This newest flat field astrograph is designed to produce a flat 90  mm image circle for medium format photography or CCD  imagery.  This image
        circle can be used with the largest available CCD cameras today.  The f/7.8 focal ratio enables the imager to produce images of smaller object with
        amazing sharpness and contrast.
       

        The pin-point star 10 microns at the edge and 2348mm focal length produce a field, free of astigmatism or coma, will allow the FRC to resolve
        star clusters and fine detail in galaxies and nebulae across the entire 90mm circle
 
        The temperature compensated secondary holder insures pinpoint stars during long exposures.

        There is a dedicated f?5.9 reducer that produces a 36mm flat circle for CCD imaging at this shorter 1770mm focal length

        There is a 7x50 mm illuminated finder too

        This is one great imaging platform to put is mildly, but how does it compare visually?  If that is what you are looking for you scopes main function
        to be then this FRC-300 is not the scope for you. Try your hand at the Mewlon 300 instead.  On the other hand if you want to view occasionally and
        have heard that the FRC can only be visually with the ocular straight through this is not the whole story.  When I first acquired the FRC-300 I still had
        the Mewlon 300 set-up.  The goal was to see if I could get the FRC-300 to be used visually BUT one had to use a diagonal and a focuser other  than the
        HUGE helical focuser that is on the back of the FRC-300.  The FRC-300  Has extremely limited back focus, about 104mm at prime focus.  So this was
        going to be a challenge in itself.  After weeks of trying things and thought I was able to but together some adaptors, NOT Takahashi ones,  a diagonal
        and helical focuser to allow this scope to be used  comfortably to view.   One can only use 1 1/4" ocular this was, and with a Panoptic 24mm the FOV
        is about the same as the Mewlon 300  using a 31mm Nagler, so I could live with that.   First real light I had a friend come over and view through the
        FRC and to our dismay the  stars were tighter in the FRC than in the Mewlon-300.  Globulars, and Galaxies looked slightly better in the FRC. 
        However the Mewlon did kick the FRC's butt on planets.  Another thing I can live with.  The FRC on the other hand kicked the Mewlon's butt on
         imaging.  So The FRC stayed and the Mewlon 300 needed a new home.
       
       
        Below are some pictures of the back end of the FRC  you can see the HUGE focuser and three sets of "captains wheels there"  The larger one is to
        loosen the WHOLE focuser section allowing this to rotate for you.  The second one is to unlock the focuser and the third one out is used to rack
        the focuser in or out.  Also are pictures of the adaptors and Panoptic.  Images are for this purpose only and you can see the FRC's huge helical
        focuser backed out.     This is the case since there is the Reducer on the scope and it is set-up to accept my camera.  With  the ocular there is not  
        enough  back focus to use the Reducer and the focuser needs to be all the way in.   Almost forgot, on can get  the adaptors and diagonal all
        from Heutech
       
        System Chart for FRC-300
        

       

        
  

Tak FRC 300 with FSQ &FS-60c riding High mounted on a AP 1200	Tak FRC300 mounted AP1200 28" counterweight shaft with (5) 18lbs (1) 10lbs	Equipment in the Park position after a night of work	Close-up of equipment at rest, you can even see the water cooling lines
Full Set-up as it sits.  Water cooling system with Modified chiller on floor	Scope looking up	Full set-up as it sits
Mounting this beast, a plate was made out of a single stock, instead of the normal two pieces put together.  The plate attached to the scope is an AP plate	Side view of the mounting plate.  It is very heavy and sturdy.  Being out of one piece of metal made this extremely ridged too	These are the pieces for the attachment to the scope and diagonal.  You can see the part numbers of the items here	Another view of the parts needed to make this work.  Part numbers visible to make it easy to replicate this set-up
It is attached to the scope and has the Ocular in place.  One note, the diagonal and helical focuser can be gotten as a package deal	Close up of back end of scope and visual set-up.  The grippy part just above the diagonal is the helical focuser and where you focus from	Another view of the back end of the scope and visual set-up for you to get a feel for how it works	Back end again.  As stated in above text the focuser is racked out only because the reducer is in and this is set-up to accept the imaging train
Morning after a night of imaging. You can see the condensation on the FRC and the FSQ and FS-60c are dry
Close-up of the FRC and FSQ.  The FSQ is free of condensatoin since it has a dew heater strip on it and the FRC does not	After a night of imaging time for a day of rest