Askar SQA60 Pro 60mm f/4.6 Sextuplet APO

60mm Aperture 276mm Focal Length, f/4.6 Focal Ratio Sextuplet Air-Spaced Petzval APO Optical Design Two SD Glass Elements Integrated Field Flattener for 44mm Image Circle 360° Precision Rotator Dual-Speed Rack and Pinion Focuser Weight: 3.54kg (with rings and plate) Description FAQ Specifications In the Box Warranty Flat Fields, No Fuss — The Askar SQA60 Pro Astrograph The Askar SQA60 Pro 60mm f/4.6 Sextuplet APO is engineered around a single goal: to deliver a perfectly flat, wide-field image with pinpoint stars, without the complexity of calculating back focus. This portable astrograph integrates a high-performance, six-element optical system with a suite of thoughtfully designed mechanical features, creating a complete imaging solution for astrophotographers who value both optical quality and efficient setup. By eliminating the need for a separate field flattener, the SQA60 Pro removes a common source of frustration and potential optical misalignment. This makes it an ideal instrument for both newcomers seeking a straightforward path to excellent results and experienced imagers who demand a reliable, grab-and-go wide-field scope. It is a compact powerhouse built for capturing vast nebulae and sprawling star clusters in a single frame. Sextuplet Petzval Optics for Apochromatic Correction At the heart of the SQA60 Pro is a sophisticated sextuplet air-spaced Petzval optical system. This design uses six lens elements in a 3-2-1 configuration to achieve a high level of optical correction. Two of these elements are crafted from Super ED (SD) glass, which significantly minimizes chromatic aberration, ensuring that stars of different colors focus to the same sharp point. The visual result is an image free from distracting purple or blue halos around bright stars, a critical factor for producing clean, high-contrast astrophotos. This apochromatic performance means the fine details within emission nebulae and the subtle color variations in star clusters are rendered with fidelity, directly from the raw data. An Inherently Flat Field for Full-Frame Sensors The Petzval design provides its own field flattening, a characteristic that sets the SQA60 Pro apart. This eliminates the need to purchase and install a separate flattener, simplifying your imaging train. The optical system is corrected for a 44mm image circle, providing excellent illumination and sharp, round stars from the center to the corners of a full-frame sensor. This built-in correction means you can simply attach your camera, achieve focus within the generous 41mm to 66mm connection distance, and begin imaging. There are no complex back-focus calculations to perform, which reduces setup time and removes a potential source of image-degrading tilt. 360° Rotator for Precise Framing To give you complete control over your composition, the SQA60 Pro includes a 360° rotator integrated into the focuser assembly. This mechanical system allows you to rotate your entire imaging train smoothly to achieve the perfect framing for your target. An engraved scale provides a clear reference for repeatable adjustments. The rotator is secured with an enlarged locking knob, ensuring that even a heavy camera and filter wheel are held firmly in place without flexure once your desired orientation is set. This is essential for maintaining mechanical alignment throughout a long imaging session or when creating multi-panel mosaics. Flexible Mounting with Dual Finder Bases The focuser body is equipped with finder bases on both the left and right sides. This dual-base design provides practical flexibility in how you configure your accessories. You can mount a guidescope on one side and a red dot finder on the other, or simply choose the side that is most convenient for your mount and cable routing. This feature prevents the need to disassemble and relocate a single base, saving time and potential frustration in the field. It acknowledges that every astrophotographer's setup is unique and provides the adaptability to match. Integrated Tube Rings and Vixen Dovetail The SQA60 Pro features a one-piece, skeletonized tube ring assembly that is both lightweight and rigid. Enlarged thumb screws allow for tool-free opening and closing, making it easy to mount or remove the optical tube. The top of the rings incorporates a carry handle that also features a multi-function finder slot for additional accessories. Attached to the rings is a 290mm Vixen-style dovetail plate, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of popular astronomical mounts. The dovetail includes an engraved scale, providing a visual reference to help you achieve precise balance quickly and repeatably every time you set up. Dual Filter Threading Options The astrograph offers two distinct locations for filter placement. The front of the objective lens features an M82x1 thread, allowing you to attach large photographic filters for creative effects or light pollution reduction. This is a rare feature on an astrograph of this size and opens up different imaging possibilities. More conventionally, the rear M48 camera adapter includes a standard 2-inch (M48x0.75) filter thread. This allows you to place narrowband, LRGB, or multi-bandpass filters securely inside the imaging train, just in front of the camera sensor, which is the standard practice for most astrophotography. Imaging with the SQA60 Pro With its 276mm focal length, the SQA60 Pro excels at capturing large celestial canvases. Paired with a full-frame camera, the entire North America Nebula (NGC 7000) and the neighboring Pelican Nebula can be framed together with ample space, revealing the intricate dark dust lanes that connect them. The fast f/4.6 focal ratio gathers a significant amount of light quickly, reducing the total integration time needed to resolve the faint, sweeping hydrogen-alpha structures of the California Nebula or the Heart and Soul Nebulae. The primary trade-off for this wide, fast, and flat field is its fixed focal length. The SQA60 Pro is a specialist instrument. It is not designed for high-magnification views of planets or small galaxies, where a longer focal length would be required. It is built to do one thing exceptionally well: produce spectacular wide-field astrophotos with minimal fuss. Do I need a field flattener for the Askar SQA60 Pro? No, you do not. The SQA60 Pro uses a Petzval optical design which has a built-in, self-flattening capability. It is designed to provide a flat field for up to a full-frame sensor without any additional optical correctors. What is the back focus of the SQA60 Pro? Because the flattener is integrated, there is no single, precise back focus distance. Instead, you can achieve focus with your camera sensor placed anywhere between 41mm and 66mm from the rear M48 adapter's threads. The standard 55mm distance used by many cameras and filter wheels is well within this range. Can I use the Askar SQA60 Pro for visual astronomy? While it is optically optimized for astrophotography, you can use it for low-power visual observation with a 1.25" or 2" diagonal and eyepiece. However, its primary strength and design focus is as a fast, wide-field imaging astrograph. Will this telescope work with my ZWO ASI camera? Yes. The SQA60 Pro terminates in a standard M48x0.75 male thread, which is fully compatible with the M48 adapters included with most ZWO cooled astronomy cameras. It is an excellent match for cameras with APS-C or full-frame sensors. Is the SQA60 Pro a good telescope for a beginner in astrophotography? Yes, it is an excellent choice for a beginner. The integrated flattener removes one of the most common and confusing setup steps (back focus calculation), allowing a new user to focus on learning their mount and camera to get great results faster. Aperture 60mm Focal Length 276mm Focal Ratio f/4.6 Objective Lens Design Sextuplet Air-Spaced APO Petzval Special Glass 2x SD (Super ED) Elements Image Circle 44mm (Full Frame) Total Length 283mm OTA Weight 2.79kg Total Weight 3.54kg (with rings and dovetail) Rear Connection M48x0.75 Male Thread Rear Filter Thread M48x0.75 (2") Female Thread Front Filter Thread M82x1 Female Thread Dovetail Plate 290mm Vixen-Style SQA60 Pro OTA × 1 Tube Ring Assembly × 1 M48 Adapter × 1 Oxford Cloth Case × 1 Instruction Manual × 1 Askar 2-Year Warranty