USED GEAR INFORMATION

This scope appears unused and is in great condition. Includes original inspection sheet.

Askar FMA180Pro Upgrades vs. Original FMA180

• All new marked 360º rotator
• New one-piece internal focus system
• New finder base for attaching accessories like the ASIAIR
• Improved longer Vixen-style dovetail
• Upgraded metal knurled thumbscrews
• Larger M48x0.75 rear threads
• New filter thread adapter allowing 2" filters to be inserted

Askar FMA180Pro Full Details

The ASKAR FMA180 Pro is a premium multi-functional optical instrument for serious wide-field astronomical or terrestrial imaging. It is a six-element 40mm f/4.5 fully-multicoated apochromatic astrograph/camera lens with superb image quality.

The heart of the FMA180 Pro is an air-spaced 40mm apochromatic f/5.5 triplet with two ED elements to minimize chromatic aberration. The objective is carefully matched to the included three-element focal reducer (note: this cannot be removed) that transforms the overall focal ratio to f/4.5 and a focal length of 180mm.

The FMA180 Pro is similar to the FMA180 in optical design, although optically superior. This new FMA180 Pro adds a Vixen-style finder base and a 360° rotator, neither of which were present in the original FMA180. What's more, the focuser is designed as internal focusing which promotes its stability and ensures its performance in use as a high-quality, compact astrograph.

On the flip side, however, the FMA180 Pro can only operate at f/4.5 (unlike the FMA180 which could operate at f/5.5 without the reducer). The FMA180 Pro is also not as versatile as the original FMA180 in terms of varying its tube length and is significantly heavier. It also does not include a 1.25" eyepiece holder so its use as a visual astronomy finder or telescope is limited, (although still possible without a diagonal if you add suitable spacers and a visual back).

For the price, this fast apochromatic lens offers excellent value and can approach the performance of telescopes that cost three or four times as much. This is especially true when matched with astronomy cameras with smaller 1" and 4/3" sensors. Cameras with larger APS-C and full-frame sensors may reveal slight aberrations at the edge of the field, especially when using the focal reducer.

The FMA180 Pro optical tube assembly terminates in an M48x0.75 male thread for mating with a camera. The back focus is a standard 55mm, meaning it is compatible with most cooled astronomy cameras out of the box with their included spacers. You will need an M48 T ring (not included) to couple your specific mirrorless or DSLR camera to the FMA180 Pro. Using this as a guidescope will also require additional adapters (not included) to meet the 55mm back focus requirement from the rear M48 thread.

The OTA features an internal M48x0.75 female thread at the rear end for standard 2" astronomy filters.

The optical tube includes a short stalk and a 150mm long Vixen-style telescope mounting rail so that you can mount it directly on compatible mounts or atop another scope. These can be completely removed from the scope when it’s used with a DSLR for handheld shooting or when the camera itself is mounted to a tripod.

The overall tube length is 167.5mm. The FMA180 weighs 1.76 lbs (800g).

ASKAR FMA180Pro Specifications:

• Aperture: 40mm
• Focal Length: 180mm
• Focus Ratio: f/4.5
• Objective Type:
  • Triplet Dual ED Air-spaced APO (Objective lens)
  • Sextuplet Refractor for full-frame astrophotography (with built-in reducer)
• Dew shield OD: 58mm / 2.28"
• Weight: 1.76 lbs (800g)
• Back-end Thread: M48x0.75 male
• Back focus: 55mm from the base of the rear M48 male thread
• Image circle size: 44mm
• Dewshield Front Thread: M56x0.75 female
• In the box: 
  • FMA180 Pro Body
  • Vixen-style dovetail rail
  • Vixen-style finder mounting base
  • Manual