Starizona

Fast Imaging on a Schmidt-Cassegrain

Starizona's products are mostly about changing the effective focal ratio of a Cassegrain, in both directions, along with the mechanical accessories that support it.

• HyperStar systems: Replace the secondary mirror with a corrector lens and mount the camera at the front of the telescope, delivering roughly f/2 and a very wide field.
• Exposure advantage: Going from f/10 to f/2 reduces required exposure time for extended objects by a factor of around 25, which transforms what is achievable in one night.
• Model compatibility: Not every Schmidt-Cassegrain accepts a removable secondary. Compatibility depends on manufacturer, aperture and production era.
• Focal reducers: Conventional reducer-correctors for rear-cell imaging, typically taking f/10 to around f/7 or f/6.3 with a flatter field.
• Focusers and mechanical accessories: Motorized focus and rear-cell hardware designed for Cassegrain imaging trains.
• Collimation sensitivity: At f/2 the collimation tolerance is extremely tight, and the system needs careful adjustment to deliver its potential.

Why Choose David Astro for Starizona

HyperStar is a significant investment on top of a telescope, and the compatibility question has to be settled first.

• Telescope compatibility verified: We check your exact model and production era against HyperStar compatibility before you order, because not all Schmidt-Cassegrains qualify.
• Camera and sensor matching: Sensor size and camera body dimensions both matter at the front of the telescope, where the camera itself obstructs the aperture.
• Collimation expectations set: At f/2 collimation is demanding, and we are candid about the setup effort required to get the results the system is capable of.
• Authorized dealer: Full manufacturer warranty with support handled in Canada.
• Ships from Canada: No duties or brokerage fees for Canadian buyers.

Starizona in Canada — Frequently Asked Questions

Will HyperStar work on my telescope?

It depends on the manufacturer, aperture and production era, since the secondary must be removable. Tell us the exact model and approximate year and we will confirm.

How much faster is f/2 than f/10?

For extended objects, roughly 25 times, since exposure scales with the square of the focal ratio. Targets that need hours at f/10 become achievable in a fraction of that.

Does the camera block the aperture?

It sits where the secondary mirror was, so it replaces that obstruction rather than adding to it. A physically large camera does increase the obstruction, which is why body size matters.

Is collimation difficult at f/2?

It is demanding and needs to be done well, since tolerance scales with focal ratio. Once set it holds reasonably, but expect to spend real time on it initially.

Converting an SCT for fast imaging?

Tell us your exact telescope model and camera and we will confirm compatibility. In Canadian stock, shipped worldwide.