Altair 72 EDF Deluxe CNC ED Refractor

Further details

A great travel scope with a very high specification both mechanically and optically, suitable for wide field imaging or visual use, day or night-time. The Altair 72EDF has improved optics in the form of an S-FPL53 based doublet objective lens providing superior colour correction, and a lighter more compact tube, CNC Rack n Pinion focuser with a rear camera rotator and triple thumbscrews to hold your camera or diagonal firmly in place.

Features of this Deluxe CNC "imaging" version:
FPL53 ED Glass Yes
Optical test report Yes
Rear Camera Rotator Yes
Focuser rotator Yes
Stand-offs for tube rings Yes
Dovetail bar Yes
Geared Dual Speed CNC Focuser Yes
These features stand out from competing models, a truly outstanding specification at this pricing.

Better than FPL51
When it comes to astro imaging, the FPL53 optical design has all the performance you need in a dual imaging and visual telescope, offering better colour correction than an FPL51 based doublet telescope with the same focal length and aperture thanks to the "synthetic fluorite" S-FPL53 ED lens element.

Optical quality and test reports
Guaranteed to arrive in perfect collimation. This Deluxe CNC version comes with an optical test report at full 72mm aperture. The Deluxe lenses are selected from the production batch for their optical smoothness, figuring, and overall performance. Quality is very consistent, and every lens has a unique serial number linked to the glass batch and test report. Altair Astro pioneered this approach to QC ensuring our customers always get the best quality.

Oversized lens
Like any refractor, the lens actually has a larger diameter than 72mm for mounting purposes, however, to ensure outer edge performance and better collimation holding, we have chosen to implement it at design aperture which is 72mm. This ensures the performance of the optics is optimum at a focal ratio of F6.0 and star-images are better than multi-element camera lenses costing many times the price, which usually need to be stopped down give better star-images. Of course, being a telescope, and lacking a diaphragm/iris with irregular edges, also improves the image quality compared to a camera lens.

Rear Camera Angle Adjuster (CAA)
The Altair 72EDF focuser has a rotating rear collar with locking screws, allowing you to frame the object perfectly, without rotating the whole focuser, or the optical tube. This is a distinct advantage, especially when mounting the telescope with other scopes, and motor focusers, to avoid the extra equipment fouling the mounting bars.

Imaging friendly CNC focuser
The micro CNC machined Rack 'n Pinion focuser has full tension-adjustment to handle heavy loads, like a large eyepiece, CCD or DSLR camera. The drawtube has 75mm travel and a graduated scale in mm. This is a straightforward focuser for imaging. There are no gimmicks - just remove the course focus knob, and attach a Pegasus motor focuser coupler, mount the Pegasus motor unit on a dovetail bar under the focuser*, and you are ready to go. (We recommend choosing the Deluxe version for easier mounting due to the Camera Angle Adjuster and dovetail stand-offs). Of course, the CNC focuser is the smoothest option for visual use too, with the higher tolerances computer-controlled lathes allow.

Dovetail “Stand-offs”
Solid aluminium “Stand-offs” between the dovetail bar and mounting rings allow the vixen dovetail bar to be moved further back behind the focuser, for better balance with cameras, filter wheels and digital motor focusers. This helps Astro-photographers achieve better balance on equatorial mounts.

Hinged mounting ring and tube
The tube rings allows the whole tube to rotate, and can be locked with the stainless-steel thumbscrews. Loosen the thumbscrews, and the telescope can be dismounted from the hinged rings for use with Altair Guide Scope Rings. The "mounting foot" terminates in a small dovetail plate with a flat base. The base has a standard 3-in-line hole pattern allowing attachment to most mounting systems on the market or to a camera tripod using M6 or 1/4" Photo Tripod Screws.

Altair 72 EDF Specifications
Optical tube with air-spaced 72mm F6 Dual ED lens (432mm focal length)
Ohara FPL53 ED glass in a precision CNC machined lens cell.
Super-high transmission coating (STM Coating) on all air to glass surfaces.
Resolving Power (Dawes’ Limit) 1.61 arc seconds
Visual Limiting Magnitude 11.8 maximum
Field Stops inside focuser (Deluxe CNC version) with glare-reducing baffles inside optical tube (both Standard and Deluxe versions).
Weight approx. 2.5kg, OTA length with dewshield retracted, 32.5cm.
Precision CNC machined tube made from light, tough aluminium alloy with matte powder coat.
Retractable lens shade / dew shield.
2.5" Geared dual speed focuser with 1:10 micro-focuser and 360 degree rotation.
2" to 1.25" reducer with brass compression rings included.
Dovetail bar fits most telescope mounts with 1/4"-20 Photo tripod threads for use with photo or video tripods.

Delivery charge £5.95

Reviews

  Good views and convenient for imaging  This is a compact, portable doublet ED refractor with nice wide-field views visually. There is minimal chromatic aberration and I've found it convenient to use a T-threaded Barlow lens as a camera adapter. Lots of separate rotating parts. Comes with a finder shoe. Dovetail can fit a 1.4" tripod.  (17/01/2021) -