William Optics RedCat 51 APO

[R3tr0]

25 minutes ago, Sland said:

To me, that is suspicious

He did not say I couldn't post the email, when I asked him if he was ok with the idea of me posting the email, that question was one of a few he did not answer and I don't want to press him on that matter, I am personally very grateful of time he has given me. As for the Redcat and how capable it is, William is very confident in it, and his enthusiasm has passed on to me!   

 

 

[Guest]

33 minutes ago, R3tr0 said:

He did not say I couldn't post the email, when I asked him if he was ok with the idea of me posting the email, that question was one of a few he did not answer and I don't want to press him on that matter, I am personally very grateful of time he has given me. As for the Redcat and how capable it is, William is very confident in it, and his enthusiasm has passed on to me!  

Fair enough but I will wait to see

[bokchoy ninja]

2 hours ago, R3tr0 said:

Not necessarily, you should be able to get great images from your set up, I also use the star adventurer and properly aligned should get 5+ minute exposures, alot relys on stacking software and skills with Photoshop/lightroom and this was using an astro modded D800.

You use the redcat 51 with the star adventurer? Any issue with weight? Do you use a guider?

Thanks!

[Buzzard75]

On 13/04/2019 at 14:10, R3tr0 said:

I have one of the redcat's on order but have just seen this video - https://youtu.be/5w5l6gwdjmg and I am curious if there is anyone with an opposing opinion ?

He does a lot of talking, but doesn't really say a lot, if you know what I mean. I don't think he fully understands the construction of the RedCat, the differences between it and the original Petzval design (4-element/3-groups vs 4-element/2-groups) or the actual purpose of FPL-53 glass. The design of the RedCat appears to be very similar to Takahashi's and I can't imagine anyone in their right mind would say the same things he's said about them. I don't know what his background is, but I think there's a reason this person only has a fraction of the subscribers and why this video is three weeks old with only a few hundred views. I have a hard time believing he is a professional photographer of any sort because he states someone wouldn't use manual focus with an automatic focusing lens. That is just patently false. He made a few valid points, but the ones he made seemed somewhat petty to me. I honestly wouldn't put a lot faith in anything this person is saying.

 

Edited April 17, 2019 by Buzzard75

[R3tr0]

6 hours ago, bokchoy ninja said:

You use the redcat 51 with the star adventurer? Any issue with weight? Do you use a guider?

Thanks!

I'm waiting for the redcat (1.47kg) to arrive, I currently use A Sony 100-400 GM (1.3kg) on a A7R3 and have to use an WO Extension bar to balance it out, No guider!

EDIT: One of the reasons i have opted for the Redcat is the 100-400 lens is a focus by wire so is a little awkward to hit focus manually. 

Edited April 17, 2019 by R3tr0

[R3tr0]

4 hours ago, Buzzard75 said:

He does a lot of talking, but doesn't really say a lot, if you know what I mean. I don't think he fully understands the construction of the RedCat, the differences between it and the original Petzval design (4-element/3-groups vs 4-element/2-groups) or the actual purpose of FPL-53 glass. The design of the RedCat appears to be very similar to Takahashi's and I can't imagine anyone in their right mind would say the same things he's said about them. I don't know what his background is, but I think there's a reason this person only has a fraction of the subscribers and why this video is three weeks old with only a few hundred views. I have a hard time believing he is a professional photographer of any sort because he states someone wouldn't use manual focus with an automatic focusing lens. That is just patently false. He made a few valid points, but the ones he made seemed somewhat petty to me. I honestly wouldn't put a lot faith in anything this person is saying.

 

Yes, William Yang also mentions the Takahashi FSQ106 and TeleVue 101 are also Petzval designs. WO has tested the redcat with both the Vixen 55SS and Borg 55, with the redcat coming out better.

[Jkulin]

1 hour ago, R3tr0 said:

I currently use A Sony 100-400 GM (1.3kg) on a A7R3...

Slightly off topic, but I have just bought the same camera and was interested in the red cat, where did you manage to find a 48mm T adapter and what back focus are you going to work to when the red cat arrives?

[R3tr0]

On 17/04/2019 at 09:07, Jkulin said:

Slightly off topic, but I have just bought the same camera and was interested in the red cat, where did you manage to find a 48mm T adapter and what back focus are you going to work to when the red cat arrives?

Hi I have on order the following to attach it to the A7R3 -

 - M48 Female to T2 Male Adaptor 6mm Optical Length

 - T-Mount for Sony Alpha

 

WO are working on production of a single adapter so may get this if the setup i am getting is any way awkward.

"what back focus are you going to work to when the red cat arrives?" The redcat has about 4" of travel with the helical focus mechanism which is part of the petzval design so there is no issue, with focusing.

 

EDIT: I did not get these from FLO, but I think they should be able to sort this out for you if you give them a call, I don't want to mention a competitor on there forum.

[Jkulin]

On 17/04/2019 at 09:46, R3tr0 said:

Hi I have on order the following to attach it to the A7R3 -

 - M48 Female to T2 Male Adaptor 6mm Optical Length

 - T-Mount for Sony Alpha

 

WO are working on production of a single adapter so may get this if the setup i am getting is any way awkward.

"what back focus are you going to work to when the red cat arrives?" The redcat has about 4" of travel with the helical focus mechanism which is part of the petzval design so there is no issue, with focusing.

So is the Red cat a T2 (42mm) fitment?

If you have a 48mm T adapter with the e-mount can I ask where you got that from?

 

[R3tr0]

2 minutes ago, Jkulin said:

So is the Red cat a T2 (42mm) fitment?

If you have a 48mm T adapter with the e-mount can I ask where you got that from?

I guess I could PM you? Im new here so Ill see if there is any option for that?

[R3tr0]

8 minutes ago, Jkulin said:

So is the Red cat a T2 (42mm) fitment?

If you have a 48mm T adapter with the e-mount can I ask where you got that from?

PM sent.

[FLO]

1 hour ago, Jkulin said:

If you have a 48mm T adapter with the e-mount can I ask where you got that from?

 

1 hour ago, R3tr0 said:

I guess I could PM you? Im new here so Ill see if there is any option for that?

Please don’t be concerned about posting a link. If a competitor has a useful adapter that is not already listed at FLO then we need to know so we can add it to our stock ?

I am impressed you are speaking with William Yang. I don’t think I have had the pleasure. 

Steve 

[Jkulin]

Hi Steve, first place I looked at was FLO, but I imagine you have to stock where the demand is and the Sony's are now taking quite a strong hold after claiming to have resolved the star eating firmware. Selling all my Leica and Nikon equipment was a very big switch, but the Sony results sold me for widefield etc.

[R3tr0]

3 minutes ago, FLO said:

 

Please don’t be concerned about posting a link. If a competitor has a useful adapter that is not already listed at FLO then we need to know so we can add it to our stock ?

I am impressed you are speaking with William Yang. I don’t think I have had the pleasure. 

Steve 

Ok, thanks here you go for the links -

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/rother-valley-optics-m48-female-to-t2-male-adaptor-6mm-optical-length.html

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/rother-valley-optics-t-mounts.html

 

With William Yang I basically requested a reaction to comments made about the Redcat 51 on a You Tube channel on the "email us" section of the WO website, I wasn't expecting William to personally answer but he did and we have on going dialogue. A really nice and open guy.

[FLO]

Would this not be a good solution: 

M48 Camera Adapter 

If yes then we already stock them, in Sony fit too ?

Steve 

[FLO]

We also have William Optics M48 adapters ?

William Optics DSLR M48 Rings

[R3tr0]

3 minutes ago, FLO said:

Would this not be a good solution: 

M48 Camera Adapter 

If yes then we already stock them, in Sony fit too ?

Steve 

Would this be all that I needed, so this would go straight on the Scope and marry to the camera (full frame FE Mount) without any adapter?

RVO have no issue with me canceling the adaptors! I have them waiting on the Redcat arriving!

[FLO]

8 minutes ago, R3tr0 said:

Would this be all that I needed, so this would go straight on the Scope and marry to the camera (full frame FE Mount) without any adapter?

I confess I am not sure. I use a Canon DSLR, as do my colleagues. 

We stock an Astro Essential M48 to Sony Alpha / A and a William Optics William Optics DSLR-M48 to Sony NEX. I am guessing your camera requires the former but I don't now. 

Jkulin appears to know Sony so perhaps he will confirm? 

HTH, 

Steve 

[R3tr0]

On 17/04/2019 at 12:04, FLO said:

I confess I am not sure. I use a Canon DSLR, as do my colleagues. 

We stock an Astro Essential M48 to Sony Alpha / A and a William Optics William Optics DSLR-M48 to Sony NEX. I am guessing your camera requires the former but I don't now. 

Jkulin appears to know Sony so perhaps he will confirm? 

HTH, 

Steve 

Just found this - 

https://sonyreconsidered.com/sony-a-mount-vs-e-mount-bc14739d5473

"While NEX, FE, and E mount lenses are all made to fit interchangeably, the A mount is not compatible into that system without an adapter."

So I think both would be needed?

[R3tr0]

16 minutes ago, FLO said:

I confess I am not sure. I use a Canon DSLR, as do my colleagues. 

We stock an Astro Essential M48 to Sony Alpha / A and a William Optics William Optics DSLR-M48 to Sony NEX. I am guessing your camera requires the former but I don't now. 

Jkulin appears to know Sony so perhaps he will confirm? 

HTH, 

Steve 

I have asked William Yang for his advice on this, I do know WO are developing a single unit for the Sony Alpha full frames to adapt the Redcat to but its still in development phase!

[Jkulin]

1 hour ago, FLO said:

Would this not be a good solution: 

M48 Camera Adapter 

If yes then we already stock them, in Sony fit too ?

Steve 

Thanks Steve, unfortunately the Sony A7R3 is an e-mount

[R3tr0]

10 hours ago, Jkulin said:

Thanks Steve, unfortunately the Sony A7R3 is an e-mount

The official e-mount for the Sony will be available on the WO website next week along with some wildlife images done using the Redcat and the A7R3 ?

[R3tr0]

@Jkulin

Here are a couple of images of William Yangs Setup with the upcoming E mount adapter and i love that Pier/pod!

Edited April 18, 2019 by R3tr0

[Davey-T]

Quick go at the Moon last night just after it had risen using RedCat and Canon 300mm f/4, single shots straight from the camera neither of them very good but neither one better than the other, Canon image is bigger.

Will do some star fields when the Moon goes away.

Dave

RedCat

Canon

Edited April 20, 2019 by Davey-T

[Guest]

Nikon D500 with Nikon 200-500 f/5.6

Handheld @ ISO 200 1/1000s f/5.6