The Askar SQA70 Pro has just been announced. It’s the Pro version of the SQA70: same compact 70 mm format, but the lens has been upgraded from a quintuplet to a sextuplet Petzval design with SD and ED glass. It’s faster (f/4.6 vs. f/4.8), delivers more uniform performance, and features a flat field over 44 mm. Priced at CHF 1,765 (tax included) in our store, it’s Askar’s new high-end compact telescope for portable deep-sky astronomy.
The standard SQA70 is a Petzval quintuplet with 2 ED elements. The SQA70 Pro upgrades to a sextuplet: six lenses, with one SD (ultra-low dispersion) element in addition to the ED element. The result: enhanced chromatic correction, more uniform stars across the entire field, and a flat field over 44 mm without an external flattener.
The focal length changes from 336 mm to 322 mm, and the aperture ratio from f/4.8 to f/4.6. It’s faster: at f/4.6, you capture about 8 % more light per second than at f/4.8. For 60-second exposures, that’s a gain of 5 seconds. Over a 2-hour session, that adds up.
With a focal length of 322 mm and an aperture of f/4.6, the SQA70 Pro is designed for observing large objects: the California Nebula, the North America Nebula, the Rosette Nebula, Heart and Soul, the entire Andromeda Galaxy, and the Pleiades. Exposure times of 60 to 120 seconds are sufficient with a modern camera. With a narrowband filter (H-alpha, OIII), f/4.6 remains bright enough for reasonable exposure times.
Weighing 3 kg and measuring 331 mm, the SQA70 Pro fits in a backpack. It’s the astrograph you take with you under a truly dark sky, far from the city. On a lightweight mount (AM3N, Wave 100i), it doesn’t add much weight. With the camera, filter wheel, and guider, expect a total weight of 5 kg: an HEQ5-R Pro offers plenty of headroom.
The standard SQA70 costs CHF 1,399 (including tax). The SQA70 Pro costs CHF 1,765 (including tax). The difference is CHF 366. What do you get for that extra cost?
For those looking for the best 70 mm compact lens: the SQA70 Pro. For those looking for the best value: the standard SQA70 at CHF 1,399. Both cover the full frame, and both are Petzval lenses without an external flattener.
The Askar SQA series includes: SQA55 (55 mm), SQA60 Pro (60 mm, SD sextuplet, f/4.6), SQA70 Pro (70 mm, SD+ED sextuplet, f/4.6, CHF 1,765), SQA85 (85 mm), SQA106 (106 mm), SQA130 (130 mm). All are Petzval lenses with an integrated flat field.
The SQA70 Pro falls between the SQA60 Pro (60 mm, more compact) and the SQA85 (85 mm, wider aperture). It’s the ideal compromise: enough aperture for deep-sky observing, light enough for travel, and Pro-grade optics for the most demanding applications.
The 44 mm image circle covers the full-frame format (24×36 mm). With an APS-C camera (Sony IMX571, ASI2600MC), the scale is approximately 2.41″ per pixel. With a full-frame camera (IMX455, ASI6200MC), the entire field of view is utilized. M42, M48, and M54 adapters are included. The M48 adapter features a 2-inch filter thread.
We're not just a retailer. We test, advise, and provide support.
L’The Askar SQA70 Pro is priced at CHF 1,765, including tax in our store. Be sure to check out the Standard SQA70 for CHF 1,399 (including tax) and all of the Askar line.
This article is based on the official specifications from Askar (Sharpstar Optics, sharpstar-optics.com), the product page in our store, and the specifications published by High Point Scientific, First Light Optics, and Mile High Astro (2026). Store price: CHF 1,765 (tax included). Standard SQA70: CHF 1,399 (tax included).
CBurkhalter
Get comprehensive, free training by signing up for the newsletter.
