antares vs celestron focal reducer antares vs celestron focal reducer

If the reducer is placed elsewhere, at a position called the operating distance, the focal reduction factor will not be as advertised. It was also a little brighter in the center of the field with subtle darkening in the outer 20% or so. Check out our 2022 telescope buying guide here! Equation (4) shows the relationship between the distance d2 and the reduction factor MR. I've looked through one from Meade and first impression was that it was like the Celestron version. Assuming you use the reducer with the stock 1.25" diagonal, it will operate at f/6.3. 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). Thanks guys, I'm trying to get my ZWO ASI120MC-S to work with my 90mm Meade. Practical Considerations of Focal Reducers, 4.2 Back Focus Requirements of Focal Reducers, GSO makes focal reducers for their line of Ritchey-Chretien, Celestron makes a series of focal reducers for the Edge HD line, 0.75x focal reducers for these telescopes, focal reducer for an 8-inch Celestron EdgeHD, A Primer on T-Rings and T-Adapters for Astronomy and Astrophotography, Choosing the Best Telescope for Beginners 2023, Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in August 2022, Top Night Sky & Astronomy Events in July 2022, Selecting a Baader Planetarium Star Diagonal, A Guide to Choosing Astronomy Eyepieces for Binoviewers, Choosing a Magnifying Finder Scope for Your Telescope, A focal reducer will provide its design reduction factor only when it is placed at the exact working distance from the focal plane of the eyepiece or camera, Reducing the operating distance, that is, moving a focal reducer closer to the eyepiece or camera increases its reduction factor, or conversely reduces the amount of focal reduction. I only have the Celestron f/6.3. Learn more about extra solar planets imagery, 3D Star rendering, observation planning, telescope control, multiple-panel printing, and much more. No rainchecks will be issued for items out of stock at OPTcorp.com to match a competitor's price. That is definitely a 2" eyepiece, but it is not a large or long focal length 2" eyepiece. Celestrons patented StarSense Technology makes it easier than ever to locate objects in the night sky, even if youve never used a telescope before. Because I have not heard any complaints about the made in China R/C. It's usually specified in millimeters. High power views will provide flatter fields all the way to the edge, both visually and photographically. The stars at the edge could be worse or better. 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. The problem with those SCT reducers is that they cause chromatic aberration and require refocusing when using parfocal RGB/other filters. 2. Edited by bluewater, 05 September 2020 - 11:27 AM. 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. My Celestron was made in China and the Antares in Canada. The equations in the Appendix show how this all works. Orders placed over the weekend will be shipped on the following Monday. Request stock alerts and we'll let you know when the item is back in stock. I have an 8SE, and am thinking about getting a focal reducer. 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. This means that there must be sufficient travel on the telescope focuser to make up for this. So Celestron buyers like Celestron, Meade buyers like the Meade and Antares buyer like the Antares. Explore Scientific - Keys to the Universe Sale. 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). Sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive deals, observing tips, and new product announcements. Thanks for the extremely valuable article. Over the course of a several nights of general observing, I swapped back and forth between the Antares and Celestron R/Cs on a wide variety of objects open clusters, brighter galaxies, a couple of nebulae, and globular clusters as well. However, even though the imprint on the item states "Reducer / Corrector" please note that his is a reducer only. Field stop diameters are one of the specified specs of eyepieces. Celestron or Antares? WiFi technology encircles the globe in a web of connectivity, knowledge, and information. Again, these focal reducers are often provided by the telescope manufacturer. 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. 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. Have a promo code? 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. More important, its clear that the Antares is a reducer/corrector, just like the Celestron and not merely a reducer. Please Log in to save it permanently. The same illumination you have at the edge of a 27mm field, the C8 has at the edge of a 38mm field. 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. I really don't see any difference in the current crop except the "Meade" is usually the cheapest. Article Agena AstroProducts, 2019. They are also less expensive than many external focusers of similar build quality. Based on Test 1 and Test 2, I think there is perhaps more validity to opposing statements here in these forums that the Antares and current China-made Celestron do, indeed, have exactly the same optics just with different housings and branding. 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. Focal reducers also move the effective focal plane of the objective inward, that is, towards the objective (see Figure 1). They only publish the value of D, the working distance (sometimes called the back focus distance) and the design reduction factor MRD. We have tested our current batch and it works with Meade, Celestron, and Baader SCT accessories. 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. control and Sky Viewer display makes selecting your target easy. 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. 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. External Focusers for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes 3.1 The Basics of SCT Threads 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. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. At least these two units I tested make the answer - whatever. Despite never removing it no matter what I was looking at. Read our guide! It was used strictly for imaging, not visual observing. Since the Celestron and Antares are supposed to have different focal lengths and spacing specs, I expected different results. CPWI has an extensive object database, employs PointXP mount modeling, and more. SKU: CEL-94245. You can probably eke out 1.2 without noticing serious vignetting, which is a field stop of 31.5mm. These reducers can also be used for visual observing with SCT scopes with eyepieces with a field stop as large as 24-27mm. Since 2008, Brian has taught astronomy to tens of thousands of stargazers through his websites OneMinuteAstronomer.com and CosmicPursuits.com. Turn it on and push Align. In about three minutes, youre ready to observe! Unlike SCT telescopes, Ritchey-Chretien telescopes and Celestron Edge HD or Meade ACF scopes have internal optics that provide an inherently flat field, so these telescopes require a special focal reducer than does not provide additional correction for field curvature. Right off the bat, I was struck by how similar the two R/Cs were. I wish there was. 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. Some third-party vendors also make reducers for SCT scopes. 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. But in the end they both do pretty much the same thing and it sounds like any performance difference is subtle. 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. Most different was that the sky background was a little darker and more uniform, providing a tiny contrast boost for fainter objects. Each focal reducer has a fixed specification called the working distance or required back focus. Observing the microscopic world has never been easier! The Reducer/Corrector is easy to install by threading the unit onto the rear cell of your Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (or the reducer plate of the C11 and C14). 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. Celestrons aplanatic EdgeHD optics revolutionized astroimaging. 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? Focal reducers for many SCTs and their flat-field equivalents usually have a back-focus distance of 105mm. Start Chat 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 . F6.3 Focal reducer for F/10 or higher telescopes, 43mm aperture, 4-Element, Fully Multicoated. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. 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). Take control of your telescope! They both are great and I doubt my eyes could detect a difference in any one of them including the Japan version. 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. ), but stars seemed a bit tighter and their colors were richer and more dramatic. Such an image circle is still large enough to encompass the relatively large sensor of many deep-sky astronomy cameras. 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. I have/had both the Celestron (Japan) and Antares units. I have Hirsch focal reducer, which is yet another clone of the Celestron reducer. 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. Melotte 15 - First Process in PixInsight (easy! Opticstar F6.3 Focal Reducer / Corrector. Meade and Celestron both sell such SCT-T adapters with the correct optical length. 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. Depending on the design of the telescope, they may require separate focal reducers if they require focal reducers at all. I have a made in Japan 6.3 R/C and a made in China 6.3 R/C. As I understand it, compared to the old Meade SCT's, the ACF is already "coma corrected", so the standard Meade, Celestron etc F6.3 focal reducers are not suitable and will only worsen the images. 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. 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. By But is there a difference in quality between the Antares and the Celestron or Meade focal reducers? I'd favor the Japanese Celestron version over the others that are commercially available. Images made with my ZWO 533 camera testing both show them to be essentially the same. Focal reducers are essential optical accessories for astrophotography, electronically-assisted astronomy (EAA), and in some cases, for visual observation with long focal ratio telescopes. Copyright 2003-2022 Agena AstroProducts. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1400 I would not use the reducer with a 2" diagonal or eyepiece in the C6. I think I remember hearing the reduction factor is slightly different, cant remember more or less reduction. Focal Reducer, 2", 0.7X. I focus using a moonlight electronic focuser and focusmax. Since the focal length of the reducer, FR, is fixed, as d2 increases then MR decreases. I've seen some older threads saying that the Celestron, Meade and Antares FRs are all the same and manufactured in the same factory. In these equations: The combined focal length of the objective and focal reducer is given by Equation 1: For example, when d1=0, that is, the focal reducer is at the focal plane of the objective, Fcomb=Fo, so the focal reducer has no effect. Years ago, I bought the Antares version, and moved over to the Celestron. The price for an item/offer must be listed and valid at the time of match. 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 amateur astronomers are familiar with a Barlow lens (or a focal extender), a negative or diverging lens that effectively increases the focal length and the focal ratio of a telescope's objective lens. The most significant mechanical variation, however, is the quality and precision of the threading. I also used several eyepieces including the ES 24mm/68, 17.5mm and 12.5mm Morpheuses, and a 10.5mm Pentax XL. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. Does anyone know if the Antares 4000 focal reducer is as good as the Celestron focal reducer. In many cases, the answer is yes, especially for electronically-assisted astronomy (EAA). 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. As one increases, the other decreases. * Not a Retail Store * 16313 Arthur StreetCerritos, CA 90703, USA. Because of their distinct optical design, slower Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes (SCT) with focal ratios of f/10 require a different design of focal reducer compared to refractors. Sign up to receive sale alerts, news about upcoming celestial events, and telescope tips from our experts! It also leads to larger (although fainter) images of extended objects like the Moon or planets for astrophotographers or visual observers. if the illuminated field is 27mm wide without the reducer, it will be 27 x 0.63 = 17mm with it in place. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 800 Learn More. There will be no shipments on 3/1/2023, 3/2/2023, or 3/3/2023 (March 1st - March 3rd, 2023). There are many different types of focal reducers and they all effect. In some cases, focal reducers also act as field flatteners by correcting for field curvature and coma of the objective lens. Get ready for a night of astroimaging with your mount faster than previously thought possible with All-Star Polar Alignment. 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. Now It only focuses near things, like some kind of macro zoom. This part is no longer in production, but it is sometimes available used and may be used with cameras with smaller sensors. They never really recovered from selling a few 15 years back with element reversed. If you are using a camera that has a back focus of less than 55mm, additional spacer rings will be required between the reducer and the camera. As a result, the smaller tube may cut into the light cone and effectively reduce the working aperture of the telescope. Free shipping $189.95 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. All Rights Reserved. Well done. Focal reducers for these relatively fast ED refractors are generally for imaging only, not for visual observation. How does it look thats what matters. Many focal reducers for refractors have a working distance (or back focus distance) of 55mm. The designed reduction factor (0.5x in the case of the GSO reducer example above) should be considered a rule of thumb or approximate value in most cases, rather than a very precise number. I have this one Opticstar F6.3 Focal Reducer / Corrector. Images in the Celestron tended to appear ever-so-slightly dimmer (maybe? Nebula Filters. I was going to measure the difference in grams, but my lovely wife caught me trying to use her precious, high-tech kitchen scale for the cause, and put the kibosh on it. 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. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. However, these will not impact optical performance. The two samples I have PERFORM IDENTICALLY. Thanks for any advice or experience you could share. Unleash the full pointing accuracy of your Celestron computerized telescope with a specialized telescope control software suite. Wonder how they would stack up with a Japanese 6.3. Details: The item must be the identical item, brand name, size, weight, color, quantity and model number. Most manufacturers provide this specification. 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. The review is a subjective visual impression, which is interesting but not best evidence. OPT Product Number: AE-SCTFR specifications Warranty 2 Year Warranty Works as advertised! Also, the focusers of most Newtonians do not have enough in-travel to accommodate a focal reducer. Dedicated focal reducers for refractors are intended primarily for imaging, not visual observation. While most Barlow lenses and focal extenders work with most kinds of telescopes available to amateur astronomers, focal reducers are designed to work in a narrow range of focal ratios of a telescope objective. 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. and you will be fine. The Antares f6.3 focal reducer screws directly to the visual-back thread of all popular SCTs and converts f10 instruments to f6.3. Our proprietary StarBright XLT optical coatings dramatically increase transmission, up to 97.4% on our Schmidt corrector lenses. Manish Panjwani has been an active amateur astronomer since before Halley's Comet last flew by our neighborhood. In such cases, we will be happy to take the item back as per our standard return terms. For visual use, this means you get lower power with the same eyepiece and a wider field of view. Not a bit. 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. I had a Celestron, Antares and Hirsch for awhile and compared them over about a year. But I am rusty, can you condense a bit for me please? A wider field of view and a lower magnification is also useful, with some focal reducers and with some eyepieces, for visual observers with telescopes with long focal ratios. However, because the field curvatures in refractors and SCTs vary a lot, I would predict unpredictable effects inre: field curvature. I have the Antares and have no complaints. This is especially true when these reducers are used with cameras with smaller sensors with a dimension of about 1/4 to 1/3 the diameter of the reducer, and with telescopes with a focal ratio of f/7 or larger. Celestron is considered better in terms of QA, less likely to come with free dust, hair or fingerprint. 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. control and Sky Viewer display makes selecting your target easy. This filter threads on to the rear cell of your Celestron or Meade SCT telescope. They provide 0.75x focal reducers for these telescopes that takes an f/8 instrument down to f/6. USD $80.00. For me, I was looking for, and planning to keep, the one that yielded the greatest reduction. In this case, an additional T-adapter (with an optical length of 50mm) is needed to get the spacing correct for a DSLR or other camera with a 55mm back focus. But nearly every observer who installs one of these devices is pleased with their performance. It is not a corrector or flattener. 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. Since then, Agena has become one of the leading online retailers of telescopes and astronomical accessories worldwide. I was referring to the C6 to answer you specifically. Does anyone have any experience with the Celestron and Antares focal reducers? I've seen some older threads saying that the Celestron, Meade and Antares FRs are all the same and manufactured in the same factory. 160K views 9 years ago This video is a complete overview of focal reducers and how they function applying to telescopes. Celestrons award-winning Nature DX binocular gets a major upgrade with the addition of ED objective lenses. 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). Also read the reviews here, including those at 4 stars. Once focused it's pretty good. However, the export of some items may be restricted outside the US due to size or manufacturer restrictions. But the diameter of the image circle decreases by a factor of 0.63 to about 24mm. Reproduction without permission prohibited. Enter it during checkout! Its a good thing I have the super lube handy or my neighbors wont be happy with me.come to think of it, Im sure the small mammals here wouldnt be thrilled either! There is one difference though the Antares came with only one lens cap whereas the Celestron had a cap for both ends. It's an either/or proposition: reducer and 1.25", or 2", but not 2" and reducer. This is the distance at which the reducer must be placed in front of the eyepiece or camera focal plane in order to operate at the design reduction factor.