Askar 60F: Compact Flat-Field Telescope for Full-Frame Astrophotography

Small refractors that punch above their weight are rare. The Askar 60F joins that short list. It packs a modern quadruplet optical design into a light, travel-ready tube. SharpStar positions it as a compact, full-frame-capable astrograph that works straight out of the box. The scope promises flat images, simple camera connections, and a mechanical package made for field use.

Design and optics: What’s inside

At the heart of the 60F is a quadruplet, air-spaced Petzval-style objective that includes one ED element. That combination aims to control chromatic aberration and field curvature. The result is a flat field that covers a 44 mm image circle. In plain terms, the optics are sized and corrected to work well with full-frame sensors.

The optical numbers are simple and practical. The aperture is 60 mm and the focal length is 408 mm. That gives an f/6.8 native focal ratio. These figures place the 60F in the wide-field category. It overlaps the planets, the Moon, and deep-sky objects like large nebulae and nearby galaxies. The moderate focal length also makes it forgiving on guiding and mount demands.

SharpStar also stresses that the 60F includes a built-in field-flattening design. You do not need a separate flattener for most cameras. The product page specifically notes that users can attach their camera and shoot without complex back-focus calculations. That plug-and-play aspect is one of the 60F’s main selling points.

Mechanical build and handling

Mechanically, the 60F follows modern expectations. It has a 2.4-inch rack-and-pinion focuser with 1:10 fine focus. A 360° rotator on the back allows precise framing for wide-field mosaics or framing targets. The tube comes with a retractable dew shield, a pair of tube rings, and a 230 mm Vixen-style dovetail plate. The focuser and rotator alone make the scope friendly for imaging setups.

The OTA’s net weight is about 2.36 kg, and gross weight (with rings and dovetail) is about 2.86 kg. The physical length varies between roughly 289 mm and 369 mm, depending on the dew shield and adapters. These numbers make the 60F an easy tool for travel and for mounts that prefer compact payloads.

The manufacturer bundles a set of photographic adapters that include M48×0.75 and M54×0.75 fittings, and a photographic extension tube with a 2-inch filter thread. That approach avoids the usual tangle of third-party adapters. The idea is clear: connect your camera, rotate the back, and acquire images quickly.

Imaging performance

With a 408 mm focal length, the 60F gives a modest telephoto field of view. On a full-frame sensor (36 × 24 mm), the horizontal field of view is about 5.05°. The vertical view is about 3.37°. The diagonal field of view measures roughly 6.07°. That scale suits large targets like the Pleiades, M31 (Andromeda), and wide emission nebulae. It also makes the 60F useful for well-planned mosaics of extended objects.

A quadruplet Petzval layout with an ED element tends to deliver tight stars and low lateral color. The product page provides spot diagrams and performance graphics on the product page. Those documents show good correction across the 44 mm image circle. For users, this generally means stars stay round to the edge on many modern cameras.

Key specifications

Here are the key specifications of Askar 60F:

Aperture	60mm
Focal length	408mm
Focal ratio	f/6.8
Objective lens	Quadruplet air-spaced APO(including one ED glass)
Image circle	44mm
Focuser travel length	50mm
Net weight	2.36kg
Gross weight (Including tube ring & dovetail plate)	2.86kg

Price and availability

Askar 60F is priced at $499 and is available via the official website and retailers.

The standard package from SharpStar includes the 60F OTA, a pair of tube rings, a handle, a Vixen-style dovetail plate, and a set of photographic adapters. The photographic extension tube comes with a built-in 2″ filter thread. That box content reduces the number of extra purchases photographers must make to start imaging.

The Askar 60F does not try to be everything. It aims to be a portable, modern, and camera-friendly astrograph. For wide-field astrophotography, travel stargazing, and quick setups, it hits its marks. The built-in flattening, threaded camera adapters, and robust focuser give it an edge over older small refractors that need add-on flatteners and extra spacers. For users who value fewer gear headaches and clean stars on full-frame cameras, the 60F belongs on the shortlist.

Clear skies!

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