Explore Scientific Zero X field flattener 2"/M48 for ED80 / ED102 / ED127 APO
The Explore Scientific Zero X field flattener 2"/M48 for ED80 / ED102 / ED127 APO is a field flattener without reduction factor for Explore Scientific ED80, ED102 and ED127 apochromats. The field of view of many telescopes is not flat but curved. This means that only the area in the centre is optimally sharp - the edges become blurred. The human eye can usually compensate for this image property, but a camera shows increasing blur towards the edge of the field of view.
The Explore Scientific Zero X field flattener removes field curvature from many telescopes with a focal length of around 480 to 952 mm. The Zero X field flattener is calculated and explicitly designed for the Explore Scientific ED80, ED102 and ED127 apochromats with focal ratios of F=6.0 and F=7.5, respectively. This dramatically increases the image sharpness at the edge. The stars therefore appear round and are no longer distorted - a clear gain for the overall image aesthetics. The Zero X field flattener can be used not only with Explore Scientific Apos, but also with many other Apos. This flattener does not change the focal length of the telescope.
Due to the rapid development of ever larger camera sensors, the Explore Scientific Zero X field flattener was developed. This finally makes available a field flattener that exposes and corrects the field of view even for full-frame camera sensors up to 24x36 mm.
On the telescope side, this field flattener features a 2-inch (50.8 mm) plug-in connector, which allows it to be inserted into the telescope instead of an eyepiece or zenith mirror. On the camera side is a standardised M48-x-0.75-mm connection thread. This M48 connection thread offers a larger free inner diameter than the normal T2 (M42) thread and prevents vignetting when using large camera sensors. Using an optionally available and camera-specific adapter ring, an SLR camera can be connected to it. The working distance is already optimally set at 55 mm. Of course, mirrorless cameras or special astro cameras can also be used via the M48 threaded connection. This requires the appropriate M48 spacer sleeves or adapters additionally to set the working distance of 55 mm. This should always be done with any corrector or field flattener to achieve the best possible image smoothing.
