How does the .7x reducer change the EdgeHD 1100's focal length and f-ratio?
The Celestron .7x Reducer converts the EdgeHD 1100's native 2800mm focal length at f/10 to approximately 1960mm at f/7.7. This makes the system significantly faster, reducing exposure times by 50% for the same image brightness.
What is the benefit of the 146mm back focus on the EdgeHD 1100 reducer?
The 146mm back focus provides ample space to install a full imaging train behind the reducer. This allows you to comfortably fit accessories like an off-axis guider (OAG), a filter wheel, and your camera without running out of spacing, a common issue with generic reducers.
Will this reducer work with my full-frame camera on the EdgeHD 1100?
Yes. The reducer is designed with a large 60mm clear aperture to fully illuminate a 42mm image circle. This is large enough for full-frame sensors (typically 43mm diagonal), ensuring minimal vignetting and sharp stars across the entire frame.
Why is this dedicated reducer better than a generic SCT reducer for my EdgeHD 1100?
A generic Schmidt-Cassegrain reducer is not designed to preserve the advanced, flat-field optical correction of the EdgeHD system. This dedicated 5-element reducer is optically matched to the EdgeHD 1100, ensuring it maintains the flat field and pinpoint stars while a generic reducer would likely reintroduce field curvature and other aberrations.
How does this reducer help when imaging large targets like the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) with an EdgeHD 1100?
At its native focal length, an EdgeHD 1100 is too magnified to fit the entire Andromeda Galaxy (M31) in a single frame with most sensors. The reducer's 43% wider field of view makes it possible to capture the galaxy from core to outer arms, making it an essential accessory for wide-field deep-sky imaging.
Does this reducer affect the flat-field correction of the EdgeHD 1100 optics?
No, it is designed to maintain it. The primary purpose of this reducer's custom 5-element design is to reduce the focal length while preserving the coma-free, flat-field performance that is the hallmark of the EdgeHD optical system.
