William Optics RedCat61 | Full Experience & Review | High Point Scientific

We got our hands on the new William Optics RedCat 61 and it's time to put it to the test. This 61mm APO Astrograph is a great refractor for astrophotographers, and this version of the RedCat comes with the William Optics Internal Focus Design (WIFD)!
The RedCat 61 is designed to deliver excellent full frame image quality to those looking for an aesthetically pleasing and high-performance refractor.
Order your RedCat 61 here: www.highpointscientific.com/w...
Read our full review of the RedCat 61 here: www.highpointscientific.com/a...
Watch our Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi full review video here: • Sky-Watcher Star Adven...
#highpointscientific #williamoptics #redcat61 #telescope
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:40 What's In The Box?
01:18 What's New?
01:52 Scope Specifications
02:48 New Focus Design Pros & Cons
04:17 Setting Up
05:50 Imaging Rho Ophiuchus
06:38 Final Result
08:00 Conclusion

[@josephburian8716]

Yes, it’s been almost 6 weeks of cloudy, rainy night nights here in Colorado. I’ve only had 2 moonless, clear nights.

[@highpointscientific]

Hopefully come the end of June / early July things start to change!

[@atreides-]

Man incredible time lapse! How did you pull it off?

[@mr.f.9672]

Many thanks for this review. Is the focuser somewhere in the middle of the focus index scale in case of 55mm back focus to allow fine adjustments back and forth? Or is it at one of the the end of the range 0 or 50?

[@Nico.75]

That redcat looks nice as well as the internal focusing system. But actually I was missing a review of the star quality, chromatic abberations etc... What were your impressions?

[@michaelmiliano2753]

Can this New scope be use for viewing also , I’d like to do both astrophotography and viewing planets ?

[@gspinin]

Is it worth upgrading from a RC51 vII?

[@matteoromagnoli4448]

Hello .9 nice video and presentataion :) I am left with a doubt though, could i use it with a star adventurer GTI? Pls I would really apprexiate a positive responde :) U have a Canon R at the moment :) thank you in advance and please keep up with this great content :)

[@3_Gold_Coins]

I have clear bortle 5 sky with heat and winds in Coachella Valley.

[@mrmistyeye7076]

If you have to choose between the redcat 51 and 61, what would you choose and why? (I’m basically a newbie btw and I want to try a wider field than a Newtonian telescope). Thanks for the review btw

[@highpointscientific]

Thanks for commenting! This totally depends on personally preference here we think. If you like the traditional style focuser then the RC61 would be the way to go. If you prefer the helical style focuser and also want to use the scope as a camera lens then the RC51 would be recommended. If neither of those are a game changer, the RC61 gathers more light. All things being equal, the RedCat 61 would out perform the Red Cat 51! Hope this helps!

[@mrmistyeye7076]

@@highpointscientific Thanks! 👍 Btw, just a few moments ago I ended up buying the 51. This is mainly bc I didn't care a lot about the focuser but, even though the 61 gathers more light and it has better angular resolution, the 51 has a wider FOV + it is possible to switch to visual use (I'm aware it is not the best, still it is a possibility); furthermore the 51 is way cheaper, which is not a bad thing since is actually my first telescope 😅

[@3_Gold_Coins]

I want to see it with the ZWO EAF on a AM5. I am in a holding pattern until I know it will work. I want the GT 81 WIFD.

[@stevenharper6394]

Why wouldn't it work with the AM5??

[@MrGp3po]

The EAF is controlled by the ASIAir or other computer control. There is no reason it would not work with the AM5; they are both ZWO and fully compatible.

[@shubhamcweb]

RedCat 61 is gonna be my future scope, with AM3 instead.

[@servicecatchers3190]

I m a beginner, should i buy 61 redcat or gran turismo 81 or a flurostar 120?

[@grandmasteryoda9893]

if you most have WO go for gt71. if you want good bang for buk go for askar fra300 or phq65. cost is about the same, but both askar have built in flattner so you dont need think 55mm backfocus only find focus. the 65 are abit slower but have better stars and build like a tank and have degre numbrs on its rotator. know how much you need to rotate and dont worry about 55mm back focus are always less stuff to worry aobut.... wich if ask is great for a one to start(less headic to deal with). all the scope you point have great history, but dont buy 120. its good, but a big scope are very unforgiving for a starter.

[@southbronxny5727]

I could only dream of taking a picture like that in nyc….bortle 5000!!!!😂

[@venetogardens]

What’s your opinion about getting the 61 if you already have the 51?

[@highpointscientific]

The jump to the 71 may be a choice to consider! 50mm of focal length and 10mm of aperture gain with the redcat 61 isnt too significant but the change to 350mm of focal length with an increase in aperture by 20mm may be more noticeable! The Redcat 51 and the 71 pair a bit nicer than the 51 and 61 - these two scope are very identical in specifications!

[@MrGp3po]

My RedCat51 calculates to 2,043 square mm of area and the RedCat61 at 2,922. So you get about 43% more light gathering area. Whereas for $100 more, the RedCat71 gives 3,959 or nearly double the objective area of the RedCat51. Unless you are helical focuser adverse, the 71 is the better choice. imp I foresee William Optics coming out with taller ring supports to avoid the design issue of the focus knob not clearing the mount saddle. Apparently they didn't test the RedCat61 on many mounts.

[@FOM1]

Will the asi 183mc pro work with the redcat 61?

[@highpointscientific]

Hi! Absolutely! There would be no reason for the 183 not to work as it has the same spacing and includes the same spacers as other "pro" series cameras from ZWO!

[@nikaxstrophotography]

I'll stick with the Askar 300 thanks nearly a grand cheaper but not a grand under quality