Product: Takahashi FSQ-106ED4X
Manufacturer: Takahashi
Price: $7330 as of the time of this review
The Takahashi FSQ-106EDX4EDX4 is a high-quality, apochromatic refractor telescope that is designed for astrophotography and visual observing. It is a redesign of the venerable FSQ-106 telescope. It has a compact size and a relatively large aperture of 106mm, making it an excellent choice for both amateur and professional astronomers. Many astrophotographers consider this scope the best astrophotography telescope outside of a professional observatory.
One of the key features of the FSQ-106EDX4 is its quadruplet lens apochromatic Petzval system. This means that it is designed to minimize chromatic aberration, which can be a significant problem in telescopes with smaller apertures. The result is that the FSQ-106EDX4 produces very clear and sharp images with excellent color correction, making it ideal for observing planets, stars, and deep-sky objects. The 4-lens system, along with the large 4-inch rack & pinion focuser results in a whopping 88 mm image circle! This allows for flat fields across a full frame sensor or larger, without the need for a separate field flattener. The incorporated camera angle adjuster makes it easy to perfectly frame an object without the need for refocusing.
Another advantage of the FSQ-106EDX4 is its relatively short focal length of 530mm. This allows for a wider field of view than many other telescopes, making it easier to locate objects and capture them in images. Additionally, the telescope’s fast focal ratio of f/5 makes it a great choice for astrophotography, as it allows for shorter exposure times and reduces the risk of image blur due to tracking errors. An optional focal reducer can reduce the focal length to 371 mm and the focal ratio to f/3.5 making for an even wider field of view and shorter exposure times. The image circle will be reduced to 70 mm, but who cares? There aren’t many sensors that come close to that large size.
The build quality of the FSQ-106EDX4 is also exceptional, with a solid construction and precise focus mechanism. The telescope’s carbon fiber tube is lightweight yet durable, and its retractable dew shield helps to protect the lens from dew and other environmental factors. Takahashi also makes a less expensive version, the FSQ-85EDX, which shares many of the same features, but with a smaller 85 mm aperture.
Specifications
- Aperture: 106mm (4.17 inches)
- Focal length: 530mm
- Focal ratio: f/5
- Optical design: Apochromatic refractor with 4-element lens system
- Coatings: Fully multi-coated optics for maximum light transmission and color accuracy
- Mounting: Can be mounted on a variety of equatorial and alt-azimuth mounts
- Weight: 7.7 kg (17 lbs)
- Length: 580 mm
- Diameter: 125mm (4.9 inches) at lens cell
- Accessories: Comes with a 4-inch rack and pinion focuser, a retractable dew shield, and a camera angle adjuster for astrophotography. It also has a removable 50.8mm (2 inch) visual back for attaching accessories like eyepieces and diagonals
- An advanced Petzval design includes an almost full aperture G3 lens to ensure greater image illumination
- A flat field without the need for an additional flattener, across a large 88 mm image circle
- Generous 178 mm back focus allows the user to attach a variety of imaging cameras and accessories, 2-inch diagonals, and many other visual devices including bino viewers.
- An anti-torquing draw tube that uses a second rack located on the top of the tube and loaded with ball bearings to prevent any rotation when a heavy instrument package is attached.
Pros
- Exceptional quality
- Fast focal ratio
- Short focal length and wide field of view
- Large flat field without the need for separate field flattener
- Huge image circle
Cons
- Expensive
- Need to special order
Summary
Overall, the Takahashi FSQ-106EDX4 is an excellent choice for both visual observing and astrophotography. Although it is relatively expensive, one should consider it an investment in a product that can see a lifetime of use.