Askar SQA55 f/4.8 Quintuplet Petzval Refractor Telescope
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- Delivers a flat field across full-frame sensors without tedious backfocus calculations—just focus and shoot
- Features a 14-click variable aperture (f/4.8 to f/22) and a 5m close-focus distance for day or night use
- Dual independent focusing rings (coarse/fine) pair with a 360° scaled rotator for fast, flawless target framing
- Quick-release knobs on the top handle, dovetail plate, and main bracket let you reconfigure your setup entirely by hand
Askar SQA55: A Unique Photography Experience!
Sharpstar is proud to introduce the Askar SQA55, a quintuplet air-spaced Petzval astrograph built to redefine the capabilities of premium, portable optics. Featuring an ultra-fast f/4.8 focal ratio and a compact 264mm focal length, this high-performance optical tube assembly (OTA) utilizes a five-element lens design—including one piece of specialized SD glass and one piece of premium ED glass—to deliver exceptional color correction and flat-field performance right out of the box.
Designed without the need for frustrating backfocus calculations, the SQA55 produces a generous 44mm image circle that provides flawless edge-to-edge sharpness on full-frame sensors. Beyond its deep-space astronomy capabilities, this versatile telescope features an adjustable aperture mechanism (f/4.8 to f/22) and a 5-meter close-focus distance! This allows effortless transition into a traditional camera lens for classic photography.
Check out Trevor @ AstroBackyard's Rundown of this Unique Refractor!
Why the Askar SQA55 is a Standout!
Variable-Aperture Lens
Dial in your creative control from f/4.8 - f/22 using the click graded adjustment ring. Complete with scale markings engraved right onto the lens tube, it’s built to completely lock out accidental adjustments while letting you instantly save and recall your favorite parameters for the perfect shot!
Petzval Design
Forget backfocus math headaches with this self-flattened Petzval design. You will get a generous 50mm to 60mm back focus window to play with. There's no need to obsess over precise mm measurments—as long as your camera is in focus, your stars are perfectly flat, sharp, and ready to shoot!
Camera Quick Release Base
Thanks to the ultra-handy quick-release knobs on both the top handle and bottom bracket, you can instantly transform this OTA into a high-end camera lens. It’s completely tool-free and ready to swap from tracking deep-space nebulae to capturing daytime landscapes in seconds.
The SQA55 In Action!
Dual-Speed Focuser Design
Adding the dual-speed focuser puts precision at your fingertips. The fine-focus dial includes a central indicator point, a ±1mm travel range, and a dedicated lock screw. For fast adjustments, the coarse-focus ring features handy metric and imperial distance scales—including an infinity mark with extra leeway for daytime shooting. Best of all, thanks to the self-flattened optical design, as long as your camera falls within the forgiving 50mm to 60mm connection window, you can lock it down and start shooting the moment you hit focus.
Rotator Design
You get complete framing freedom with the independent lock screws for both the main lens tube and the 360° rotator. For everyday daytime shooting, you can loosen the main tube lock to spin the entire camera body for quick, on-the-fly orientation changes. When it is time for astrophotography, you can leave the main tube securely locked and use the dedicated, high-precision 360° rotator to frame your deep-space targets perfectly. It even features laser-engraved scale markings, making it incredibly easy to track, log, and recall your exact camera angles.
The Ultimate Filter & Hood Setup
Whether you are capturing daytime landscapes or chasing faint deep-space nebulae, this telescope has your glass covered. On the front, a standard 67mm filter thread lets you easily screw on traditional camera filters for daytime photography, while the clever reversible lens hood snaps securely into place for shooting and flips backwards over the barrel for ultra-compact storage when you are done. When it is time to switch to astrophotography, the rear M48 adapter features a built-in 2" filter thread, allowing you to thread your favorite light-pollution or narrow-band filters directly into the imaging train without needing extra adapters.
Everything you Need: Tool Free
Go from a tracking mount to a lightweight photo tripod in seconds—no hex keys required! The multi-functional top handle features a built-in finder base slot for effortlessly sliding on your favorite guide scopes or astronomical accessories, and the entire handle can be popped off completely tool-free thanks to its quick-release design. Down below, the tube ring bracket gives you ultimate versatility with native 1/4" and 3/8" screw holes, allowing you to bolt the telescope directly onto a standard photographic tripod.
For traditional astronomy setups, the included 200mm (7.87") Vixen-style dovetail plate slides perfectly into any standard saddle, featuring integrated hand screws and a quick-release knob so you can configure, balance, and strip down your entire imaging rig completely by hand. The rear of the lens tube boasts four multi-functional quick-release bases designed to mount a variety of photography and astrophotography gear, integrating flawlessly with the entire SQA-series accessory ecosystem.
EAF Upgrade
The Askar offers an upgradable Askar Electronic Focuser Autofocusing Kit (sold seperately) which makes the camera lens-style focuser compatible with the ZWO EAF and other popular electronic focusers like: QHYCCD Q-Focuser, ToupTek AAF Astronomical Auto Focuser, Pegasus Astro FocusCube 3, iOptron iEAF, Astroasis Oasis Focuser.
Specifications
-
Aperture Size: 55 mm (2.17")
-
Focal Length: 264 mm
-
Focal Ratio: f/4.8 to f/22
-
Objective Lens: Quintuplet Petzval APO (one piece of SD glass, one piece of ED glass)
-
Format Specifications: 44 mm image circle (full-frame)
-
Aperture Blades: 14 pieces
-
Closest Focusing Distance: 5m (16.4 feet)
-
Front Thread Filter Diameter: M67x0.75 (2.64")
-
Total Length:
-
316 mm (12.44") including dew shield
-
244 mm (9.61") without dew shield
-
-
OTA Weight: 1.84 kg (4.06 lbs)
-
Total Weight (including handle & dovetail plate): 2.18 kg (4.81 lbs)
-
Rear-end Adapter: M48x0.75 (with built-in 2" filter thread)
-
Rear-end Connection Distance: Supports a 50 mm to 60 mm (1.97" to 2.36") backfocus range (recommended connection length is 55 mm / 2.17")
Mechanical Diagrams
Product Diagram
Camera Connection
EAF Assembly
EAF Assembly
Optical Test Charts
Optical Path
Relative Illumination
Spot Diagram
ZYGO Objective
MTF
Other Information
- Country of Manufacture: China
Askar SQA55: A Unique Photography Experience!
Sharpstar is proud to introduce the Askar SQA55, a quintuplet air-spaced Petzval astrograph built to redefine the capabilities of premium, portable optics. Featuring an ultra-fast f/4.8 focal ratio and a compact 264mm focal length, this high-performance optical tube assembly (OTA) utilizes a five-element lens design—including one piece of specialized SD glass and one piece of premium ED glass—to deliver exceptional color correction and flat-field performance right out of the box.
Designed without the need for frustrating backfocus calculations, the SQA55 produces a generous 44mm image circle that provides flawless edge-to-edge sharpness on full-frame sensors. Beyond its deep-space astronomy capabilities, this versatile telescope features an adjustable aperture mechanism (f/4.8 to f/22) and a 5-meter close-focus distance! This allows effortless transition into a traditional camera lens for classic photography.
Check out Trevor @ AstroBackyard's Rundown of this Unique Refractor!
Why the Askar SQA55 is a Standout!
Variable-Aperture Lens
Dial in your creative control from f/4.8 - f/22 using the click graded adjustment ring. Complete with scale markings engraved right onto the lens tube, it’s built to completely lock out accidental adjustments while letting you instantly save and recall your favorite parameters for the perfect shot!
Petzval Design
Forget backfocus math headaches with this self-flattened Petzval design. You will get a generous 50mm to 60mm back focus window to play with. There's no need to obsess over precise mm measurments—as long as your camera is in focus, your stars are perfectly flat, sharp, and ready to shoot!
Camera Quick Release Base
Thanks to the ultra-handy quick-release knobs on both the top handle and bottom bracket, you can instantly transform this OTA into a high-end camera lens. It’s completely tool-free and ready to swap from tracking deep-space nebulae to capturing daytime landscapes in seconds.
The SQA55 In Action!
Dual-Speed Focuser Design
Adding the dual-speed focuser puts precision at your fingertips. The fine-focus dial includes a central indicator point, a ±1mm travel range, and a dedicated lock screw. For fast adjustments, the coarse-focus ring features handy metric and imperial distance scales—including an infinity mark with extra leeway for daytime shooting. Best of all, thanks to the self-flattened optical design, as long as your camera falls within the forgiving 50mm to 60mm connection window, you can lock it down and start shooting the moment you hit focus.
Rotator Design
You get complete framing freedom with the independent lock screws for both the main lens tube and the 360° rotator. For everyday daytime shooting, you can loosen the main tube lock to spin the entire camera body for quick, on-the-fly orientation changes. When it is time for astrophotography, you can leave the main tube securely locked and use the dedicated, high-precision 360° rotator to frame your deep-space targets perfectly. It even features laser-engraved scale markings, making it incredibly easy to track, log, and recall your exact camera angles.
The Ultimate Filter & Hood Setup
Whether you are capturing daytime landscapes or chasing faint deep-space nebulae, this telescope has your glass covered. On the front, a standard 67mm filter thread lets you easily screw on traditional camera filters for daytime photography, while the clever reversible lens hood snaps securely into place for shooting and flips backwards over the barrel for ultra-compact storage when you are done. When it is time to switch to astrophotography, the rear M48 adapter features a built-in 2" filter thread, allowing you to thread your favorite light-pollution or narrow-band filters directly into the imaging train without needing extra adapters.
Everything you Need: Tool Free
Go from a tracking mount to a lightweight photo tripod in seconds—no hex keys required! The multi-functional top handle features a built-in finder base slot for effortlessly sliding on your favorite guide scopes or astronomical accessories, and the entire handle can be popped off completely tool-free thanks to its quick-release design. Down below, the tube ring bracket gives you ultimate versatility with native 1/4" and 3/8" screw holes, allowing you to bolt the telescope directly onto a standard photographic tripod.
For traditional astronomy setups, the included 200mm (7.87") Vixen-style dovetail plate slides perfectly into any standard saddle, featuring integrated hand screws and a quick-release knob so you can configure, balance, and strip down your entire imaging rig completely by hand. The rear of the lens tube boasts four multi-functional quick-release bases designed to mount a variety of photography and astrophotography gear, integrating flawlessly with the entire SQA-series accessory ecosystem.
EAF Upgrade
The Askar offers an upgradable Askar Electronic Focuser Autofocusing Kit (sold seperately) which makes the camera lens-style focuser compatible with the ZWO EAF and other popular electronic focusers like: QHYCCD Q-Focuser, ToupTek AAF Astronomical Auto Focuser, Pegasus Astro FocusCube 3, iOptron iEAF, Astroasis Oasis Focuser.
Specifications
-
Aperture Size: 55 mm (2.17")
-
Focal Length: 264 mm
-
Focal Ratio: f/4.8 to f/22
-
Objective Lens: Quintuplet Petzval APO (one piece of SD glass, one piece of ED glass)
-
Format Specifications: 44 mm image circle (full-frame)
-
Aperture Blades: 14 pieces
-
Closest Focusing Distance: 5m (16.4 feet)
-
Front Thread Filter Diameter: M67x0.75 (2.64")
-
Total Length:
-
316 mm (12.44") including dew shield
-
244 mm (9.61") without dew shield
-
-
OTA Weight: 1.84 kg (4.06 lbs)
-
Total Weight (including handle & dovetail plate): 2.18 kg (4.81 lbs)
-
Rear-end Adapter: M48x0.75 (with built-in 2" filter thread)
-
Rear-end Connection Distance: Supports a 50 mm to 60 mm (1.97" to 2.36") backfocus range (recommended connection length is 55 mm / 2.17")
Mechanical Diagrams
Product Diagram
Camera Connection
EAF Assembly
EAF Assembly
Optical Test Charts
Optical Path
Relative Illumination
Spot Diagram
ZYGO Objective
MTF
| Manufacturer | Askar |
|---|---|
| Telescope Focal Length | Up to 300mm |
- 1x SQA55 OTA
- 1x Military-grade waterproof carrying case
- Delivers a flat field across full-frame sensors without tedious backfocus calculations—just focus and shoot
- Features a 14-click variable aperture (f/4.8 to f/22) and a 5m close-focus distance for day or night use
- Dual independent focusing rings (coarse/fine) pair with a 360° scaled rotator for fast, flawless target framing
- Quick-release knobs on the top handle, dovetail plate, and main bracket let you reconfigure your setup entirely by hand
Askar SQA55: A Unique Photography Experience!
Sharpstar is proud to introduce the Askar SQA55, a quintuplet air-spaced Petzval astrograph built to redefine the capabilities of premium, portable optics. Featuring an ultra-fast f/4.8 focal ratio and a compact 264mm focal length, this high-performance optical tube assembly (OTA) utilizes a five-element lens design—including one piece of specialized SD glass and one piece of premium ED glass—to deliver exceptional color correction and flat-field performance right out of the box.
Designed without the need for frustrating backfocus calculations, the SQA55 produces a generous 44mm image circle that provides flawless edge-to-edge sharpness on full-frame sensors. Beyond its deep-space astronomy capabilities, this versatile telescope features an adjustable aperture mechanism (f/4.8 to f/22) and a 5-meter close-focus distance! This allows effortless transition into a traditional camera lens for classic photography.
Check out Trevor @ AstroBackyard's Rundown of this Unique Refractor!
Why the Askar SQA55 is a Standout!
Variable-Aperture Lens
Dial in your creative control from f/4.8 - f/22 using the click graded adjustment ring. Complete with scale markings engraved right onto the lens tube, it’s built to completely lock out accidental adjustments while letting you instantly save and recall your favorite parameters for the perfect shot!
Petzval Design
Forget backfocus math headaches with this self-flattened Petzval design. You will get a generous 50mm to 60mm back focus window to play with. There's no need to obsess over precise mm measurments—as long as your camera is in focus, your stars are perfectly flat, sharp, and ready to shoot!
Camera Quick Release Base
Thanks to the ultra-handy quick-release knobs on both the top handle and bottom bracket, you can instantly transform this OTA into a high-end camera lens. It’s completely tool-free and ready to swap from tracking deep-space nebulae to capturing daytime landscapes in seconds.
The SQA55 In Action!
Dual-Speed Focuser Design
Adding the dual-speed focuser puts precision at your fingertips. The fine-focus dial includes a central indicator point, a ±1mm travel range, and a dedicated lock screw. For fast adjustments, the coarse-focus ring features handy metric and imperial distance scales—including an infinity mark with extra leeway for daytime shooting. Best of all, thanks to the self-flattened optical design, as long as your camera falls within the forgiving 50mm to 60mm connection window, you can lock it down and start shooting the moment you hit focus.
Rotator Design
You get complete framing freedom with the independent lock screws for both the main lens tube and the 360° rotator. For everyday daytime shooting, you can loosen the main tube lock to spin the entire camera body for quick, on-the-fly orientation changes. When it is time for astrophotography, you can leave the main tube securely locked and use the dedicated, high-precision 360° rotator to frame your deep-space targets perfectly. It even features laser-engraved scale markings, making it incredibly easy to track, log, and recall your exact camera angles.
The Ultimate Filter & Hood Setup
Whether you are capturing daytime landscapes or chasing faint deep-space nebulae, this telescope has your glass covered. On the front, a standard 67mm filter thread lets you easily screw on traditional camera filters for daytime photography, while the clever reversible lens hood snaps securely into place for shooting and flips backwards over the barrel for ultra-compact storage when you are done. When it is time to switch to astrophotography, the rear M48 adapter features a built-in 2" filter thread, allowing you to thread your favorite light-pollution or narrow-band filters directly into the imaging train without needing extra adapters.
Everything you Need: Tool Free
Go from a tracking mount to a lightweight photo tripod in seconds—no hex keys required! The multi-functional top handle features a built-in finder base slot for effortlessly sliding on your favorite guide scopes or astronomical accessories, and the entire handle can be popped off completely tool-free thanks to its quick-release design. Down below, the tube ring bracket gives you ultimate versatility with native 1/4" and 3/8" screw holes, allowing you to bolt the telescope directly onto a standard photographic tripod.
For traditional astronomy setups, the included 200mm (7.87") Vixen-style dovetail plate slides perfectly into any standard saddle, featuring integrated hand screws and a quick-release knob so you can configure, balance, and strip down your entire imaging rig completely by hand. The rear of the lens tube boasts four multi-functional quick-release bases designed to mount a variety of photography and astrophotography gear, integrating flawlessly with the entire SQA-series accessory ecosystem.
EAF Upgrade
The Askar offers an upgradable Askar Electronic Focuser Autofocusing Kit (sold seperately) which makes the camera lens-style focuser compatible with the ZWO EAF and other popular electronic focusers like: QHYCCD Q-Focuser, ToupTek AAF Astronomical Auto Focuser, Pegasus Astro FocusCube 3, iOptron iEAF, Astroasis Oasis Focuser.
Specifications
-
Aperture Size: 55 mm (2.17")
-
Focal Length: 264 mm
-
Focal Ratio: f/4.8 to f/22
-
Objective Lens: Quintuplet Petzval APO (one piece of SD glass, one piece of ED glass)
-
Format Specifications: 44 mm image circle (full-frame)
-
Aperture Blades: 14 pieces
-
Closest Focusing Distance: 5m (16.4 feet)
-
Front Thread Filter Diameter: M67x0.75 (2.64")
-
Total Length:
-
316 mm (12.44") including dew shield
-
244 mm (9.61") without dew shield
-
-
OTA Weight: 1.84 kg (4.06 lbs)
-
Total Weight (including handle & dovetail plate): 2.18 kg (4.81 lbs)
-
Rear-end Adapter: M48x0.75 (with built-in 2" filter thread)
-
Rear-end Connection Distance: Supports a 50 mm to 60 mm (1.97" to 2.36") backfocus range (recommended connection length is 55 mm / 2.17")
Mechanical Diagrams
Product Diagram
Camera Connection
EAF Assembly
EAF Assembly
Optical Test Charts
Optical Path
Relative Illumination
Spot Diagram
ZYGO Objective
MTF
Other Information
- Country of Manufacture: China
| Manufacturer | Askar |
|---|---|
| Telescope Focal Length | Up to 300mm |
- 1x SQA55 OTA
- 1x Military-grade waterproof carrying case
Askar SQA55 f/4.8 Quintuplet Petzval Refractor Telescope