Astigmatism with 50mm focal lens in conjunction with astronomy cooled camera (yet not with a DSLR)

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Mau_Bard avatar
Dear AB Friends,
during a backfocus tuning session for a new Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art lens, I found out that when it was used together with a cooled astro camera (I used a Touptek 2600 Color), it generated visible astigmatism in the corners (Picture 1). This happened always in the backfocus range of 44 to 45.5 mm. I tried removing the filter that was placed between the lens and the camera, but the astigmatism persisted.

Instead, when I mounted the lens on a modded Canon 77D body, the astigmatism in the corners disappeared (Picture 2).

Please note that my Touptek works correctly with 135mm focals.

What is happening? I suspect that, at such short focal lengths, the protective glass of the camera (which in my case is a UV/IR filter) is enough to cause this astigmatism. Or maybe I am doing something wrong.

Have you had a similar experience with such short focals? It seems to me that that only viable solution with a 50mm lens is to use a DSLR rather than a cooled camera.
Thank you in advance for your advice.

Mau


Picture 1: Image corner with Touptek TS2600 Color + Sigma 50 1.4 Art



Picture 2: Image corner with Canon 77D + Sigma 50 1.4 Art
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andrea tasselli avatar
It isn't astigmatism, I bet it is some quirk of the AR coatings in those cameras (which, given your experience with them, seem best avoided).
Well Written
Mau_Bard avatar
Grazie Andrea, thank you.
Good point. After your remark, I can try and check it with an ASI camera.
Thank you again.
Ciao! Mau