Optec, Inc.
NextGEN Series of Telescope Telecompressors
Instruments for Astronomy
NEXTGen MAXfield 0.33X (NGM)
The Optec NGM (Next Generation MaxField) telecompressor increases the
effective speed of the Meade and Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes
from f/10 to f/3.3. This 3 fold reduction in focal length allows for 9 times
greater field area and 1/9 reduction in exposure time for extended surface
objects such as bright nebulae. The system is optimized specifically for
f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes to allow for the correction of
field curvature and spherical chromatism that afflicts these types of instruments.
At f/3.3, the maximum corrected field has a diameter of 9 mm at the image
plane which makes the unit suitable for CCD cameras with imaging chips of
the same diagonal dimension or smaller. Click
here for more information.
NextGEN WideField 0.50X (NGW)
The Optec NGW (Next Generation WideField) telecompressor increases the effective
speed of the Meade and Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes from f/10 to
f/5. This 1/2 times reduction in focal length allows for 4 times greater field
area and 1/4 reduction in exposure time for extended surface objects such as
bright nebulae. The system is optimized specifically for f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain
telescopes to allow for correction of the field curvature and spherical-chromatism
that afflicts these types of instruments. At f/5, the maximum corrected field
has a diameter of 17.5 mm at the image plane which makes the optic suitable
for CCD cameras with imaging chips of the same diagonal dimension or smaller.
Click
here for more information.
NextGEN Ultra WideField 0.7XL (NGUW)
NEW DESIGN
This telecompressor
was designed specifically for systems with well corrected optics and flat fields
such as can be obtained from apochromatic refractors and the new coma free and
correctly named LX400-ACF telescopes. The speed of a f/8 telescope would be
increased to f/5.6 with this reducer and the optics would still be nearly diffraction
limited. This four-element system also maintains the parfocality of the telescope
since these types of telescope have more limited focus compared to SCTs. The
image field is highly corrected to 18mm diameter so that large format CCD cameras
can be used. The performance of this reducer would be impaired if used with
a SCT type telescope. Click
here for
more information.
The NextGEN Series is the second generation of telecompressor lens systems designed by Optec.
The first generation was available for the early CCD cameras such as the SBIG
ST-6 and Meade 416. Improvements in CCD designed has warranted a complete redesign
of our telecompressors which we offer now. These designs have been optimized
by the premier Zemax optical design program and are made to the highest optical
standards. All optical surfaces are polished to a 60-40 cosmetic quality and
coated with a hard broadband coating for maximum transmission and durability.
No finer telecompressor is available.
NextGEN
Navigator
For a primer on focal reducers, click
here.
NextGEN 3" - NGC 316 f/7.5 Corrector
OPTEC'S NEWEST 3-INCH DESIGN
The NGC 316 corrector is the first in our series of 3" telecompressors.
We designed this corrector specifically for the classic Meade 16" Schmidt Cassegrain
Telescope. With custom designed, well-corrected optics compensating for the
inherent aberrations in the original large SCT design, this new four-element
system can provide ACF-like performance at a fraction of the cost. With plenty
of back focus for filter wheels, off-axis guiders or deep chip cameras, the
NGC 316 can fully illuminate CCD cameras having chips up to 35mm diagonal and
beyond. A typical f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope becomes an f/7.5 highly
corrected optical system optimized for CCD imaging. Click
here for more information.
