Askar SQA85 - 85mm F4.8 408mm Quintuplet Petzval Astrophotography APO

The Askar SQA85 is an apochromatic quintuplet flat-field astrograph that offers high performance thanks to its air-spaced SD lens design. The self-flattening Petzval lens design supports a 44mm image circle with a central RMS star size of only 1.6μm. Stars at the corners of a full frame sensor are tiny at just 2.5μm.

Thanks to its Petzval design, you don't need to worry about reaching a precise back focus distance. As long as you're in focus, you're good to go. Recommended sensor distance to the rear adapters is between 40 - 70mm.

Unlike the smaller SQA55, the SQA85 has a traditional 2.8" dual-speed rack & pinion focuser which is compatible with most motorized focusers on the market, such as the ZWO EAF or QHY Q-Focuser. Like the rest of the tube, the entire focuser barrel is CNC-machined for strength and rigidity. Anti-reflective matte paint ensures stray light is kept to a minimum. The rear high-precision 360 degree rotator is engraved with a micrometric scale, making repeatable framing for astronomical targets straightforward.

Two finder brackets on the focuser as well as a finder saddle on the top of the rings allow you to connect a variety of accessories such as guiders and control units. The 290mm Vixen-style dovetail plate gives you plenty of room to balance the scope with typical imaging trains.

The SQA85 comes with M68, M54 and M48 camera-side adapters for easy connection to typical imaging trains. A durable water resistant resin case with EVA foam interior keeps the telescope safe and has plenty of space for additional accessories.

Looking for a high-quality refractor that delivers sharp, highly detailed astro photos, this Askar SQA85 is the perfect choice! Five internal lens elements work together to eradicate coma, field curvature, and any other aberrations that may be present, resulting in images with super fine, pinpoint stars. Another key benefit from the Petzval design is the inherent flat field. This means stars are sharp all the way to the corners, even with full frame cameras. In addition to its high performance optics, this refractor is furnished with a precise dual speed focuser, a fast f/4.8 focal ratio, numerous included accessories, and features effortless camera attachment. With qualities like these, this Askar SQA85 is a must have for those wishing to take their astro-imaging journey to the next level!

With a focal length of 408 mm, you can nicely frame a wide variety of celestial objects within your camera sensor. Fill the frame with the Pleiades Open Star Cluster, the Orion and Running Man Nebulae, as well as the entirety of the Andromeda Galaxy. Demonstrating high-end build quality, this Askar SQA85 is crafted using CNC machining. The signature gray of the Askar SQA series provides a sleek, stylish finish, and the anodized surface offers a premium feel. Also, numerous essentials have been included within this package, such as a tube ring, a Vixen-style dovetail plate, multiple camera adapters, and an Oxford cloth carrying case. With this Askar SQA85, you're set up for success!

Full Frame, Flat Field Imaging

The Askar SQA houses five internal lenses, two of which are made from high-quality super low dispersion (SD) glass. With this many lenses, the incoming light focuses with outstanding precision, delivering detailed, high contrast images free from aberration. Thanks to the Petzval astrograph design, there is no need to purchase an additional field flattener, as a flat field is inherent when imaging with this telescope. This means stars will be sharp across the entire 44 mm image circle, providing you with the ability to capture expansive, brilliant scenes with some of the largest sensors on the market today. Also, another huge benefit of imaging with this Petzval astrograph is that there is no need to calculate backspacing distance! As long as your imaging assembly reaches focus, the entire field of view will be in focus as well. This makes camera attachment a breeze, and you can rest assured knowing all of your stars will be round and pinpoint.

Feature-Packed Refractor

The Askar SQA85 has been crafted with quality in mind, and delivers exceptional images night after night. Take a look below as we delve deeper into this telescope's data-backed optical performance, its high precision focuser, and the numerous inclusions that come standard within this package!

With this SQA85, there's no shortage of targets to capture! The 408 mm focal length is perfect for framing a plethora of nebulae within your camera sensor, such as the Lagoon Nebula, the California Nebula, and plenty more. Also, large galaxies like the Andromeda Galaxy and the Triangulum Galaxy fit nicely within the field of view as well. The wide, 85 mm aperture collects copious amounts of light in a single frame, and the fast f/4.8 focal ratio is wonderful for completing projects in a timely manner. With the three included adapters (M68, M54, and M48)you can enjoy effortless camera attachment with your dedicated astroimaging camera, DSLR, or mirrorless camera.

SQA85 focuser

Delivering precise focus, this Askar SQA85 includes a dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser. The large dial allows you to find rough focus, while the smaller, more precise knob helps you hone in on the details. This focuser features a CNC machined barrel, a focusing travel of 32 mm, and is 2.8" in size. Also, it houses an anti-reflective internal design to eliminate stray light for the best possible astro photos! Making it easy to return to a prior focus position, Askar has included a high precision focus scale on this telescope. This focuser is also compatible with a large majority of electronic autofocusers on the market today for automatic, hands-free focusing.

SQA85 and case

To get you ready for a night of imaging, Askar has included multiple accessories with this package. The Vixen-style dovetail is compatible with a large majority of equatorial mounts on the market today, and is 11.4" (290 mm) in length to make balancing a breeze. Holding this Askar SQA85 in place is the integrated tube ring. This tube ring houses six M4 and M6 threaded holes for accessory attachment, and comes with a slotted multifunctional finder base to hold even more accessories. Within the box, you'll also find two finder bases, an Oxford cloth carrying case, and an assortment of adapters (M68, M54, and M48). In addition to these accessories, this Askar SQA85 houses two additional built-in inclusions: a 360° camera rotator to help you with framing, and a retractable dew shield to protect against stray light and dew formation.

Specifications

What's in the box

• Askar SQA85 OTA
• Padded soft case
• 290mm Vixen sized dovetail bar
• Included adapters: M68 x 1, M54 x 0.75 & M48 x 0.75
• Manual