William Optics NEW MiniCat 51 f/3.5 WIFD
Designed for photography enthusiasts who love wide-angle views. Its standout feature is an ultra-bright f/3.5 aperture, allowing you to capture faint nebulae or comets in a very short time. (The f/3.5 aperture lets in twice as much light as an f/5 aperture.)
The MiniCat uses the latest Petzval design with 6 lens elements, including 2 Super ED and lanthanum lenses to perfectly control chromatic aberration. It’s currently the only high-quality, short focal length 178mm f/3.5 astrograph telescope available on the market.
The MiniCat holds three unique patents, ensuring easy and perfect focusing along with coaxial image quality to prevent drawtube tilt issues caused by optical misalignment.
For perfectionists in astrophotography, we recommend using BXT software after stacking your images to achieve flawless correction of peripheral star points. View B&A
Please Note: Unlike other RedCat models, the MiniCat 51 Refractor does not come with a built-in filter drawer.
UltraFast Petzval
The innovative 6-element Petzval design boosts traditional Cat telescopes' efficiency with a cutting-edge optical system.
Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glasses
Contains 2 Super ED glasses and lanthanum lenses with advanced fully multi-coated, delivering sharp, vibrant images with true-to-life colors, significantly reducing chromatic aberration.
Needs NO Flattener
The Petzval design inherently flattens the field, eliminating the need for an external field flattener.
Compatible with Electronic Motorized Devices
Hassle Free Installation
( no mounting barcket kit required )
Dual side Dovetail Plate
The lightweight dovetail plate is designed with both Vixen-style and Arca-Swiss types, offering enhanced compatibility with various mounts and mounting rings.
Tilt Adjuster and Camera Angle Rotator
The built-in tilt adjuster makes it easy to correct camera sensor tilt issues. Correct any angular discrepancies, and get the perfect angle on your images.
Disclaimer
Due to the nature of MiniCat’s fast aperture optical design, edge stars may not be as round as with other RedCats. However, our tests show it still outperforms conventional lenses. With aberration correction software like BXT, peripheral distortions can be perfectly corrected on APS-C sensors, while Full Frame may need some fine-tuning for even better results.
Tension screw:
When using the telescope with the motor, please ensure that the tension screw is not over-tightened. Over-tightening the tension screw may cause damage to the focuser.
Think of it like driving a car and pressing the gas pedal while also pressing the brake simultaneously. Just as this action could harm your car's systems, over-tightening the tension screw could compromise the functionality of your telescope's focuser.
Technical Specifications
| Lens Type |
6-Element Petzval Design |
| Focal Length |
178 mm |
| Diameter |
51 mm |
| Aperture |
f/3.5 |
| Image circle |
43.2 mm |
| Focuser |
WIFD R&P Focuser |
| Compatible with EAF |
| Adapter Included |
Tilt Adjuster |
| Rotator |
| M54 → M48 Adapter |
| Optional Flattener |
No Flattener Required |
| Camera Format |
Full Frame (Compatible) |
| APS-C (Recommended) |
| M4/3 |
| Tube Length |
210 mm |
| OTA Weight |
1.67 kg / 3.68 lbs |
| Total Weight |
2.29 kg / 5.05 lbs |
In the Box
- MiniCat 51 OTA
- Bahtinov Cap
- M48 Adapter
- Dual Mounting Plate
- Mounting Ring Handle Bar
- Soft carry Case
- Allen key Set
Warranty & Manuals
Manual, Spots and Size Diagrams
William Optics 2-Year Warranty
