New Askar 71F Flatfield quadruplet - Too good to be true?

Being F/6.9 is a dagger straight to the heart. That is super slow for the focal length you get.

Specs look interesting. The big question is whether it holds up to the promise of 44mm image circle.

For me this scope will be perfect only if i use my IMX571 with it for RGB only, beside or next to my FRA400 with 294 mono camera, both will have almost same FOV, that will be a great use of it for me.

Seems like a solid choice at that price point.

MaksPower:
The specs look very close to this, and I have had the TS version for a few years. It is fine upto APS-C, and a good price for what it does:

 https://www.apm-telescopes.net/en/ts-imaging-star-70-mm-f678-ed-quadruplet-flatfield-apo-refraktor

There is a faster f/5 version (costs more):

https://www.apm-telescopes.net/en/ts-optics-70-mm-f5-quadruplet-flatfield-apo-with-3-element-fpl53-objective

FWIW Most of these cheap APOs originate from Kunming United Optics, rebadged (paint, anodizing and a label) to suit various resellers. ASKAR have a habit of fiddling with the numbers by a few mm to try to differentiate theirs from the others, but I'd bet it's identical to mine.

Askar one is cheaper than TS Optics one, also i like the blue color more or green because i have two IMX571 cameras in blue so it will match Askar 71F more than TS, and the shipping i could find free shipping for Askar while not possible with TS scopes, for me it is like Askar is responding to all other manufacturers and giving me better prices despite they are all identical in design or performance.

F/5 Quad is always expensive, but Askar is trying to get closer with nice prices, i can get Askar FRA300 before i can afford any 70mm F/5 Petzval, in fact i managed to get FRA400 with a reducer cheaper [and free shipping] than 70mm F/5 native without anything.

Bought Askar 71F recently, but just like on purpose 3rd week cloudy skies. And forecast is we going to have at least two more weeks like this
I was considering sw evostar 72ed, even ordered one, but it arrived with factory defect on lens. Also I did not like overall quality of SW.
When I learned the price of field flattener for 72ed I decided to look for alternatives and found that Askar will be cheaper then SW +  flattener and it has built-in one.
Also Askar goes with two oculars and star diagonal + spacers and adapters. So I understood -this is my choice
I am going to put it on SW AZ-GTi mount and use ASIAir for EAA.

AstroShed:
I have one of these scopes incoming from Askar directly from China, i have purchased it for review in my YT Chanel, and may keep if it is up to the hype, it looks good on paper, albeit a tad slow, and there are no plans in the near future for a reducer to be released for it either which is a shame…
so if anyone has a generic reducer or one from another brand and has tried it, let us know, as the optics in this scope must be the same as something already out there…🤷🏼‍♂️


My YouTube Chanel

There is actually a dedicated 0.75x reducer planned, coming out in late August or early September. There's already a page for it on both Agena Astro and High Point Scientific's websites.
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Edit: Looks like the reducer costs $189.00 and brings the scope down to a focal length of 368 mm at f/5.2.
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