William Optics RedCat 71 f/4.9 APO Imaging Astrograph with WIFD
An Excellent 71 mm APO from William Optics, Now with a Focuser Upgrade!
The RedCat series is one of the most popular lines of compact refractors on the market and it is easy to see why, with their high quality optics, portable form factor, and use of great design features - such as the Petzval optical arrangement, FPL glass elements, and the integrated dust cap Bahtinov mask. The William Optics RedCat 71 f/4.9 APO Imaging Astrograph with WIFD integrates all these features, and pushes the envelop further with the addition of the William Optics Internal Focus Design (WIFD)!
With this second generation of the RedCat 71 comes a few key differences - the standout of course being the excellent William Optics Internal Focuser Design system, which eliminates drawtube sag and allows the WIFD RedCat 71 to take full advantage of its 71 mm APO optics. This also brings electronic focuser compatibility to the RedCat 71 without the need for 3rd party adapters, as well as dual-speed manual focusing (with a neat analog thermometer on the coarse focus side)! The rings have been upgraded as well, adding even more accessory attachment options and visual flair. All of these upgrades come with only about a 1.27 lb. increase in fully assembled weight, allowing the WIFD RedCat 71 to come in at just under 10 lb. for an incredibly portable package!
Built-In Tilt Adapter
With the inovative WIFD system solving drawtube sag woes, William Optics has integrated a tilt adapter into the RedCat 71 to eliminate any remaining tilt from your system. With the removal of just one thumbscrew and a threaded cover, you'll have access to twelve tilt adjustment points that help wring even more precision out of your optical train.
Seamless 2" Filter Cell
William Optics has made adding a filter into your imaging system easy, with the built-in 2" threaded filter cell. This is easily accessible - simply unthread the M68 to M48 adapter from the camera rotator, install your 2" filter, and reattach. Say goodbye to recessed, hard to reach, filter cells with this sleek system!
The Performance and Features You Need Included Out-of-the-Box!
With its excellent APO optics, fast f/4.9 focal ratio, novel focuser design that adds in easy accessibility for motorized control, and a host of other great quality-of-life accessories packed in from the factory, the William Optics RedCat 71 f/4.9 APO Imaging Astrograph with WIFD can truly be said to be a powerful all-in-one telescope package!
Pristine Optics
William Optics' RedCat series of telescopes are known for their quality optics, and the WIFD RedCat 71 keeps this tradition alive with its 71 mm APO Petzval design. This provides a 45mm (full-frame) image circle, and makes add-on correctors as well as backfocus concerns a thing of the past - thanks to its Petzval optics arrangement, so long as you can space your camera out to a point where it will reach focus you'll have a flat imaging field! Combined with its FPL-53 glass elements for superior chromatic aberration/ optical performance, and a fast f/4.9 focal ratio, the William Optics RedCat 71 Imaging Astrograph with WIFD gives you a sharp, clean, 350mm focal length view of the universe.
A Rock-Steady Focuser Design with EAF Compatibility
The job of a focuser is simple - place the in-focus image plane at the correct location for this to be captured by the camera or viewed through the eyepiece. Traditionally refractor focusers accomplish this by allowing the user to move the camera or eyepiece to that point. This is a good system, but it does have some drawbacks that have begun to become apparent as optical imaging trains have become heavier and common imaging sensor sizes increased. This comes from the drawtube necessarily needing to be smaller than the focuser, meaning the total possible area that the light path could travel is vignette a bit on the edges; and as this tube becomes less supported the further it is extended, sagging become more of a possibly with heavier setups. William Optics have taken an interesting approach to address both of these concerns - moving the optics rather than the camera. Basically, with this patented WIFD system you'll have a solid, static, mount for your imaging equipment with the largest possible light path from the WIFD RedCat 71's optics. This novel focuser design also brings out-of-the-box compatibility for popular electronic focusers such as a user supplied ZWO EAF, meaning you now can add motorized focus to the RedCat 71 without the need for specialized helical focuser adapters!
The Complete Package
Included with the WIFD RedCat 71 scope is a number of handy accessories to round out this great offering from William Optics! Supporting the telescope and a wide variety of other equipment are the scope rings, featuring threaded accessory attachment points on the top and left sides as well as cat-ear milling on the interior for added visual flair. Preinstalled on these rings is a 210mm Vixen-style dovetail plate and the combination carry handle and Synta-style accessory bar, which provides ample space for connecting Synta-style accessories such as guide scopes (like the perfectly matched William Optics Uniguide or Apertura 32mm guide scope, sold separately). To protect the optics when your RedCat 71 f/4.9 APO Imaging Astrograph with WIFD is not in use, William Optics has included their unique dust cover. This cover features their popular integrated Bahtinov mask design, which allows you to easily dial in focus without needing to bring anything extra to the observing site. Finally, to keep everything safe and secure while transporting or traveling with your RedCat, William Optics have included a padded soft carry case.
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!
| Achieving Perfect Focus with a Bahtinov Mask |
| Autoguiding |
| Telescope Mount Buying Guide |
| ZWO ASIAir Ultimate Guide |