Askar SQA85 85mm f/4.8 Quintuplet APO Astrograph

A fast, full-frame astrograph that fits a compact mount

The Askar SQA85 85mm f/4.8 Quintuplet APO Astrograph is a mid-size deep-sky imaging refractor with an air-spaced Petzval design and two SD (special dispersion) glass elements. The flattener is part of the optics, so a camera at roughly 55mm behind the adapter is ready to image across a full-frame sensor. It comes with integrated tube rings and handle, a 290mm Vixen-style dovetail plate, a 2.8" dual-speed focuser with a 360° rotator, and an Oxford cloth carry case.

Key specs: 85mm aperture · 408mm focal length, f/4.8 · 5-element air-spaced Petzval with 2 SD elements · 44mm full-frame image circle · 40–70mm back focus range, 55mm recommended · 2.8" dual-speed focuser, 32mm travel · 3.64kg (8.0lb) tube; 4.62kg (10.2lb) with rings and plate

What you can image

• Large nebulae: the whole Veil Nebula complex with a full-frame camera, or the Eastern or Western Veil filling an APS-C frame, plus the Heart Nebula, the Rosette Nebula and the North America Nebula's Cygnus Wall.
• Big galaxies: the Andromeda Galaxy with M32 and M110, the Triangulum Galaxy, and M81 and M82 together.
• Winter favorites: the Christmas Tree and Cone Nebula region (NGC 2264), the Orion Nebula with the Running Man, and the Horsehead and Flame Nebulae together.
• Clusters and dust: the Pleiades with their reflection nebulosity and the Seagull Nebula.

With an ASI2600 camera the SQA85 frames 3.30° × 2.20° at 1.90″ per pixel. With a full-frame ASI6200 it frames 5.05° × 3.37°.

How it works

No flattener to space: the flattener is built in, so anything from 40mm to 70mm behind the camera adapter comes to focus, with 55mm recommended. Askar's connection diagram shows a ZWO cooled camera (17.5mm back focus) with ZWO's included M48 extension tubes, or with an off-axis guider (19.5mm) and filter drawer (18mm) in their place.

Focuser and rotator: the 2.8" dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser has 32mm of travel and an engraved scale. A 360° rotator with a scale and an enlarged locking screw lets you frame a target and return to the same angle. Askar shows the ZWO EAF, Pegasus FocusCube 3, QHYCCD Q-Focuser, ToupTek auto focuser, Astroasis Oasis and iOptron iEAF fitted to it.

Mounting: the tube rings have six M4 and M6 threaded holes on each side for accessories or a second telescope, the top handle has a finder slot, and two finder bases sit beside the focuser. The 290mm Vixen-style plate fits most mount saddles.

What to add for the best results

• A mount (required): the ZWO AM3N with TC40 tripod carries 8kg (17.6lb) without a counterweight, plenty for the SQA85 with a camera and guider. The ZWO AM5N leaves room to move up to a larger telescope later.
• A camera (required): the ZWO ASI2600MC Air with ASIAIR and a guide sensor built in keeps cables to a minimum. The ASI2600MC Pro or ASI2600MM Pro are classic choices, and a full-frame ASI6200MM Pro uses the whole field.
• Guiding: a ZWO OAG with an ASI220MM Mini, or Askar's 32mm F4 guide scope on the handle.
• Autofocus: a ZWO EAFN or EAF Pro.
• Control: the ZWO ASIAIR Plus, unless your camera has it built in.
• Filters: Askar's Colour Magic C 2" duo-band package, a 2" ZWO Duo-Band or an Optolong L-eXtreme in a ZWO M54 2" filter drawer for nebulae from light-polluted skies.
• SQA accessories: SQA Series 20mm riser blocks for more clearance on an equatorial mount, and the SQA Series handle bar for carrying.

Which SQA astrograph is right for you?

See all Askar telescopes and accessories.

What's in the box

• Askar SQA85 optical tube with integrated tube rings, handle and dew shield
• 290mm Vixen-style dovetail plate
• M48 camera adapter on the focuser's M76 thread
• Front lens cap
• Oxford cloth carry case

The mount, camera, guider, electronic focuser and filters are sold separately.

Askar SQA85 FAQ

Is the SQA85 a good first astrophotography telescope?

Yes, for someone ready to learn a real imaging setup. There's no flattener spacing to calculate, the 408mm focal length is forgiving to guide, and it fits a compact mount. Pair it with a ZWO AM3N and an ASI2600MC Air and you have a complete, low-cable system.

What mount do I need?

With a camera and guider the SQA85 setup weighs about 5.5–6kg (12–13lb). The ZWO AM3N carries that without a counterweight, and the AM5N gives extra headroom.

Which camera works best?

An APS-C camera such as the ASI2600MC Pro gives 3.30° × 2.20° at 1.90″ per pixel, an easy scale to guide and well matched to the optics. A full-frame ASI6200MM Pro widens that to 5.05° × 3.37°.

SQA85 or SQA70?

The SQA85 gathers about 47% more light, reaches 408mm for more galaxy detail, and uses SD glass. The SQA70 is wider at 4.01° × 2.68° on APS-C, lighter at 3.5kg (7.7lb) with rings and plate, and costs less.

SQA85 or SQA106?

The SQA106 has more aperture, a 509mm focal length and a 55mm image circle, but at 8.12kg (17.9lb) it needs a ZWO AM5N-class mount. The SQA85 is easier to carry and mount.

Do I need a field flattener?

No. The flattener is built in. Keep your camera between 40mm and 70mm behind the adapter (55mm recommended) and focus.

Can I use it for visual observing?

Askar designs the SQA series as astrographs, and all of Askar's connection diagrams for the SQA85 are for cameras. If visual use matters to you, ask us before you buy.

Specifications