Reducers and Barlows for RedCat 51 + ASI183MC

[KTachyon]

Hey guys!

I was thinking it could be great if I could add a reducer/barlow to the RedCat 51 for astrophotography. Is this a good idea? I mean, the ASI sensor seems to cut away quite a bit from the lens view, I think, so I guess that, if I could get a reducer, I could pull more light to the sensor and get a wider view for those really big nebulas, right?

As for the barlows, I guess I would need more exposure and guiding precision, but could get more magnification out of smaller objects.

Apart from that, I'm unsure about what elements would fit on this setup. I found some for microscopes with a M48 connector, but don't connect to both ends and I'm not sure if it's the same thing.

Would appreciate some ideas

Thanks in advance!

[Adam J]

16 hours ago, KTachyon said:

Hey guys!

I was thinking it could be great if I could add a reducer/barlow to the RedCat 51 for astrophotography. Is this a good idea? I mean, the ASI sensor seems to cut away quite a bit from the lens view, I think, so I guess that, if I could get a reducer, I could pull more light to the sensor and get a wider view for those really big nebulas, right?

As for the barlows, I guess I would need more exposure and guiding precision, but could get more magnification out of smaller objects.

Apart from that, I'm unsure about what elements would fit on this setup. I found some for microscopes with a M48 connector, but don't connect to both ends and I'm not sure if it's the same thing.

Would appreciate some ideas

Thanks in advance!

I am not sure that you can use a normal reducer on a four element design as you would end up trying to correct for curvature in a scope that has already been corrected inducing aberrations as opposed to removing them. 

Edited May 9, 2019 by Adam J

[Davey-T]

You could try a cheap .5X focal reducer I guess.

Dave

[newbie alert]

I'd of thought with a 250mm fl the fov would be quite large..what camera are you thinking of using it with?

[Doversole]

I would second the question on a reducer for the Redcat51. Some nebulas are huge (The Spaghetti nebula - SH2-240 for example) and having the option of using a reducer would be nice on this scope.