Askar 60F 60mm f/6.8 Flat-Field Quadruplet APO Refractor

A small, self-flattened refractor for wide-field imaging and quick looks

The Askar 60F Flat-Field Refractor is a 60mm f/6.8 quadruplet apochromat with a 408mm focal length, three elements in front and one in the rear, including one ED glass element. It covers a 44mm image circle, so stars stay sharp to the corners of full-frame as well as APS-C and smaller sensors. A 2.4" dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser, 360° rotator and retractable dew shield make it practical, and at 336mm (13.2") long with its camera adapter it fits in a small bag.

Key specs: 60mm aperture · 408mm focal length, f/6.8 · air-spaced quadruplet APO with one ED element · built-in flattener, 44mm (full-frame) image circle · 2.4" dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser, 1:10 fine focus, 50mm travel · 360° rotator · M48 and M54 camera adapters with 2" filter thread · 2.86kg (6.3lb) with rings and dovetail

What you can image and see

• Large nebulae: with an APS-C camera the 60F frames about 3.3° × 2.2°, enough for the Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae together, the Rosette Nebula, the Heart Nebula, the California Nebula and the Orion Nebula with the Running Man.
• Big galaxies: the whole Andromeda Galaxy with its two companions, the Triangulum Galaxy and the M81 and M82 pair.
• Star clusters: the Pleiades with their dust, the Double Cluster and the Beehive.
• Visual observing: wide, sharp views of the Moon, bright star fields and clusters. With a 2" eyepiece it's a fine scope for sweeping the Milky Way, and it works as a spotting scope in daylight.

With a 26MP APS-C camera such as the ZWO ASI2600MC Pro the 60F works at 1.90 arcseconds per pixel, an easy scale to track and guide.

How it works

Self-flattened optics: in a normal refractor the image plane is curved, so stars at the edge of the frame blur unless you add a flattener at an exact distance. The 60F's rear element flattens the field inside the telescope. Your camera can sit anywhere from 31mm to 81mm behind the M48 thread (49mm to 99mm from the M54 thread) and still reach focus, so there's no back-focus spacing to calculate.

Camera adapters: the included photographic extension tubes thread to M54 × 0.75 or M48 × 0.75 for astronomy cameras and DSLR T-rings, and have a built-in 2" filter thread.

Focuser and rotator: the 2.4" rack-and-pinion focuser has a 1:10 fine-focus knob and 50mm of travel, and the scaled 360° rotator lets you frame a target without loosening the camera. Askar publishes instructions for adding an electronic focuser such as the ZWO EAF.

Accessories: there are two finder bases beside the focuser and a finder slot on the handle bar for a guide scope or red-dot finder, and the 230mm Vixen-style dovetail has 1/4" and 3/8" threaded holes so it can also go on a photo tripod.

What to add for the best results

• A mount (required): the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi carries the 60F, a camera and a guide scope within its 5kg (11lb) payload. For room to grow, the ZWO AM5N carries 15kg (33lb).
• A camera: the ZWO ASI2600MC Pro (3.3° × 2.2°), the ASI2600MC Air with a built-in guide sensor and ASIAIR, or the ASI533MC Pro for a 1.6° × 1.6° square field. A DSLR or mirrorless camera works with an M48 T-ring.
• Guiding: the Askar 32mm f/4 guide scope fits a finder base, with a ZWO ASI120MM Mini guide camera.
• Control: the ZWO ASIAIR Plus runs camera, mount, guiding and focus from your phone.
• Autofocus: a ZWO EAFN mounts to the focuser with a flexible coupling.
• Filters: a 2" ZWO Duo-Band or Optolong L-eXtreme threads into the camera adapter for nebulae from light-polluted skies, or try Askar's Colour Magic C duo-band set.
• For visual use: a 2" or 1.25" star diagonal and eyepieces. Ask us and we'll help you choose.

Which Askar F-series refractor is right for you?

All five share the same quadruplet self-flattened design with one ED element and a 44mm image circle. See all Askar telescopes.

What's in the box

• Askar 60F optical tube with retractable dew shield and front cap
• Pair of tube rings and handle bar
• 230mm Vixen-style dovetail plate
• Photographic adapters (M64-M54 and M54-M48, with filter thread)
• 1.25" and 2" visual adapters
• 4mm and 5mm Allen wrenches
• User manual, inspection checklist, certificate and warranty card

The mount, camera, diagonal, eyepieces, guide scope and focuser motor are sold separately.

Askar 60F FAQ

Is the 60F good for a beginner in astrophotography?

Yes. It's one of the easiest telescopes to start imaging with: no flattener spacing, a light load for a small mount, and a 408mm focal length that forgives small tracking errors.

Can I see Saturn and Jupiter?

Yes, you'll see Saturn's rings and Jupiter's moons and main cloud belts, but a 60mm telescope shows them small. For planets, a larger aperture or longer focal length is a better choice.

60F or 71F?

They're close. The 60F is a little lighter and frames a wider 3.3° × 2.2° field. The 71F collects about 40% more light and reaches 490mm for slightly smaller targets.

What mount do I need?

A compact GoTo mount such as the Star Adventurer GTi is enough for the 60F, a camera and a guide scope. Any larger equatorial or strain-wave mount works too.

Do I need a flattener or reducer?

No flattener is needed; it's built in. Askar also makes a matching 0.75× reducer that brings the 60F to about 306mm and f/5.1 for faster imaging. Ask us about availability.

Can I use it for visual observing?

Yes. Use the included 1.25" or 2" visual adapter with a star diagonal and eyepieces.

Specifications