New user here Just wanting to know about people's experiences with this scope.
USer Experiences ASKAR FRA 300 Pro
I posted several FRA300 images, incredibly sharp scope.
https://astrob.in/r8tdnq/0/
https://astrob.in/3bri3c/0/
https://astrob.in/bcarkr/0/
https://astrob.in/oqi8xc/0/
FWHM (ASI533MM Ha) is 1.86px = 4.8arcsec
Someone had bad one but I got jackpot, very satisfied.
https://astrob.in/r8tdnq/0/
https://astrob.in/3bri3c/0/
https://astrob.in/bcarkr/0/
https://astrob.in/oqi8xc/0/
FWHM (ASI533MM Ha) is 1.86px = 4.8arcsec
Someone had bad one but I got jackpot, very satisfied.
Same here, been pretty happy with mine so far:
https://astrob.in/uxiam2
Have 3-4 other datasets that are just finishing up now but they look pretty good as well.
https://astrob.in/uxiam2
Have 3-4 other datasets that are just finishing up now but they look pretty good as well.
I'm also very satisfied with my ASKAR FRA 300 Pro. It's incredibly sharp and easy to handle.
https://www.astrobin.com/3te438/
https://www.astrobin.com/nzgplj/B/
https://www.astrobin.com/85ueyq/
https://www.astrobin.com/6vulol/
https://www.astrobin.com/3te438/
https://www.astrobin.com/nzgplj/B/
https://www.astrobin.com/85ueyq/
https://www.astrobin.com/6vulol/
Does the 0.7x reducer of FRA400 work with this?
Anybody got some full frame shots, especially smaller pixel colour cams like ASI6200MC or Hypercam 61CFX?
533 class is tiny sensor and I’m keen to see the corners at full frame and check star shapes and CA. Ta
533 class is tiny sensor and I’m keen to see the corners at full frame and check star shapes and CA. Ta
Anybody got some full frame shots, especially smaller pixel colour cams like ASI6200MC or Hypercam 61CFX?
533 class is tiny sensor and I’m keen to see the corners at full frame and check star shapes and CA. Ta
I’d also like to see full frame if possible, im sure it will be fine on APS-C
if it’s good on full frame I’ll replace my R51 or ACL200 with a FRA300 Pro
Tarun Kottary:
Does the 0.7x reducer of FRA400 work with this?
Not likely. These are unusual since the 5th element is within the focuser drawtube. I think it moves although flat field is maintained, from the 4th fixed element. The reducer would probably hit the 5th glass as it is so near the rear end. Need to see what the fra400 back end looks like, and where it's 5th element is located compared to fra300.
Initial results of mine with 2600mm were not very good. Pixel peep the stars and you will see (and this is after "correcting" with BlurXterminator - if you can imagine it looked way worse prior to this). I texted Agena, who subsequently texted Askar and they said it was a tilt problem not an optics problem. I'm still working through it. Shouldn't have this much trouble with a 5 element petzval right out of the box. Backfocus was within spec per the manual.
https://astrob.in/dcv0sb/B/
https://astrob.in/dcv0sb/B/
Jeff Horn:
Initial results of mine with 2600mm were not very good. Pixel peep the stars and you will see (and this is after "correcting" with BlurXterminator - if you can imagine it looked way worse prior to this). I texted Agena, who subsequently texted Askar and they said it was a tilt problem not an optics problem. I'm still working through it. Shouldn't have this much trouble with a 5 element petzval right out of the box. Backfocus was within spec per the manual.
https://astrob.in/dcv0sb/B/
Star look strange throughout. Either a decentered or mis-collimated lens somewhere in the OTA, or something else with your filters, but the double star color and what looks to be astigmatism suggest something happened to the lenses. Mine is behaving as it should, and there are reports of lemons with these.
It's a pretty large backspace allowance. Can't recall specifics, but was something on the order of 40-72mm. I was in the middle. The filter / camera parts that I attached were also attached to an esprit120 with no real tilt or star issues, so figured it had to be a scope problem. Thanks for looking at that image Colm.
Jeff Horn:
Initial results of mine with 2600mm were not very good. Pixel peep the stars and you will see (and this is after "correcting" with BlurXterminator - if you can imagine it looked way worse prior to this). I texted Agena, who subsequently texted Askar and they said it was a tilt problem not an optics problem. I'm still working through it. Shouldn't have this much trouble with a 5 element petzval right out of the box. Backfocus was within spec per the manual.
https://astrob.in/dcv0sb/B/
That is not tilt. It also doesn't look like a backfocus problem (which would be unlikely at f/5 anyway). It looks like a classic case of pinched optics to me. I hate when manufacturers know absolutely nothing about telescope optics and misdiagnose issues in an attempt to put the blame on the user.
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Looking at processed photos can be more of a testimony to the imager's processing ability or software that the scopes optics. Especially when using such software as BlurXterminator. Also one must be assured that there in absolutely no sag or un-thoganallty in the imaging train. In that case is it the optics, focuser or camera. More likely all the above.
It is probaly best to look at 20 to 30 sec images (to avoid any tracting error) of a star field. It's best to images close as possible to zenith to avoid sag.
I have a Tak FSQ106ED, AP130GTX and Stellare Oficina RH200. All show odd stars in the corners of a QHY268M due to sensor tilt. I assure you it is not the optics of these scopes, or the focusers. The abnormalities of the stars are the same from all three scopes. That's always a good test to narrow down the problem. I have never owned a camera that didn't have some degree of tilt. That must be delt with first.
Lynn K
It is probaly best to look at 20 to 30 sec images (to avoid any tracting error) of a star field. It's best to images close as possible to zenith to avoid sag.
I have a Tak FSQ106ED, AP130GTX and Stellare Oficina RH200. All show odd stars in the corners of a QHY268M due to sensor tilt. I assure you it is not the optics of these scopes, or the focusers. The abnormalities of the stars are the same from all three scopes. That's always a good test to narrow down the problem. I have never owned a camera that didn't have some degree of tilt. That must be delt with first.
Lynn K
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Jeff Horn:
Initial results of mine with 2600mm were not very good. Pixel peep the stars and you will see (and this is after "correcting" with BlurXterminator - if you can imagine it looked way worse prior to this). I texted Agena, who subsequently texted Askar and they said it was a tilt problem not an optics problem. I'm still working through it. Shouldn't have this much trouble with a 5 element petzval right out of the box. Backfocus was within spec per the manual.
https://astrob.in/dcv0sb/B/
That is not tilt. It also doesn't look like a backfocus problem (which would be unlikely at f/5 anyway). It looks like a classic case of pinched optics to me. I hate when manufacturers know absolutely nothing about telescope optics and misdiagnose issues in an attempt to put the blame on the user.
I’m glad I seen this post because I was considering this companies scope as a possible wide field setup!
I agree, its not tilt and I know this as I’ve had the same or similar issues with a well known US based manufacture (will not name) and they told me it was an objective lens misalignment probably due to shipping damage. The scope was shipped back and I’m awaiting its return.
Point is at least this company recognizes what the flaw is. Something that can help you narrow it down is take an image with the camera in 1 position and then rotate it 90º and see if it changes with the rotation. If it does it more then likely in the objective lens. I also agree use 30-60 exposures for the test to help eliminate tracking errors.
Dale
Supportive
Dale Penkala:Jeff Horn:
Initial results of mine with 2600mm were not very good. Pixel peep the stars and you will see (and this is after "correcting" with BlurXterminator - if you can imagine it looked way worse prior to this). I texted Agena, who subsequently texted Askar and they said it was a tilt problem not an optics problem. I'm still working through it. Shouldn't have this much trouble with a 5 element petzval right out of the box. Backfocus was within spec per the manual.
https://astrob.in/dcv0sb/B/
That is not tilt. It also doesn't look like a backfocus problem (which would be unlikely at f/5 anyway). It looks like a classic case of pinched optics to me. I hate when manufacturers know absolutely nothing about telescope optics and misdiagnose issues in an attempt to put the blame on the user.
I’m glad I seen this post because I was considering this companies scope as a possible wide field setup!
I took a single 300 second exposure with my ASI2600MC last night of the Veil nebula and this is the result with only DBE ran (the street lamp caused some serious light gradient). I calibrated with a master bias and a master flat and in Revision A, I haven't ran anything else besides DBE. Revision B is with NoiseXTerminator and Rev C is with BlurXTerminator added on to that. I'm pleased with how the scope is performing. It will join me on my trip to Moab next week for a Milky Way photography trip. I will take some time out in Canyonlands for a night of imaging with my scope instead of camera lenses.
https://www.astrobin.com/zlwfdq/#r0
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I have had two sessions with mine to date. It looks pretty sharp. There is a small amount of CA present but its minimal and only visible on zooming into the edges. A bit of vignetting on the very corners of my 2600 MC pro APS-C camera. The focus is quite sensitive to temperature changes so an EAF is recommended if you are expecting big drops in temperature. Pretty happy with mine so far.
https://www.astrobin.com/full/w6t5qo/D/
https://www.astrobin.com/full/nhdeos/D/
https://www.astrobin.com/full/w6t5qo/D/
https://www.astrobin.com/full/nhdeos/D/
Helpful
Anybody got some full frame shots, especially smaller pixel colour cams like ASI6200MC or Hypercam 61CFX?
533 class is tiny sensor and I’m keen to see the corners at full frame and check star shapes and CA. Ta
I used it with an EOS R, very good quality to the edges, some slight chromatic aberration in the corners (if you are pixel peeping), but with BXT it’s not an issue. Only minor vignetting.
Since then I switched to an ASI2600MC Duo, with that I don’t even take flats anymore.
https://www.astrobin.com/stzt33/
https://www.astrobin.com/of61bj/
https://www.astrobin.com/073niq/
https://www.astrobin.com/botzrn/
Jeff Horn:
Initial results of mine with 2600mm were not very good. Pixel peep the stars and you will see (and this is after "correcting" with BlurXterminator - if you can imagine it looked way worse prior to this). I texted Agena, who subsequently texted Askar and they said it was a tilt problem not an optics problem. I'm still working through it. Shouldn't have this much trouble with a 5 element petzval right out of the box. Backfocus was within spec per the manual.
https://astrob.in/dcv0sb/B/
Hey Jeff,
I had this same issue with my 2600mcp using the zwo filter drawer. The issue it turns out was i did not have the filter drawer set in the correct place. Once I set it directly to the camera, the issue went away. If you don't have the EFW close enough to the sensor, this could be your problem. Just throwing it out there..
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I'm using the FRA300 Pro w/ the 183MCPro camera (pixel size is 2.4 / pixel scale = 1.65). As people said it produces nice, sharp images. Very minimal chromatic aberration towards the corners (Nico Carver has a great review on youtube which you can check out). It's size, weight and form factor is very manageable for carrying around your yard. Being an astrograph it's especially easy to set up the imaging train. Some have mentioned the unnecessary weight of the parts such as the brace , etc.. I appreciate that it's sturdy, the rotator has a great feel, the focuser feels solid and responsive. That being said, I've found that it does better with an auto-focuser set to periodic refocusing. It isn't an overly precise rack-and-pinion mechanism and mine is prone to slight slippage. My impression is that you get a relatively quality build across the board for the price class. I plan to upgrade my camera next, but I've still got some sky to explore with the 300 (:
Here's the most recent image I uploaded but so far everything in my directory is with this scope:
https://www.astrobin.com/d8zrj0/D/
Here's the most recent image I uploaded but so far everything in my directory is with this scope:
https://www.astrobin.com/d8zrj0/D/
Helpful
My experience has been great so far. Have a falcon rotator connected to a zwo efw the into my 2600MM. Clean images and great stars edge to edge.
Here is my latest image with the scope and there are a few more on my page.
CS
Dan.
https://astrob.in/vjgqis/0/
Here is my latest image with the scope and there are a few more on my page.
CS
Dan.
https://astrob.in/vjgqis/0/
Anybody got some full frame shots, especially smaller pixel colour cams like ASI6200MC or Hypercam 61CFX?
533 class is tiny sensor and I’m keen to see the corners at full frame and check star shapes and CA. Ta
I've been testing the ASKAR300 with a 6200MC. tilt for the linked images is almost none but the off-axis aberration is between 0.81 and 1.1. I don't see how to change the distance of the camera sensor to correct that. I've fooled around with different spacing to see it that made a difference...it does not.
https://www.astrobin.com/xxycjs/
https://www.astrobin.com/t7sab9/
John Favalessa:Anybody got some full frame shots, especially smaller pixel colour cams like ASI6200MC or Hypercam 61CFX?
533 class is tiny sensor and I’m keen to see the corners at full frame and check star shapes and CA. Ta
I've been testing the ASKAR300 with a 6200MC. tilt for the linked images is almost none but the off-axis aberration is between 0.81 and 1.1. I don't see how to change the distance of the camera sensor to correct that. I've fooled around with different spacing to see it that made a difference...it does not.
https://www.astrobin.com/xxycjs/
https://www.astrobin.com/t7sab9/
For proper testing you have to image broadband or specifically 6200MC + UVIR filter.
Initially the scope arrived with a defect on the stars due to a misalignment of the lenses but Sharpstar quickly put everything back in order and it works perfectly. so easy to use that I will keep it with me.
https://www.astrobin.com/users/orion13/
https://www.astrobin.com/3b18p1/C/
Nicolas
https://www.astrobin.com/users/orion13/
https://www.astrobin.com/3b18p1/C/
Nicolas
Luka Poropat:
For proper testing you have to image broadband or specifically 6200MC + UVIR filter.
I was finally able to test with just an UVIR cut filter...and drumroll...you are so right!! the off-axis aberration is almost perfect! thanks so much -john
Its a fabulous scope