FIRST LIGHT
Askar 107PHQ astrograph
Detail-rich, pin-sharp views from a scope that wows, whether shooting or observing
VITAL STATS
• Price £2,499
• Optics Quadruplet refractor with twin ED glass elements
• Aperture 107mm, 4.2 inch
• Focal length 749mm, f/7
• Focuser 3.4-inch dual-speed rack and pinion
• Extras Tube rings, dovetail bar, finder scope bracket, carry handle, camera connectors
• Weight 6.9kg (including case)
• Supplier First Light Optics
The Askar 107PHQ is a 107mm (4.2-inch) aperture quadruplet refractor. With a focal length of 749mm, this astrograph is well-suited to photographing medium-sized nebulae and galaxies. Askar’s second-largest OTA offering (next to its 130mm), it’s also wide enough for larger nebulae, if partnered with a full-frame camera.
The 107PHQ arrived in a single large box that contained a very smart and robust carry case. Opening the case revealed the scope with tube rings and carry handle already attached, in addition to multiple threaded adaptors and instruction manuals. First impressions of the telescope were positive, as there was not a single piece of plastic to be found and even the dew shield is solid aluminium. The scope is white, with a striking green trim that matches the dovetail bar, making for a very impressive-looking setup. It appears well-built and feels very solid, while not being overly heavy.
Setting up the 107PHQ for a night’s imaging was a quick task, as attaching a finderscope or guide scope proved very simple. It is fitted with a standard finder bracket, but the carry handle also has a countersunk grooved slot along its entire length, which allowed us to mount our guider tube rings with ease. Attaching a CCD camera was a breeze thanks to the supplied adaptors, so we were able to secure the camera directly onto the OTA. Alternatively, a 1.25-inch or 2-inch nosepiece could be used.
Taking it for a spin
At 5.7kg, attaching and balancing the scope on our Sky-Watcher EQ6-R mount was easy with the 300mm dovetail bar supplied. The only slight issue was that the thumb screws on the tube rings stopped the dovetail bar from sitting fully in the mount saddle, but we found that this could be easily solved by adjusting the tube ring spacing once the dew shield was extended.
First up we slewed over to a 30%-lit Moon and the pin-sharp optics didn’t disappoint. Getting precise focus was easy and crater details were very welldefined. Once we had observed the Moon, we moved on to the Great Globular Cluster, M13, and fitted our own 32mm eyepiece into the focuser to test a deep-sky view. The 107PHQ gave an excellent display, with crisp stars to the very edge of the field of view. When dropping down to our 15m meyepiece, we were able to resolve stars almost to the core – cementing the 107PHQ as a very pleasing visual telescope.
Threaded camera connectors
Attaching both CCD and DSLR cameras was easy as four stackable adaptors are provided to cover a wide range of camera fittings, the M48x0.75 being threaded for filters. A visual adaptor is also included for 2- and 1.25-inch accessories, such as star diagonals and eyepieces.
Carry case
The 107PHQ comes in a very solid aluminium travel case as standard. The case is large enough to take the scope with tubes rings attached, but snug enough to keep everything secure. The twin latches on the case are easy to use and secure.
Retractable dew shield
To combat the damp nights, a solid metal, retractable dew shield is provided. Secured in position with a metal thumb screw, the dew shield is not at risk of slipping and, being metal, will allow for the transfer of heat to the main lens if using a heated dew strip.
First-class flatfield
The Askar 107PHQ is an air-spaced triplet with an inbuilt field flattener, making this scope a quadruplet. Not only this, but two of the main elements are made from ED glass, ensuring exceptional colour correction and focusing.
The 107PHQ has a 44mm imaging circle designed to work with full-frame cameras. During flatfield testing, there was no noticeable vignetting when paired with our full-frame Canon DSLR camera. In addition to no vignetting, we found that the inbuilt flattener gave us a very flat image from edge to edge using both our DSLR and CCD camera. Inspecting each image, there was no sign of coma or astigmatism, with stars appearing round into the corners.
The benefit of the inbuilt flattener in a quadruplet is it removes the need for a precise distance between camera and flattener. This means you won’t need to buy additional spacers and you can switch cameras with ease. It also reduces the risk of vignetting as the flattener is built to cover the full imaging circle.
Nevertheless, Askar’s latest quadruplet is sold primarily as an astrograph, so we were keen to test its imaging abilities. Switching out the eyepiece we inserted our CCD to make the most of some latesummer nebulae. Slewing over to Cygnus we homed in on the Cygnus Wall, which at 748mm focal length just fitted into our field of view. We were pleased to find that our CCD achieved focus easily when attached directly to the back of the focuser, with no additional back focus or extension tubes required.
Looking sharp
Once focused and with our autoguider running, we ran some 15-minute test exposures. These confirmed that the stars were round and pinpoint-sharp across the field, with no vignetting visible. With everything set, we left the camera running for as long as the lighter summer skies would allow. Taking advantage of the clear weather, we also spent a couple of nights imaging the Crescent Nebula.
Excited to see our images, we stacked our data and loaded it into Photoshop for processing. Instantly the quality of the astrograph was apparent, as without any flat calibration frames being added, the data was clean with an even background. Getting the best from our images was therefore straightforward, with lots of detail emerging without the need to overprocess.
The Askar 107PHQ is a very rewarding addition to any astrophotography setup, delivering excellent data. However, this larger astrograph will benefit from a sturdy mount to bring out its full potential, making it an ideal tool for seasoned astro imagers.
KIT TO ADD
1. Askar 0.7x reducer for 107PHQ
2. ZWO ASI6200MC-Pro full-frame colour camera
3. ZWO Mini Finder-Guider & ASI120MM-Mini bundle
VERDICT
