William Optics Mighty Cat 71 APO Refractor - 30th Anniversary Edition
William Optics Mighty Cat 71 APO Astrophotography Refractor
Commemorative 30th Anniversary Edition
Boasting a whopping seven internal lenses, top-quality glass elements, and a suite of quality of life features, the William Optics Might-Cat 71 Refractor is a stellar addition to any astroimaging toolkit! Its large 71 mm aperture and impressive f/3.2 focal ratio douse your sensor with beautiful detail and stunning color correction. Whether you plan to expose the intricacies of the Cygnus Wall, are looking to capture the plethora of stars within the Pleiades, or wishing to image the wide array of nebulosity within Orion, this Might-Cat 71 helps you do so with outstanding clarity.
William Optics is an industry leader in the development of high-end telescopes, and this Mighty Cat 71 Refractor continues this legacy. Advanced features such as a septuplet optical design, a built-in tilt adjuster, and the William Optics patented focuser delivers the sharpness advanced imagers are craving, while also providing ease of use and simplicity beginners are sure to appreciate. The 230 mm focal length and full-frame compatible image circle offers a wide look into the night sky for beautiful framings of large, sprawling nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters. Its incredibly low f/3.2 focal ratio is quite impressive for a refractor this size and helps you resolve stunning detail on the cosmos in no time. Fitted with handy built-ins like the signature William Optics lens cap/Bahtinov mask combo, an integrated focus ruler, a temperature gauge on the focusing knob, and camera angle rotator, William Optics has set you up for extraordinary nights under the stars!
Mighty Cat 71 At a Glance
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Honoring 30 Years of William Optics Excellence
Commemorating 30 years of optical excellence from William Optics, this limited edition Mighty Cat 71 Refractor pays tribute to the artistry, innovation, and accessibility of their products over three decades. The success of their Cat series demonstrates this dedication to quality, and now with the development of their new Ultra-Cat and Mighty Cat telescope lines, William Optics continues to drive apochromatic refractor advancements forward. This Mighty Cat 71 is adorned with symbolic laser engraving on the lens cap and body of the telescope. Be sure to get your hands on one of these limited edition 30th Anniversary Mighty Cat Refractors while you can!
Eliminate Tilt With Ease With the Integrated Sensor Tilt Xterminator
The William Optics Mighty Cat Refractor comes equipped with a built-in tilt adjuster to help ameliorate tilt within your imaging train. Operating this built-in accessory is a straight forward process, requiring only the included tools to adjust the tilter. First locate the pair of diagonally opposing screws corresponding to the affected corners. These screws will need to be adjusted in conjunction with one another. Use the included 2 mm hex key to release (counterclockwise motion) the screw near the corner where the sensor is too far. Push out (clockwise motion) the opposite screw accordingly. After each adjustment, it’s best practice to capture a test exposure to check the star shape and alignment of your system. Continue to fine tune as needed to achieve sharp stars from corner to corner. Please note: The below images show the RedCat91. You will receive the MightCat 71 with this purchase.
A Septuplet Astroimaging Powerhouse
With an impressive seven internal lenses, a fast f/3.2 focal ratio, the patented WIFD focusing system, and a solid suite of included accessories, the William Optics Mighty Cat 71 APO Refractor is a standout choice for stellar astroimages! Read on as we take a deeper look at the incredible features of this high-end scope below.
Seven Internal Lens Elements
With a 71 mm objective lens at the front of the William Optics WIFD
Septuplet in design, this optical powerhouse corrects the incoming light with stark precision and offers an inherent flat field without the need for an external field flattener. Two Super ED and two Lanthanum glass lenses are included within these seven elements. These high-performance substrates are well-known for delivering striking color correction and contrast within the captured frames. A huge perk of Petzval telescopes is their flexible back focus distance. As opposed to a fixed number required by other scopes, perfect focus can be achieved with this William Optics Mighty Cat within a backspacing range of 55 ± 3 mm. As long as your camera can reach focus, the entire frame will be in focus as well!
Patented William Optics WIFD Focuser
The William Optics Internal
The William Optics Internal Focusing Design (WIFD) is a revolutionized traditional refractor focuser that’s designed for ultra-smooth motion when focusing. While more common designs attach your imaging gear to a tube that moves towards/away from the optics, William Optics' patented WIFD system moves the optics while keeping your gear locked in place. This means that your gear can be attached to your telescope body which is not prone to the same droop/tilt concerns of a traditional drawtube (especially at full extension). This focuser is also EAF-ready out of the box, allowing you to seamlessly add some of the excellent electronic focusers on the market today like the ZWO Standard Electronic Automatic Focuser.
What's In The Box?
Within the box you’ll find various helpful accessories to get you capturing the cosmos in no time. A robust mounting ring holds your William Optics Might-Cat secure, and the dual-use handlebar accepts additional accessories such as a guidescope. On the bottom of this mounting ring is a 210 mm dual sided dovetail plate (Vixen-style and Arca Swiss). This way, you can attach your Mighty Cat to an equatorial mount or to a tripod for daytime photography. Two camera adapters are included, M54 and M48, for use with various imaging systems. An included soft carrying case and Allen key set round out this offering!
Built-In Quality-of-Life Features
William Optics fully understands the needs of astrophotographers and works to develop telescopes that make astroimagers’ lives far easier. As mentioned above, the integrated Sensor Tilt Xterminator helps you manage tilt within your system without a hassle. A Camera Angle Rotator (CAA) can be found at the end of this CAA, assisting you with finding the perfect framing. A William Optics signature, the lens cap doubles as a Bahtinov mask for precise focus, while the coarse focuser knob is embellished with a temperature gauge to help you manage your refocusing routine. A focus ruler scale is also included on the body of this Mighty Cat and pre-drilled M4 screw holes enable attachment of a user-supplied finderscope.
Camera Adapter Replacement
The William Optics Mighty Cat 71 comes complete with a M54 and M48 camera adapter for seamless camera attachment. Swapping between adapters is as follows: 1. Tighten the camera rotator (CAA) locking knob securely. 2. Loosen the three set screws on the adapter with the included 1.5 mm hex key. 3. Rotate the adapter counterclockwise to remove it. 4. Install the replacement adapter by threading it on clockwise, then reinstalling the set screws. You’re now all set to attach your camera!
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I capture with the William Optics Mighty Cat 71?
This William Optics Mighty Cat 71 is equipped with a 230 mm focal length, a 71 mm aperture, a resulting f/3.2 focal ratio, and a 43.2 mm image circle. With specs like these, a wide variety of celestial objects are available for capture! With a full frame camera attached, you’re at liberty to capture the entirety of the Andromeda galaxy and surrounding space, the Orion and Horsehead Nebulae, the whole Pleiades Open Star Cluster and adjacent dust clouds, and plenty more. Smaller sensors will deliver outstanding detail on the same objects, just with a more cropped-in frame.
Is the William Optics Mighty Cat 71 compatible with full frame cameras?
The William Optics Mighty Cat 71 boasts a 43.2 mm image circle, making it suitable for full frame sensors. Enjoy capturing sprawling nebulae in a singular shot with this stellar scope!
What is the William Optics Sensor Tilt Xterminator?
This built-in accessory helps you correct for tilt within your imaging system, should any tilt issues arise. Simple to operate with a “push/pull” method with the included tools, you can eliminate tilt in no time.
What are the benefits of the William Optics Internal Focus Design (WIFD)?
Typical focusers work by moving your imaging or visual equipment forwards and backwards until it is at the focal plane formed by the optics. This works well, however does come with some drawbacks, mainly, the possibility for sag in the drawtube with heavier payloads and further extension, and vignette of the maximum possible image circle. The William Optics WIFD system eliminates these concerns by moving the optics inside the telescope, which means a solid, static, mount for your equipment!
Astronomy Hub: Your one-stop-shop for Astrophotography Knowledge!
Our Gear Experts have compiled a wealth of information to help expand your astrophotography knowledge! Below you’ll find links to articles, videos and "how-to" guides. Just one more reason that our Astronomy Hub is a one-stop-shop for all your astronomy and astrophotography needs!
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