightly more for the Japan produced version, just because Hirsch was not bad either but sold it since I had 2 already. More details are found in the Appendix of this article. Observing the microscopic world has never been easier! Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback. 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. Who cares? The review is a subjective visual impression, which is interesting but not best evidence. 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. 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. One problem with getting opinions is that most of use do not have both reducers or have never done a side by side comparison. A longer effective focal length leads to higher magnification with a given eyepiece for visual observers. The design reduction factor of a focal reducer is the relative amount by which the effective focal length of the telescope is reduced when the focal reducer is used at its specified working distance or back focus. I don't know. Here, there was a subtle difference . They never really recovered from selling a few 15 years back with element reversed. Right off the bat, I was struck by how similar the two R/Cs were. 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 . The Buyer's Guide To Eyepieces at the top of the Eyepieces forum has a column for this spec. These reducers can also be used for visual observing with SCT scopes with eyepieces with a field stop as large as 24-27mm. I wont bother with differences in packaging, caps, etc. 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. If you want to use them for visual - try maybe long focal length eyepieces rather than the reducer. Copyright 2003-2022 Agena AstroProducts. It is recommended for . My Celestron was made in China and the Antares in Canada. Check out our 2022 telescope buying guide here! Also read the reviews here, including those at 4 stars. Again, to my surprise, there was absolutely no difference between the Celestron and Antares on any star. The threads were similar on the eyepiece end, but a bit smoother. The problem with those SCT reducers is that they cause chromatic aberration and require refocusing when using parfocal RGB/other filters. Best evidence would by obtained by using a camera and evaluating the image both by eye and with a computer analysis. As another example,GSO makes focal reducers for their line of Ritchey-Chretien imaging telescopes. 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? In some cases, focal reducers also act as field flatteners by correcting for field curvature and coma of the objective lens. However, the export of some items may be restricted outside the US due to size or manufacturer restrictions. Request stock alerts and we'll let you know when the item is back in stock. Years ago, I bought the Antares version, and moved over to the Celestron. This filter threads on to the rear cell of your Celestron or Meade SCT telescope. If you do so, you will achieve the design reduction factor. The focal length of a focal reducer is usually measured from the rear lens surface of the reducer (and not the reducer's housing). 3. Add a 0.63x reducer, and the brightness of extended objects increases by (1/0.63)2 = 2.5. 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. 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. 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. 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. Sharpness is essentially the same. Yet, the Antares still easily and fully threaded without any hitches. Michael 1 ronin Members This should not be the case if they have their purportedly different focal lengths. That is definitely a 2" eyepiece, but it is not a large or long focal length 2" eyepiece. No results, please adjust your filters. Since 2008, Brian has taught astronomy to tens of thousands of stargazers through his websites OneMinuteAstronomer.com and CosmicPursuits.com. 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. This innovative software solves the time-consuming problem of trying to pinpoint the North Celestial Pole. I have both the Antares and the Celestron reducers. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. With both, using the same diagonal set-up, the exact same stars were visible at the very edge of the FOV. We only send interesting emails and will never sell your data. Meade and Celestron both sell such SCT-T adapters with the correct optical length. To calculate how much back focus spacing you need to add, take the thickness of the filter and divide it by 3. I was originally hoping to do this with a made in Japan Celestron, but ended up with a newer China version but thats probably better in the end since it is the version now available, with the Japan ones rarer and only available used. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. These reducers can also be used for visual observing with SCT scopes with eyepieces with a field stop as large as 24-27mm. 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. Since the focal length of the reducer, FR, is fixed, as d2 increases then MR decreases. They are also less expensive than many external focusers of similar build quality. Looking forward to the day when I can do a shoot-out between a Japan and China Celestron, just for kicks. 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. It features a standard male SCT thread (2" OD, 24 TPI) on one side and a standard SCT female thread on the other. That said any comparison reviews are helpful. This filter threads on to the rear cell of your Celestron or Meade SCT telescope. Optically, it consists of a four-element lens that is fully multi-coated for high contrast and resolution. A few large telescopes and mounts are excluded from this free shipping offer. 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. Explore Scientific - Keys to the Universe Sale. External Focusers for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes 3.1 The Basics of SCT Threads Opticstar F6.3 Focal Reducer / Corrector. In many cases, the answer is yes, especially for electronically-assisted astronomy (EAA). Your wishlist has been temporarily saved. 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. One focal reducer will not achieve optimum results with all types of telescopes, so there is no universal' focal reducer. Start Chat 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. 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. Start here to find the perfect telescope for you! Focal reducers are essential optical accessories for astrophotography, electronically-assisted astronomy (EAA), and in some cases, for visual observation with long focal ratio telescopes. 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. A slight nod to the Antares for heft and higher transmission, but points to the Celestron for nice threads and better contrast. With spring galaxy season here, I decided to pick up a couple more to compare in a head-to-head shoot out. I have a made in Japan 6.3 R/C and a made in China 6.3 R/C. This is very impressive performance given how hard this problem is to mitigate in general. The reducer fits all Meade and Celestron . Product Details. They provide 0.75x focal reducers for these telescopes that takes an f/8 instrument down to f/6. There is a way to make subjective data more useful and that way is proper blind, or better still. But in the end they both do pretty much the same thing and it sounds like any performance difference is subtle. CPWI has an extensive object database, employs PointXP mount modeling, and more. 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. An image of about 24mm across, approximately, allows an observer to use a 1.25" eyepiece with a maximal field stop. 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. Sign up for a new account in our community. Thanks guys, I'm trying to get my ZWO ASI120MC-S to work with my 90mm Meade. 3. Because most modern Newtonians already have relatively fast focal ratios, these telescopes do not usually use focal reducers. Thks for that and its not for visual it for astrophotography. 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. I've only used it a few times but it looks good to me. With the barrel 1.25 reducer won't focus, all I get is fuzzy snowballs. Generally, views through the Antares seemed a little more transparent and brighter. because they really dont matter. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 800 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. Get ready for a night of astroimaging with your mount faster than previously thought possible with All-Star Polar Alignment. They usually have a 2" barrel that slides into the telescope focuser. Several functions may not work. InternetSales@optcorp.com, 800-483-6287 There are many different types of focal reducers and they all effect. Please let us know what topics you are interested in. 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. WiFi technology encircles the globe in a web of connectivity, knowledge, and information. More aggressive reduction, or using these reducers with larger sensors, will result in aberrations and distortions near the edge of the image. He tested this on an 8 Celestron , I have a Celestron 6SE. 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. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1100 Learn More. 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. Powered by Invision Community. They both are great and I doubt my eyes could detect a difference in any one of them including the Japan version. 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. There is one difference though the Antares came with only one lens cap whereas the Celestron had a cap for both ends. Will not focus with the stuff I have. For me, I was looking for, and planning to keep, the one that yielded the greatest reduction. The new Lithium Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery chemistry has significant advantages over other battery chemistries, great for for those Astronomers on the go. The reducer is we might presume designed to correct to some as yet un-measured extent, the image of a standard SCT. I even lost track of which reducer I was using. Free shipping $189.95 Meade once made an f/3.3 focal reducer for SCT scopes. If I had to guess, the difference is maybe 10-15 grams. They are reported as identical. Figure 1 shows the relationship between the focal reduction factor MR and the position of the reducer in the optical path. However, manufacturers virtually never provide this specification. Is there likely to be any differences in performance between using these on an 8 or something smaller like my 6SE? If used before or beyond the working distance, unwanted image distortion may result. I'm going with the Celestron. You cannot, for example, use a 0.63x focal reducer intended for a standard Celestron or Meade SCT and use it on a Celestron Edge HD or a Meade ACF. Wonder how they would stack up with a Japanese 6.3. control and Sky Viewer display makes selecting your target easy. Go behind the scenes with Celestrons product development team and learn more about our award-winning and patented innovations. 800-483-6287 Thanks. Things change but when I rebought I got an Antares and it seems about the same to me. October 11, 2010 in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups. Have always disliked the crude, noisy SCT threads, but I get it. Can these economical focal reducers from GSO and other vendors result in good images? Perfect for the serious student, professional scientist and discriminating hobbyist. When using the diagonal, keep the field stops of the eyepieces under 20mm. We have tested our current batch and it works with Meade, Celestron, and Baader SCT accessories. A few people have reported issues with the male SCT thread diameter on this item being a bit larger than necessary. I have the Japanese version and although I haven't used it in quite awhile, the views through it were superb with no internal reflections at all. Each focal reducer has a fixed specification called the working distance or required back focus. By In such cases, we will be happy to take the item back as per our standard return terms. Product Details Antares' f/6.3 focal reducer provides a faster f/6.3 system for imaging or visual use when used with an f/10 SCT or other compatible telescopes. Sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive deals, observing tips, and new product announcements. There will be no shipments on 3/1/2023, 3/2/2023, or 3/3/2023 (March 1st - March 3rd, 2023). I have this one Opticstar F6.3 Focal Reducer / Corrector. Many focal reducers for refractors have a working distance (or back focus distance) of 55mm. 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. F6.3 Focal reducer for F/10 or higher telescopes, 43mm aperture, 4-Element, Fully Multicoated. A useful thing to know is how far from the objective lens (for a refractor) is the focal reducer located. InternetSales@optcorp.com. 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. Most reducers have a design reduction factor, MRD, that assumes the reducer is placed at a specific working distance, D, from the back surface of the focal reducer itself. 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. 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. Fortunately, my neighbors are not out in their backyards at 11 pm, or they may have thought I was torturing a small mammal. As per the OP I still can't see any reason to buy the Celestron for significantly more $$$. It seems right to put some distance between the camera and the focal reducer, right? All rights reserved. Stars in the corner of the image frame are indistinguishable between the Antares and the Celestron. Your mileage may vary. Thank you so much for the informative article, I now understand better how to integrate my reducer into my system to get better performance. 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. . Celestrons patented StarSense Technology makes it easier than ever to locate objects in the night sky, even if youve never used a telescope before. 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. Melotte 15 - First Process in PixInsight (easy! This standard distance is a consequence of the design of DSLR cameras for which the distance of the sensor to the outer edge of the flanges is about 45 mm, while the T-ring that attaches to the flange for astrophotography is about 10mm thick. It can also be used with any other small chip CCD camera having a 1.25" nosepiece, such as the Celestron NexImage, Meade DSI .

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