{"id":20281,"date":"2026-10-22T09:45:23","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T07:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/?p=20281"},"modified":"2026-10-22T09:45:23","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T07:45:23","slug":"quel-askar-sqa-choisir-70-85-106","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/quel-askar-sqa-choisir-70-85-106\/","title":{"rendered":"Which Askar SQA Should You Choose: 70, 85, or 106 mm?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"product\"><div class=\"product\"><p>The Askar SQA series consists of three Petzval quintuplet astrographs that share the same design philosophy: a flat field over 44 mm without an external corrector, two ED lenses to minimize chromatic aberration, and a ready-to-use optical system that requires no focal length calculations. From the SQA70 at 1,399 CHF to the SQA106 at 2,899 CHF, here\u2019s how to choose the right model based on your setup and budget.<\/p>\n<h2>All the info at a glance<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>SQA70: 70 mm, 336 mm, f\/4.8, 2.68 kg, CHF 1,399<\/li>\n<li>SQA85: 85 mm, 408 mm, f\/4.8, 4.62 kg, CHF 1,979<\/li>\n<li>SQA106: 106 mm, 509 mm, f\/4.8, 8.12 kg, CHF 2,899<\/li>\n<li>Common design: Petzval APO quintuplet, 2 ED lenses<\/li>\n<li>Image circle: 44 mm (full frame) for the SQA70 and SQA85, 55 mm (medium format) for the SQA106<\/li>\n<li>Built-in flat field: no external corrector required<\/li>\n<li>Recommended optical throw: 55 mm (adjustable from 37 to 68 mm on the SQA70)<\/li>\n<li>Focuser: 2.5\u2033 dual-speed rack-and-pinion, 360\u00b0 rotator<\/li>\n<li>Connectors: M42, M48 (2\u2033 filter), M54<\/li>\n<li>Warranty: 2 years<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What is a Petzval quintuplet?<\/h2>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ccefe4af-0f09-4c06-b0b7-6dc90d75fbd8-Photoroom.png\" alt=\"Askar SQA70 astrographe quintuplet Petzval d\u00e9tour\u00e9\" \/><figcaption>Askar SQA70, Petzval quintuplet astrograph. Credit: Askar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A Petzval design arranges the optical elements to correct the field across the entire image circle. The quintuplet adds two additional lenses compared to a triplet: stars remain sharp and round from the center to the edge of the sensor, without the need for an external field corrector to be screwed on or an optical extension to be calculated.<\/p>\n<p>The two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lenses reduce chromatic aberration: purple and blue halos around bright stars are minimized, and contrast is improved. ED glass is a low-dispersion glass designed to focus all wavelengths at the same focal point.<\/p>\n<p>In practice, you screw the camera onto the focuser, focus it, and the field is flat. That\u2019s the main advantage of SQAs: ease of use without compromising optical performance.<\/p>\n<h2>SQA70: The Nomad for 1,399 CHF<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/product\/astrographe-super-apo-askar-sqa70\/\">SQA70<\/a> is the most compact of the three: 70 mm aperture, 336 mm focal length, f\/4.8, and weighs just 2.68 kg. At 332 mm long (with the lens hood retracted), it fits in carry-on luggage. It\u2019s the astrograph you take on trips, under a truly dark sky, without worrying about the weight.<\/p>\n<p>The 44 mm image circle covers a full-frame sensor without noticeable vignetting. The recommended focal length is 55 mm, adjustable from 37 to 68 mm. The 2.5\u2033 dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser supports heavy imaging trains without slipping.<\/p>\n<p>When mounted on a lightweight mount (AM3N, AZ-Go2, or even a camera mount), the SQA70 makes for a complete setup weighing less than 6 kg. Ideal for extended nebulae, wide-field star fields, and mosaics.<\/p>\n<h2>SQA85: The Versatile Model for 1,979 CHF<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/product\/sqa85-2\/\">SQA85<\/a> has an 85 mm aperture and a 408 mm focal length, still at f\/4.8. It weighs 4.62 kg. It\u2019s a mid-range lens, striking a balance between aperture and portability. With an additional 15 mm of aperture compared to the SQA70, it gathers 47 % more light.<\/p>\n<p>The SQA85 mounts on a medium-sized mount (AM5N, EQ5, HEQ5). It\u2019s perfect for astrophotographers who want a versatile setup: a wide field of view for nebulae, sufficient focal length for smaller galaxies, while still being portable.<\/p>\n<h2>SQA106: the large format model for 2,899 CHF<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/product\/sqa106\/\">SQA106<\/a> has a focal length ranging from 106 mm to 509 mm. It weighs 8.12 kg and requires a heavy-duty mount (EQ6-R, AM7). Its image circle is 55 mm, which covers medium-format sensors. This is the astrograph for those who want maximum resolution on galaxies and compact planetary nebulae.<\/p>\n<p>With a 106-mm aperture, the SQA106 collects 2.3 times more light than the SQA70. On faint targets, the difference is clear from the very first exposures.<\/p>\n<h2>Summary Comparison<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>SQA70<\/strong> (CHF 1,399): 2.68 kg, lightweight mount, portable, wide field of view. For portable setups and beginners in serious astrophotography.<\/li>\n<li><strong>SQA85<\/strong> (CHF 1,979): 4.62 kg, medium-sized body, versatile. The best balance between aperture and portability.<\/li>\n<li><strong>SQA106<\/strong> (CHF 2,899): 8.12 kg, heavy-duty body, medium format. For maximum resolution and medium-format sensors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Why shop at Deep Space Astronomy?<\/h2>\n<p>We're not just a retailer. We test, advise, and provide support.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Personalized Advice<\/strong> : We'll help you choose the right SQA for your camera body, sensor, and lenses. By phone, WhatsApp, or by appointment in Nyon.<\/li>\n<li><strong>After-Sales Support<\/strong> : Do you have a question about optical printing, alignment, or image processing? We're here to help.<\/li>\n<li><strong>14-Day Return Policy<\/strong> : Not satisfied? Return the product within 14 days.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Secure payment<\/strong> : Twint, credit card, invoice, Apple Pay, Bitcoin. Pay in 3 or 4 installments with no fees.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Free shipping in Switzerland<\/strong> Starting at CHF 200. Free pickup in Nyon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Discover all the <a href=\"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/marque\/askar\/\">Askar line<\/a> in our store: the <a href=\"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/product\/astrographe-super-apo-askar-sqa70\/\">SQA70 for CHF 1,399<\/a>the <a href=\"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/product\/sqa85-2\/\">SQA85 for CHF 1,979<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/product\/sqa106\/\">SQA106 for CHF 2,899<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em>Prices are valid as of October 22, 2026, and are subject to change. Current prices are listed on the product pages in our store.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<p>This article is based on Askar\u2019s official specifications and the product descriptions in our store. The SQA70 was tested by Richard Harris (ScopeTrader) in the October 2026 issue.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Comparison of the Askar SQA70, SQA85, and SQA106 astrographs: Petzval quintuplet, 44\u201355 mm flat field, two ED lenses. CHF 1,399 to 2,899. Available by special order in our store.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":187,"featured_media":7308,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[827],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-actualites"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/187"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20281"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20282,"href":"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20281\/revisions\/20282"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deep-space-astronomy.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}