FSQ 130

[Astroscot2]

Getting ready for the big chips..... anyone on the list

The new Takahashi FSQ-130ED incorporates optics that use an exceptionally advanced design that produces a flat-field astrograph a with large highly illuminated field that is further enhanced with the new dedicated 645 reducer that produces a 70mm image circle at f/3.5.

The scope incorporates a five-element design that includes 3 premium ED elements to produce a high order of color correction. At prime focus, the 130 produces an incredible 110mm image circle. The stars in the center of the field are 2.0 micron and only 4.5 micron at the edge of an 66mm circle. The high contrast images produced are extremely sharp and are 90% illuminated.

The FSQ-130ED has been designed to be a flat field super low dispersion quintuplet apochromat with broadband multi-layer anti reflection coatings to transmit the maximum amount of light.

At 22" long the FSQ-130ED is a highly portable powerful flat-field astrograph and does not require a large mount to carry it, so it can be easily used at remote sites and with 175mm of back focus has enough room to attach long imaging packages.

The FSQ-130ED was designed to produce a large highly illuminated flat field that is perfect for larger chip cameras that require larger illuminated fields. This design is the next step in the evolution of the Takahashi FSQ Series astrographs. The outstanding performance of the FSQ-130, its portability, high quality construction and outstanding images makes this instrument an outstanding imaging platform.

NATIVE FOCAL RATIO: f/5; 650mm FL

Optical performance:

Off-axis distance [mm] 0 15 22 32

RMS-spot diameter [micron] 2.0 3.0 4.0 4.5

Relative illumination [%] 100 99 97 92

Takahashi has designed a new dedicated 645 format reducer for the FSQ-130ED that produces a 70mm diameter image circle with very small stars 5.0 micron at the edge of an 64mm circle.

645 Reducer 0.7x

Focal length: 455mm

Focal ratio: f/3.5

Image circle 70mm

Optical performance

Off-axis distance [mm] 0 15 22 32

RMS-spot diameter 2.5 3.0 4.0 5.0

Relative illumination [%] 100 96 90 60

The Takahashi RD-QR .73x can be used with the FSQ-130 and will produce color rich images across a flat field and a 44mm image circle.

RD-QE 0.73x

Focal length: 474mm

Focal ratio f/3.6

Image circle 44mm

Optical performance:

Off-axis distance [mm] 0 15 22

RMS-spot diameter (micron) 3.0 5.0 14

Relative illumination [%] 100 90 65

EX-ED 1.5x

The Extender-ED when used with the 130 offers larger image scale for smaller objects at 982mm.

Focal length 982mm

Focal ratio f/7.5

Image circle 44mm

Optical performance:

Off-axis distance [mm] 0 15 22

RMS-spot diameter (micron) 2.0 15 30

Relative illumination [%] 100 80 65

The EXQ-1.6x is well suited to be used with the FSQ-130 for greater image scale. Stars produced by the EXQ are small.

Extender-Q 1.6x

Focal length 1043mm

Focal ratio f/8

Image circle 44mm

Optical performance:

Off-axis distance [mm] 0 15 22

RMS-spot diameter (micron) 4.0 8.0 10.0

Relative illumination [%] 100 75 58

SCOPE IS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. PRICE TBD (DECEMBER-JANUARY). THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY LIMITED PRODUCTION SCOPE!!

nyone on the list?

[Peter Drew]

Probably limited by the price! 

[kirkster501]

£££££ is what we want to know!  Has the TEC140 got this part of the market sown up though?

[Digger1895]

Wow, very nice!

Sorry nothing else to say really.

[ollypenrice]

This is almost a duplicate topic, in effect, of an earlier one discussing this scope. While it's very impressive on paper, the key point is... where do you find a camera to fill this image circle? The FSQ106 can cover 88mm, Tak claim. More than enough for the biggest CCD available to amateurs. The TEC 140 with TEC flattener will also cover the biggest amateur chips, but it's slower. Then again it has more FL. My own conclusion on the other thread was that that this is a scope without a camera - for the moment.

Olly

[Liquid360]

I've heard the price is $15,000USD. Add on the reducer and adapters.... that is one seriously priced piece o' hardware!!

[ollypenrice]

I've heard the price is $15,000USD. Add on the reducer and adapters.... that is one seriously priced piece o' hardware!!

Reducer? Why would you use a reducer? If you wanted a shorter FL wouldn't you just buy the 106? If you wanted to image faster you'd buy a second 106 and a second camera and come out faster and cheaper.

This looks like a marvellous bit of kit but I'm still at a loss as to know what one would do with it, given that no (amateur) camera exists which is capable of exploiting it.

Olly

[Liquid360]

So people do buy imaging rigs without a reducer? As you know I'm new here.

[perfrej]

Yes, people buy without reducers. It is all about image scale and utilizing the field of view by means off CCD real estate. As for the ideal camera for the 130, that would be something with a KAF-50100 sensor - which has a diagonal of just over 61mm...

You already have a pretty large sensor in the KAF-8300

/per

[ollypenrice]

Reducers need to be used with care. They do not unambiguously reduce exposure time, contrary to popular belief. An example; unreduced at F5 you can fit in M42. Reduced at F4 you can fit in M42 and the Running Man. The same image-wide strength of signal will be reached faster in the F4 image but M42 alone will only look acceptable in the reduced image because it is presented at a smaller size in the end. No new M42 photons are captured by the reducer.

For an unambiguous reduction in exposure time you need something which doesn't exist for telescopes - other than by buying a different one - and that is an 'aperture increaser.' If you take your 'x' focal length 8 inch and increase its aperture to 10 inches you do get more M42 photons, you do present the image at the same size and you do reduce exposure times. Now camera lenses do have 'aperture increasers' in the form of the diaphragm and in this case the F ratio is unabiguously related to the exposure time because the aperture is varying while the focal length is not.

Per and I were chatting over breakfast about the Tak 130 and the gigantic 50100 chip. It is roughly twice the size of the 11000 chip, but you can buy two Atik 11000s for far less than the price of an FL1 50100 abnd you can buy two Tak 106s, it seems, for less than the price of the proposed 130. So I reckon Tom and I are not doing too badly with a pair of used Tak 106 scopes costing about half the price of the 130 and a pair of Atik 11000s costing, between them, about half the price of the 50100 chip! 

We might sit back and congratulate ourselfves on our perspicacity - but what we are actually doing is gnashing our teeth and wondering who will sponsor us to the tune of two 50100s     

Olly