WO Redcat 61

[nikanj]

I just saw this new scope pop up on the Testar homepage.

https://williamoptics.com/redcat-61



Looks like WO have addressed the main complaint about the Redcat scopes and replaced the helical focuser with focus knobs while still keeping it internal focus.

The price seems a bit too high for a 61mm APO though. It costs the same as a Redcat 71.


What are everyone's thoughts? Will you be ordering one when the land in Australia?

[AstroViking]

Their MIFD range are certainly interesting and look to be a way of curing any optical path distortion as the focuser moves.

Just a shame they are insanely expensive.

[Nikolas]

It is the same specs in terms of field of view and aperture as the askar 300 the askar is a quintuplet and has beautiful optics (biased view) this one should be right up there.

[gregbradley]

300mm focal length seems a better focal length than 350. Not quite wide enough for the use of a scope like this. It's a widefield imaging scope.

Greg.

[nikanj]

The FRA300 is a traditional quintuplet where the Redcat is a 4-element Petzval meaning you don't have to worry about precise backspacing. Internal focus is also a good nice-to-have.

But yeah I'd imaging they'd produce very similar results optically so are these quality of life bonuses really worth the price premium. I'll be keeping an eye out for sample images in the coming weeks.

[Nikolas]

The FRA is not backspace specific I don't know where you got that idea.
It is 100% a PETZVAL (https://www.testar.com.au/products/askar-fra300-f-5-apo-refractor) quintuplet

[nikanj]

Oops my mistake. Must have confused it with the Sharpstar refractors.

[RugbyRene]

Buy the FRA300 and save yourself $1000 to spend on something else. Spending the extra $1000 on the Redcat won’t make your images $1000 better.