Introduction to the Askar 130PHQ
The Askar 130PHQ is a top-tier astrograph designed specifically for astrophotographers seeking high-quality, wide-field imaging. Built with a quadruplet lens design and a generous 130mm aperture, this scope delivers sharp, high-contrast images across the field, making it ideal for capturing detailed photos of deep-sky objects. The 130PHQ is part of Askar’s PHQ series, which emphasizes simplicity, precision, and performance, allowing astrophotographers to achieve outstanding results without the need for additional correctors or flatteners.
In this review, we’ll explore the Askar 130PHQ’s optical performance, design, build quality, and user-friendly features, as well as its suitability for different types of astrophotography. For advanced imagers seeking a premium scope, the 130PHQ offers a range of features that are sure to impress.
Key Features of the Askar 130PHQ
The Askar 130PHQ is packed with features that appeal to advanced astrophotographers looking for simplicity and exceptional image quality. Here’s an overview of its key attributes:
- 130mm Aperture and f/7.7 Focal Ratio: With a large aperture and moderate focal ratio, the 130PHQ provides bright and sharp images, making it ideal for capturing faint deep-sky objects.
- Quadruplet Lens Design: The quadruplet design eliminates the need for external field flatteners or correctors, delivering a flat field right out of the box.
- Native 1000mm Focal Length: This focal length offers a well-balanced field of view, suited for deep-sky imaging of galaxies, nebulae, and clusters.
- High-Quality APO Optics: The 130PHQ features high-quality apochromatic optics, which correct for chromatic aberration, resulting in crisp, color-accurate images.
- 2.5-Inch Rack-and-Pinion Focuser: Equipped with a robust, smooth focuser that supports heavy imaging setups, providing precise and stable focus adjustments.
- Rotatable Focuser: The focuser can rotate 360 degrees, allowing users to frame their shots accurately and adjust composition with ease.
- Durable, Lightweight Design: The 130PHQ is constructed from high-grade aluminum, ensuring durability while maintaining portability for field use.
These features make the Askar 130PHQ an all-in-one solution for astrophotographers who want a high-performance scope that doesn’t require additional accessories for flattening or correction.
Optical Performance: A Sharp and Flat Field
The Askar 130PHQ stands out in terms of optical quality, thanks to its quadruplet lens design, which provides a true flat field without the need for a separate field flattener. The quad-element optical configuration corrects both field curvature and chromatic aberration, resulting in sharp stars across the entire frame. This is particularly beneficial for full-frame cameras, as the edges remain just as sharp and well-defined as the center of the image.
The 130PHQ’s large 130mm aperture allows it to gather a substantial amount of light, making it suitable for deep-sky imaging. The scope’s f/7.7 focal ratio is a good balance between light-gathering power and field of view, ensuring that the telescope can capture faint details while maintaining a wide enough field to frame larger objects such as galaxies and nebulae.
Astrophotographers who use the 130PHQ consistently report high-contrast images with minimal chromatic aberration, thanks to the apochromatic optics. The scope’s optical quality is among the best in its class, offering a significant upgrade over triplet designs when it comes to image clarity and overall sharpness.
Build Quality and Design: Premium and Practical
The Askar 130PHQ is built with a focus on durability and ease of use, featuring an all-metal construction that can withstand frequent use in the field. The body is made of high-grade aluminum, giving it both strength and a lightweight feel. Despite its solid construction, the scope is portable enough to transport for field imaging sessions, which is an important consideration for astrophotographers who often travel to dark-sky sites.
The scope’s 2.5-inch dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser is smooth and precise, providing stable support for heavy imaging equipment. The focuser can handle full-frame DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and even dedicated astrophotography cameras with ease. The ability to rotate the focuser 360 degrees allows users to easily adjust framing without disturbing the telescope’s setup, which is particularly useful when capturing multiple frames for mosaic imaging or adjusting compositions on the fly.
The Askar 130PHQ also includes several practical design elements, such as integrated mounting rings, a Losmandy-style dovetail, and handle grips, which make it convenient to set up and secure on a variety of mounts. These details enhance the user experience, ensuring that the telescope is both functional and reliable during imaging sessions.
Usability: Streamlined Setup for Astrophotography
One of the standout aspects of the Askar 130PHQ is its simplicity. Because it doesn’t require additional field flatteners or reducers, setting up the telescope is straightforward. This streamlined setup process is beneficial for astrophotographers who prefer a ready-to-go scope that doesn’t need extensive fine-tuning or accessory setup.
The native flat field and high optical quality make the 130PHQ a plug-and-play solution for deep-sky imaging. Users can focus more on capturing and composing images rather than dealing with additional equipment or correcting aberrations. Additionally, the rack-and-pinion focuser’s smooth action makes it easy to achieve fine focus, a critical feature for capturing sharp images during long exposures.
The Askar 130PHQ is also compatible with a variety of mounts, though its size and weight make it best suited to mid-to-high-capacity equatorial mounts that can handle its payload along with imaging equipment.
Performance with Full-Frame Cameras
The 130PHQ’s design is optimized for use with full-frame sensors, providing excellent edge-to-edge sharpness and a flat field that allows users to take full advantage of large sensor areas. This compatibility is especially valuable for astrophotographers using DSLRs or mirrorless cameras, as they can capture more of the sky without field curvature affecting image quality at the edges.
The scope’s high-quality optics ensure that even at the edges, stars remain sharp and free from coma or other distortions that can impact image quality. The 1000mm focal length offers a versatile field of view for full-frame cameras, providing a nice balance between magnification and a wide enough field to frame larger objects or multiple stars in a single image.
Pros and Cons of the Askar 130PHQ
Pros:
- Flat Field Design: The quadruplet lens design eliminates the need for field flatteners, providing a flat field for full-frame sensors.
- Outstanding Optical Quality: High-quality APO optics provide sharp, high-contrast images with minimal chromatic aberration.
- Generous Aperture: The 130mm aperture gathers a significant amount of light, ideal for capturing faint deep-sky objects.
- User-Friendly: The scope is simple to set up and use, thanks to its integrated design and lack of additional correctors.
- High-Quality Focuser: The dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser is sturdy, smooth, and supports heavy imaging setups.
- Full-Frame Compatible: Optimized for use with full-frame sensors, delivering sharp images across the entire frame.
Cons:
- Price Point: As a premium telescope, the 130PHQ comes at a higher price, making it a significant investment.
- Weight: Although portable, the telescope requires a mount with a sufficient weight capacity to handle it and any attached imaging equipment.
- Limited for Planetary Imaging: The 130PHQ is best suited for deep-sky objects rather than high-magnification planetary imaging.
Customer Feedback and Reviews
Users of the Askar 130PHQ consistently praise its optical quality and ease of use, noting that it’s one of the best options for capturing deep-sky objects without the need for additional field correction. The flat field, combined with its impressive aperture, has made it a popular choice for astrophotographers who want high-quality images with minimal setup. Many appreciate the scope’s build quality, especially the durability of the aluminum body and the precision of the rack-and-pinion focuser.
Some users have mentioned that the 130PHQ is heavier than expected for a portable scope, but they generally agree that the optical quality justifies the added weight. Astrophotographers who use full-frame cameras find the edge-to-edge sharpness to be a significant advantage, as it allows them to capture detailed, high-resolution images without distortion at the frame’s edges.
Conclusion: Is the Askar 130PHQ Worth It?
The Askar 130PHQ is a premium telescope designed for astrophotographers who prioritize image quality, ease of use, and a flat field of view. Its quadruplet design, high-quality apochromatic optics, and flat field make it an excellent choice for capturing deep-sky objects with precision and detail. While the telescope’s higher price may be a consideration, the convenience of not needing additional flatteners or correctors can justify the investment for serious astrophotographers.
The Askar 130PHQ is particularly suited to those using full-frame cameras, as it provides edge-to-edge clarity and minimizes distortion across the entire field. For intermediate to advanced astrophotographers looking to upgrade their setup or invest in a high-quality, user-friendly astrograph, the Askar 130PHQ is an outstanding choice that delivers performance and quality with every session.