Askar 185 APO 185mm f/7 Triplet Refractor Telescope
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Askar 185APO Review
Agena Astro affiliate Nico Carver of Nebula Photos created this in-depth Askar 185 APO review:
Askar 185APO Overview
As a large aperture refractor, the Askar 185APO fills a market vacancy, continues the high quality and cost-effectiveness of APO series telescopes, and provides a new choice for amateur astronomers.
The Askar 185APO is an OTA with a 185mm aperture,1295mm focal length, and f/7 native focal ratio. The Askar 185APO can be used in three possible configurations:
- Imaging at 1295mm (f/7) with the 1x full frame flattener (sold separately)
- Imaging at 1036mm (f/5.6) with the 0.8x full frame reducer/flattener (sold separately)
- Visual at 1295mm (f/7) with either 2" or 1.25" eyepieces or a binoviewer (sold separately)
Optical Design
The 185APO's aperture of 185mm provides an increase in light-gathering power, resolution, brightness, and contrast over smaller aperture instruments. This enables the astrophotographer to gather more light and resolve more detail in their images. It also allows the visual observer the ability to resolve finer planetary, lunar and solar detail. The limiting visual magnitude is 13.1.
The Askar 185APO adopts a triplet air-spaced APO lens design, including one piece of ED glass.
Askar APO series refractors also employ special optical designs and multiple lens elements to correct chromatic aberration providing higher-quality object details and color accuracy.
A triplet lens design will reduce chromatic aberration and provide finer details and color rendition. However, this also means increased production costs and design complexity.
ED glass, also known as low-dispersion glass, is a type of optical glass specifically designed to reduce chromatic aberration.
Each Askar 185APO is equipped with a unique serial number for identification.
Features for Astrophotography
The retractable design of the dew shield, along with the enlarged locking screw, provide easy adjustments if needed. The dew shield serves the purpose of protecting the lens from the impact of external and internal light along with protecting the lens itself.
The Askar 185APO has an extended 400mm handle with a special slot design, making it also a base for installing a finderscope or guidescope.
The dovetail mounting plate of the Askar 185APO is the standard Losmandy dovetail plate, which is compatible with most equatorial mounts and saddles on the market. The dovetail plate is designed with multiple holes, which makes it easy to adjust the position. The length of the dovetail plate is 400mm, which makes it more convenient for balancing on the mount.
It is worth mentioning that the rear lens tube of the Askar 185APO has an integrated retractable design. We strengthened the overall stability to ensure that the alignment of the optical axis will not be affected when the tube is extended, thus guaranteeing the quality of the image. The ajustable tube also features a captain's wheel-style locking ring that makes it easy to loosen or tighten.
When the adjustable tube is shortened, the Askar 185APO can be used with a binoviewer for visual observation. When the lens tube is extended, the 185APO can be connected with a specific 0.8x reducer or 1.0x flattener for imaging or a 1.25"/2" diagonal and eyepiece for observing.
The entire Askar 185APO tube is crafted using high-quality CNC machining with anodized and painted surfaces. The orange accents on the ivory-white tube add a bright and eye-catching touch, presenting a stylish and elegant overall appearance.
Using the Askar 185 APO for Astrophotography
The Askar 185APO has two optional accessories: a 1x flattener and a 0.8x reducer. Both accessories come with a built-in 2" filter thread for direct filter mounting and all are equipped with M68/M54/M48 adapters for easy connection.
The 1x flattener does not change the telescope's focal ratio itself. After connecting to the Askar 185APO, it still maintains a focal ratio of f/7. The flattener corrects field curvature and coma, resulting in flatter field edges and finer star points.
The 0.8x reducer can bring the Askar 185APO's focal ratio down to f/5.6. This is a standard reducer with field flattening capabilities as well. A shorter focal ratio allows the OTA to have a wider field of view and faster exposure times, making it suitable for capturing large areas of nebulae, star clusters, and faint, fast-moving celestial objects.
3.5-inch Focuser
The Askar 185APO is equipped with a large rigid 3.5" dual-speed rack and pinion focuser which is compatible with most motorized focusers on the market. There is a high-precision scale on the focuser's 100mm of travel. The entire focuser barrel is CNC machined with a internal design that reduces reflections, glare and stray light. It is painted matte black.
There are two finder bases on both sides of the focuser, which not only eliminates the need for disassembling when changing the position of the finder scope but also provides additional mounting positions for other astronomical accessories.
The rear of the focuser features a 360° high-precision rotator with precise scales for convenient adjustment and saving of the rotation angles. It is also equipped with an enlarged rotator locking screw that can be easily secured even under high loads.
Size & Weight
As a large aperture, long focal ratio telescope, the Askar 185APO was designed with portability in mind. Due to the retractable lens tube design, the shortest overall length is only 1081mm, the OTA weight is 32.84lbs (14.9kg), and the gross weight is 37.91lbs (17.2kg) including the handle, tube ring, and dovetail plate).
The Askar 185APO tube rings have a weight 5.0lbs (2.3 kg). The thumb screws enable easy opening and locking of the rings. Meanwhile, the base of the rings is heightened, providing more space between the tube and mount.
Askar 185 APO Specifications
- Aperture Size: 185mm
- Focal Length: 1295mm (reduced to 1036mm with additional accessory)
- Focal Ratio: f/7 (reduced to f/5.6 with additional accessory)
- Optical Design: Triplet air-spaced APO (including one ED glass element)
- Available backfocus (from the 1.25” eyepiece adapter with the focuser fully racked in): 273mm
- Total tube length:
- 1081mm (when dew shield is contracted）
- 1222mm (when dew shield is extended）
- The length of the rear retractable lens tube: 95mm
- OTA Weight: 32.84lbs (14.9kg)
- Gross Weight (including tube ring and dovetail plate): 37.91lbs (17.2kg)
- Tube Diameter: 186.85mm
- Dew Shield OD, ID, Length: 207.85mm, 194mm, 287mm. Includes lock screw
- Focuser, Travel, Lock, Rotator: 3.3", 99mm, Lock, Marked Rotator
- Rear-end thread type: 2"/1.25" visual adapters
- Flattener and Reducer Included: No, sold seperately
- Front Objective Lens Cover: Yes, metal
- EAF Possible/Binoviewer: Yes, Ext tube length 97mm
- Carrying Handle: Saddle handle plus two locking screws, 350mm spacing
- Dovetail Plate: Askar LDP400mm
- Finderscope Mount Bases: Yes - 2x
- Hardshell Case Dimensions: 47" (119cm) long x 14" (35cm) wide x 15" (38cm) tall
- Manual, Check List, Certificate Included: Yes
- Shipping Box: 51"x17"x19", 97lb12oz,(44.3kg), double boxed
Askar 185 APO Sample Images & Corner Stars
| Product Banner Type | new |
|---|---|
| Free Shipping Graphic | Free Contiguous US Shipping |
| Telescope Focal Length | 1251 - 1500mm |
| Hide Found a better Shipped Price on Frontend? | No |
- 1x Askar 185APO OTA
- 1x Pair of tube rings
- 1x Handle
- 1x Askar 400mm Losmandy dovetail plate
- 1x Foam lined hard case with rollers
- 1x Manual
Askar 185APO Review
Agena Astro affiliate Nico Carver of Nebula Photos created this in-depth Askar 185 APO review:
Askar 185APO Overview
As a large aperture refractor, the Askar 185APO fills a market vacancy, continues the high quality and cost-effectiveness of APO series telescopes, and provides a new choice for amateur astronomers.
The Askar 185APO is an OTA with a 185mm aperture,1295mm focal length, and f/7 native focal ratio. The Askar 185APO can be used in three possible configurations:
- Imaging at 1295mm (f/7) with the 1x full frame flattener (sold separately)
- Imaging at 1036mm (f/5.6) with the 0.8x full frame reducer/flattener (sold separately)
- Visual at 1295mm (f/7) with either 2" or 1.25" eyepieces or a binoviewer (sold separately)
Optical Design
The 185APO's aperture of 185mm provides an increase in light-gathering power, resolution, brightness, and contrast over smaller aperture instruments. This enables the astrophotographer to gather more light and resolve more detail in their images. It also allows the visual observer the ability to resolve finer planetary, lunar and solar detail. The limiting visual magnitude is 13.1.
The Askar 185APO adopts a triplet air-spaced APO lens design, including one piece of ED glass.
Askar APO series refractors also employ special optical designs and multiple lens elements to correct chromatic aberration providing higher-quality object details and color accuracy.
A triplet lens design will reduce chromatic aberration and provide finer details and color rendition. However, this also means increased production costs and design complexity.
ED glass, also known as low-dispersion glass, is a type of optical glass specifically designed to reduce chromatic aberration.
Each Askar 185APO is equipped with a unique serial number for identification.
Features for Astrophotography
The retractable design of the dew shield, along with the enlarged locking screw, provide easy adjustments if needed. The dew shield serves the purpose of protecting the lens from the impact of external and internal light along with protecting the lens itself.
The Askar 185APO has an extended 400mm handle with a special slot design, making it also a base for installing a finderscope or guidescope.
The dovetail mounting plate of the Askar 185APO is the standard Losmandy dovetail plate, which is compatible with most equatorial mounts and saddles on the market. The dovetail plate is designed with multiple holes, which makes it easy to adjust the position. The length of the dovetail plate is 400mm, which makes it more convenient for balancing on the mount.
It is worth mentioning that the rear lens tube of the Askar 185APO has an integrated retractable design. We strengthened the overall stability to ensure that the alignment of the optical axis will not be affected when the tube is extended, thus guaranteeing the quality of the image. The ajustable tube also features a captain's wheel-style locking ring that makes it easy to loosen or tighten.
When the adjustable tube is shortened, the Askar 185APO can be used with a binoviewer for visual observation. When the lens tube is extended, the 185APO can be connected with a specific 0.8x reducer or 1.0x flattener for imaging or a 1.25"/2" diagonal and eyepiece for observing.
The entire Askar 185APO tube is crafted using high-quality CNC machining with anodized and painted surfaces. The orange accents on the ivory-white tube add a bright and eye-catching touch, presenting a stylish and elegant overall appearance.
Using the Askar 185 APO for Astrophotography
The Askar 185APO has two optional accessories: a 1x flattener and a 0.8x reducer. Both accessories come with a built-in 2" filter thread for direct filter mounting and all are equipped with M68/M54/M48 adapters for easy connection.
The 1x flattener does not change the telescope's focal ratio itself. After connecting to the Askar 185APO, it still maintains a focal ratio of f/7. The flattener corrects field curvature and coma, resulting in flatter field edges and finer star points.
The 0.8x reducer can bring the Askar 185APO's focal ratio down to f/5.6. This is a standard reducer with field flattening capabilities as well. A shorter focal ratio allows the OTA to have a wider field of view and faster exposure times, making it suitable for capturing large areas of nebulae, star clusters, and faint, fast-moving celestial objects.
3.5-inch Focuser
The Askar 185APO is equipped with a large rigid 3.5" dual-speed rack and pinion focuser which is compatible with most motorized focusers on the market. There is a high-precision scale on the focuser's 100mm of travel. The entire focuser barrel is CNC machined with a internal design that reduces reflections, glare and stray light. It is painted matte black.
There are two finder bases on both sides of the focuser, which not only eliminates the need for disassembling when changing the position of the finder scope but also provides additional mounting positions for other astronomical accessories.
The rear of the focuser features a 360° high-precision rotator with precise scales for convenient adjustment and saving of the rotation angles. It is also equipped with an enlarged rotator locking screw that can be easily secured even under high loads.
Size & Weight
As a large aperture, long focal ratio telescope, the Askar 185APO was designed with portability in mind. Due to the retractable lens tube design, the shortest overall length is only 1081mm, the OTA weight is 32.84lbs (14.9kg), and the gross weight is 37.91lbs (17.2kg) including the handle, tube ring, and dovetail plate).
The Askar 185APO tube rings have a weight 5.0lbs (2.3 kg). The thumb screws enable easy opening and locking of the rings. Meanwhile, the base of the rings is heightened, providing more space between the tube and mount.
Askar 185 APO Specifications
- Aperture Size: 185mm
- Focal Length: 1295mm (reduced to 1036mm with additional accessory)
- Focal Ratio: f/7 (reduced to f/5.6 with additional accessory)
- Optical Design: Triplet air-spaced APO (including one ED glass element)
- Available backfocus (from the 1.25” eyepiece adapter with the focuser fully racked in): 273mm
- Total tube length:
- 1081mm (when dew shield is contracted）
- 1222mm (when dew shield is extended）
- The length of the rear retractable lens tube: 95mm
- OTA Weight: 32.84lbs (14.9kg)
- Gross Weight (including tube ring and dovetail plate): 37.91lbs (17.2kg)
- Tube Diameter: 186.85mm
- Dew Shield OD, ID, Length: 207.85mm, 194mm, 287mm. Includes lock screw
- Focuser, Travel, Lock, Rotator: 3.3", 99mm, Lock, Marked Rotator
- Rear-end thread type: 2"/1.25" visual adapters
- Flattener and Reducer Included: No, sold seperately
- Front Objective Lens Cover: Yes, metal
- EAF Possible/Binoviewer: Yes, Ext tube length 97mm
- Carrying Handle: Saddle handle plus two locking screws, 350mm spacing
- Dovetail Plate: Askar LDP400mm
- Finderscope Mount Bases: Yes - 2x
- Hardshell Case Dimensions: 47" (119cm) long x 14" (35cm) wide x 15" (38cm) tall
- Manual, Check List, Certificate Included: Yes
- Shipping Box: 51"x17"x19", 97lb12oz,(44.3kg), double boxed
Askar 185 APO Sample Images & Corner Stars
| Product Banner Type | new |
|---|---|
| Free Shipping Graphic | Free Contiguous US Shipping |
| Telescope Focal Length | 1251 - 1500mm |
| Hide Found a better Shipped Price on Frontend? | No |
- 1x Askar 185APO OTA
- 1x Pair of tube rings
- 1x Handle
- 1x Askar 400mm Losmandy dovetail plate
- 1x Foam lined hard case with rollers
- 1x Manual
Askar 185 APO 185mm f/7 Triplet Refractor Telescope # 185APO