antares vs celestron focal reducer

This filter threads on to the rear cell of your Celestron or Meade SCT telescope. The most popular accessories for your new telescope! 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 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. Besides observing from his heavily light polluted backyard in Los Angeles, Manish enjoys conducting astronomy outreach programs in local schools. I even lost track of which reducer I was using. Another factor to consider: focal reducers also increase the angle at which light approaches the focal plane. Nowadays I tend to use the Celestron more with my refractors for imaging and viewing. When using the diagonal, keep the field stops of the eyepieces under 20mm. 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. The internal surfaces are blackened and glare-threaded to provide the highest contrast. I found both to be very good. Description. So it provides a 0.63x design reduction factor when used with an f/10 SCT at the specified working distance. 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. I've heard and read all kinds of things about the Antares being only a reducer and not a corrector, etc. The problem with those SCT reducers is that they cause chromatic aberration and require refocusing when using parfocal RGB/other filters. Many focal reducers for refractors have a working distance (or back focus distance) of 55mm. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. In terms of reduction and correction which are what reducer/correctors are supposed to do both are superb. It has only one cover, which surprised me. 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. The female end attaches to the rear cell of the telescope. If yes, what kind of focal reducers can I use? All Rights Reserved. First, let's have a look at some key optical parameters are needed to understand focal reducers. . 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. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. 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. I think there may be some confusion here, because Antares makes a variety of reducers for eyepieces and scopes in addition to this SCT R/C but this definitely is a reducer/corrector. Most different was that the sky background was a little darker and more uniform, providing a tiny contrast boost for fainter objects. Hmmm . However, the China 6.3 R/C has noticeable internal reflections that I haven't figured out yet. Celestron Nexstar+ 127 SLT, several budget plossl eyepieces, Celestron 8-24mm zoom EP and a 12.5mm illuminated double reticle EP, Svbony SV205 camera w/.5 focal reducer, Celestron SkyMaster 20x80 binos on a 40 yr old QuickSet PanHead tripod, Stellarium, Sharpcap and ManyCam on my laptop, SkyView and Nightshift on my phone and a dandy little $9 . We process your personal data as stated in our. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1100 Learn More. Not noticed any optical problems. A little longer light path with a 2 Baader click-lock, low profile 1.25 adapter, and the 1.25 diagonal; Get ready for a night of astroimaging with your mount faster than previously thought possible with All-Star Polar Alignment. 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. Fumbling around in the dark, fine threads might be a problem. ED glass is specially formulated and contains rare-earth compounds that greatly reduce a visual defect called chromatic aberration. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1100. 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. Quite interestingly it bears the very same engravings of the Meade 4000 r/c (including "series 4000") except for "MEADE". However, the export of some items may be restricted outside the US due to size or manufacturer restrictions. 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. This also resulted in the clear aperture of the Antares being about 39-39.5mm, versus the Celestrons 41mm. It was used strictly for imaging, not visual observing. control and Sky Viewer display makes selecting your target easy. 3. The threads were similar on the eyepiece end, but a bit smoother. Such an image circle is still large enough to encompass the relatively large sensor of many deep-sky astronomy cameras. Perfect for the serious student, professional scientist and discriminating hobbyist. 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. 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. Again, to my surprise, there was absolutely no difference between the Celestron and Antares on any star. Just point the telescope at any three bright objectsstars, bright planets, or even the Moonand your telescope can orient itself with the night sky. I think I remember hearing the reduction factor is slightly different, cant remember more or less reduction. Regardless, the difference was miniscule and is more than adequate on both and exceeds a 8 or 6 SCTs baffle tube diameter. 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. In such cases, we will be happy to take the item back as per our standard return terms. I have a Raspberry HQ camera, a Sony TV Zoom 12.5-75mm f1.8 and a Astromania 1,25" 0.5x focal reducer. The focus barely shifts between filters and I suspect any shifts I do get are down to the filters and changes in temp. 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. Wonder how they would stack up with a Japanese 6.3. Our patented SkyAlign alignment technology makes setting up a computerized telescope simple, fast, and accurate. There is a way to make subjective data more useful and that way is proper blind, or better still. Edited by Tony Bonanno, 16 April 2021 - 06:44 PM. As a Barlow's magnification increases with increasing distance from the Barlow, a focal reducer's reduction increases with increasing distance from the reducer. One focal reducer will not achieve optimum results with all types of telescopes, so there is no universal' focal reducer. Enter it during checkout! Please Log in to save it permanently. Orders placed over the weekend will be shipped on the following Monday. For visual use, this means you get lower power with the same eyepiece and a wider field of view. Therefore, a 55mm back focus with a filter that is 3mm thick added to the imaging train would become 56mm. 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. 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. 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. Place the plastic covers on the lens when not in use to reduce the dust collection. Thank you so much for the informative article, I now understand better how to integrate my reducer into my system to get better performance. If used with other f/ratios, the field flattening characteristic may be unpredictable. If you want to save a few buck watch the classifieds on CN. I have an 8SE, and am thinking about getting a focal reducer. This was most noticeable on the eyepiece end of the RC, where the metal rim surrounding the lens was about 1mm thicker than on the Celestron. As one increases, the other decreases. 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. Thks for that and its not for visual it for astrophotography. Free shipping $189.95 The lens is housed in machined aluminum for are machined aluminum black anodized. In both cases will end with a similar tfov. 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. The lens that the ZWO comes with give a perfect wide angle image of what is in front of it. How does it look thats what matters. I doubt there is any difference between the Antares and the Celestron except price. [email protected]. * Not a Retail Store * 16313 Arthur StreetCerritos, CA 90703, USA, Availability: Item has been discontinued by Agena and we no longer carry this item. 2.2 Using a Focal Reducer at the Working Distance, 2.3 Adjusting the Reduction Factor of a Focal Reducer, 3.3 Focal Reducers for Compound Telescopes, 3.5 Focal Reducers for Ritchey-Chretien and Field Flattened Scopes, 3.6 Focal Reducers in 1.25" and 2" Barrel Formats, 4. 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. 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. I have the Antares and have no complaints. 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. I have a made in Japan 6.3 R/C and a made in China 6.3 R/C. 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. Celestrons award-winning Nature DX binocular gets a major upgrade with the addition of ED objective lenses. F6.3 Focal reducer for F/10 or higher telescopes, 43mm aperture, 4-Element, Fully Multicoated. Increase that distance, and greater reduction results and visa versa. My application is mostly visual now, but I'm looking to do more astrophotography over time. Meade once made an f/3.3 focal reducer for SCT scopes. The Antares f6.3 focal reducer screws directly to the visual-back thread of all popular SCTs and converts f10 instruments to f6.3. 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. In your opinion, is the Celestron is worth the added cost ($150 vs. $90)? 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. 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. During check-out, you will be presented with several shipping choices and costs. 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. This part is no longer in production, but it is sometimes available used and may be used with cameras with smaller sensors. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. No difference. Perhaps not exactly- there will be some uncertainty because of manufacturing tolerances and so forth, but it will be close. Focal reducers for refractors are easy to use. Housings, threads, reduction, correction, blah, blah, blah. CEL-94245. Thanks for the extremely valuable article. For example, the focal reducer for an 8-inch Celestron EdgeHD telescope has a design reduction factor of 0.7x and a specified working distance (or back focus) of 105mm. 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. Contiguous US Customers:All items we sell ship for free within the Contiguous US. Better images are also obtained when using these focal reducers at a reduction factor of 0.5x 0.8x, approximately. 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. 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. Many focal reducers are meant to be used within a few millimeters of the specified working distance to achieve the best possible image results. The previous post shows the reducer on what appear to be two different refractors. They only publish the value of D, the working distance (sometimes called the back focus distance) and the design reduction factor MRD. When the camera sensor is placed at this distance, the reduction factor of these reducers is 0.75x. riklaunim Members 559 3,445 Location: Poland Posted October 11, 2010 They are reported as identical. They are designed (assuming you are referring to the f/6.3 version) for the f/10 light cone. 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. Go behind the scenes with Celestrons product development team and learn more about our award-winning and patented innovations. It is not a corrector or flattener. 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. 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. The price for an item/offer must be listed and valid at the time of match. I've only used it a few times but it looks good to me. 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. 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"). Figure 7 shows an example of an image of the Dumbbell Nebula taken with a 1.25" GSO focal reducer at a reduction factor of 0.63x with an 85mm f/7 refractor and a QHY5III-290M camera with a sensor with a 6.4mm diagonal. Because most modern Newtonians already have relatively fast focal ratios, these telescopes do not usually use focal reducers. 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. a Tele Vue Panoptic), or a Plossl eyepiece with an apparent field of view of 50 and a focal length of 32mm. 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. The C8 has no noticeable vignetting with a 32mm Plssl in the f/6.3 reducer. Start Chat And when d1 = FR, that is, when the focal reducer is placed at a distance from the focal plane of the objective that's equal to the reducer's focal length, the focal length of the combined optical system is Fo, so it acts as a 0.5x reducer. Equation 6 & 7 item two & three does not make sense, both say increase its reduction (one should say reduce its reduction?). It must be in stock at the time of Price Match for us to make a guarantee. The stars at the edge could be worse or better. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. I happily cycle through LRGB filters to build the image rather than do a whole run of one filter at a time. Copyright 2003-2022 Agena AstroProducts. 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. I have both the Antares and the Celestron reducers. With both, using the same diagonal set-up, the exact same stars were visible at the very edge of the FOV. If I had to guess, the difference is maybe 10-15 grams. Please note, orders placed after 10am on 2/28/2023 will be delayed. There is one difference though the Antares came with only one lens cap whereas the Celestron had a cap for both ends. 800-483-6287 Celestrons patented StarSense Technology makes it easier than ever to locate objects in the night sky, even if youve never used a telescope before. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Refractors, or SCTs with external focusers, may not have sufficient in-travel to reach focus in some configurations. That said any comparison reviews are helpful. Celestron Solar Safe filter technology is GUARANTEED SAFE for direct solar observation and has been independently tested by SAI Global Assurance Services. if the illuminated field is 27mm wide without the reducer, it will be 27 x 0.63 = 17mm with it in place. But the smaller image circle means there is a limit to the field stop of an eyepiece that can achieve an unvignetted image. Thanks guys, I'm trying to get my ZWO ASI120MC-S to work with my 90mm Meade. Unleash the full pointing accuracy of your Celestron computerized telescope with a specialized telescope control software suite. 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. 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. 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. Obviously bright objects like Jupiter or The Moon show the reflections. Clearly cost is a big factor for satisfied users. 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. The focal length of a focal reducer is usually measured from the rear lens surface of the reducer (and not the reducer's housing). 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. For example, a 0.8x reducer placed at the working distance provides a reduction of (1 0.8) x 100 = 20%. Add a 0.63x reducer, and the brightness of extended objects increases by (1/0.63)2 = 2.5. Sign up to receive sale alerts, news about upcoming celestial events, and telescope tips from our experts! 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. For this shoot-out, I used a standard Celestron C8 with Starbright coatings. This "speeds up" the optical train by reducing the focal length and magnification of the scope, requiring less time to integrate the same signal. 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. Please let us know what topics you are interested in. We have tested our current batch and it works with Meade, Celestron, and Baader SCT accessories. 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. Download the Celestron PWI Telescope Control Software. DUE TO EXTREMELY HIGH DEMAND, WE WILL NOT BE TAKING NEW ORDERS UNTIL MONDAY, DECEMBER 14. How about for visual observers? 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. This is a. Some are available in 1.25" barrel format but with C threads. Explore Scientific - Keys to the Universe Sale. I've seen some older threads saying that the Celestron, Meade and Antares FRs are all the same and manufactured in the same factory. We reserve the right to verify a competitor's advertised price and the availability of the item. The new Lithium Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery chemistry has significant advantages over other battery chemistries, great for for those Astronomers on the go. Does anyone know if the Antares 4000 focal reducer is as good as the Celestron focal reducer. 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). 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. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 925 Learn More. Article Agena AstroProducts, 2019. At least these two units I tested make the answer - whatever. Focal reducers are essential optical accessories for astrophotography, electronically-assisted astronomy (EAA), and in some cases, for visual observation with long focal ratio telescopes. Images in the Celestron tended to appear ever-so-slightly dimmer (maybe? 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. As a consequence, the standard f/6.3 and f/3.3 focal reducers for SCT scopes do not work.