Overly-long preamble
I got into astroimaging many years ago, but started taking it more seriously after buying a Sky-Watcher Evostar 80ED DS-Pro and ASI1600 Mono camera plus filters. I got a lot of use out of them, but the arrival of a new baby took most of my time (and energy!) so I sold almost everything with the intention of coming back to the hobby a little later. Barely a year on and I was missing astroimaging a lot so decided to return, but this time would create a simpler set up to get me imaging with the minimum of hassle.
My initial attempt stalled after I bought a William Optics Zenithstar 73 II APO 2019 with reducer / flattener, but had terrible issues with streaky corner stars due to backfocus problems (i.e. needing to have the exact right distance to your camera sensor). I tried a few things with the help of First Light Optics (great customer support) but in the end returned the telescope as it looked like I’d gotten a duff one.
Enter the Askar!
Luckily, at this time FLO started stocking Askar FRA400 f/5.6 Quintuplet APO Astrographs. This telescope was appealing for three main reasons:
- It’s a 400mm f5.6 short-tube refractor. These are robust and relatively easy to use. The downside is that they’re not really suitable for planetary imaging, but you can’t have it all.
- It’s a Petzval design, which means that you don’t need to worry about getting the backfocus right. So long as your image is in focus, the backfocus will be perfect. Note: there’s an optional reducer for this telescope, but if you use that then you do need to get the backfocus right.
- The price-point of £962 seemed very reasonable for what was on offer.
I pushed the button and went for it. I also bought a ZWO ASI 2600MC PRO USB 3.0 Cooled Colour Camera (review here) and Optolong L-eXtreme filter to allow for narrowband imaging. My choice of OSC camera was to keep with my central aim of making data acquisition as simple as possible. I live in the centre of Bristol, and the light pollution is terrible, but OSC still works well.
I decided to forego the optional Askar f/3.9 Full Frame Reducer for FRA400/5.6. This was for four reasons. 1) The L-eXtreme isn’t as effective with very fast systems; 2) 400mm is good to frame the targets I’m most interested in; 3); with the reducer I’d need to get the backfocus spot-on, and I’d had enough of that with the WO ZS73; 4) I’d save £269!
Problems and solutions
Build quality on the whole is good. It only takes a moment to realise it’s in a different league to the 80ED DS-Pro. However, I’d say it’s not quite up there with the WO ZS73. The dew shield is a little loose and on the cusp of sliding down under its own weight when the telescope is pointing straight up. I solved this by putting an elastic band on the main tube, just behind the dew shield – a DIY fix but works just fine.
The lens cap also feels a bit loose, but has never fallen off. The default focusser is ok, but doesn’t quite have the premium feel of the WO ZS73. I upgraded with a ZWO EAF, which was very easy to install, and works perfectly. I consider this a must if you’re astroimaging.
The supplied dovetail is quite short, making it difficult to achieve balance if using a heavy camera. I solved this with Primaluce Lab 30mm PLUS Spacers and a William Optics DSD 245 Plate. This allows for good balance, plus there’s room for an ASIAIR Plus to be attached at the back.
All my accessories are attached to the left-side of the telescope, making it slightly off-balance. However, there are enough holes in the spacers and tube rings to allow for the dovetail to actually be attached slightly off-centre to the telescope, allowing for it to all be well balanced. A Finder Plate is available to open up more options.
The telescope comes with a conical M68 to M48 adapter. Askar say this is threaded for 48mm filters – ideal for my L-eXtreme, or so I thought. Alas, it’s designed in such a way that it’s impossible to physically get the filter in there. Very odd. Askar have since released FRA500 and FRA600 versions, which seem to have a redesigned conical adapter that fixes this problem. In the end I bought a ZWO 2″ Filter Drawer with M48 / M42 Connections. This solved the issue, and is very convenient, but is an extra cost that should be considered.
A carry handle is built into the tube rings, which is very useful. The tube rings themselves are a snug fit, but unfortunately you need a tool to open or close them up. Why not large thumb-screws, Askar? That’d be more convenient for people wanting to use this as a portable travel ‘scope.
The Askar FRA400 doesn’t come with a carry case. This seems like quite an omission given its portability credentials.
Image quality
I’m not a pixel peeper, but I’m certainly happy with the image quality. There’s some fringing around stars near the edge of the frame, but I’ve never found it to be distracting or even noticeable in final edited photos. Maybe you’ve got higher standards, in which case it might bug you.
I’ll let the images themselves do the talking here, with the caveat that total integration time and image processing have a lot to do with final quality. Check out my gallery for lots more examples, where you can also click on on individual images to see extra info, including example sub-frames.
One year on
I’ve been using the Askar FRA400 for almost a year now, and am still having a great time with it. It’s compact and light — I can carry the OTA with all attached accessories in one hand. It’s a very forgiving instrument to use, and makes data acquisition relatively easy. It also offers impressive image quality for under £1000. It pairs really well with a ZWO ASI 2600MC PRO camera (plus L-eXtreme filter). In short, it’s a lot of fun. I give it a strong recommendation, especially for someone that’s dipped their toe into astrophotography with a Sky-Watcher 80ED or similar and now wants to take things to the next level.
Downsides? Well, there are the niggles I’ve mentioned already, but there are workarounds to those. Thinking longer-term, the small aperture of 72mm is starting to feel a little restrictive. And I originally thought that after I used the ‘scope for a year or so I’d buy the reducer to bring the focal length of 400mm down to 280mm, almost making it like a new instrument. However, I’m starting to want longer focal length, not shorter. The Askar FRA400 has still got plenty of life left in it for me, but I suspect in a year or so I’ll be looking for something bigger. Always the way with this hobby!
Update, Oct 2022: it happened! I’m now the proud owner of an Askar 130PHQ.
Telescopes are expensive. Please give generously.
Wonderful review. Might pick one up this week. Selling my Redcat 51. Way too wide. What size are the spacers? 1 inch?
Thanks, it’s a great ‘scope! Sometimes hard to find in stock though. The spacers are 3cm, which gives plenty of room.
A great write-up and I’ve saved it to come back to. I’m weighing up this telescope against the pending FRA300 and the Sharpstar HNT130 and HNT150 reflectors for more aperture.
Thanks, I’m glad you found the review useful. All those telescopes are good options, it depends on what you want really. There’s a lot to like about those reflectors, but the FRA series are just so easy to use!
I wonder what the difference in the new Askar Line of PHQ scopes is compared to the Askar FRA line? Both have a 4 lens system I believe. I Also wonder why they never list the type of ED glass they are using? Always seems to be disclosed by most other brands. I ask cause it is nice to know what your paying for. Anyway Great review. Maybe there will be a review of the Askar 80PHQ soon. Again thanks for the review! I really like that setup! Talk about grab and go!!!
It’s funny you say this, because I’m eyeing up the Askar 107PHQ as a potential next telescope. It looks really good!
Yes im looking at the 80phq. wonder what the difference between these and the FRA line are????
I think they have a different lens arrangement, which presumably is better in the PHQ range given they’re more expensive. “The 80PHQ inherits the optical design of the PHQ- family, IE a 3+1 quadruplet lens structure which contains two pieces of ED glass that can effectively reduce chromatic aberration and enhance clarity and sharpness. It’s worth mentioning that all astrographs from the PHQ family come with an integrated lens combination rather than simply placing three major lenses and a corrector together in a line. This design leads to a more rational lens arrangement, better control of vignetting and superior image quality.” It’d be interesting to see come comparison shots to judge how much of a difference there is, given the 80PHQ is about 150% the price of the FRA400.
I followed a trail of your articles from FB ZWO ASIAIR group, How to use mains power. I finally landed here on the FRA400 review. I currently image with a William Optics FLT-98 and ASI2600MC-Pro. I’ve been considering a shorter focal length for a wider FOV. I’ve made several different wish lists and the AFR400 has been on most of them. It is a good review and I’m keeping it on my wish list.
One thing that you mentioned is improving the focuser with ZWO AEF. The ZWO EAF is not a new focuser. It is basically a motor attached to the focusing knob of the stock focuser. If the stock focuser has issues such as focus shift when moving in v. out or being able to hold the weight of the imaging gear, then adding a motor won’t change that. What the ZWO EAF does allow is for focusing using software which can be very useful because of the precise small changes that are needed are much easier to achieve.
Hi John, thanks for your comment. The ZWO EAF allowing for such precise, and automated, focusing is exactly what I meant by it being an upgrade. Good luck with your new telescope choice, the Askar FRA400 really is very good.
Hi lee
Great info. I’ve purchased this scope just waiting for its arrival. Just wondering what’s involved with installing the ZWO EAF autofocus?
Great, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the telescope! Installing the ZWO EAF is quite simple, and if I recall correctly it can all be done using parts that come with the EAF. You’ll need to remove the Askar focusser’s coarse control knob (the one on its own, not the one next to the fine control knob). That will leave an axle exposed, which you attach the red EAF motor to, using whichever of the cylindrical metal connectors that comes with the EAF fits best. Then it’s a case of attaching the EAF motor to the underside of the focusser using the long silver metal bracket. The whole process should only take a few minutes, but best to go slowly and perhaps take photos of each stage just in case you need to go back a step. Good luck, and let me know if you have any trouble 🙂
Thanks lee
Also I noticed the previous post talked about it not being the new focuser. There is also an advanced EAF focuser for an extra $100. I think the difference is being able to use usb power source. Do you recommend getting the older one?
As I understand it, the “Advanced” version is just the EAF but with two accessories. One is a temperature sensor, which I find unnecessary (I use the ASIAIR to autofocus every hour). The other accessory is a hand controller, which is occasionally useful if you’re troubleshooting kit, or using your rig for visual use; but it’s certainly not necessary. As for the EAF itself, the older version that I have needs two cables: one USB and one for power. The newer version has been optimised to only need one cable. So, the new version is better and you should get that, unless you find the older version for a bargain price in the used market.
Thanks lee
Great review on the scope by the way. I’m only new to astrophotography and will be using the ZWO am5 with asiair plus. I have no experience with other systems so will be using asiair to focus will this get me good focus or do you recommend using another program for focusing with the EAF?
I’d use the ASIAIR to control all your kit (assuming your camera is ZWO-branded), including the EAF. That’s what the ASIAIR is designed to do, and it’ll make your life easier!
Thanks for you helpful advice 👍 looking forward to a review on your next scope.
Clear skies!
Hi lee just wondering are the 30mm spaces primarily to allow for the asiair plus. I have a spot already on mount for the plus so wondering if I need the spacers?
Hi Michael, the risers allow for a few things:
1) If you’re mounting a heavy camera on the back of the rig, it all becomes very back-heavy. This means you need a longer dovetail to achieve balance on your mount. (The dovetail supplied with the Askar FRA400 is annoyingly short). However, the FRA400’s focusser has a thumbscrew that protrudes from the bottom, preventing a longer dovetail from being used… unless you have the risers, which give a good gap between the dovetail and bottom of the telescope.
2) If you’re using an EAF, and guider attached to the finder bracket, the whole rig becomes quite unbalanced toward its left. Using the recommended spacers allows you to attach the dovetail off-centre, which counteracts this. See the review for a photo explaining this.
3) The spacers and longer dovetail allow you to attach an ASIAIR under the telescope. Unless you plan on keeping the telescope permanently attached to the mount, it’s better to attach the ASIAIR to the telescope rather than the mount, as this then allows for faster set-up and packdown (as there are fewer cables to plug and unplug – which also saves on wear and tear of the ports).
Thanks Lee
Sorry read the review but missed the description under photos 🙄 I think that’s a great idea putting the Asiair Plus on the dovetail for fast setup and take down. Will order spacers 👍
Hi lee
Happy to report got all my bits in the mail. I have have attached the EAF and the dovetail plate as well as the asiair plus and spacers. The only thing I’m wondering about is do you just attach the guide scope to the bracket provided on the scope from your pictures this looks to be the case. or is there something I’m missing? Can’t seem to find any info
Yes that’s right, just slot the guidescope into the bracket and tighten the two thumb screws. It’s a little tricky to see in the photos here because I’ve wrapped the dew heater’s cable around the bracket to keep it out of the way. You can see a clearer photo in my review of the William Optics 32mm Slide-base Uniguide Scope.
Thanks Lee 😀
Thankis for sharin your info. I really appreciate your effdorts and I will bbe waiting for your next ppost thak you once again.
Hi Lee,
thanks a lot for your article, and your website is really fantastic! I would have three questions to the FRA400 and your rig:
1) What is actually the total weight of this rig (including all accessories like EAF, etc.)?
2) I assume you haven’t bought the reducer since you wrote the article, as you stated that you want to go for a larger scope in the future. But maybe you still know if specialists filters are required (LRGB and/or SHO) when using the reducer, since it is then at f 3.9?
3) Do you think paring this scope with an ASI1600 (MC or MM) would be a good choice? A used some image scale tools in the internet, but as a beginner I’m still quite unsure if this would be a good match..
Thank you in advance for your help!
Thanks, I’m glad you’re finding the content useful. To answer your questions…
1) I’ve recently upgraded to a new telescope (Askar 130PHQ, review coming soon!) and cannibalised a lot of the parts from my Askar FRA400, so unfortunately I can’t put it on the scales for you. But, I’d guess around 4.5kg.
2) f/3.9 should be OK for regular filters. If your system were any faster then I’d recommend looking into high-speed versions, however.
3) An ASI1600 would work just fine with this telescope. However, if you can afford it then you’ll get appreciably better performance from the 2600 series. (My photos are taken with a 2600MC-PRO).
Let me know if you have any more questions, I’m always happy to help.
Thanks a lot for your answer! And congrats to the Askar 130 PHQ, looking forward to your review!
Brilliant cable management! Yet another thing to copy from you 😉
I see these selling on alibaba for a couple hundred bucks, straight from China and may grab one at that price!
Can you send me a full list of your setup on the ASKAR FRA400 F/5.6 QUINTUPLET APO ASTROGRAPH, I’d like to start off with it as to I’ve done much research into it and now have accomplished the needed knowledge and I would like to know what to buy and what tripod ect you use thank you!
Hi Toby, I have all that info here. Just scroll down to the Askar FRA400 section.
Ahh thank you very much! is there any chance you have a video on how to setup and use your exact askar FRA400 setup, im planning on purchasing the whole setup which I believe I have most of the gadgets and pieces you have listed, I also plan to use a camera to take photos and would like to know if you could tell me how I could attach it to the setup, I am a beginner with the whole expensive professional telescope setup haha, the camera is a Canon EOS 2000D too by the way
I don’t have a video, and have now sold the Askar FRA400 so can’t make one. But there’s lots of info and pictures on this site, so have a look around and you should find most of what you need!
Okay fair enough, but apart from that do you have an Instagram or Facebook I can get to privately message you on and grab any and as much as photos you have of the telescope so I can kind of get an idea of where everything should go and stuff like that
I’ve replied to your email, but also note that this YouTuber has some good videos about the FRA400: https://www.youtube.com/@viewintospace
Thank you very much, I also can’t find where to look at your reply it has not come up with any notifications and I’ve got no clue how to work this website haha
I replied to your Contact form message via email. So check your email account. Maybe it got filtered into your spam folder?
Found it haha, yes it was in my spam oddly, I have replied, thank you!
Bonjour Lee !
J’utilise mon Fra400 depuis presque 2 ans maintenant. Je le trouve extraordinaire pour le ciel profond, surtout sur les gros objets. Cependant, on m’a dit que je ne pouvais pas l’utiliser sur du planétaire. C’est normal à cause de sa courte focal. J’ai vu une photo de la lune un peu plus haut. Avez-vous fait cette photo avec le Fra400 ? Si oui, avez-vous utilisé une Barlow ?
Bonjour Stéphane, merci pour votre message. Je n’ai pas utilisé de Barlow pour la photo de la Lune. La Lune apparaît assez grande dans le ciel, il est donc tout à fait possible de la photographier avec l’Askar FRA400. Les planètes, comme Jupiter, semblent beaucoup plus petites et ne constituent donc pas des cibles appropriées. Je ne tente pas de planètes même avec mon Askar 130PHQ. Ce site Web peut aider à expliquer (utilisez le “Imaging Mode”): https://astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/