The Plug-and-Play Powerhouse
The Askar FRA400 (Flatfield Refractive Astrograph) is designed to solve the biggest headache in wide-field astrophotography: backfocus. Thanks to its quintuplet design, the field flattener is built directly into the tube.
Optically, it features a 72mm aperture with two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements. In my testing across targets like the North American Nebula, the color correction was superb. When paired with the dedicated 0.7x Reducer, it transforms into a fast 280mm f/3.9 system, making it an incredibly versatile wide-field instrument.
Advantages
- Native flat field (No backfocus math)
- Full-frame 44mm image circle
- Fast f/3.9 speed with reducer
- Heavy-duty 3" Rack & Pinion Focuser
Limitations
- Dovetail is short for balanced mono rigs
- Requires tools for tube ring adjustments
- Noticeable weight for its small size
"The FRA400 is the ultimate 'stress-free' refractor. By moving the flattener inside the tube, Askar has removed the technical barriers that often keep people from getting clean, full-frame data."
Technical Specs
Aperture72mm
Native FL400mm (f/5.6)
Reduced FL280mm (f/3.9)
Design5-Element Quintuplet
ED GlassDual Elements
Image Circle44mm (Full Frame)
Weight3.2kg (7.1 lbs)