Thanks for the review. I just got my Askar103 APO today together with the 0.6x and 0.8x reducer. The 1.0x flattner is in backorder right now, but it will get to me in a few weeks. As my TS-Optics 94EDPH is moving to a remote observatory in Spain I needed something new here. And the 103APO is the perfect allrounder. Basically 3 telescopes in one with a bigger then APS-C image circle. Now I need to wait until I get my astronomical darkness back here close to Berlin and that all the clouds go away to test this thing out.
Great review have the FRA400 and just picked up the 103 for galaxy season. Didn’t get the .6 reducer as I’ve seen mixed reviews but did get the 1 and .8. Shooting the Leo triplet right now with the .8. Looking at the .8 in stellarium it’s going to be a great fit for M16 and M8
Really depends on what you want to shoot and what other telescopes you have. If this is your only one, go with your the 1x Flattner and the 0.6 reducer - really gives you two telescopes in one!
@@Chorge1972 Based on distortion, sharpness, CA - always the flattner! Based on SNR the 0.8 reducer… at the end it is a trade off - chose the focal length you really need - much the better foundation for a decision!
Hi, If you take off the cap of the dewshield it slides easier due to the fact you are not creating a vacuum. I got one of these APO 103 6 weeks ago :-) Grüße aus Mexiko
Great Comparison, can I ask you a question about the FRA400, I've been considering the FRA500 as I think the FOV might suit my needs, but I've been offered a used FRA 400 which has got me thinking, do you ever think you may be been better with the FRA500 or did you specifically chose the FRA400 and if so why?
Let me tell you my point of view: I believe you need about 2-3 telescopes: One for the wide shots, one for planetary nebulas, clusters and galaxies, and one for the very small stuff like planets. With an Askar 400 you can cover the full wide range - 400mm is usually wide enough for most nebulas, otherwise add the reducer and all is fine - never saw the point of a 200mm scope quite frankly.... Then you need a 700mm-1000mm scope to cover the midrange - and this I covered now with the 103APO and for the planetary stuff I have an SCT. So coming back to your question, I find the 500mm at not a good spot - you will not get wide enough - even with the reducer and not narrow enough for galaxies and stuff. So my recommendation - take the FRA400.
@@viewintospace thanks for that. I’ve got a EdgeHD 800 and I have a 80ED with a reducer that gives me 444mm which is quite good but not sharp giving I need to use a semi Apo filter with it. So I’m looking to replace it with an FRA. Giving I’m used to 444mm I was thinking the FRA500 with a reducer would be good. But I’ll look again at the FRA 400. Though I doubt I’ll need a reducer with that
Only the heavens know.... Haven't had a single clear night since January.... Oh, for tonight severe thunderstorm warnings are in place..... while in the southern Europe they have 40 degrees celsius since months now.... We f**d up our planet so badly.... 😖
Good review. The only problems I have seen with these ones are pitch optics on bright stars. Would be great to see it compared with FRA 400s star quality.
I think here we would really have to take a scope of the FRA or PHQ series of the same focal length to make a fair comparison. On the 400mm front with the FRA400 and the 103APO with the 0.6 reducer, the star quality of the FRA400 will be better - no question. BUT, the question is, will difference still be visible after BXT? And that I might test because I'm curious myself!
Thanks for the review. I just got my Askar103 APO today together with the 0.6x and 0.8x reducer. The 1.0x flattner is in backorder right now, but it will get to me in a few weeks. As my TS-Optics 94EDPH is moving to a remote observatory in Spain I needed something new here. And the 103APO is the perfect allrounder. Basically 3 telescopes in one with a bigger then APS-C image circle. Now I need to wait until I get my astronomical darkness back here close to Berlin and that all the clouds go away to test this thing out.
Welcome to the club..... of owning this scope and of not being able to test it because of clouds 🤣
Great review have the FRA400 and just picked up the 103 for galaxy season. Didn’t get the .6 reducer as I’ve seen mixed reviews but did get the 1 and .8. Shooting the Leo triplet right now with the .8. Looking at the .8 in stellarium it’s going to be a great fit for M16 and M8
Nice video! Excited to see the results 😃
Great review, looking forward to your observations
Great! Regarding the Askar 103 - would you go for the 0.8 reducer, or the 1x Flattener?!
Really depends on what you want to shoot and what other telescopes you have. If this is your only one, go with your the 1x Flattner and the 0.6 reducer - really gives you two telescopes in one!
@@viewintospaceI just wonder which will give me best results
@@Chorge1972 Based on distortion, sharpness, CA - always the flattner! Based on SNR the 0.8 reducer… at the end it is a trade off - chose the focal length you really need - much the better foundation for a decision!
Hi, If you take off the cap of the dewshield it slides easier due to the fact you are not creating a vacuum. I got one of these APO 103 6 weeks ago :-) Grüße aus Mexiko
Thanks for the tip!
Great Comparison, can I ask you a question about the FRA400, I've been considering the FRA500 as I think the FOV might suit my needs, but I've been offered a used FRA 400 which has got me thinking, do you ever think you may be been better with the FRA500 or did you specifically chose the FRA400 and if so why?
Let me tell you my point of view: I believe you need about 2-3 telescopes: One for the wide shots, one for planetary nebulas, clusters and galaxies, and one for the very small stuff like planets. With an Askar 400 you can cover the full wide range - 400mm is usually wide enough for most nebulas, otherwise add the reducer and all is fine - never saw the point of a 200mm scope quite frankly.... Then you need a 700mm-1000mm scope to cover the midrange - and this I covered now with the 103APO and for the planetary stuff I have an SCT. So coming back to your question, I find the 500mm at not a good spot - you will not get wide enough - even with the reducer and not narrow enough for galaxies and stuff. So my recommendation - take the FRA400.
@@viewintospace thanks for that. I’ve got a EdgeHD 800 and I have a 80ED with a reducer that gives me 444mm which is quite good but not sharp giving I need to use a semi Apo filter with it. So I’m looking to replace it with an FRA. Giving I’m used to 444mm I was thinking the FRA500 with a reducer would be good. But I’ll look again at the FRA 400. Though I doubt I’ll need a reducer with that
@@RumourHasitYT Exactly, and the beauty of the FRA series is that you have no backfocus issues - but only as long as you do not need a reducer….
21:34 What's the length of Askar 103 in cm with 0,6x reducer installed?
53cm with the dew shild not extended.
@@viewintospace thx!
@@viewintospace BTW - does it changes weight much? I have bino and I'm curious how heavy it will be (so short tube without flattener)😅
@@groundhoppingwlkp3622 It will be heavier a bit than in normal configuration as the Tube has not much weight but the 0.6 reducer is quite a brick!
When do we get to see the results?
Only the heavens know.... Haven't had a single clear night since January.... Oh, for tonight severe thunderstorm warnings are in place..... while in the southern Europe they have 40 degrees celsius since months now.... We f**d up our planet so badly.... 😖
I bought one today with x1!
Have fun with it - you might be able to test it even before me - I still did not had any clear night.....
So many options these days - even with the same scope!
Good review. The only problems I have seen with these ones are pitch optics on bright stars. Would be great to see it compared with FRA 400s star quality.
I think here we would really have to take a scope of the FRA or PHQ series of the same focal length to make a fair comparison. On the 400mm front with the FRA400 and the 103APO with the 0.6 reducer, the star quality of the FRA400 will be better - no question. BUT, the question is, will difference still be visible after BXT? And that I might test because I'm curious myself!
@viewintospace That's a really good point! It would be really interesting to see if there's any difference after bxt
The beginning is a bit creepy, but otherwise a good review! 😅