Telescopes

Askar SQA85 review

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Askar SQA85 review: The 85mm f/4.8 Petzval refractor with a five-element design for sharp, wide-field views features a dual-speed focuser, supports full-frame cameras, and is portable. Ideal for astrophotography, it offers quality optics in a compact package.

We recently explored the Askar SQA85 telescope. This instrument has an 85mm aperture and a 408mm focal length, resulting in an f/4.8 focal ratio. Its design includes five lens elements, two of which are made from super low dispersion glass. This configuration aims to reduce chromatic aberration, providing clear views of celestial objects.

The Petzval design provides a flat field which means that stars remain sharp across the entire field of view, even when using full-frame cameras. For astrophotographers, this eliminates the need for additional field flatteners, simplifying the imaging process.

The telescope comes with a 2.8-inch dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser, allowing for precise adjustments. This is particularly useful when fine-tuning focus on distant celestial objects. The focuser's design supports various camera attachments, accommodating different astrophotography setups.

Askar SQA85 review

Portability is another aspect of the SQA85. The optical tube assembly weighs about 3.64 kilograms, making it manageable for transport to different observation sites. Its compact size doesn't compromise its performance, offering both convenience and capability for field observations.

The SQA85 includes practical accessories. It comes with an integrated tube ring, a Vixen-style dovetail plate, multiple camera adapters, and a carrying case. These additions facilitate setup and use, enhancing the overall observing experience.

Askar SQA85 specifications

Aperture Size: 85mm (3.35 inches)
Focal Length: 408mm (16.06 inches)
Focal Ratio: f/4.8
Objective Lens: Quintuplet Petzval APO (includes two SD glass elements)
Total Length:
403mm (15.87 inches) with dew shield contracted
439mm (17.28 inches) with dew shield extended
Format Compatibility: Full-frame
OTA Weight: 3.64kg (8.03 lbs)
Total Weight (Including Tube Ring & Dovetail Plate): 4.62kg (10.19 lbs)
Rear-End Thread Type: M48, M54, M68 adapters
Rear-End Connection Distance: Supports 40-70mm (Recommended 55mm)
Included in Standard Package: SQA85 Optical Tube Assembly (OTA) and Oxford cloth carrying case

Is it worth $2,395?

Astrophotographer Damon Scotting recently reviewed the Askar SQA85, a quintuplet astrograph telescope, to see if it justifies its $2,395 price tag. After testing it on multiple deep-sky objects, he shared his thoughts on its performance, portability, and value.

Setup and testing

Scotting paired the SQA85 with a ZWO ASI 2600MC Duo camera and AM5 mount to test its imaging capabilities. He captured deep-sky objects from his backyard to evaluate:

Star sharpness across the entire field of view
Color accuracy
Consistency in performance

Sharp stars and accurate colors

One of the main selling points of this telescope is its sharp star performance, even in the corners of images. Scotting confirmed this by comparing it to past photos taken with other telescopes that showed aberrations in the corners. The SQA85 delivered pinpoint stars throughout every shot, living up to its reputation.

Deep-sky imaging tests

Scotting tested the SQA85 on various deep-sky objects, including:

Monkey Head Nebula & Jellyfish Nebula – Clear star shapes, sharp details, and accurate colors.
Rosette Nebula – The telescope’s wide field of view captured surrounding star clusters well.
Christmas Tree Cluster & Hubble’s Variable Nebula – Even objects pushed to the edges of the frame maintained sharpness.

Every image produced consistent results, reinforcing that the SQA85 delivers on its promises. Scotting concludes that the telescope is worth the price if you’re serious about astrophotography. It’s compact, easy to use, and produces high-quality images without the need for extra accessories. However, if the price is too steep, he suggests looking at the Askar SQA55 ($795) as a cheaper alternative. It’s a smaller version of the SQA85 and is even being called a better successor to the popular RedCat 51.