Askar 111F APO telescope released with dedicated 0.74x reducer

The refractor market has become crowded over the past few years, but every once in a while a telescope shows up that feels like it was designed by people who actually spend nights under the stars. The new Askar 111F gives that impression right away. Built around a 111mm aperture with a 766mm focal length at f/6.9, it lands in a very practical range for astrophotographers who want enough reach for galaxies and smaller nebulae while still keeping a wide field feel that works well for larger deep sky targets.

Paired with its dedicated 0.74x reducer, the 111F becomes even more flexible, opening the door to wider framing and faster imaging while maintaining coverage for modern full frame cameras. More importantly, it appears designed around usability as much as optical performance. That matters because astrophotography already comes with enough challenges on its own without adding unnecessary complexity from the equipment side.

After decades in amateur astronomy and astrophotography, one thing becomes clear. The telescopes people use the most are usually the ones that strike the right balance between performance, portability, and practicality. On paper, the Askar 111F looks like it understands that balance well.

A Practical Release For Real Astrophotography Nights

The 111F was designed for astrophotographers who want a setup that feels clean, dependable, and easy to work with in the field. Its self-flattened optical design allows users to begin imaging immediately after attaching accessories and achieving focus, removing much of the extra complication that can sometimes stand between setup and first light. By eliminating the need for separate field flatteners and reducing the frustration of spacing adjustments, the 111F creates a smoother experience that both newcomers and experienced imagers will appreciate during long nights outside.

There is something genuinely refreshing about equipment that simply works the way you expect it to. Instead of spending the evening troubleshooting adapters or chasing corner stars, users can spend more time focused on the sky itself and the images they came out to capture.

Optical Design And Image Quality

At the heart of the instrument is a quadruplet lens design featuring three elements up front and one at the rear. One of the elements uses ED glass to help control chromatic aberration and preserve natural star color and contrast. The built-in field correction is engineered to maintain a flat imaging plane directly at the sensor, helping deliver sharp stars from the center of the frame all the way to the edges without requiring additional corrective optics.

With 111 millimeters of aperture and a 766 millimeter focal length, the native f/6.9 focal ratio offers a versatile balance that should appeal to both broadband and narrowband imagers. The optical system is intended to produce consistent star shapes, smooth backgrounds, and clean color reproduction, all of which help simplify later processing steps like gradient removal and calibration.

For many astrophotographers, those small workflow improvements matter just as much as the raw specifications. The easier it is to trust the system in the field, the easier it becomes to stay immersed in the experience of imaging beneath a dark sky.

Focusing, Rotation, And Framing Controls

The 111F is equipped with a 3-inch rack-and-pinion dual-speed focuser featuring a 1:10 fine adjustment ratio, giving users the precision needed to achieve critical focus on today’s high-resolution imaging sensors. Whether dialing in pinpoint stars during a quiet night of narrowband imaging or making small corrections as temperatures shift, the combination of coarse and fine controls provides a reassuring level of control in the field.

Askar also includes a protective cap over the fine-focus knob to help shield the mechanism during transport, a small detail that reflects the practical nature of the overall design.

At the rear of the optical train sits a fully graduated 360-degree rotator, allowing astrophotographers to frame targets accurately without fighting awkward camera angles or guesswork. Once the composition is set, the rotator locks firmly into place to help maintain framing through long imaging runs and even across meridian flips. For users running heavier imaging trains with cameras, filter wheels, and off-axis guiders, the focuser assembly is designed to maintain rigidity and reduce unwanted flexure or tilt that can compromise star quality over time.

There is a clear emphasis here on making the imaging process feel stable and predictable, especially during the kinds of long overnight sessions where even small mechanical inconsistencies can become frustrating.

Mounting And Accessory Flexibility

The 111F also places a strong focus on adaptability for different observing and imaging setups. The carry handle integrates a finder base slot, while additional finder mounting positions are located on both sides of the focuser. This gives users the flexibility to reposition a finder scope or mini guide scope without needing to tear down and rebuild the rig each time they change configurations.

That added mounting space also leaves room for common accessories such as Pegasus-style power hubs, cable management hardware, or secondary aiming devices that many astrophotographers rely on to keep their setups organized in the field.

Underneath the telescope, a 300mm Vixen-style dovetail includes both 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch mounting threads, allowing direct attachment to sturdy photo tripods or standard Vixen saddles on equatorial mounts. The overall layout appears carefully considered to help maintain a sensible center of gravity while still giving users room to refine balance and route cables cleanly.

For astrophotographers who spend hours beside their equipment under dark skies, those practical design choices can make a real difference in how enjoyable and stress-free a night of imaging ultimately becomes.

Specifications for the Askar 111F APO Telescope

Aperture size: 111mm
Focal length: 766mm
Focal ratio: f/6.9
Objective lens: Quadruplet air-spaced APO(including one ED glass)
Image circle: 44mm
Maximum accessory connection (with the focuser fully retreated):
- Imaging mode:
73mm (from the base of M48×0.75 male thread), 91mm(from the base of M54×0.75 male thread)
- Observing mode:
132mm(from the end of 1.25" eyepiece holder), 142mm(from the end of 2" eyepiece holder)
Minimum accessory connection (with the focuser fully extended):
- Imaging mode:  
43mm (from the base of M48×0.75 male thread), 61mm(from the base of M54×0.75 male thread)
- Observing mode:
102mm(from the end of 1.25" eyepiece holder), 112mm(from the end of 2" eyepiece holder)
Total length: 664mm(including 1.25" adapter as dew shield contracted), 751mm(including 1.25" adapter as dew shield fully stretched), 728mm(including the photographic adapter as dew shield contracted), 815mm(including the photographic adapter as dew shield fully stretched)
Focuser travel length: 30mm
Net weight: 5.74kg
Gross weight (Including tube ring&dovetail plate): 6.76kg
Rear-end thread type: M78×1-M54×0.75, M54×0.75-M54×0.75, M54×0.75-M48×0.75 (with M48×0.75 filter thread)
Standard package items:  A 111F OTA,a pair of tube rings, a handle, a 300mm Vixen dovetail plate, a set of photographic adapters.

The 111F optical tube is listed at $1499 and is noted as in stock now. The dedicated 0.74x reducer is listed at $299 dollars, with estimated stock availability noted as the end of May. As with any production run, availability can vary with demand, so users are encouraged to plan purchases around their imaging season and local conditions.

Field Use And Real-World Imaging Scenarios

In its native f/6.9 configuration, the 111F offers a focal length that works especially well for smaller deep-sky targets where a little extra reach helps bring out structure and detail. Objects like compact galaxies, globular clusters, planetary nebulae, and tighter regions inside larger nebula complexes all fit naturally within this range. It creates a balance that many astrophotographers enjoy because it feels versatile without becoming overly specialized.

With the dedicated reducer installed, the system transforms into a much faster f/5.1 wide-field imaging platform. That opens the door to capturing expansive emission nebulae, sweeping molecular cloud regions, bright comets, and larger mosaic projects that benefit from shorter integration times and broader framing. For imagers chasing faint hydrogen structures under dark skies, that additional speed can make a very noticeable difference over the course of a long night.

The overall design also feels aimed at supporting a variety of observing styles, whether that means a permanent backyard pier, a carefully packed mobile rig heading to a dark-sky site, or even a remote installation that may operate unattended for extended periods. Features like the rigid focuser, graduated rotator, and flexible mounting system all contribute toward maintaining focus and framing consistency night after night, something experienced imagers quickly learn to value.

More than anything, the system appears designed to reduce friction in the imaging process so users can spend less time troubleshooting and more time simply enjoying the experience of being under the stars.

Setup Notes For A Smooth First Light Experience

A typical first-light setup with the 111F is refreshingly straightforward. Begin by attaching your imaging train to the focuser, using the included adapters if you plan to run the dedicated reducer. From there, balance the telescope on your mount using the included Vixen-style dovetail plate and rotate the imaging train until your framing matches the target composition you have in mind.

Guide scopes or finder scopes can then be attached to one of the available mounting bases, while cables can be routed neatly along the handle to help reduce strain and avoid snagging during slews or meridian flips. Small details like that often become surprisingly important during longer imaging sessions.

Once the system is assembled, achieving focus follows the familiar rhythm many astrophotographers enjoy. Start with the coarse adjustment on a bright star, then gradually refine focus using the 1:10 fine-control knob until diffraction patterns tighten and stars snap into place. If filters are installed through the reducer’s integrated filter thread, it is always worth verifying spacing and performing a final focus adjustment before beginning a sequence.

After guiding calibration is complete, a short test exposure across the frame can quickly confirm corner star performance and overall spacing accuracy. Taking a few extra moments during that initial setup often pays off later in the night, especially when conditions are calm and the sky finally settles into perfect transparency.

There is something satisfying about a telescope setup that encourages confidence early on. When the equipment feels predictable and easy to work with, it becomes much easier to relax into the night and focus on the reason most astrophotographers came outside in the first place — capturing the beauty of the sky overhead.

Commitment To The F Series Community

This release follows feedback from astrophotographers who value practical integration and stable mechanics. The 111F brings that mindset to a mid aperture refractor, while the matched 0.74x reducer extends its reach into faster, wider imaging. The combined package is about giving users a dependable toolset that minimizes extra parts and lets the sky be the focus.