The Takahashi FSQ-85EDX comes with a Flattener. Optional optical accessories are the Extender ED 1.5x and the Reducer QE 0.73x. The Extender is great to take pictures of Galaxies and Star clusters while the Reducer is ideal for large nebulae such as the Heart Nebula or the North America Nebula etc. The Extender is also compatible with the Takahashi TSA-120.
You will find a short review here.
I recently used the Extender for the first time and realized that, in order to reach critical focus, the standard Auxiliary Ring has to be removed. Although Takahashi has convenient system charts (see also at the end of this page) for each setup, I thought it might be useful to publish a few pictures of the different setups. The system charts also include the adapters needed for CCD cameras (I will soon write more on how to attach a CCD camera as well).
Below is a picture of the standard setup with Flattener (& optional T-Mount DX-WR ring for my Nikon – Takahashi is also producing the same ring for the EOS):
Setup with Flattener
Here a close-up picture of the standard setup with Flattener:
Setup from left to right:
– Coupling (FSQ-85ED)
– CAA(TSA-102)
– Aux.Ring (FB) (TSA-102)
– Flattener 1.01X
– T-Mount DX-WR (Nikon) (also available for Canon EOS)
Setup with Extender ED 1.5x
In order to reach critical focus with the Extender ED 1.5x you have to remove the Aux.Ring (FB) and attach the 50.8(2”) Eyepiece Adapter S to the CAA, followed by the Extender and the CA-35 (50.8/2″). The T-Mount adapter is the same as for the Flattener. For accurate balancing you’ll probably also have to attach the pipe clamps higher up on the dovetail bar:
Setup from left to right:
– Coupling (FSQ-85ED)
– CAA(TSA-102)
– 50.8(2”) Eyepiece Adapter S
– Extender ED 1.5X
– CA-35 (50.8/2″)
– T-Mount DX-WR (Nikon) (also available for Canon EOS)
For comparison, below you’ll also find two subs taken of Andromeda Galaxy. The picture on the left was taken with the Flattener (180s at ISO 1600), the picture on the right was taken with the Extender ED 1.5x (300s at ISO 1600):
Setup with Reducer QE 0.73x
While I haven’t yet used the Reducer, I’ll post a picture of the setup below – the pipe clamps have to be at the same position as for the Flattener (this is not the case on this picture which is only meant for illustration of the setup):
Setup from top to bottom:
– Coupling (FSQ-85ED)
– CAA(TSA-102)
– Reducer QE 0.73x
– CA-35 (SKY 90) adapter
– T-Mount DX-WR (Nikon) (also available for Canon EOS) – not shown on this picture
Technical Data Takahashi FSQ-85EDX refractor
| CHARACTERISTIC | TAKAHASHI FSQ-85EDX REFRACTOR |
| Length of the optical tube | 623 mm (535 mm with retracted dew shield) |
| Diameter of the optical tube | 95 mm |
| Diameter of the dew shield | 114 mm |
| Weight | 3.6 kg |
| Focuser | Rack-and-pinion with 1/7 microfocuser |
| CHARACTERISTIC | TAKAHASHI FSQ-85EDX REFRACTOR |
| Objective | Petzval Quadruplet with ED glass |
| Lens cell | Highly air-spaced quadruplet. 4 lenses/4 groups. 2 x S-FPL53 ED lenses |
| Coatings | Hard multicoatings |
| Diameter | 85 mm |
| AT PRIME FOCUS | |
| Focal length | 450 mm |
| Focal ratio | F/5.3 |
| Metal Back Distance | 197.5 mm |
| WITH 1.01X FIELD CORRECTOR | |
| Focal length | 455 mm |
| Focal ratio | F/5.4 |
| Image circle diameter | 44 mm |
| Metal Back Distance | 56.2 mm |
| WITH RD QE0.73X FOCAL REDUCER | |
| Focal length | 327 mm |
| Focal ratio | F/3.8 |
| Image circle diameter | 44 mm |
| Metal Back Distance | 72.2 mm |
| WITH EX ED1.5X FOCAL EXTENDER | |
| Focal length | 680 mm |
| Focal ratio | F/8 |
| Image circle diameter | 44 mm |
| Metal Back Distance | 117.5 mm |
Links to System Charts Refractor, Reducer & Extender
System-chart of Takahashi FSQ-85EDX refractor
System-chart of Takahashi FSQ-85EDX refractor with RD QE0.73X
System-chart of Takahashi FSQ-85EDX refractor with EX ED1.5
Disclaimer: I’m not affiliated to Takahashi or any other company mentioned on my website.
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