Brand: SharpStar

Askar FRA 400 Quintuplet APO Astrograph (FRA400)

FRA400

Brand: SharpStar

Askar FRA 400 Quintuplet APO Astrograph (FRA400)

FRA400

The Askar FRA400 is a fantastic astrograph, these are nice wide scopes that deliver nice flat images without a flattener. This size is super versatile and delivers amazing results.
  • 72mm aperture
  • 400mm focal lengrth
  • Quintuplet air-spaced APO design
  • Supports full frame
  • No need for flattener
  • 0.7x reducer (optional)
  • No need to calculate backfocus
  • Retractable lens hood
  • 150mm dovetail plate
  • Multi-functional handle
  • 3" rack-and-pinion focuser
  • 1:10 fine adjustment
  • Various adapters included
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$1,161.00 USD

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Special Order
$1,161.00 USD

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Why we love the Askar FRA 400 Quintuplet APO Astrograph (FRA400)

The Askar FRA400 is a fantastic astrograph, these are nice wide scopes that deliver nice flat images without a flattener. This size is super versatile and delivers amazing results.

The Askar FRA (Flatfield Refractive Astrograph) series are a modernized petzval design. They offer sharp and flat-to-the edge views with massive imaging circles. Askar uses two ED elements in the main objective to ensure images that are completely free of chromatic aberration.

What you get are expansive views with pinpoint sharp stars and color accurate images. These modern quintuplets leverage cutting edge camera technology to deliver stunning astrophotography results.

Product Description

The FRA, which stands for "Flatfield Refractive Astragraph", is a refractive astrograph designed for built-in flat field correction. FRA also used in visual observation, this series creates versatile high-quality flat frame images for astrophotography, is the few great telescope of versatile optical tube.

For easy parameter conversion between different lenses, the first-come of the FRA family features a Petzval-like quintuplet design (two pieces of which are special ED glass) with an aperture of 72mm, a focal length of 400mm and a focal ratio of f/5.6, providing a 44mm image circle.

The FRA400 quintuplet astrograph has adopted modern optical design with a retractable dew shield, a 3" rack-and-gear-based high-precision reducer containing a 360-degree rotator, M68×1 thread, a 2" adapter ring and a 1.25" visual adapter. The reducer is equipped with fine focal adjustment function for more precise calibration in practical observation or sky imaging.

It is excellent in controlling and possibly avoiding chromatic aberrations. The image quality is also optimized to satisfy various observing or imaging purposes.

It’s worth mentioning that FRA 400/5.6 has a pair of fashionable-looking and multifunctional patented tube rings. Various practical attachments are available on three sides of the tube rings which is really a convenience for practical observation or imaging activities.

The back focus of FRA400 is 140mm, starting from the base of mounting thread on the housing to the focal plane. And users don't need to worry about the calculation of back focus when using FRA400, as long as the object in the objective lens is focused.

The portable and versatile astrograph can go with many potential attachments of other accessories during your observation or sky imaging. It’s definitely your intimate helper for your exploration.

F/5.6 is a relatively fast focal ratio for astrophotographic use, but we further provide an ultra focal reducer to satisfy the special needs of experienced imagers, greatly reducing the practical focal ratio to f/3.9. This inventive combination supports full-frame imaging and can dramatically shorten the exposure time, which is a pioneering design in the astrophotography field.

The inborn mission of Askar FRA400 is to simplify and enhance our customers’ observing and imaging practice, bringing them infinite surprise when safariing the boundless universe.

What can I see with a Askar FRA 400 Quintuplet APO Astrograph (FRA400)?

Here are some simulated views of common objects. Results with your telescope will vary with viewing conditions, obrits, equipment and more.

Jupiter with

25mm Eyepiece - 16x Magnification

(Sold Separately)

Jupiter with

10mm Eyepiece - 40x Magnification

Sold Separately

Jupiter with

5mm Eyepiece - 80x Magnification

Sold Separately

Moon with 25mm Eyepiece

16x Magnification

(Sold Separately)

Moon with 10mm Eyepiece

40x Magnification

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Moon with 5mm Eyepiece

80x Magnification

Sold Separately

Andromeda with 36mm Eyepiece

11x Magnification

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Andromeda with 25mm Eyepiece

16x Magnification

(Sold Separately)

Andromeda with 10mm Eyepiece

40x Magnification

Sold Separately

What's in the Box

  • Optical Tube
  • A pair of rings
  • A handle
  • A dovetail plate
  • An inspection list
  • A manual

Specifications

Aperture 72mm
Focal Length 400mm
Focal ratio F/5.6
Objective Type Quintuplet dual ED air-spaced APO
Image Circle 44mm
Back Focus 140mm (from the end of rotator M68x1 thread)
Overall Length 317mm
Weight 2.56kg
Options weight 2.88kg
Back-End Adapter M68x1 male thread, 2" adapter/1.25" adapter

Customer Reviews

Based on 5 reviews
80%
(4)
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(0)
0%
(0)
20%
(1)
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(0)
A
A.L.
Askar FRA400 good as expected

Heavier than expected, quality is there on every aspect of the telescope.
Only a few things could be improved like the focuser is hard to turn, first time I tried I checked if I did unlock it, I was skeptical - could I install the Q-Focuser I bought for it. So far so good
Also the dew shield is not long enough, (guess it is true for similar telescope) first night I lost 2 hours of M31, since I added a dew strap and made a longer dew shield. The image quality meets my expectations. I don't think I will ever buy the focal reducer, the FOV is good as is. And the reducer is expensive.

c
c.b.
Perfect Scope for widefield

Amazing scope with perfect round stars edge to edge with the asi2600. Perfect combo with the reducer giving you the option of having 400mm or 280mm. Also super fast delivery.

S
S.S.
Awesome scope!

I bought this a few months ago and now that I've had time to et the feel of it....I'm super impressed. This is actually my first refractor and I was worried about the new learning curve going from reflectors The built in reducer and adapter cones are a big plus and make the back focus simple and easy. This thing takes beautiful photos from edge to edge. I highly recommend it. I only wish it came with a carry case...other than that I cannot complain.
Here is an example. The Rosette nebula 100 - 60sec exposures, zwo533mc. just slightly cropped to remove stacking artifacts.

G
G.M.M.
Great Scope

Heard about it from a friend..seems like an extraordinary buy

A
A.
Great astrograph!

Got this from all-star last year, perfect stars edge to edge even without the reducer. Light enough for my cem25p as well.

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