Can I stack two focal reducers on a C8 to fit a wider target like Andromeda?
Asked 1/22/2016
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I’m shooting astrophotography with a Celestron C8 SGT XLT (2003mm, f/10) on an Advanced VX and a Canon 7D Mark II. I currently use a 0.63× focal reducer, which brings the scope to about 1200mm.
Could I place two 0.63× focal reducers in series to get an even wider field of view, roughly 0.63 × 0.63 = 0.40×? My goal is to fit a large object like the Andromeda Galaxy into one frame.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
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Focal reducers (decreasing focal length) are not Barlow lenses (increasing focal length)
By inserting a focal reducer the focal point is moved inward the tube, chances are you will not be able to mount your camera in the correct position without modifying the telescope when the focal point is moved even further.
The telescope has its maximum usable field of view and while it is possible to decrease the apparent focal length by adding extra lenses, below certain point it will be only decreasing the image size without adding any new area (or in other words, only adding black border/vignetting)
These are general rules. I don't know if it will be possible to catch the full galaxy using your specific setup.
Originally by user32811. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user32811
10y ago
0
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You’re asking about stacking focal reducers, not Barlow lenses. In principle, adding reducers can further shorten the effective focal length, but in practice it usually causes problems.
A focal reducer shifts the focus point inward. Adding a second reducer moves it even farther, so you may not be able to reach focus with your camera at all unless the telescope is modified.
Also, every telescope has a maximum usable field of view. Past a certain point, extra reduction won’t reveal more sky — it may just make the image circle smaller, causing strong vignetting or black borders rather than a genuinely wider useful image.
So while the reduction factors may seem multiplicative on paper, stacking two 0.63× reducers is generally not a practical way to capture much larger targets on this setup. For very large objects like Andromeda, a shorter focal length telescope or a camera lens is usually the more effective solution.
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