The Antares f6.3 focal reducer screws directly to the visual-back thread of all popular SCTs and converts f10 instruments to f6.3. 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. In terms of reduction and correction which are what reducer/correctors are supposed to do both are superb. However, manufacturers virtually never provide this specification. Our proprietary StarBright XLT optical coatings dramatically increase transmission, up to 97.4% on our Schmidt corrector lenses. What an enjoyable read and detailed comparison. The Celestron is both a corrector and focal reducer and the Antares is just a focal reducer. Details: The item must be the identical item, brand name, size, weight, color, quantity and model number. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. There are also third-party vendors such as Hotech. You also wont be unhappy spending the few extra bucks on the Celestron for the pretty orange lettering, particularly if you can pick one up used, as I did. Celestrons award-winning Nature DX binocular gets a major upgrade with the addition of ED objective lenses. 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. Focus misses by about 1 turnof the focus knob.Here is my solution:Buy a shorter 1.25 visual back for my scope. As one increases, the other decreases. No negative issues to report. However, it will not thread into William Optics accessories, and with GSO it is a hit or miss. I use it on my C8 SCT with a 1000d, and it seems to do everything written on the tin. and you will be fine. I only have the Celestron f/6.3. 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. 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. Regardless, the difference was miniscule and is more than adequate on both and exceeds a 8 or 6 SCTs baffle tube diameter. However, even though the imprint on the item states "Reducer / Corrector" please note that his is a reducer only. I use the same back spacing for both on a small 6" Celestron SCT. 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. SKU: CEL-94245. 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. If you want to save a few buck watch the classifieds on CN. I really don't see any difference in the current crop except the "Meade" is usually the cheapest. I found both to be very good. External Focusers for Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes 3.1 The Basics of SCT Threads Celestron or Antares? Ive owned Celestron, Meade, and Antares models over the years at least a couple of each. This is a. If you want to use them for visual - try maybe long focal length eyepieces rather than the reducer. Housings, threads, reduction, correction, blah, blah, blah. Edited by bluewater, 05 September 2020 - 11:27 AM. Yellow and orange members of open clusters stood out a bit more as the various stars displayed their individuality. The Reducer/Corrector can also be used for terrestrial digiscoping. Request stock alerts and we'll let you know when the item is back in stock. The most popular accessories for your new telescope! High power views will provide flatter fields all the way to the edge, both visually and photographically. A reducer is a set of converging (or positive) lenses that cause the light from a telescope objective to converge at a steeper angle to the focal plane as if it were coming from an objective with a faster (lower) focal ratio and a shorter focal length. Does anyone know if the Antares 4000 focal reducer is as good as the Celestron focal reducer. The reducer features fully coated optics in an anodized aluminum filter ring with an ergonomic rubber grip. 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. You currently have javascript disabled. 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. Most Feather Touch focusers cost between $300-$350. Some third-party vendors also make reducers for SCT scopes. In the 1960s, Celestrons founder, Tom Johnson, created groundbreaking new telescopes never before seen on the consumer market. There is a way to make subjective data more useful and that way is proper blind, or better still. It must be in stock at the time of Price Match for us to make a guarantee. But the smaller image circle means there is a limit to the field stop of an eyepiece that can achieve an unvignetted image. However, this also came at a cost, as the sky background in the Antares was slightly brighter. Focal reducers also move the effective focal plane of the objective inward, that is, towards the objective (see Figure 1). 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. 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. The equations and argument in the Appendix of this article shows the relationship between the working distance and the reduction factor. Focal reducers for these relatively fast ED refractors are generally for imaging only, not for visual observation. 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? The resultant reduction factor was measured to be 0.46x. Reproduction without permission prohibited. The most significant mechanical variation, however, is the quality and precision of the threading. If used before or beyond the working distance, unwanted image distortion may result, especially when using cameras with larger sensors. With the Celestron Reducer/Corrector Lens, thats precisely what you get. It features a standard male SCT thread (2" OD, 24 TPI) on one side and a standard SCT female thread on the other. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. A few people have reported issues with the male SCT thread diameter on this item being a bit larger than necessary. From the SkyProdigy, a telescope so smart it can align itself, to our high-performance EdgeHD optical system, weve revolutionized the hobby of astronomy for beginners and advanced amateurs alike. This innovative software solves the time-consuming problem of trying to pinpoint the North Celestial Pole. Can you help me? Unleash the full pointing accuracy of your Celestron computerized telescope with a specialized telescope control software suite. Reducer Lens .7x - EdgeHD 1400 Learn More. In many cases, the answer is yes, especially for electronically-assisted astronomy (EAA). No small animals were harmed in making these observations. Designed distancing using the reducer with a 1.25 visual back and 1.25 Televue mirror diagonal; 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. Just one question. 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). So, this past week I challenged the Antares and Celestron models to a head-to-hear on my C8 on some decent nights of good seeing and transparency in my Bortle 5-6 urban skies. Focal reducers for many SCTs and their flat-field equivalents usually have a back-focus distance of 105mm. Meade does not make an equivalent line of focal reducers for the ACF scopes, although some models of Meade ACF are already at f/8, faster than the f/10 ratio of Celestron Edge HD scopes. Observing the microscopic world has never been easier! Melotte 15 - First Process in PixInsight (easy! However, because the field curvatures in refractors and SCTs vary a lot, I would predict unpredictable effects inre: field curvature. Your wishlist has been temporarily saved. Even though they may have been slightly dimmer, galaxies were a bit easier to tease out of the urban light soup I deal with. Generally, views through the Antares seemed a little more transparent and brighter. 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. Again, to my surprise, there was absolutely no difference between the Celestron and Antares on any star. The equations in the Appendix show how this all works. 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). Some manufacturers will specify the working distance from the middle of the rear lens surface, and this number must then be converted into a practical working distance number by subtracting the amount by which the rear lens surface is recessed in its housing. Unique focal reducer and field corrector lens accessory Reduces the focal length and f/ ratio of your Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope by 37% Provides a dual focal ratio instrument, without sacrificing image quality Compatible with all Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes (see compatible list in description) Share Customers Also Purchased Description Go behind the scenes with Celestrons product development team and learn more about our award-winning and patented innovations. 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. Because most modern Newtonians already have relatively fast focal ratios, these telescopes do not usually use focal reducers.