Altair 60 EDF ED Doublet Refractor Telescope V3

Further details

Latest Version with S-FPL-53 ED Lens, Optical Test Report, and rear Camera Angle Adjuster (CAA).

The Altair 60 EDF is our most compact telescope and has many features only found in premium instruments. It has improved optics in the form of an S-FPL53 based doublet objective lens providing superior colour correction, and a lighter more compact tube, CNC Rack n Pinion focuser with a rear camera rotator and triple thumbscrews to hold your camera or diagonal firmly in place. All Altair refractor models are checked optically and tested and guaranteed to be in collimation - this extra level of assurance is provided at no cost to the customer.

Optical quality
The telescope is guaranteed to arrive in perfect collimation. Every single optical tube comes with an optical test report and AtmosFringe analysis. Optical smoothness, figuring, and overall performance is very consistent and every lens has a unique serial number linked to the glass batch and test report. Altair Astro pioneered this approach and our customers always get the best quality.

Imaging friendly focuser
The micro CNC machined Rack 'n Pinion focuser has full tension-adjustment to handle heavy loads, like a large eyepiece, CCD or DSLR camera. The drawtube has 75mm travel and a graduated scale in mm. This is a straightforward focuser for imaging. There are no gimmicks - just remove the course focus knob and attach a Pegasus motor focuser coupler, mount the Pegasus motor unit on a dovetail bar under the focuser, and you are ready to go.

Astrophotography
The ED Doublet design offers very good colour correction, while keeping the optical tube extremely compact. The new S-FPL53 ED Doublet lens gives better colour correction in the blue regions of the spectrum than it's previous iterations. At F6 this telescope can be used with the optional 1.0x field flattener (FLAT-60) for wide field imaging with a 41mm image circle. Optimum spacing is 54.8mm from the rear flange of the flattener to the image sensor.

Unlike other models, the Altair 60 EDF has a rear camera-rotator allowing easy framing of the object in the eyepiece or camera field of view. The single tube ring allows the whole tube to rotate, and can be locked with the stainless steel thumbscrew. Loosen the thumscrew and the telescope can be dismounted from the hinged for use with Altair Guide Scope Rings. The "mounting foot" terminates in a small dovetail plate with a flat base. The base has a standard 3-in-line hole pattern allowing attachment to most mounting systems on the market or to a camera tripod using M6 or 1/4" Photo Tripod Screws. The longer Starwave 200mm Vixen-style dovetail bar is recommended for imaging with an equatorial mount. The aluminium tube achieves thermal equilibrium very quickly, and the metal construction conducts heat easily to and from the front optics (essential for imaging and dew control).

Better than FPL51.
When it comes to astro imaging, the 60 EDF optical design has all the performance you need in a dual imaging and visual telescope, offering better colour correction than an FPL51 based doublet telescope with the same focal length and aperture thanks to the FPL53 ED lens element.

Oversized lens.
The lens actually has a larger diameter than 60mm, however, to improve performance and important thermal reliability, it has been optimised to 60mm clear aperture, this is common to all high end air spaced refractors, allowing the correct mechanical stability to house the lenses securely and precisely as they should be within the cell. Another benefit of this design is the minimising of any spacers affecting the diffraction pattern, essential for serious imaging applications. A far better approach than simply stretching the parameters in order to show extra aperture in a design where optical excellence is the real goal. This improves the edge performance of the optics, and gives better "Bokeh" with an optimum focal ratio of F6.0. (350mm focal length). Performance is better than multi-element camera lenses costing many times the price, even when they are stopped down to give better star-images. Of course, being a telescope, and lacking a diaphragm/iris also improves the image.

Attaching a finder scope. A finder scope or RDF (Red Dot Finder) is a very good addition, making finding objects quick and easy. If you want a more accurate optical finder, we recommend the Altair 60mm RACI or Starwave 50mm Straight-through finder scopes, which can both be used for an auto-guiding with the Altair GPCAM for long exposure imaging. Altair 50mm or 60mm finder scope or compact Red Dot Finders (RDF) can be attached to the focuser by means of two screws.

You will need a mount, eyepieces and a star-diagonal to use this high quality telescope.

Included in the box

60mm F6 ED Doublet refractor optical tube with retractable dewshield.
60mm FPL53 ED Doublet Lens assembly, 360mm focal length, housed in a fully collimatable, CNC machined cell with serial number.
Optical test report in green light showing serial number of objective lens.
Focuser CNC Machined Black Anodised Dual Speed 1:10 ratio 2.5" Rack 'n Pinion (Geared) with brass rack gear and tension adjustment (ideal for imaging).
Rear Camera Rotator 2" to 1.25" eyepiece adaptor with brass compression rings.
Rear 2" Push-fit adaptor with 3x clamping thumbscrews for extra security and alignment.
Removal of Pushfit-adaptor allows threaded attachment of dedicated reducer and flattener.
Special "X-Rings" with quick release clamp and multiple mounting points.
200mm longer dovetail bar with Vixen-format 44mm profile.
Combination top handle and dovetail rail with Dual Vixen-format and Arca-format profiles for guide scope attachment.
Anodised aluminium push-fit lens cap and rear 1.25" dust plug.

Delivery charge £5.95

Reviews

  excellant  excellent service from Harrison come within 2 dayd of ordering will be using Harrison again  (21/12/2019) kriss - midlands