Askar 50P 50mm f/3.8 Quadruplet APO Astrograph

Product Overview

The Askar 50P is a compact 50mm f/3.8 quadruplet Petzval APO astrograph designed for portable wide-field deep-sky imaging. With a 190mm focal length, SD glass in the objective design, and an M48 rear camera connection, it is built for travel-friendly astrophotography rigs, lightweight mounts, and modern CMOS cameras.

This telescope is optimized for 1-inch sensors and supports APS-C format use, making it a practical option for nebulae, large star fields, Milky Way regions, comet imaging, and other wide-field targets where speed and portability matter.

Who Is This Product Best For?

The 50P is best for beginner-to-intermediate astrophotographers who want a simple, portable imaging telescope, as well as advanced users looking for a lightweight grab-and-go wide-field astrograph. It is especially suitable for users with small cooled cameras, mirrorless camera adapters, or one-shot colour astronomy cameras.

Why Choose This Product?

• Fast f/3.8 optical system for efficient deep-sky imaging.
• Quadruplet Petzval APO design helps simplify field correction compared with traditional doublets or triplets.
• 50mm aperture and 190mm focal length make it excellent for large nebulae and wide star fields.
• Compact 147mm contracted tube length for portable and travel imaging setups.
• M48 rear connection with M48×0.75 filter thread for common astronomy camera accessories.
• Recommended 55mm camera connection length with support for 50–65mm connection range.

Recommended Uses

• Wide-field deep-sky astrophotography
• Nebula and Milky Way region imaging
• Portable tracking-mount imaging rigs
• One-shot colour CMOS camera setups
• Travel astrophotography with lightweight mounts
• Large-target imaging where a short focal length is preferred

Compatibility and Accessory Notes

The 50P uses an M48 rear adapter with an M48×0.75 filter thread. It supports a rear-end connection distance from 50mm to 65mm, with 55mm recommended for typical imaging setups. The telescope is optimized for 1-inch sensors and supports APS-C format use. The standard package includes the 50P OTA and manual.

For autofocus, the separate Askar 50P AF Kit can be used with compatible electronic focusers. Camera adapters, filters, spacers, and electronic focusers are sold separately unless specifically included in a bundle.

Important Limitations

• This is primarily an imaging astrograph, not a general-purpose visual observing telescope.
• Camera spacing still matters; the recommended connection length is 55mm.
• Large full-frame sensors are not the ideal match; the vendor specifies APS-C format support and optimization for 1-inch sensors.
• A suitable tracking mount, camera, power, control hardware, and imaging accessories are required for astrophotography.
• The electronic focuser kit is not included with the standard 50P OTA package.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Askar 50P good for beginners?

Yes, it can be a strong beginner astrophotography telescope because the short focal length is forgiving and the fast f/3.8 focal ratio helps collect signal quickly. Beginners will still need a suitable mount, camera, and basic spacing setup.

What is it best used for?

It is best used for wide-field deep-sky astrophotography, especially large nebulae, star fields, comet imaging, and portable imaging rigs.

Is it for visual observing or astrophotography?

It is primarily recommended for astrophotography. Visual observing may require additional adapters and is not the main reason to choose this telescope.

What cameras work well with it?

Small and medium astronomy cameras are the best match. The vendor lists APS-C format support and notes that the design is optimized for 1-inch sensors.

Does it require additional accessories?

Most imaging setups will require a camera, mount, power/control system, adapters or spacers, and possibly filters. Autofocus requires the separate 50P AF Kit and a compatible electronic focuser.

When should it not be recommended?

Do not choose it as a primary visual telescope, for high-magnification planetary imaging, or when a longer focal length is required for small galaxies or compact targets.

Our Recommendation

Ontario Telescope recommends the Askar 50P for customers who want a compact, fast, and easy-to-carry wide-field astrograph. It solves the problem of building a portable imaging system without moving to a large telescope and heavy mount. Choose a longer focal length telescope instead if your main targets are planets, small galaxies, or tight detail in compact objects.

Optical Diagram Reports

The following vendor-supplied diagrams help show the 50P mechanical layout, camera connection path, focuser accessory arrangement, optical path, and spot performance.