William Optics MiniCat 51 Ultra Portable Astrograph

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William Optics MiniCat 51 Ultra Portable Astrograph

£849.00

(1 Review)

✓ 2 year warranty

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Frequently bought with this product:

	William Optics DSLR-M48 Ring Adapter
	William Optics 32mm Slide-base Uniguide Scope

MiniCat vs RedCat.
The original RedCat 51 has a focal ratio of f/4.9, whereas this new MiniCat 51 is even faster at f/3.5. Twice as fast! For the same price! How is this possible?
Of course, a compromise was necessary. The MiniCats’ star shapes—at the edge of the field—are not as pin-point sharp as the RedCats’. This is barely noticeable if using a camera with a sensor size up to APS-C. However, it is evident if using one with a full-frame sensor (software can be used to enhance star shape during processing).
So, buy the MiniCat 51 if you use a camera with an APS-C or smaller sensor and speed and portability are priorities. Otherwise, if using a camera with a full-frame sensor, choose the RedCat 51 if you want the best possible stars in the corners.

About this product

Model: wo_minicat_51

William Optics MiniCat 51 Ultra Portable Astrograph

Meets the latest addition to the Cat Family - the MiniCat51.

The Minicat51 is a versatile and powerful tool for Astrophotography enthusiasts. It offers superior-quality optics in a sleek and portable optical tube.

The f/3.5 focal ratio lets you record data at super-fast speeds - twice as Fast as the RedCat 51!

Its 6-element optical design with two ED glass elements makes it an excellent choice for use with APS-C or smaller sensors. (It can also be used with a full-frame sensor, though star shapes at the edge of the field will need software enhancement during processing.)

The high optical performance delivers images with excellent colour correction and sharpness.

William Optics' patented WIFD focuser moves all lens elements internally to achieve focus. This means there is no drawtube to rack in or out, ensuring no image tilt and minimal backlash. The WIFD focuser is compatible with the ZWO EAF (no need for a third-party autofocus kit) and other popular motor focusers.

NOTE: The William Optics 32mm Slide-base Uniguide Scope shown fitted to the top handle is not included but is available to buy separately.

Specifications

Focal Length: 178mm

Diameter: 51mm

Aperture: f/3.5

Focuser: WIFD (patented WO Internal Focus Design), compatible with EAF

Image Circle: 43.2mm

Weight: 1.67kg (OTA only)

Optical Design: 6 elements in 2 groups

Tube Length: TBA

Dew Shield Circumference: 263.8mm

Dew Shield Diameter: 84mm

Extended Length: 210mm

Customer reviews

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Star shapes almost as expected

15 November 2024 | Andrew

Having seen the online reports on this scope and reading the WO write up I was expecting blurred stars at the edges of the frame and I certainly got them with the ZWO ASI2600MC I have been using to get the widest FOV I can. The flared stars were a bit worse than I expected (hence only 4 stars review), but maybe that's just my opinion. I use Blur Exterminator for all my Images and the end result was no problem and the stars were nicely rounded. Compared to my WO Zenith Star 73 III with the same camera, the same object (in a much wider field of view of the RC51Mini) was definitely a softer image but that is to be expected. I have yet to try my other cameras with smaller sensors with this scope but looking at Astronomy Tools for image scale the blurry stars will likely not appear or be much reduced. The Scope is well made and lovely to look at and should make a great portable scope for travelling. I have installed a ZWO Focus motor which was straight forward with instructions in the online manual. No regrets buying for me and I like the FOV I'm getting, but if you have APSC size sensors be prepared for blurry stars if you don't have Blur Exterminator or an equivalent or you might be OK fixing the star shapes if you have more imaging experience than my 3 years....