A field flattener corrects this problem. They reduce the normal field curvature inherent in most refractors. The result is an image sharply focused out to the very edge of your field of view. A field flattener is also a must-have for astrophotographers, as images are sharp and clear without distortions at the edges. These quality field flatteners from High Point Scientific create wide, flat viewing fields for stargazing. When your scope is sharply focused, you may notice stars and other celestial objects at the edge of your field of view to appear blurry or unfocused
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A field flattener is an optical tool used to correct field curvature in telescopes, particularly refractors. Astrophotographers and visual viewers in visual astronomy must preserve star sharpness over the complete field of vision. Edge performance and wide-field photography depend on it. Understanding widefield refractors and field flatteners helps astronomers and astrophotographers select optimal combinations for image sharpness, particularly when pairing large sensors sensitive to edge distortions.
Featured Product 1
Utilizing a corrected field of view at the extremes of an APS-C sensor, the Apertura R-FLAT 0.8x Reducing Flattener improves the Apertura 90 mm Triplet APO Refractor. It converts the f/6 90 mm scope into an f/4.8 astrograph, producing a broader field of view and more signal per pixel
Featured Product 2
Made with a Hotech 2" SCA Field Flattener, this fixes field curvature in refractor telescopes with focal ratios between f/5 and f/8. It features a Self-Centering Adapter (SCA) technology to guarantee the flattener is correctly positioned in the focuser and functions at its optimum. The telescope's original field of view is maintained since this flattener does not affect the focal length.
Featured Product 3
Established for the Esprit 150ED APO Refractor, the Sky-Watcher Focal Reducer Field Flattener is a high-performance accessory that improves optical performance for astrophotography by lowering the focal ratio, so enabling shorter exposure times and maximum light transmission, producing sharp, distortion-free images.
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Telescope field flatteners are optic devices accustomed to eliminating a specific image distortion, known as field curvature. The field curvature is an optical aberration in a curved focal plane instead of a flat one. When one sky area is perfectly focused, all the other stars at the periphery of the telescope's FoV appear unfocused. This makes stars appear distorted and hazy in the areas outside the focus of an astrophotograph. These field flatteners look like curved focal planes because they flatten this curved focal plane to ensure that, when the light coming from the field of view converges, the stars are made sharp from the middle to the extreme edges of the image.
Why are field flatteners important in astrophotography?
The field flatteners are most relevant to astrophotography primarily because getting the best possible images of distant objects is critical. Whenever capturing large star fields, nebulae, or galaxies, the slightest distortion may seriously ruin the quality of the picture. Field flatteners maintain an even plane for the entire image, making all of the features of the picture clear and distinct, leading to artistic and scientific benefits.
Are field flatteners specific to certain telescope designs?
Field flatteners are often tailored to specific telescope designs and optical configurations. For instance, refractors and catadioptric telescopes commonly benefit from field flatteners that complement their optical systems. These devices are typically installed between the telescope's focuser and the camera or eyepiece, integrating seamlessly into the optical path. This tailored design ensures that field flatteners do not introduce additional optical aberrations, maintaining the telescope's overall performance.
What does the wide-field imaging provide to field flatteners?
Field flatteners are valuable to wide-field imaging. The latest astrophotographers take large sky areas to show subtle structures within large nebulae, star-forming regions, or galaxies. Indeed, if a field flattener is not used, the wide-field images' edges would appear off, reducing the effectiveness and artistic merit of the photographs in question. Field flatteners allow astrophotographers to capture nearly the entire field with their camera sensor, resulting in stunning shots of the vast universe.
How have field flatteners evolved with technology?
Field flatteners have evolved alongside advancements in telescope and camera technology. The need for precise optical correction has grown as modern imaging sensors become more significant and sensitive. Field flatteners designed with these advanced sensors ensure increased resolution and sensitivity are fully utilized. This allows for capturing detailed and high-fidelity images, keeping pace with technological advancements.
The William Optics 0. 72x Reducer/Flattener 8 is a high-quality equipment item created to improve your experience in astrophotography. This all-in-one reducer/flattener lowers the focal length by 0. delivering an impressive 72x magnification without compromising field flatness to offer bright, clear images throughout the entire field. It is designed specifically for the William Optics GT81 telescope and is excellent for wide-field performance, providing excellent color correction and low distortion. The light transmitted through the multi-coated optics is impressive, and the product is built to last due to the rigid anodized aluminum frame.
Starizona encounters eliminating the dust that is to be unified with the Apex ED 0. 65x Focal Reducer & Field Flattener – Short Version is an optical system perfect for improving the quality of the images and, at the same time, diminish the exposure times for the astrophotographers. This premium focal reducer and field flattener gives a flatter image with a gradient of 0. A focal ratio reduction of 65x dramatically increases the field of view, providing high, liberated free stars throughout the imaging area. It comes with ED glass for excellent color correction and transparency and is best suited for short focal length refractors. Simple to install and operate, the Apex ED turns your telescope into a tool capable of producing amazing wide-field astrophotos.
The Tele Vue 0. 8X Focal Reducer/Flattener telescope for the TV102 Tele Vue scope enhances your astrophotography capability by cutting the focal ratio by a fifth and ensuring the scope's field is leveled. This leads to wider and sharper images at frame borders, edge awareness, and reduction without distorting the scene's view. Critical for gathering high-contrast images of celestial objects and, more generally, ensuring stars remain point sources from center to edge. This accessory would come in handy to astrophotographers aiming to gain high performance and more flexibility in their Tele Vue 102 operation and, therefore, be a valuable addition to astronomical imaging.
