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William Optics FLT98 98mm f/6.3 Triplet Apo Refractor with R&P RotoLock Focuser

5.0 (1 Reviews) Read Reviews Write Review
Brand William Optics
Part Number A-F98-RL
Availability available

Product Info

Manufacturer Description

The FLT98 is a portable, high quality, versatile APO telescope designed for individuals who want a very high quality instrument in a relatively compact package. This model features an dual speed 3.5" R&P focuser and features William Optics' latest RotoLock Visual Back.

This telescope features a Russian-designed air-spaced triplet f/6.3 lens in an adjustable lens cell. The optics are of superb quality with amazing clarity and color correction. With stylish and unique mechanics, top-quality optics, and no chromatic aberration (true apochromatic performance), this is an excellent grab and go scope that any astronomer should own. This refractor is indeed in a new realm of mechanical technology advances and optical perfection!

The redesigned telescope features a new aluminum tube with William Optics' renowned quality fit and finish: Gold signature dew shield cover, retractable dew shield, draw tube graduated scale imprinted, larger extra-smooth (3.5") R&P focuser, RotoLock 2" visual back, a well padded soft case, a dovetail rail, and pair of high quality mounting rings. This set-up will be a treat to use for astrophotography!

The pre-DDG version was reviewed in the Sky at Night (December 2008) astronomy magazine with great acclaim! The DDG focuser version of this same scope was a Sky & Telescope Hot Product in 2010!

Stunning Optics

- Features a top-quality triplet f/6.3 air-spaced objective, one of the best WO has ever made!
- This scope is extremely sharp and has great color correction. It is ideal for astrophotography.
- Precision optics with STM coatings.
- Designed by a leading Russian designer with FPL-53 glass.

Strong Focuser

- Extra-smooth 3.5" R&P focuser: a treat to use during astrophotography. No more image shift.
- RotoLock visual back securely locks and centers your diagonal or camera.
- 360 deg. rotatable.
- Large aluminum knobs.
- Extra-heavy duty.

Patented Design

- Stainless steel reinforcement inserts on both sides and on the back to allow heavy loading without problems.
- Graduated scale for precise camera alignment.

Simply Beautiful Finish

- Solid CNC-machined mounting rings and Vixen-style dovetail rail included in the price.
- Pure William Optics quality fit and finish: powder-painted white CNC-machined aluminum tube, golden finish, retractable dewshield, anodized 360 deg. rotatatable crayford focuser, dewshield cap.

Total Quality Package

- Dedicated field flattener available separately.
- 1.25" adapter included.

High Quality Soft Case

- Stow away your telescope in the practical and safe soft padded case (included).
- Though you will never need it, you have a 2-year warranty from WO, and the certainty that we will be there to assist you even beyond that, if you need!

Reviews

5.0 (Based on 1 Reviews) 100% of reviewers recommended this product.
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    1. Guest

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      User Notes:
      Review by Prairie Knight of Mitchell, SD.
      1427155200
      Mar 23, 2015

      5.0 Celestial Delights

      Pros:

      Compact,Accurate,Easy to Use,Quality Lenses,Strong Construction

      Cons:

      Comments:

      I optimized my Williams Optics (WO) scope by adding: 1) A set of four WO UWAN eyepieces and the company's red-dot finder. 2) A medium-duty Go-To telescope mount. 3) A counterweight to help balance the scope along the mount's altitude axis. 4) A Tele Vue Equalizer to help even out eyepiece weights. 5) A Tele Vue 3-6 mm zoom lens to achieve the highest useful magnification.

      My goal was a highly portable eye-to-the sky. I desired the convenience I get in my lightweight 80 mm refractor but I also craved the performance of my classic Argonaut 150 mm reflector. What I got was an optical system that competes well with the Argonaut but one that can't approach the small refractor for sheer ease of use.

      Beyond all else, I wanted a full field of view and it is here that the WO shines. Its 2-inch UWAN eyepiece engulfs Orion's Sword, nebula, and belt stars. It swallows the huge Alpha Persei star cluster and also the Pleiades. Most scopes can't do that. My other three UWAN eyepieces perform common tasks quite well: Jupiter's red spot is apparent. Color-contrast double stars such as Almach and Iota Canceri are jewels. The difficult doubles Castor and Algieba can be split. The dim Crab Nebula may easily be observed and also the faint galaxies M33 and the Whirlpool. Galactic twins M81 and M81 stand side-by-side. Out of all the nighttime objects I have sought, only the Pinwheel Galaxy remains unseen.

      Best of all are the high-contrast wide-field views of the Orion Nebula and the Moon, which one could study for hours. (I saw the deep-sky objects through a misty sky, where stars of 4th and 5th magnitude were rare.) To be fair, my Argonaut is slightly better on planets and galaxies but it can't envelop large star clusters. My 80 mm wide-field scope does that just fine, but it can't split tight-knit doubles. With the WO you get sprawling astronomical objects and also those with the urge to merge. My thanks to Agena, whose service has been exemplary. I now have a cost-effective way to drink in superior images of just about everything the night sky has to offer.

      Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
      Was this review helpful? Yes / No

      This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com

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      Specifications

      Telescope Aperture 3.86" (98mm)
      Manufacturer William Optics
      Telescope Aperture 81mm - 125mm
      Telescope Series William Optics FLT