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The AT130EDT is a 130mm f/7 apochromatic triplet refractor using an FK-61 ED element, sold as an optical tube assembly for visual observing and astrophotography. Its 910mm focal length and heavy-duty 3.2-inch dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser let it carry large camera and filter-wheel trains without flex. Owners describe it as a long-term workhorse that resolves fine planetary detail and holds its own against pricier triplets. The main trade-off is weight and a 35-45 minute cool-down before the optics settle.
Availability unknown
Lowest price we've seen: $1,649.00 on Nov 3 at Astronomics. Tracked across 1 store since Nov 3.
Owners with years of use call the AT130EDT a dependable workhorse, citing sharp planetary views, good galaxy light grasp and a focuser that holds heavy camera rigs steady. Several say the optics compare well with much more expensive triplets. The recurring complaint is slow cool-down.
The Astro-Tech AT130EDT is a 130mm f/7 refractor optical tube assembly for visual observing and astrophotography. Its objective is a three-element FK-61 ED triplet with apochromatic color correction. All surfaces are fully multicoated. Focal length is 910mm. With the dedicated 0.8x reducer, it becomes 728mm at f/5.6.
Inside the tube, multiple knife-edge baffles and micro baffles in the drawtube control stray light, and the lens edges are blackened. The objective is sealed in a cell that holds optical alignment. Like most 130mm triplets, it needs about 30 to 45 minutes to cool down when moved from a warm space into cooler night air.
The focuser is a 3.2-inch (81mm) dual-speed rack-and-pinion with a concentric 10:1 fine-focus knob and 85mm of travel. The drawtube is marked in millimeter increments. A built-in camera angle adjuster rotates 360° and locks with a knob. Current production focusers end in M92 threads, which connect to the AT130EDTRFv3 reducer/flattener or to a T-ring for DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Pre-2023 models used a 2.5-inch focuser with M63 threads and need the ATREDT30V2 reducer instead.
