AFTER REPAIR... How is the ASKAR 200mm F4 ACL lens? FULL FRAME TEST

[@martrich1098]

Great to see you have a good lens now. I think you have highlighted one of the big issues for astrophotography, choice of gear - when I was starting out (years ago) in my backyard in the UK the choice was relatively easy and less important, as most choices could be made to work. Now, the range of available equipment is MUCH larger, plus I live in the city with no backyard, just a balcony with a poor view and the choice of a 30 minute drive to reach Bortle 6/7 or 90 minute drive to reach Bortle 4, suddenly the issues of light pollution and the need to maximise the benefit of my time commited to trips become enormous and complex. In these circumstances, gear choice is paramount (if you'll pardon the pun). Mind you that all gives me plenty of reasons to take my time with choices and watch lots of great youtube videos ;)

[@UssSamuG]

Thank you for this update :) And btw, I saw you blinking, so you're not a robot - I admit ;)

[@Poketronics]

Wow, that is a winner! I'm so happy you got a good sample, and kudos to Sightron Japan for testing and sending you a good sample.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Absolutely! It's good to have a reseller we can actually trust :-)

[@lonoshamobservatory3556]

We have this lens/scope's bigger brother - the Askar FRA400/5.6 and it is incredible, perfectly crisp. It's much more expensive and weighty, but it takes amazing images thanks to it's quintuplet design. Your reviews and insights are amazing as always!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Good to know! Thank you!

[@ronrotunno2901]

I purchased this lens with high hopes but found that it didn’t compare favorably to my old Rokinon 135 in terms of the roundness of brighter stars. I’m sure there’s some copy to copy variation so your results might be different. Overall build quality (materials) is excellent.

[@billblanshan3021]

Cuiv, I had the same problem with the Askar 400 and returned it. I decided to give Askar another try and bought the Askar 600 with reducer, same problem. No matter how I adjust tilt I cant fix it. I literally spent the past 4 days trying to get this to work and now I am returning it for refund today. I'm done with Askar

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

It's just so frustrating to lose perfectly good imaging time to testing isn't it?...

[@astroworldcreations2047]

Great to hear this update, Cuiv, and very glad you have a good copy now, so you can start enjoying it (if you find a purpose :-))

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thank you!

[@keithhanssen7413]

Thanks, Cuiv! I still haven’t star tested mine. Must get out there soon and see if my sample is acceptable. Clear Skies!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Absolutely! Clear skies and good luck!

[@saulontheroad9605]

Great video, I'm looking for a good traveling set up to pair with my ASI533MC, I'm wondering if I should go with this one or something else. What would you recomend ? Thanks !

[@southbronxny5727]

The company saying the oval stars are within spec is unacceptable. Nevertheless, could you make a video, if you haven't already, on how to read those lens analysis charts that some scopes come with? Thanks.

[@stephennelson6975]

I’m pairing this one’s little brother, the FMA 180 Pro. I spent a few extra dollars for their adapter for the ZWO EAF. I’m getting beautiful pictures, but I’m not really pushing the edges of the imaging circle since I’m using an ASI 294 MC.

[@ioan_astro]

stars in the corners look better than a FSQ :)) not a bad lens, I got one as well and it's very well built:)

[@julius8389]

Hey Cuiv, great video!. Actually I’m checking the Askar 230 mm f/4.6 as a travel setup (just 1,08 kg) with the star adventurer 2i but I don’t find enough information about it. Specs says its a 50mm diameter, close specs to the redcat and more than 700gr less, that gives the option to an ASIAIR configuration and still far from the 2,5 kilos I prefer not to pass over the adventurer. Hope anyone can give a bit of light over that model that looks really good for that setup but not enough info. Obviously my suggestion is to try that one ;) great videos, very instructieve and at the same time enjoy your passion. Clear skies, everyone!!!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Huh that looks like a great alternative to the Red Cat! If you can fit an autofocuser to it (and I'm sure there are solutions) it sound great on paper! Clear skies!

[@markknecht9416]

Very interesting update. As many of your followers now also have the AZ-GTi & StellarMate we're all looking forward to you figuring out a good light weight, and now low torque, DSLR with auto focus solution. Great channel. Keep up the interesting work!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thank you Mark!

[@woody5109]

I admire the level of detail your striving for, personally I’m allot more forgiving, my eyes are too old to be that picky. Great video though, cheers.

[@afryhover]

I just downloaded your raw file, I think the stars look very bad. They are out of shape / coma / astigmatism looking. I wouldn't be happy with these stars at all. I want to buy this lens, but I'm hesitating now and having second thoughts.

[@gregerianne3880]

Sorry if I missed this in one of your other videos, Cuiv, but I heard you say in your review of the Antlia 'Golden Filter' that you had a problem with threads on the Askar ACL 200. I am curious to know what/where the problem was, so I could check it out on mine. The Antlia filter was a great video, BTW! I just didn't want to post this comment there because it's a little off the topic of filters.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I couldn't thread in a lot of adapters! So ZWO M48 (16.5mm), no go. Skywatcher M48 camera adapter, no go. Antlia filter drawer, no go (in this video you can see it's not fully threaded in). The only adapter that worked (with some WD-40) was the WO M48 camera adapter. All of those adapters worked fine on the previous lens. When I measured the threads, it seems the lens' threads had a pitch of around 0.8 rather than 0.75...

[@gregerianne3880]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek Ah, I see! Well, I guess that explains my LACK of problems. I ordered a WO M48 when I ordered the ACL 200 and it was happy as a clam to go on there! Geez, hope they can repair that for you, Cuiv. You'll get a kick out of this...I have to confess, I tried putting an Astronomik UHC filter on the ACL 200 yesterday and it threaded fine onto the WO M48 but I couldn't get it to thread onto the ACL 200. Then I realized the Astronomik UHC only has threads on one side! Duh!!! :-) I was really THRILLED to see you using the ACL 200 for your video on the Antlia filter, though. At first, I looked and said what in the world does he have attached to the camera now? (Only because I'm AMAZED at the variety and extent of equipment you have, and it's one of the reasons I love watching your channel. It's like Wonderland for me! :-) Then I realized it was the ACL 200. That was cool....

[@ShevillMathers]

Interesting, I have my lens and focuser add-on, which I plan to try with my Nikon Z6ii and a large sensor ZWO camera, also a large sensor Panasonic Astro camera. I have an idea about the focuser and ZWOMini guide scope combo to keep the wight inboard, however, I am off into hospital this coming Thursday for some spinal surgery, which is going to restrict my activities for a while, but at least I have all the goodies, AZGTi, camera’s, lenses, EQ6R tripod, ASIAIR Pro etc. to play with during my recovery phase. I will let you know how it all pans out or not. I have two ASIAIR Pro units and the antenna bits to do the wi-fi mod too. I will miss the almost total partial lunar eclipse, longest in 100 years on the 19th Nov. which is a bind, but by then I will be high on other chemicals. Greetings from Tasmania Australia.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Take good care Shevill, good luck with spinal surgery... will be my turn next year...

[@davidmisisco]

I have the smaller Askar 180, which is considerably lighter, yet is still an f/4 lens. 20mm shorter and still a manual focus lens. In the little time that I have used it I have found it to be very sharp corner to corner.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

The 180 at F4.5 looks pretty neat indeed! Have you been using it with full frame?

[@davidmisisco]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek I have only had it a short while, and have had only a couple nights of good weather to work with it. I have a ZWO ASI183GT, a mono camera with built in filter wheel and 1” sensor. I probably should be using an OSC camera since I should also be checking focus for each filter, but I’m lazy, so I don’t. My first complete run of images of the Veil Nebula show very good star shapes out to the furthest corners. Now that Orion is in view I’m hoping to capture some interesting shots of that complex.

[@arjanvanloo2177]

For an idea how to use this: what about using the AZ-GTI to re-center between shots, and use the pentax astrotracer during the shots (keeping the mount static)? Presumable while the mount is not moving, the load being somewhat high won't affect stability too much?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

That's a great idea!

[@AstroDenny]

I'm glad this worked out- I got a good deal on a used Redcat but to go really wide I have a Tamron 180mm f/3.5 macro lens which has been very promising with my ZWO ASI294- I'm going to put that IDAS NBZ filter to the test and try to get the spaghetti nebula with it.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Sounds great!! Good luck with that and clear skies!

[@tomhoskins4913]

Even if it your videos seems like it is not applicable to me, when I watch learn and become interested. For instance, I am thinking about mating up a Rokinon f/2.8 lens to a ZWO camera

[@ScrapYardDog64]

Does the pentax have good HA response, only just subbed you do not had time to watch all your videos but will 👍🏼

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

My Pentax is astromodded, so it has excellent Ha response. By default the Pentax are actually well known for having a high Ha response compared to others but I've never tested it directly! www.cloudynights.com/topic/593639-all-this-pink-red-from-the-weekend-pentax-k1-at65q-who-says-you-cant-do-it-with-a-bright-moon/

[@anata5127]

You will use AM5 now with this lens. You could get AM3. It is portable enough.

[@merc500sec]

Did you ever have an iOptron SmartEQ PRO+ with Case GPS Guider at all ? They are quite portable and run off batteries , I am really impressed with mine , especially if you add another weight

[@adityakinjawadekar562]

I love smartEQ too! I can easily get 3 minute exposures with 70-200 2.8 at 200mm, without guiding. I'm really excited to receive my askar ACL, I'll be using it with the smartEQ too!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thanks for the tip! The SmartEQ Pro+ was my very first equatorial mount! It worked great for a few months until the DEC axis started binding and stopped rotating. It wasn't the worm/gear. It was the shafts themselves... At the time there was no local support in Japan, iOptron was still very much an unknown brand. I love the design that the batteries are under the RA axis, so they act as a natural counterweight!

[@MrBercis]

Maybe you can put a focuser motor on top not below a lens?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Yep, I'm trying to find a solid way for that to work

[@astrogerard2022]

You think they would have checked the item before sending it to you considering you were doing a review!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

They didn't know! I bought it randomly :)

[@actudoran]

Cannot afford a new lens ... :( I just bought a teleconvertor 2x for my Samyang 135 f2 ... Making it an F4 270 ... Still waiting for the weather to test it 😃 ... Oh and btw am skinned because I just ordered another telescope ... 115/800 TS APO triplet ... Now waiting patiently till I get more money for the starizona 0.65 reducer flattener ... Anyway about usage ... I have the same dilemma ... It looks like buying a travel mount with goto is the way ... Like an exos1 which can run on batteries ... Should handle 5kgs ok out of the stated 7 kg capacity... That might mean guidance with 270 F4 ., Or even with 80/400 achromatic .... No ... No ... No ... The APO stays home!!!! Don't be tempted ! Don't get the RST 135 :))))

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Auggh, no don't buy anything more for now!!!!! Be careful! The black hole has you!! I hear a lot of good things about the iExos, it's really a shame they don't have it in Japan...

[@paulbarrett423]

hmmm im torn atm between this and the redcat, I have an ed80 paired with a 1600 mono but i just bought a 533 osc camera and think the askar would go well with it as its a nice wide field of view, still torn

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

If you get a good sample (buy from a reputable seller), then the Askar would be amazing at F4. Although it really shines in how it supports larger sensors...

[@paulbarrett423]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek the thinking behind it is i can always swop it round to pair up with the zwo 1600mono or even my nikon z5 mirroless full frame so i think i will go with that as it gives me the most options,

[@KZgun4hire]

Can you place another dovetail on the second arm of the lens? I thought I saw some mounting screw holes there! Or as the lens appears to have two mounting arms can the focus-er be placed on the secondary arm?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Yeah I was hoping to do that! But the mounting holes and screws are different on either side of the lens!!

[@astroworldcreations2047]

Thought about it the same way. Replace the handle bar by standard vixen bar and flip the whole contraption upside-down? Worst case you have to drill two holes in the vixen bar to fit with the screw size/placement of the handle bar.

[@gregmckay666]

Too bad that little Hobym Crux 140 Traveler mount didn't work out for you. That would have been a perfect mount for this lightweight rig.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

For sure!!! Such a wasted opportunity! And it took so long for Hobym to finally admit they had a problem...

[@alexandreastronomy8022]

Hi Cuiv! You could use this setup in piggy back on one of your larger scope with the eq6 mount?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

That's a great idea! And now that synchronized dithering is back in NINA... :D

[@alexandreastronomy8022]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek Yes! Greetings from Québec, canada!

[@OlliesSpace]

That's a bit of a conundrum with your lens for the moment I'm kinda going my Samyang 135, ASI533/Canon 6D/AZGTI as my more portable setup. I can imagine on the GTI at 3kg getting at the limit. Knowing your a practical guy I would say sell it OR maybe piggyback it on something. I'm kinda the same in that I don't really keep gear as ornaments.... although I've also made the mistake of selling and then rebuying gear! lol.:)

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Hahaha we are far too similar. I don't really want to let go of the lens because I finally have a good sample... but then I don't know whether I'm actually going to use it :D

[@OlliesSpace]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek Ha lol. Do what I do .....watch it for a few months(seemingly looking back at you) until your frustration gets to the limit of not using it then say "That's it I'm selling you!"😂

[@zborkz]

Would mounting the EAF on something like the ProAstroGear Black-CAT Mount which would not raise the scope from the dovetail solve the torque issue?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Yep it pretty much would -we'd need a version for the Askar!

[@sruipcrkiyt]

Another issue which is a bit of a rant is that Askar is marketing these and also their FRA scopes as FL F/ratio example there is a FRA400 F5.6. It is strange that this sort of a thing goes for lenses and there are multiple elements in them, but for Astronomy and Telescopes, we really need Aperture and Focal Ratio. Who knows what is the actual aperture on these, and hence the resolution.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Oh yeah, that's true - although focal length is also good to know. Meh, knowing either + FR is enough to know both!

[@sruipcrkiyt]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek That’s true though!

[@mariospenard5125]

I really like your reviews, and this one is no exception. I was thinking buying this lens... but I will pass! I waisted enough money with low grade equipment! Mario

[@juriparn1296]

I tried to post a link to well known telescope service company in Germany where I ordered my fokuser kit but it seems to disappear immediately ....

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I found the link! Although right now the page seems to be broken. That seems like a better alternative... Thanks for the tip!

[@marcusa3177]

...what if you mount the lens sideways (so the doodads are to the left and right of the camera) then use either those rings on a plate used for guide scopes to hold up the whole thing. The trick is that the plate is long enough so it can also be screwed in the camera's tripod hole. I've seen this setup in CN but for vintage lenses. IDK if there are large-enough rings for that diameter though. Or idk, get someone to 3D print a custom rotating ring with Y or even cross arms so the doodads can hang from either left or right of the assembly. Is that even possible hahahaha

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

That's a great idea! I'll see if I have any lens collar that could work!

[@timliscum2861]

Cant you use a counter weight to negate the moment caused by the camera/add ons?

[@Neanderthal75]

I have the same mount as Cuiv has (AZGTI) , trust me, it's already creeking and struggling with even just a 60mm short tube with a camera attached. Honestly it's not even designed for astrophotography but as a visual go-to mount, even the skywatcher page mentions it.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

So in theory yes - but I'd need a 3kg CW quite far down the shaft. Which then means a high moment of inertia on a small mount. That's not a good thing. At all.... As Frank says the mount will not be happy.

[@timliscum2861]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek The moments will cancel (+ counterweight moment offsets the negative telescope moment) and all your left with is the total weight on the mount.

[@whatmattersmost6725]

Hi Cuiv, this is a common issues even in high end camera lenses, Canon, Nikon, Sony ECT. Sad to say this is somewhat disappointing BUT in normal daytime photography those lenses are fine and as you have proven star testing will always shows the lenses faults.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Yeah I've seen that too! It's just that for a lens that is advertised specifically for astro... I am expect better...

[@alexwelander6857]

You can always give it away 🙃

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Mmmmh probably not :p

[@febsat]

Interesting as always. I know you are not fanatical about getting pinpoint stars, but when you mentioned 'tilt' and the ability to solve tilt issues, I was wondering if you could provide a video discussing sensor tilt, how to properly analyze it and how to resolve it? Many cameras have tilt plates, some do not and there is always aftermarket. Thanks. Great channel that you have!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Yeeeaaaaah I'm the same - and because of that I'm not an expert on tilt! My technique is usually to just eyeball it, but there are techniques where you can use a Bahtinov mask , focus perfectly at the center of the frame, then bring the star to each corner to see which is most out of focus - this is where you'd play with tilt...

[@msacco]

Ohh man...what a sucks scenario, I guess you have no choice, you'll need to build a third rig for this lens 🙃 Also, first time I actually hear about supported torque, that's very interesting, and makes lots of sense.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Ha! Let's throw more money out the window! :D And yes, Torque is really THE measurement to use for payloads, but it's more confusing...

[@msacco]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek That's what this hobby is all about :D

[@juriparn1296]

Hey Good Folks. You are absolutely right about the design flaws of that focuser. First of all, to get a good resolution you should operate the fine focud ring. That one can be operated with a stepper motor without any gear box thus remaining manually operational. The ASI focuser can not be turned manually. And - also important - not to mess up the sabilty of the divetail So I designed a different solution......And now it's on sale .... but not my design but very similar ....so I ordered one. I think I will replace the ASI motor with something without a backlas....

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Yep you are absolutely right. I'll try to rig my own solution :-)

[@shaunsprogress]

I wouldn't be happy with those stars at all, I'd refund that right away. It's a 2.5kg 50mm lens at £750, I can get the Altair 60mm FPL 53 doublet and flattener for £100 less!

[@billlong7146]

First half of the video was excellent. Mount discussion.... Not so good, quite inaccurate.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Can you expand on that? I'd love to know what was inaccurate (besides me ignoring the latitude angle)! As far as I see it, the inertia that accompanies the payload will stress the mount (and thus why Vixen quotes not only payloads, but also the distance from the rotation axis that those numbers are valid for). Then we have the moment of inertia where we're now talking square of distances.

[@billlong7146]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek 3KG is not likely to be causing a problem in the way you mention. This lens is neither heavy nor long. While I dont disagree with what you talked about in terms of moment, I disagree that this setup should do anything at all to cause you a mount problem.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

@@billlong7146 Thanks for the details! But on the AZ-GTi in equatorial mode, it really becomes wobbly as heck with that thing on... On other, more acceptable mounts, I completely agree!

[@McItoshi]

What to do with it.. Well give it to me XD

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmh ..... no :p

[@McItoshi]

:'(

[@juriparn1296]

Seems like it works if you switch to German language ....... Sorry - no French...

[@astromatz]

Lazy but precise 😉Maybe now you should buy the new mount from sharpstar 😀

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Ha! No, I can't spend any more money right now! Also there's a cheap brand new CEM60 on Yahoo Auctions I'm eyeing :p

[@astromatz]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek We'll wait and see 😏