Professional Telescopes

RiFast

Telescopes and Instruments "RiFast"

With a jaw-dropping f/3.8 focal ratio, the RiFast are the ultimate telescopes for wide field astrophotography

The unique 3-lens field flattener allows wide flat focal planes, 80 mm or even more (!) in diameter. Two-stage light shield as standard on the secondary mirror.

Overview "RiFast" SERIE

A big, beautiful telescope at f/3.8. What else to say?

Devoted to astrophotograpy, the RiFast family has an unique optical scheme, proprietary of Officina Stellare, another creation of our master optician, Massimo Riccardi. The tree-lens field flattener is the real masterpiece of this telescope. The primary mirror is aspherical and the secondary mirror is spherical. A precise design choice to make collimation easier.

Diffraction-limited over a wide and flat field, the RiFast design will push any camera to its limits… and will do it FAST! The extraordinary f/ ratio allows a higher productivity per night, a significant factor for surveys, SN search, asteroid control, and many other fields of modern astronomy.

The central obstruction is about 50%, but still smaller than similar designs, that simply can’t compete under any point of view. The visual contrast is very good, thanks also to the special ultra-dark paints we use.

The corrector group is very close to the focal plane, so chromatic aberration is undetectable.

SPECIFICATIONS
ENTRY PUPIL DIAMETER From 400 mm (16'') to 800 mm (32'')
FOCAL RATIO F/3.8
FOCAL LENGTH From 1140 to 6400 mm (252'')
LINEAR OBSTRUCTION 47%
FULLY CORRECTED
AND ILLUMINATED FIELD
From 60 mm to 90 mm
WEIGHT From 40 Kg to 180 Kg
BACK FOCUS EXTRACTION From about 220 mm (8.6'') to about 300 mm (12'')

All telescopes share the following mechanical characteristics:

  • Two (optionally four) Losmandy or 8″ dovetail plates, to connect the telescope to your mount, or to accommodate accessories.
  • Computer optimized baffles.
  • Focal plane tilt adjusting.
  • Optional shutter to protect the primary mirror.
  • High precision spherical joint and high strength carbon tubes in the truss structure for zero-backlash assembly and extraordinary rigidity.
  • Double concentric light shield for the secondary mirror/spider support.
  • Radial micrometric adjustment for the secondary mirror support.
  • All collimation screws are spring-loaded, with lock if needed.
  • Zero image shift secondary mirror movement, with electronic/PC control (optional on smaller telescopes, standard in the big ones).
  • Special ultra-dark and ultra-opaque space-grade paint for all sensible parts. Space grade glue for glued parts. Space-grade rubber for all seals.
  • Unique mirror supports design.
  • Wide choice of focusers, filter wheels, and optical train accessories in general.
  • Customization available.