backfocus.tools
Back focus and spacer calculator for astrophotography
Find spacers for your telescope and camera using manufacturer-sourced figures. Already have a filter wheel, OAG or rotator? Add its installed thickness to calculate the spacing you have left. You can also enter your own camera and corrector distances.
Using Askar 103APO 0.8x Full-frame Reducer · 55.0 mm required back focus. Check the documented configuration ↗ Different output adapter? Use “Enter my own figures”.
Equipment already installed
Add your wheel, drawer, OAG, rotator or adapters to find the spacing left to fill. Enter the installed distance between mounting faces, in mm—not the overall body length. Only include equipment between the corrector’s measuring face and the camera’s mounting face.
Don’t add a plate or adapter again if its thickness is already included in the camera distance or the corrector’s measurement. Changing a plate may also change the connection.
Up to 8 components · user-entered figuresWhere do I measure from?
Required back focus runs from the corrector’s documented measuring face to the sensor. Camera distance runs from the selected camera mounting face to the sensor. Accessories use the distance they add when fully installed between those faces. Upstream equipment is outside this budget. If you change the corrector’s output adapter, use “Enter my own figures” with the distance for that exact configuration.
Select only the filter in the light path. If your quoted target already includes compensation for that filter, select “No filter” to avoid adding it twice.
Measuring tools and techniques →Loading your configuration…
Back focus, explained
- Why 55 mm is not a universal back focus55 mm is a convention, not a law. Some flatteners publish a different required back focus for every telescope they fit — here are four, from one manufacturer, none of them 55.
- Camera back focus is measured from different placesTwo cameras can both say 17.5 mm and mean different things. Most manufacturers do not state which plane the figure runs from — here is how to tell, and where it goes wrong.
- Does a filter change your back focus?Yes — and in the direction most people guess wrong. Glass in a converging beam moves focus further away, so a filter makes your required spacing longer, not shorter.
- Petzval astrographs do not have a required back focusRedCats, Askar FRAs and similar four-element astrographs focus over a range rather than at a point. Searching for their exact back focus is looking for something that does not exist.
- Generic vs branded spacers, and how to check oneUnbranded spacers are usually fine and occasionally not. What actually differs, why a caliper reading can mislead you, and how to measure the length that really counts.
- Tools for checking this yourselfThe four worth owning to measure and verify a spacing
Telescopes
- Askar 103APO
- Askar 185APO
- Askar FRA400
- Askar FRA500
- Askar FRA600
- Sky-Watcher Evolux 62ED
- Sky-Watcher Evolux 82ED
- Sky-Watcher Evostar 100ED
- Sky-Watcher Evostar 120ED
- Sky-Watcher Evostar 80ED
- William Optics Fluorostar 91
- William Optics Gran Turismo 71
- William Optics Gran Turismo 81
- William Optics Zenithstar 61
- William Optics Zenithstar 81
Cameras
- Player One Ares-C Pro
- Player One Artemis-C Pro
- Player One Neptune-C II
- Player One Poseidon-C Pro
- Player One Saturn-C SQR
- Player One Uranus-C
- QHYCCD QHY183C
- QHYCCD QHY183M
- QHYCCD QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHYCCD QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHYCCD QHY294M Pro
- QHYCCD QHY533C
- QHYCCD QHY533M
- QHYCCD QHY600M (SBFL)
- ZWO ASI071MC Pro
- ZWO ASI1600MM Pro
- ZWO ASI183MC Pro
- ZWO ASI183MM Pro
- ZWO ASI2400MC Pro
- ZWO ASI2600MC Duo
- ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
- ZWO ASI2600MM Duo
- ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
- ZWO ASI294MC Pro
- ZWO ASI294MM Pro
- ZWO ASI533MC Pro
- ZWO ASI533MM Pro
- ZWO ASI585MC Pro
- ZWO ASI585MM Pro
- ZWO ASI6200MC Pro
- ZWO ASI6200MM Pro
All 457 combinations
103APO
- Ares-C Pro
- Artemis-C Pro
- Neptune-C II
- Poseidon-C Pro
- Saturn-C SQR
- Uranus-C
- QHY183C
- QHY183M
- QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHY294M Pro
- QHY533C
- QHY533M
- QHY600M (SBFL)
- ASI071MC Pro
- ASI1600MM Pro
- ASI183MC Pro
- ASI183MM Pro
- ASI2400MC Pro
- ASI2600MC Duo
- ASI2600MC Pro
- ASI2600MM Duo
- ASI2600MM Pro
- ASI294MC Pro
- ASI294MM Pro
- ASI533MC Pro
- ASI533MM Pro
- ASI585MC Pro
- ASI585MM Pro
- ASI6200MC Pro
- ASI6200MM Pro
185APO
- Ares-C Pro
- Artemis-C Pro
- Neptune-C II
- Poseidon-C Pro
- Saturn-C SQR
- Uranus-C
- QHY183C
- QHY183M
- QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHY294M Pro
- QHY533C
- QHY533M
- QHY600M (SBFL)
- ASI071MC Pro
- ASI1600MM Pro
- ASI183MC Pro
- ASI183MM Pro
- ASI2400MC Pro
- ASI2600MC Duo
- ASI2600MC Pro
- ASI2600MM Duo
- ASI2600MM Pro
- ASI294MC Pro
- ASI294MM Pro
- ASI533MC Pro
- ASI533MM Pro
- ASI585MC Pro
- ASI585MM Pro
- ASI6200MC Pro
- ASI6200MM Pro
FRA400
- Ares-C Pro
- Artemis-C Pro
- Neptune-C II
- Poseidon-C Pro
- Saturn-C SQR
- Uranus-C
- QHY183C
- QHY183M
- QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHY294M Pro
- QHY533C
- QHY533M
- QHY600M (SBFL)
- ASI071MC Pro
- ASI1600MM Pro
- ASI183MC Pro
- ASI183MM Pro
- ASI2400MC Pro
- ASI2600MC Duo
- ASI2600MC Pro
- ASI2600MM Duo
- ASI2600MM Pro
- ASI294MC Pro
- ASI294MM Pro
- ASI533MC Pro
- ASI533MM Pro
- ASI585MC Pro
- ASI585MM Pro
- ASI6200MC Pro
- ASI6200MM Pro
FRA500
- Ares-C Pro
- Artemis-C Pro
- Neptune-C II
- Poseidon-C Pro
- Saturn-C SQR
- Uranus-C
- QHY183C
- QHY183M
- QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHY294M Pro
- QHY533C
- QHY533M
- QHY600M (SBFL)
- ASI071MC Pro
- ASI1600MM Pro
- ASI183MC Pro
- ASI183MM Pro
- ASI2400MC Pro
- ASI2600MC Duo
- ASI2600MC Pro
- ASI2600MM Duo
- ASI2600MM Pro
- ASI294MC Pro
- ASI294MM Pro
- ASI533MC Pro
- ASI533MM Pro
- ASI585MC Pro
- ASI585MM Pro
- ASI6200MC Pro
- ASI6200MM Pro
FRA600
- Ares-C Pro
- Artemis-C Pro
- Neptune-C II
- Poseidon-C Pro
- Saturn-C SQR
- Uranus-C
- QHY183C
- QHY183M
- QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHY294M Pro
- QHY533C
- QHY533M
- QHY600M (SBFL)
- ASI071MC Pro
- ASI1600MM Pro
- ASI183MC Pro
- ASI183MM Pro
- ASI2400MC Pro
- ASI2600MC Duo
- ASI2600MC Pro
- ASI2600MM Duo
- ASI2600MM Pro
- ASI294MC Pro
- ASI294MM Pro
- ASI533MC Pro
- ASI533MM Pro
- ASI585MC Pro
- ASI585MM Pro
- ASI6200MC Pro
- ASI6200MM Pro
Evolux 62ED
- Ares-C Pro
- Artemis-C Pro
- Neptune-C II
- Poseidon-C Pro
- Saturn-C SQR
- Uranus-C
- QHY183C
- QHY183M
- QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHY294M Pro
- QHY533C
- QHY533M
- ASI071MC Pro
- ASI1600MM Pro
- ASI183MC Pro
- ASI183MM Pro
- ASI2600MC Duo
- ASI2600MC Pro
- ASI2600MM Duo
- ASI2600MM Pro
- ASI294MC Pro
- ASI294MM Pro
- ASI533MC Pro
- ASI533MM Pro
- ASI585MC Pro
- ASI585MM Pro
Evolux 82ED
- Ares-C Pro
- Artemis-C Pro
- Neptune-C II
- Poseidon-C Pro
- Saturn-C SQR
- Uranus-C
- QHY183C
- QHY183M
- QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHY294M Pro
- QHY533C
- QHY533M
- ASI071MC Pro
- ASI1600MM Pro
- ASI183MC Pro
- ASI183MM Pro
- ASI2600MC Duo
- ASI2600MC Pro
- ASI2600MM Duo
- ASI2600MM Pro
- ASI294MC Pro
- ASI294MM Pro
- ASI533MC Pro
- ASI533MM Pro
- ASI585MC Pro
- ASI585MM Pro
Evostar 100ED
- Ares-C Pro
- Artemis-C Pro
- Neptune-C II
- Poseidon-C Pro
- Saturn-C SQR
- Uranus-C
- QHY183C
- QHY183M
- QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHY294M Pro
- QHY533C
- QHY533M
- QHY600M (SBFL)
- ASI071MC Pro
- ASI1600MM Pro
- ASI183MC Pro
- ASI183MM Pro
- ASI2400MC Pro
- ASI2600MC Duo
- ASI2600MC Pro
- ASI2600MM Duo
- ASI2600MM Pro
- ASI294MC Pro
- ASI294MM Pro
- ASI533MC Pro
- ASI533MM Pro
- ASI585MC Pro
- ASI585MM Pro
- ASI6200MC Pro
- ASI6200MM Pro
Evostar 120ED
- Ares-C Pro
- Artemis-C Pro
- Neptune-C II
- Poseidon-C Pro
- Saturn-C SQR
- Uranus-C
- QHY183C
- QHY183M
- QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHY294M Pro
- QHY533C
- QHY533M
- QHY600M (SBFL)
- ASI071MC Pro
- ASI1600MM Pro
- ASI183MC Pro
- ASI183MM Pro
- ASI2400MC Pro
- ASI2600MC Duo
- ASI2600MC Pro
- ASI2600MM Duo
- ASI2600MM Pro
- ASI294MC Pro
- ASI294MM Pro
- ASI533MC Pro
- ASI533MM Pro
- ASI585MC Pro
- ASI585MM Pro
- ASI6200MC Pro
- ASI6200MM Pro
Evostar 80ED
- Ares-C Pro
- Artemis-C Pro
- Neptune-C II
- Poseidon-C Pro
- Saturn-C SQR
- Uranus-C
- QHY183C
- QHY183M
- QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHY294M Pro
- QHY533C
- QHY533M
- QHY600M (SBFL)
- ASI071MC Pro
- ASI1600MM Pro
- ASI183MC Pro
- ASI183MM Pro
- ASI2400MC Pro
- ASI2600MC Duo
- ASI2600MC Pro
- ASI2600MM Duo
- ASI2600MM Pro
- ASI294MC Pro
- ASI294MM Pro
- ASI533MC Pro
- ASI533MM Pro
- ASI585MC Pro
- ASI585MM Pro
- ASI6200MC Pro
- ASI6200MM Pro
Fluorostar 91
- Ares-C Pro
- Artemis-C Pro
- Neptune-C II
- Poseidon-C Pro
- Saturn-C SQR
- Uranus-C
- QHY183C
- QHY183M
- QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHY294M Pro
- QHY533C
- QHY533M
- QHY600M (SBFL)
- ASI071MC Pro
- ASI1600MM Pro
- ASI183MC Pro
- ASI183MM Pro
- ASI2400MC Pro
- ASI2600MC Duo
- ASI2600MC Pro
- ASI2600MM Duo
- ASI2600MM Pro
- ASI294MC Pro
- ASI294MM Pro
- ASI533MC Pro
- ASI533MM Pro
- ASI585MC Pro
- ASI585MM Pro
- ASI6200MC Pro
- ASI6200MM Pro
Gran Turismo 71
- Ares-C Pro
- Artemis-C Pro
- Neptune-C II
- Poseidon-C Pro
- Saturn-C SQR
- Uranus-C
- QHY183C
- QHY183M
- QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHY294M Pro
- QHY533C
- QHY533M
- QHY600M (SBFL)
- ASI071MC Pro
- ASI1600MM Pro
- ASI183MC Pro
- ASI183MM Pro
- ASI2400MC Pro
- ASI2600MC Duo
- ASI2600MC Pro
- ASI2600MM Duo
- ASI2600MM Pro
- ASI294MC Pro
- ASI294MM Pro
- ASI533MC Pro
- ASI533MM Pro
- ASI585MC Pro
- ASI585MM Pro
- ASI6200MC Pro
- ASI6200MM Pro
Gran Turismo 81
- Ares-C Pro
- Artemis-C Pro
- Neptune-C II
- Poseidon-C Pro
- Saturn-C SQR
- Uranus-C
- QHY183C
- QHY183M
- QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHY294M Pro
- QHY533C
- QHY533M
- QHY600M (SBFL)
- ASI071MC Pro
- ASI1600MM Pro
- ASI183MC Pro
- ASI183MM Pro
- ASI2400MC Pro
- ASI2600MC Duo
- ASI2600MC Pro
- ASI2600MM Duo
- ASI2600MM Pro
- ASI294MC Pro
- ASI294MM Pro
- ASI533MC Pro
- ASI533MM Pro
- ASI585MC Pro
- ASI585MM Pro
- ASI6200MC Pro
- ASI6200MM Pro
Zenithstar 61
- Ares-C Pro
- Artemis-C Pro
- Neptune-C II
- Poseidon-C Pro
- Saturn-C SQR
- Uranus-C
- QHY183C
- QHY183M
- QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHY294M Pro
- QHY533C
- QHY533M
- QHY600M (SBFL)
- ASI071MC Pro
- ASI1600MM Pro
- ASI183MC Pro
- ASI183MM Pro
- ASI2400MC Pro
- ASI2600MC Duo
- ASI2600MC Pro
- ASI2600MM Duo
- ASI2600MM Pro
- ASI294MC Pro
- ASI294MM Pro
- ASI533MC Pro
- ASI533MM Pro
- ASI585MC Pro
- ASI585MM Pro
- ASI6200MC Pro
- ASI6200MM Pro
Zenithstar 81
- Ares-C Pro
- Artemis-C Pro
- Neptune-C II
- Poseidon-C Pro
- Saturn-C SQR
- Uranus-C
- QHY183C
- QHY183M
- QHY268C (SBFL - Jan 2023 onward)
- QHY268M (SBFL)
- QHY294M Pro
- QHY533C
- QHY533M
- QHY600M (SBFL)
- ASI071MC Pro
- ASI1600MM Pro
- ASI183MC Pro
- ASI183MM Pro
- ASI2400MC Pro
- ASI2600MC Duo
- ASI2600MC Pro
- ASI2600MM Duo
- ASI2600MM Pro
- ASI294MC Pro
- ASI294MM Pro
- ASI533MC Pro
- ASI533MM Pro
- ASI585MC Pro
- ASI585MM Pro
- ASI6200MC Pro
- ASI6200MM Pro