Experience and Imaging with the Askar SQA70 70mm f/4.8 336mm Quintuplet Apochromat

Hello Karl,

I am only getting back to you today because I wanted to wait until after our vacation on La Palma. Here, then, are my impressions of the Askar SQA70…

As I mentioned to you immediately after receiving the Askar SQA70—a 70mm f/4.8, 336mm quintuplet apochromat—I was struck by the high-quality craftsmanship right from the moment I unpacked it. Everything feels solid, precise, and well-engineered. As I soon discovered, the integrated flat-field correction ensures a wonderfully flat image field, requiring no additional fine-tuning. The telescope delivers pin-sharp stars right to the corners, even when used with larger sensors. For my astrophotography, this is a huge advantage, as it allows me to spend less time dealing with optical aberrations and more time focusing on the actual imaging. The color purity is also outstanding—there are no distracting color fringes, even around bright stars.

I have opted against using an EAF, as—after a brief cool-down period—the focus holds steady for hours once it has been set. During an entire night of observing on La Palma, I only had to refocus once; the temperature drift is quite moderate. The 2.5" focuser operates backlash-free under load—even with a camera and accessories attached—enabling precise focusing. Overall, the mechanical stability is excellent, which is particularly advantageous during long exposures and automated imaging sequences. The focuser supports typical loads—such as a cooled CMOS camera, filter wheel, etc.—without any noticeable play or tilt. In practical use, tilt is simply not an issue.

With a focal length of 336 mm, the instrument provides a wide field of view—ideal for expansive nebulae and larger deep-sky objects. All in all, the SQA70 is an optically and mechanically well-engineered system that delivers consistently high-quality results; it is particularly well-suited for users seeking a straightforward yet powerful wide-field imaging setup. Under the Bortle 2 skies of La Palma, the Askar delivered outstanding wide-field results when paired with my ASI 183 MC Pro color camera. I’ve attached an image captured during a 6-hour exposure of NGC 5363 "and neighbors" to illustrate this.

Overall, this is a thoughtfully designed, high-performance telescope that will impress both beginners and ambitious astrophotographers alike. For that reason, I give it my clear recommendation to buy.

Best regards from Solingen,
Uwe



Link to the Askar SQA70:

https://www.teleskop-spezialisten.de/shop/Teleskope/ED-APO/bis-80mm/Aktion-Askar-SQA70-70mm-f-4-8-336mm-Quintuplet-Apochromat::7279.html#horizontalTab1