The Meade 4-element, multi-coated f/6.3 Focal Reducer threads on to the rear cell of any Meade LX-series mirror-lens telescope or to other Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope brands; followed by the Off-Axis Guider, shown, or T-Adapter.

The Focal Reducer/Field Flattener reduces the telescope?s focal ratio by a factor of 0.63;

• f/10 telescopes are converted to f/6.3
• f/6.3 telescopes are converted to f/4.

Simultaneously, the 41mm-diameter lens system helps to flatten the field, significantly improving edge-of-field corrections. The f/6.3 Focal Reducer enables a reduction of photographic exposure times by about 50%, while producing an actual field diameter of 1.5" at the film plane.

The revolutionary Meade f/3.3 CCD Focal Reducer converts the optical systems of f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes to f/3.3, or f/6.3 Schmidt-Cassegrains to f/2, for ultrafast CCD imaging, and with increased edge of field resolution and color correction. Mounted in its threaded cell, the f/3.3 CCD Focal Reducer attaches to the rear cells of all Meade LX-Series Schmidt-Cassegrains and to other Schmidt-Cassegrain brands as well and reduces CCD exposure times by up to 80%.

The 3-element, 41mm clear-aperture optics are multi-coated to maximize light transmission.

Included with each f/3.3 CCD Focal Reducer is a Variable T-Adapter that allows a range of f/ratios between f/3 and f/5 on f/10 SCT?s and between f/1.9 and f/3.2 on f/6.3 SCT?s. The f/3.3 CCD Focal Reducer may be used with CCD imagers of any brand and chip dimensions and produces spectacular results. Note, however, that the f/3.3 unit is not recommended for use in either visual or photographic imaging applications.

The f/3.3 CCD Focal Reducer (left) is supplied with the Meade Variable T-Adapter (right) as standard equipment.