Askar 230 mm f/4.6 APO Telephoto Lens - Traveler´s Refractor - Guide Scope and Spotting Scope

Askar 230 mm f/4.6 APO Telephoto Lens - Traveler´s Refractor - Guide Scope and Spotting Scope

With the FMA230, Askar has created a powerful triplet APO refractor with unique visual and photographic application possibilities

  • In just a few steps, the APO telephoto lens becomes a compact astronomical telescope, a guiding tube or a powerful spotting scope for landscape observation.
  • Aperture 50 mm
  • Triplet ED lens with two APO elements for a color-pure image
  • Photographic focal length 230 mm (with 4-element corrector) - focal ratio f/4.6
  • Focal length for observation 275 mm
  • The photographic field of view is designed up to full format
  • Precise helical focuser on the lens for accurate focusing - with lock
  • Weight 1045 grams
  • Practical M48 mount with 55 mm working distance (as telephoto lens)
  • Suitable for 1.25" and 2" accessories for visual observation
  • Vixen / EQ5 style multifunction plate
  • Very well suited for mobile astrophotography with photo trackers like the Skywatcher Adventurer
  • Also suitable as a powerful guiding telescope
  • With a few simple steps the FMA230 becomes a compact spotting scope for observing with 1.25" or 2" accessories
Manufacturer : Sharpstar
SKU : TSO-FMA230
Price: 899.00 € incl tax 19% (Germany)
Estimated delivery time : 1-4 days
Product description
ASKAR FMA telephoto lenses are not simple photo lenses, they are apochromats optimized for astrophotography. The triplet APO lens allows magnifications up to about 150x without loss of sharpness performance. To our knowledge, no telephoto lens in this class can do that. The stars on the image are correspondingly sharp.

The 4-element corrector specially developed for the 50 mm triplet lens flattens the image field up to full format and improves the focal ratio to a fast f/4.6 with full sharpness. The internal blackening and the elaborate multi-coating ensure high-contrast and brilliant images without reflections even under difficult lighting conditions.

Astrophotographic results obtained with this telescope on Astrobin

Here you can find some astrophotographs made with this telescope model: Link to Astrobin

The FMA 230 mm f/4.5 as a telephoto lens
The manual APO telephoto lens is corrected up to full format. From the M48 thread you have 55 mm working distance. Ideal for system cameras, DSLR and of course astro cameras. The high speed of f/4.6 allows short exposure times even under difficult lighting conditions.

The FMA 230 f/4.6 as astrograph
Astrophotographers will be delighted with this compact telephoto lens. Stars up to the edge are imaged crispy sharp. With 55 mm working distance (M48 mount) you can connect all common cameras. The multi-function bracket allows easy adaptation to your mount, photo tripod or to compact photo trackers, such as the Skywatcher Star-Adventurer or to a attachable camera mount via the 1/4" female thread.

The FMA 230 as APO refractor and guidescope
The objective can be combined with 1.25" and also with 2" accessories and allows ultimate wide field observations. Enjoy the landscape or view vast star fields. Use the sharpness performance of the APO lens to see lunar craters, the play of Jupiter´s moons or the rings of Saturn.

The FMA230 is also a powerful lens for autoguiding. With the matching autoguider, you can track telescopes up to 10" aperture flawlessly.

The FMA 230 as spotting scope
The high-contrast optics enable exciting wildlife and landscape observations. In just a few steps, you have turned the telephoto lens into a compact and crisp spotting scope. You can use all common photo tripods, the adapter is already included. Use 1.25" or 2" eyepieces at low magnification for bright images, even under extreme lighting conditions, and eyepieces for high magnification to see fine details.

Scope of Delivery:
  • Askar 230 mm triplet lens in tube
  • Helical focuser
  • Corrector and reducer
  • Extensions with M48 thread
  • 2" adapter
  • Adjustable tube rings with universal adapter plate - Vixen style
  • Multifunction adapter for viewfinder shoe and photo tripod and Arca-Swiss style rail
  • Dust caps

Products specifications
Connection to camera M48 x 0.75 Thread
Connection to eyepiece 2" and 1 1/4"
Type of telescope Apochromatischer Refractor
Aperture 50mm
Working distance from the camera thread 55 mm from the M48 external thread
Lens Air-spaced triplet lens
Focal length 275mm
Focal ratio f5.5 (with corrector f4.6)
Tube weight 1045g
Tube diameter 68mm
Length 248mm