RedCat61 WIFD Review - Finally no more helical focuser!

Redcat 61 WIFD: bit.ly/3pp76DQ
Hey everyone, this is a review of the new william optics WIFD Redcat 61. Another interesting telescope with a unique focuser design. This allows the focuser to not flex or tilt, and minimize vignetting. Which gives you also you the freedom to use a more inexpensive autofocuser. This little guy performed quite well in producing some images.
If you want to see the full size photograph you can find it on my astrobin page: www.astrobin.com/fdnmgj/
Fine art prints: astrofalls.com/
All my gear: astrofalls.com/pages/about
Hope you enjoy the video!

[@rifleman175]

Actually since you were using NINA, you could try out the three star polar align plug-in! It would enable you to polar align anywhere in the sky, without having need for a view of Polaris. Cheers from Singapore!

[@damiengalanaud3817]

Very nice video Bray. I just received mine 2 days ago and can’t wait to test it. There is a simple fix to the focus lock issue if you really need to use it: simply rotate 180° the dovetail, or move it toward the back of the telescope. And WO even provides you with this nifty set of Allen keys to do it !

[@woody5109]

I don’t do cold 😂😂 appreciate your honesty, great images, thanks Bray.

[@keeslp4690]

The image looks great! Also fun to see you do stuff with more common gear

[@deep_space_dave]

Hey Bray! Williams Optical has truly produced something special here! We need more innovation like this as astrophotography evolves. I love your setup, looks amazing! I have the HEM27EC and the encoder on RA really helps when imaging in LP skies so I am less reliant on guiding. Looks like you are enjoying your HEM27 as much as I am! I recently ventured into using mono, actually a QHY600M on a RASA 8, yep it works and the FOV is amazing. Hope I can create beautiful works like yours in the future 🙂 Thanks for the video and clear skies!

[@mupangamwanakatwe1300]

Hey my man - as usual, a great video in your laid-back style!!

[@Darfe78]

Nice time lapse! Here at 65 deg, north the sun is up 20/7 right now. I can´t wait till early september for astrophoto...

[@Si-fp2ij]

Nice review Bray, looks a great location too!

[@qwertymonsta]

Wow what a great photo!

[@my-pixels]

Thanks for the review. I actually like the idea of using that kind of focuser. There's no need to buy an expensive focuser now that would hold a heavy camera weight well.

[@AstroDragon33]

You always have such nice DSLR shots of the eaths rotation/Milkyway sky. What camera do you use for this, and tracker? and what are your typical exposure numbers?

[@EarthAndSky4u]

Very nice!

[@robertsakall1777]

Have two mirrors and though I could make up two telescopes mounted next to each other. Also want to hang this 4.5 inch refractor, f-5. Thought that could be a spotting scope.

[@michaelcrapo883]

Just so you know, that was not an air glow band, but the effect from your images passing through a power line. If you look at your stars, you will see spikes from the power line.

[@user-od3di4jf3n]

とても素晴らしい画像ですね

[@efx245precor3]

17:17

[@groundhoppingwlkp3622]

13:53

[@wb5plj]

nice, how did you capture that opening scene time laps?

[@area51xi]

Hi Bray. What's the guide scope in this setup? Looks nice and compact. My current guide is way too big.

[@keithhanssen7413]

Just curious, did you take the 2nd time lapse with the star adventurer, or a simple tripod?