The new askar FRA400C

2 replies279 views
Dennis Dahlmans avatar
Hi there,

As I am looking to buy my first scope I hope anyone could offer some insight and advice!

The askar FRA400C caught my eye. It has the same optics as the Askar FRA400, but with a few changes.
It has an adjustable aperture. and the focuser is incorporated on the tube, like a normal camera focuser.
I wonder if these changes have any  important downsides. This new version is 350 euro's cheaper compared to the "normal" FRA400 with the normal 2 speed telescope style focuser and fixed aperture.

Thanks in advance!
Dan H. M. avatar
The 0.7x FF reducer looks great if it actually works. Judging by the others that have recently attempted to make f/4 refractors (WO and Tak) I am not optimistic but will be impressed if they pull it off. 

Why on earth did they put a helical focuser on it though? That makes it a no for me.
Well Written
Quinn Groessl avatar
Helical focuser is a downside. And if you're never going to use it like a camera lens for terrestrial photography, the adjustable aperture is just another thing that can break or go wrong in the night.
Related discussions
Can someone help me, bought a used RASA and unsure how to connect
Hi, I bought a used RASA, and there appears to be some kind of attachment to the front that I cannot connect to(see images). My understanding is that you use the camera adapter plate and a retaining ring to screw on the front. The scope appears to ha...
Jul 15, 2025
Both posts are from new telescope owners seeking advice about specific hardware components and attachment systems on their respective instruments.
Possible RASA 8 Mirror Shift Issues on Long Exposures
Hello all RASA users! I recently bought a RASA 8 that had been in use for several years. After the first tests I didn’t notice any problems, but when I moved to 15-minute exposures, the stars turned into streaks. It feels like the guide scope is not ...
Aug 23, 2025
Both posts discuss technical issues with telescope equipment that could affect astrophotography performance.
Crescent Nebula raw data available for processing - 21 hours collected
Hello all, The time has come again to offer up some of my raw image data for anyone to process if you’re up for it, specifically my 2025 acquisition of the Crescent Nebula in Cygnus. I captured this in a relatively narrow FOV with my Celestron C6 sco...
4 days ago
Both posts involve astronomy enthusiasts sharing their telescope equipment experiences and seeking community engagement.
Dark bands at top and bottom of Minicam8M
EDIT: QHY support responded with the following statement: “We can basically confirm that this phenomenon stems from the light-gathering limitations of the Minicam8M sensor structure at extremely fast focal ratios (F4), rather than from mechanical obs...
Nov 8, 2025
Both posts discuss technical considerations and potential limitations when selecting or using astrophotography equipment.