The Explore Scientific 0.8x Focal Reducer lets astrophotographers explore the wonders of wide-field astrophotography in an easy-to-use package.

The 0.8x Focal Reducer works with the following Explore Scientific telescopes:

• ES-ED0806-02
• ES-ED10207-02
• FCD100-0806-02
• FCD100-10207-02
• FCD100-10207-CF-01

The 2-element 0.8x focal reducer turns the 480-mm-focal-length telescopes into devices with a focal length of 384 mm. This changes the telescopes from an f/ratio of f/6 to a much faster f/4.8.

The device turns the 102 mm telescopes, with a focal length of 714 mm, into telescopes with a focal length of 571 mm: From f/7 to f/5.6.

Compare this with smaller diameter wide-field telescopes. The Explore Scientific ES and FCD100 80mm telescopes offer significantly more light-gathering aperture. The ES and FCD100 telescopes gather:

• 1.3 times more light than a 70 mm telescope
• 1.8 times more light than a 60 mm telescope
• A whopping 2.6 times more light than a 50 mm telescope

The faster f/ratio, coupled with more light-gathering aperture, allows more light to fall onto the camera sensor. For instance, to capture the same amount of light as a 100-second exposure with the Explore Scientific 80 mm takes 256 seconds on a  50 mm, 178 seconds on a 60 mm, and 131 sec on 70 mm – assuming the same f/ratio. This means that the Explore Scientific 80mm telescope with the 0.8x Focal Reducer can capture far more detail faster than the competition.

The focal reducer, which has 55 mm (+/- 2 mm) of back spacing, is threaded to accept a standard 42 mm T-ring, making attaching a camera easy. 

The iEXOS-100 PMC-Eight™ Equatorial Tracker System is a complete astronomical computerized Wifi or Wired GOTO Equatorial Tracker with integrated PMC-Eight™ electronics suitable for attaching Small Telescopes or DSLR Cameras attached to the Explore Scientific DSLR Camera Dovetail Assembly.

Use with the free ExploreStars App for Tablets (Windows, Android, Amazon and Apple), or with the free ASCOM Standards Compliant PMC-Eight™ ASCOM driver and the ASCOM POTH Client from Explore Scientific (either wired or wireless) to work with virtually any sky software that supports ASCOM. Tablet or computer must be purchased separately.

The iEXOS-100 utilizes a proven German equatorial mount design and Explore Scientific’s revolutionary PMC-Eight™ Precision Motion Control system to flawlessly navigate the night sky and track objects as they journey across it. This combination provides superior observing and imaging performance without a prohibitive price tag.

GOTO systems play an important role in the world of amateur astronomy because they ensure users spend less time searching for particular objects and more time observing and imaging. The PMC-Eight™ with its versatile connections supported with free to download apps for Windows computers or Android and iOS tablets only (tablets must have a screen of at least 7 inches), or through the free to download ASCOM PMC-Eight™ driver and POTH Client to connect to your favorite ASCOM Compliant Astronomical Software, can allow you to control the telescope from a few feet away or by communicating computer-to-computer with an Internet connection from virtually anywhere in the world. 

One of the standout features of the iEXOS-100 system is its German equatorial design. When it comes to tracking the stars with a telescope, there is nothing that compares to a German Equatorial Mount (GEM) because it will precisely follow objects as they rise in the east and set in the west. For observers, a GEM makes it easy to keep your celestial target in your eyepiece. For imagers, it helps you avoid common astrophotography pitfalls like field rotation.

Before you can track an object, you need to find it, and that objective can be daunting when you’re faced with a vast expanse of inky black sky or a bright city sky. The iEXOS-100 puts a powerful GOTO system in your arsenal of astronomical tools that takes the frustration out of navigating the night sky. This integrated version of Explore Scientific’s PMC-Eight™ system transcends the industry standard single processor by utilizing an 8-core microcontroller with eight CPUs that operate independently of one another to focus on defined functions. This delegation of tasks among the processors results in a system that offers superior responsiveness, efficiency, reliability and astoundingly fast timing intervals for smooth image acquisition and accurate tracking.

Although it is internally complex, the GOTO system can be easily operated from your own Apple, Android or Windows tablet using the ExploreStars app, which has an intuitive nature that makes it simple and quick to align your telescope, navigate the stars and learn specifics about tens of thousands of celestial objects. This dynamic app is fueled by a database that is routinely updated to ensure it remains a relevant resource.

Our commitment to creating a streamlined GOTO mount is obvious in other design choices. The iEXOS-100 has smooth locking clutches that will let you quickly reposition your telescope from one side to the other and an altitude knob for smooth height adjustments. The mount base includes a small polar alignment tunnel that allows users to roughly align their observing setup with Polaris. It also has a simple bubble level that comes in handy when stabilizing your tripod. Other features include a bracket for holding the battery pack, which powers the PMC-Eight™ system through 8 C batteries (not included); two 1 kg counterweights for balancing (telescopes and accessories that weigh more than 6 lbs required additional counterweights); and glow-in-the-dark markers on certain points of the mount and tripod so you can stay oriented with your setup at night. The mount is designed to hold up to 19 lbs (scope, accessories, and counterweights added together).

The mount weighs 9.45 pounds (4.29 kg), while the lightweight Travel Tripod and accessory tray weighs 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg). The Travel Tripod, when collapsed is 27.25 inches (69.21 cm) tall.

Item NumberES-iEXOS-100-02
Mount head weightInstrument 9.45 lbs.
Tripod weight5.35 lbs.
Tripod fully collapsed, no mount head25.5”
Tripod open, retracted legs, no mount head25”
Tripod open, retracted legs with the mount head38.5” at highest point, 36” to the center of the mounting bracket
Tripod open, legs fully extended, no mount head42”
Tripod open, legs fully extended with the mount head45” at highest point
Counterweights1 kg each
Mount weight capacityApprox. 9 lbs (equipment weight only),15 lbs Photographic (equipment and counterweights); Approx. 19 lbs Visual (equipment and counterweights)

“Then I really went nuts. Or so I thought. I switched to a 3.2mm planetary eyepiece that upped the magnification to 150x, which approached the theoretical upper limit for a 3-inch. When I gazed into the eyepiece, the four members of the Double Double showed surprisingly well, leaving me to wonder what this scope might do on a night of optimal seeing conditions. I have no doubt the ED80 can achieve its advertised resolving limit of 1.45”…. Small and portable, it’s an ideal grab-and-go telescope. It’s also extremely versatile, able to capture wide-field views spanning several degrees while also providing the high power punch to tease out lunar and planetary detail and split close double stars…".