This $400 Scope Delivers Decent Images - With a Catch
The new Askar 80ED is a compact, budget-friendly refractor with real potential for beginner astrophotographers. In this video, I test it with the ASI2600MC (IMX571) and ASI585MC, c...
The Space Koala Astrophotography by Luca Bartek
Would this be suitable on the Sky-watcher Adventure gti, or not.
it will be fine in terms of weight limits. But due to the focal length, if your goal is photography, guiding will most likely be necessary
@the_space_koala thanks I would be guiding with this.
Can you either make a video (very unlikely id actually see it) or just tell me here...what's your choice for scopes for each category. Planetary, dso imaging. Budget is a concern as im retired and not rich. I should mention i have an askar 71f and a zwo 585mcAir and an AM5. My telescope has a flattener in it but im thinking king i need a reducer. But there is only one available for this scope. Im very new. Took my first galaxy images last weekend. Still learning the stacking software.
Granted this is a good beginner telescope..... I still feel the askar 71f when it was $599 was a better choice ..... today the have a 61f which is $499 would be a better alternative and will still be ok on the star watcher star adventurer gti.... I currently use the 71f with a zwo guide scope zwo asiair plus and zwo each focuser and works perfectly fine..... I did like the review nonetheless
I agree, if your goal is imaging the flat field series is a better option. If you want to do visual only (and you don't buy the flattener accessories) the 80ED can win in some cases
I'm thinking of buying this scope for use with my SHG700. Is the focuser able to handle the weight?
Yes it is, I actually tried the SHG700 with this one first.
I have been trying to find out if you can achieve focus with a 1.25in adapter, 1.25in diagonal and 1.25in eyepieces. Cloudy Nights seems to allude you will need an extender to achieve focus but no one has tested this on this model. Has anyone tested this model with 1.25 diagonal and eyepieces?
I’ll try it and come back to you
Adding a 1.25” adapter (protruding 11.3mm), the basic 1.25” diagonal from Celestron (I’m not able to measure what distance it adds) and a Televue 20mm Plossl I needed an additional 4cm to reach focus, I would calculate adding at least 6-7cm of adapters to focus comfortably
@the_space_koala wow! Thanks for taking the trouble of finding out. I asked Askar and they didn't understand the question.
Thank you Luca, I found this instructive considering I have a 70ED f/6 refractor (with 0.8x reducer/flattener), although not from Askar. What is the exposure time on the single frames you showed? Apologies if you said it in the video and I missed it
they were 60sec for the single exposures showed in testing. Then for the final images I used 300 sec exposures
@the_space_koala thank you
Your reviews are continuing to be thorough, informative and very helpful. You point out upsides and downsides in the same respectful and constructive manner, which makes your reviews come across as very trustworthy. For a budget-scope at ~ $600 (with correctors) this doesn't look too shabby, especially considering what magic you can easily do in post. Based on a review like this, I would have seriously considered this one as a starter-scope. I am still rocking my trusty Sky-Watcher 80ED, but I am looking to upgrade into something along the lines of something in the Askar FRA series or the SQ-series.
Could be a great combo in use with a miniCAM8 Mono
You mention ASKAR V, but what about the FRA300/400 series?
I have a fra600 and I’m super happy with it. I have never had the chance to try the 300 or 400 so I would not be able to vouch for it (though I’ve heard good things)
Honestly I'm going to keep my eye on this for next spring. I pack all my gear in a backpack, so weight is critical. I've been using an Askar FMA180 and Sharpstar 61edph iii at 180/270/360mm focal lengths, and it would be nice to have something with a bit more reach for doing some introductory attempts at smaller targets. I do wonder how much difference the better optics of the 71f would make in terms of resolving finer details when paired with an Asi533mc or Asi585mc though.
Hi Luca 👋🏻 Nice video as usual and very detaild explaind 😊
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. So askar 71f is better? With 0.75 reducer
Yes, no clear optical abberations, full frame, better focusser and attachment for cameras and flat field without flattener.
Thanks for this review! The 'good 'ol' Skywatcher / Orion ED80, even though a bit underrated nowadays, used to be a very well corrected ED doublet (it's about 50% more expensive I reckon, without including the flattener). It used to be usual choice for those starting in the hobby. I'd say it's better than the Askar, but in any case the images you've got look quite decent, given the price.
Your voice is different, smoother? You sound good, great review.
Thank you! People (other comments in the past) have bullied me into seeing a vocal coach 😁 I should’ve done this years ago
BTW @The Space Koala - what about backfocus with reducers/flattener - did you have any issues like with Askar 103 APO ?
I used each of them with the recommended backfocus of 55mm and it seemed good to me
@the_space_koala so Askar adjuster isn't needed like for 103?
In the unit I had I didn’t need to deviate from 55mm so no
They should call one the 80 HD 🙃 I have a Canon 80D and that's cool cause I also have A.D.D 🤣 anyway great video!
You Askar promotors have zero credibility as far as I am concerned. Bonus payments for mentioning ZWO 32 times, including promoting the abysmal 585.
If you watch the video you’ll see I’m not exactly promoting the telescope. The camera choices reflect what I happen to have at home. The 585 is currently the most popular entry level sensor - regardless of the brand
What a bizarre comment.
Skywatcher must be quaking in their boots lol
A doublet ? Hmm ... there might be a radio dipole antenna in your astro-future after all 🤔
Mi nombre es polvazo