Esprit 100ed vs askar fra600 vs others

Hi Andi, 

I don't own any of those scopes so I can't offer any first hand opinions but I too have been doing a bit of window shopping for a larger refractor with a bit more focal length (I currently have a Redcat51)

I put together a simple comparison of some options just for myself but happy to share what I have. I have a 2600MC so the pixel scale would be the same as your proposed setup. 

SW Esprit 100             550mm   1.41"per pixel   f Ratio   5.5
StellaMira 90mm ED 540mm   1.44                                   6
SharpStar 100QII      580mm    1.34                                   5.8  
Askar FRA500             500mm    1.55                                   5.6  
SW Esprit 120            840mm     0.92                                  7                  650mm @ f5.3 with 0.77 reducer

I was looking into the same options you listed, and decided on Askar FRA600 (which will be mounted on EQ6R too and connected to 2600MM).  Askar is a new brand, there is not much about it, but at least it has the flattener built-in so while it may have more chromatic aberration than Esprit it will save me from issues with adjusting the flattener distance (which includes struggling with various extenders to have the exact backfocus distance etc. - I hate doing it, it is super frustrating). I also have WO GT81 and flattener adjustment is an never-ending story, stars are never round across APS-C frame, I want to avoid it with my next OTA.

I was looking into the same options you listed, and decided on Askar FRA600 (which will be mounted on EQ6R too and connected to 2600MM).  Askar is a new brand, there is not much about it, but at least it has the flattener built-in so while it may have more chromatic aberration than Esprit it will save me from issues with adjusting the flattener distance (which includes struggling with various extenders to have the exact backfocus distance etc. - I hate doing it, it is super frustrating). I also have WO GT81 and flattener adjustment is an never-ending story, stars are never round across APS-C frame, I want to avoid it with my next OTA.

Do you also own the dedicated reducer for the fra600? And if so are you happy with the results?

I had the Esprit100, a very good solid scope.

Very interested in the Askar 600 as well. DO post updates once you guys have some results.

Esprit 100 is in another league, different tier altogether.

Esprit 100 is in another league, different tier altogether.

Yes, it really produces great images. I also like the option of buying an selected/certified esprit from lacerta.

TS APO100Q. quadruplet, no need any correctors, no need any backfocus distans. Focus point is point of correction.

I have the Esprit 100ED and the QHY268M (APS-C).  The field of view is about 2.4 degrees on the long edge of the sensor.  It's plenty fast at f/5.5 because the camera has such low read noise.  The field flattener is included with the scope, so do you even need a reducer?  This setup allows you to use 36 mm filters if you go with mono.  Here's an uncropped image from last summer that only has 4 hours of integration behind it. 

You can't really complain about a Horsehead image of that quality, and it's not even a mono camera.  There's plenty of real estate there without any reducer.

I've been through few telescopes in the past few years, and my only advise is what's on paper rarely reflects the whole story. You can compare FL and F-ratio and field of view, but in the end, what matters is the quality you get, build quality and image quality. I can only say one thing, you can never go wrong with the Esprit line. I will take it a further step, you can never go wrong with sky watcher stuff, and this is based on my experience and my fellow local astrophotographers.

I've had an Esprit 100ED for around 18 months and FYI, the field flattener is included with the OTA (I saw an earlier post that seemed to infer that it was not part of the package).

It is not my first scope (my first was a 10" Meade Newtonian about 4 decades ago).  I ultimately put the Newtonian aside as it was, in terms about a relationship, all about the Newtonian.  ;-)

The SW Esprit really takes the OTA out of the process so to speak.  It is relatively wide field and at the faster end of the spectrum compared to similar diameter refractors.  Optical quality may not be to Takahashi standards, but it is better IMO than some of its other direct competitors at similar and lower price points.

I  have never had an issue in my photos that was related to the OTA and its FOV fits the vast majority of targets that I pursue.

The only 'weakness' it has is the focuser - the draw tube is about 75% extended with the OEM focuser which can be a source of flexure depending on what you have connected past the flattener.  I ultimately decided to replace the OEM focuser with a Moonlight Express Nightcrawler WR30 that is both an automatic focuser and field rotator and it has been wonderful (beside being very rigid).

With the exception of a few wide angle Milky Way images done with a DSLR/Lense when I first started in the hobby, everything else has been done with the Esprit.
My Astrobin Gallery

Pick a good quality guide scope/camera and good quality astro camera and filters/filter setup.  I currently use an Altair GS60 guide scope on an ADM ring V/D plate adatper with a ZWO ASI290MM for a guide scope.  My primary imager is a ZWO ASI 2600MC-P, although I started with an ZWO ASI 294MC-P.  The 2600 provides a full APS-C sized sensor compared to the 4/3 size of the 294, plus it does not have the lamp glow issue that the 294 has.  I use (currently) a ZWO filter slider with Optolong filters although I"m considering an filter wheel and OAG.

The software suite you use has a big impact and a lot of that is more personal preference for a particular work flow style.  I use N.I.N.A. for my primary sequence management, with PHD2 for guiding.  I use PixInsight for post processing.  There are a myriad of other choices, so I'll go no further on this aspect.

I hope your experience is different than mine but my largest problem has been mounts.  I started out with an SW EQ6R-Pro that lasted about a month before it had a catastrophic failure inside the RA during an imaging session.  I replaced it with an Ioptron GEM45 which suffered ANOTHER RA issue when the bearing mount became loose in its setting.  It was repaired by Ioptron but I never really trusted it again.  Decided I was done with the  'mass produced' China mount lotter and went for what I should have done from the beginning, gotten one of the more premium mounts - I acquired a Software Bisque MyT.

In terms of relative guiding performance, for targets at a similar declination, this was my experience when the respective mounts are running good, and seeing is good:
EQ6R-Pro:  .7 - 1" Total RMS error
GEM 45:     .6 - .8" Total RMS error
MyT:           .28 - .55" Total RMS error

I started on a tripod, went to a tri-pier (big improvement), then went to a pier in my backyard.  The pier is, by far, the best solution for mount setup if you have that option.  The tri-pier runs a relatively close 2nd.  Tripod would no longer be an option I'd consider for excpet for something smaller/shorter like a WO Z73 or similar.  YMMV.

I use an Intel 10th Gen NUC and remotely  operate my rig from my office desk via my home wifi setup.

Here is a photo of my rig on its pier: 

I've had an Esprit 100ED for around 18 months and FYI, the field flattener is included with the OTA (I saw an earlier post that seemed to infer that it was not part of the package).

It is not my first scope (my first was a 10" Meade Newtonian about 4 decades ago).  I ultimately put the Newtonian aside as it was, in terms about a relationship, all about the Newtonian.  ;-)

The SW Esprit really takes the OTA out of the process so to speak.  It is relatively wide field and at the faster end of the spectrum compared to similar diameter refractors.  Optical quality may not be to Takahashi standards, but it is better IMO than some of its other direct competitors at similar and lower price points.

I  have never had an issue in my photos that was related to the OTA and its FOV fits the vast majority of targets that I pursue.

The only 'weakness' it has is the focuser - the draw tube is about 75% extended with the OEM focuser which can be a source of flexure depending on what you have connected past the flattener.  I ultimately decided to replace the OEM focuser with a Moonlight Express Nightcrawler WR30 that is both an automatic focuser and field rotator and it has been wonderful (beside being very rigid).

With the exception of a few wide angle Milky Way images done with a DSLR/Lense when I first started in the hobby, everything else has been done with the Esprit.
My Astrobin Gallery

Pick a good quality guide scope/camera and good quality astro camera and filters/filter setup.  I currently use an Altair GS60 guide scope on an ADM ring V/D plate adatper with a ZWO ASI290MM for a guide scope.  My primary imager is a ZWO ASI 2600MC-P, although I started with an ZWO ASI 294MC-P.  The 2600 provides a full APS-C sized sensor compared to the 4/3 size of the 294, plus it does not have the lamp glow issue that the 294 has.  I use (currently) a ZWO filter slider with Optolong filters although I"m considering an filter wheel and OAG.

The software suite you use has a big impact and a lot of that is more personal preference for a particular work flow style.  I use N.I.N.A. for my primary sequence management, with PHD2 for guiding.  I use PixInsight for post processing.  There are a myriad of other choices, so I'll go no further on this aspect.

I hope your experience is different than mine but my largest problem has been mounts.  I started out with an SW EQ6R-Pro that lasted about a month before it had a catastrophic failure inside the RA during an imaging session.  I replaced it with an Ioptron GEM45 which suffered ANOTHER RA issue when the bearing mount became loose in its setting.  It was repaired by Ioptron but I never really trusted it again.  Decided I was done with the  'mass produced' China mount lotter and went for what I should have done from the beginning, gotten one of the more premium mounts - I acquired a Software Bisque MyT.

In terms of relative guiding performance, for targets at a similar declination, this was my experience when the respective mounts are running good, and seeing is good:
EQ6R-Pro:  .7 - 1" Total RMS error
GEM 45:     .6 - .8" Total RMS error
MyT:           .28 - .55" Total RMS error

I started on a tripod, went to a tri-pier (big improvement), then went to a pier in my backyard.  The pier is, by far, the best solution for mount setup if you have that option.  The tri-pier runs a relatively close 2nd.  Tripod would no longer be an option I'd consider for excpet for something smaller/shorter like a WO Z73 or similar.  YMMV.

I use an Intel 10th Gen NUC and remotely  operate my rig from my office desk via my home wifi setup.

Here is a photo of my rig on its pier: 

Great setup ;) sadly a bit to expensive for me. 
i will definitely go eq6r and just hope for the best, only other mount i have interest in right now is the upcoming zwo harmonic mount. 

Rn i think i will go
- eq6r
- z6 (buying a asi2600 later on)
- mini pc with nina controlled via my macbook
- mgen2 for guiding (already owning it) 
- 99,9% going for the esprit 100 (selected and certified) 0,01% going for an fsq85
- eaf maybe one from primaluce or zwo
- app and affinity photo for image processing

Great pictures on your astrobin!