Does the Askar 140APO cover a full-frame sensor?

Yes, with the optional 1x flattener, which gives a 44 mm image circle. Every deep-sky image on this page is on the full-frame ASI6200MC, and the raw stacks show the corners.

Do I need the 1x flattener?

For a large sensor, yes: Askar states no image circle for the bare triplet. The flattener keeps 980 mm at f/7 and needs 55 mm of back focus.

What mount does the Askar 140APO need?

The tube weighs 9.2 kg, or 10.9 kg with rings and dovetail, and my captures ran on the EM31 Pro. Even a little baby mount can handle the payload of the Askar 140, provided you use a counterweight.

Can the Askar 140APO image the planets?

Yes: the Jupiter loop on this page is the Askar 140 with a 2x Barlow and a ZWO ASI533MC.

Askar 140APO or Askar 103APO?

The 103 costs £999 against £2,098 at First Light Optics and is the better value. The 140 collects 1.85 times the light and puts small galaxies at 980 mm instead of 700 mm.

How long did the images take?

Between 40 minutes and 3 hours 25 minutes each, in 300 second subs with the camera cooled to -10 C.

What field of view does it give?

2.11 x 1.41 degrees on a full-frame sensor at 977 mm, the focal length my plate solves measured.

What have I not tested on the 140APO?

I have not tested the 0.8x reducer, visual observing, or a mono camera with filters on the Askar 140.

Askar 140APO review: a 140 mm triplet tested on full frame

Where does it rank on our leaderboard

Nine of the 42 telescopes on my board, against price
Rank	Telescope	Stars for Your Buck	Recorded UK price
1	Askar 50P	95 out of 100	£299
2	ToupTek Hope D60	93 out of 100	£749
9	SVBONY SV545	85 out of 100	£459
15	Askar 140APO	80 out of 100	£2,098
16	SVBONY SV555	79 out of 100	£509
24	Celestron NexStar 6SE	72 out of 100	£1,199
39	Celestron C5	49 out of 100	£850
41	Celestron 114 LCM	42 out of 100	£361
42	Celestron AstroMaster LT 76	13 out of 100	£200

Contents

01 Where does it rank on our leaderboard
02 Specifications and features
03 In the hand
04 How good is it? Here's what I captured
05 Planets
06 Raw against finished
07 The rig on the mount
08 What is it for
09 Watch the review
10 Tested numbers and the download
11 Should you buy it?
12 Questions and more about this review

In 30 seconds

Stars for Your Buck 80/100

Reviewed 24 Jul 2025 Updated 24 Sep 2026

Rank: #15 of 42 telescopes
Verdict: Damon recommends

Written by Damon Scotting 7 min read

Buy it if

You image with a full-frame or APS-C camera and want a 140 mm refractor at 980 mm.
Your mount carries about 15 kg, or a smaller mount can take a counterweight.
You want one refractor for galaxies, clusters and nebulae, with the planets as a bonus.

Skip it if

You need a telescope you can carry out and set up in minutes, or fly with.
The planets are your main target: an 8 inch SCT shows them better.
Your budget is tight: the Askar 103 gives the same triplet design for less than half the price.

“I think I'll start referring to the Askar 140 as the Goldilocks scope, simply because it's not too big, it's not too small, it's just right.”

Specifications and features

Against the telescopes I have reviewed

Compare with

Askar 140APO reviewed #15 of 42	Starfield Optics 115 Triplet #37 of 42	Askar 103APO #13 of 42	ZWO FF110 #22 of 42	Askar SQA130 #11 of 42	Askar SQA106 #4 of 42
Recorded UK price	£2,098	£1,899	£999	£1,499	£4,695	£3,395
Stars for Your Buck	80/100	52/100	81/100	73/100	82/100	91/100
Aperture	140 mm	115 mm	103 mm	110 mm	130 mm	106 mm
Focal length	980 mm	805 mm	700 mm	766 mm	624 mm	509 mm
Focal ratio	f/7	f/7	f/6.8	f/7	f/4.8	f/4.8
Optical design	Air-spaced triplet APO, one ED element	Air-spaced triplet APO, FPL53 ED	Air-spaced triplet APO, one ED element	Four-element air-spaced APO, one ED element	Quintuplet Petzval APO, two SD elements	Quintuplet Petzval APO, two SD elements
Image circle	44 mm with the 1x flattener	Up to 42 mm corrected and illuminated sensor diameter with optional large 0.8x adjustable reducer	44 mm with the 1x flattener	44 mm	55 mm	55 mm rated; 44 mm full frame
Back focus	55 mm with the 1x flattener	With optional large 0.8x adjustable reducer: 67.6 mm total target; a 55 mm camera train requires the reducer set to 12.6 mm	55 mm with the 1x flattener	42 to 73 mm	55 mm recommended	55 mm recommended
Focuser	3.5 inch dual-speed rack and pinion, 1:10	2.5 inch dual-speed rack and pinion, 1:10	3.3 inch dual-speed rack and pinion, 1:10	3 inch dual-speed rack and pinion, 1:10	3.2 inch, 30 mm travel, 360 degree rotator	2.8 inch dual-speed, 30 mm travel
Weight, tube	9.2 kg; 10.9 kg with rings and dovetail	6.8 kg with rings and dovetail	4.75 kg; 5.5 kg with rings and dovetail	5.74 kg; 6.76 kg with handle, rings and dovetail	9.18 kg; 11.76 kg with ring and dovetail	5.82 kg; 8.12 kg with ring and dovetail
Length, tube	735 mm; 870 mm with dew shield out	711 mm; 889 mm with dew shield out	600 mm; 711 mm with dew shield out	728 mm; 815 mm fully extended	650 mm; 764 mm with dew shield out	516 mm; 586 mm with dew shield out
Dew shield	Retractable	Retractable	Retractable	Retractable	Retractable	Retractable
In the box	Tube rings, handle, 300 mm Losmandy dovetail, Oxford cloth case	Tube rings, Vixen dovetail, handle, soft case	Tube rings, handle, 290 mm Vixen dovetail, Oxford cloth case	Extension tube, M48 and M54 adapters, rings, handle and dovetail	Tube ring, dovetail, Oxford cloth case	Tube ring, dovetail, Oxford cloth case

In the hand

Six frames from my review video

With the ASI6200MC

The fitted case

Unpacking

The 140 APO lettering

Rings, handle and dovetail

Under the stars

How good is it? Here's what I captured

Twelve targets

M 51 Whirlpool Galaxy, ASI6200MC Pro

Integration: 1 h (12 x 300 s)
Field: 2.10 x 1.40 degrees
Telescope: Askar 140APO + 1x flattener
Camera: ZWO ASI6200MC Pro
Mount: EM31 Pro
Target: M 51 Whirlpool Galaxy
Type: Galaxy
Location: Bortle 6.8 (in my garden)

M 42 Orion Nebula, ASI6200MC Pro

Integration: 1 h 15 min (15 x 300 s)
Field: 2.09 x 1.37 degrees
Telescope: Askar 140APO + 1x flattener
Camera: ZWO ASI6200MC Pro
Mount: EM31 Pro
Target: M 42 Orion Nebula
Type: Emission nebula
Location: Bortle 6.8 (in my garden)

M 45 Pleiades, ASI6200MC Pro

Integration: 1 h 45 min (21 x 300 s)
Field: 2.04 x 1.36 degrees
Telescope: Askar 140APO + 1x flattener
Camera: ZWO ASI6200MC Pro
Mount: EM31 Pro
Target: M 45 Pleiades
Type: Open cluster and reflection nebula
Location: Bortle 6.8 (in my garden)

M 101 Pinwheel Galaxy, ASI6200MC Pro

Integration: 1 h (12 x 300 s)
Field: 2.09 x 1.39 degrees
Telescope: Askar 140APO + 1x flattener
Camera: ZWO ASI6200MC Pro
Mount: EM31 Pro
Target: M 101 Pinwheel Galaxy
Type: Galaxy
Location: Bortle 6.8 (in my garden)

Markarian's Chain, ASI6200MC Pro

Integration: 2 h 40 min (32 x 300 s)
Field: 2.10 x 1.40 degrees
Telescope: Askar 140APO + 1x flattener
Camera: ZWO ASI6200MC Pro
Mount: EM31 Pro
Target: Markarian's Chain
Type: Galaxy chain
Location: Bortle 6.8 (in my garden)

Leo Triplet (M 65, M 66, NGC 3628), ASI6200MC Pro

Integration: 3 h 25 min (41 x 300 s)
Field: 2.08 x 1.36 degrees
Telescope: Askar 140APO + 1x flattener
Camera: ZWO ASI6200MC Pro
Mount: EM31 Pro
Target: Leo Triplet (M 65, M 66, NGC 3628)
Type: Galaxy group
Location: Bortle 6.8 (in my garden)

NGC 4631 Whale Galaxy, ASI6200MC Pro

Integration: 1 h (12 x 300 s)
Field: 2.09 x 1.37 degrees
Telescope: Askar 140APO + 1x flattener
Camera: ZWO ASI6200MC Pro
Mount: EM31 Pro
Target: NGC 4631 Whale Galaxy
Type: Galaxy
Location: Bortle 6.8 (in my garden)

NGC 4565 Needle Galaxy, ASI6200MC Pro

Integration: 1 h (12 x 300 s)
Field: 2.10 x 1.40 degrees
Telescope: Askar 140APO + 1x flattener
Camera: ZWO ASI6200MC Pro
Mount: EM31 Pro
Target: NGC 4565 Needle Galaxy
Type: Galaxy
Location: Bortle 6.8 (in my garden)

M 63 Sunflower Galaxy, ASI6200MC Pro

Integration: 50 min (10 x 300 s)
Field: 2.10 x 1.40 degrees
Telescope: Askar 140APO + 1x flattener
Camera: ZWO ASI6200MC Pro
Mount: EM31 Pro
Target: M 63 Sunflower Galaxy
Type: Galaxy
Location: Bortle 6.8 (in my garden)

M 100 with NGC 4298 and NGC 4302, ASI6200MC Pro

Integration: 1 h (12 x 300 s)
Field: 2.10 x 1.39 degrees
Telescope: Askar 140APO + 1x flattener
Camera: ZWO ASI6200MC Pro
Mount: EM31 Pro
Target: M 100 with NGC 4298 and NGC 4302
Type: Galaxies
Location: Bortle 6.8 (in my garden)

M 94, ASI6200MC Pro

Integration: 1 h (12 x 300 s)
Field: 2.10 x 1.40 degrees
Telescope: Askar 140APO + 1x flattener
Camera: ZWO ASI6200MC Pro
Mount: EM31 Pro
Target: M 94
Type: Galaxy
Location: Bortle 6.8 (in my garden)

NGC 7000 North America Nebula, ASI6200MC Pro

Integration: 40 min (8 x 300 s)
Field: 2.10 x 1.39 degrees
Telescope: Askar 140APO + 1x flattener
Camera: ZWO ASI6200MC Pro
Mount: EM31 Pro
Target: NGC 7000 North America Nebula
Type: Emission nebula
Location: Bortle 6.8 (in my garden)

Planets

One planet

Jupiter

Date: not recorded
Gear: Askar 140APO, ZWO ASI533MC and a 2x Barlow

Raw against finished

The rig on the mount

The 8 targets, the raw combined stack against my finished image, each with its integration, the camera and the palette:

M 51 Whirlpool Galaxy: 1 h (12 x 300 s) of light, ASI6200MC Pro, the raw combined stack with one automatic stretch
M 42 Orion Nebula: 1 h 15 min (15 x 300 s) of light, ASI6200MC Pro, the raw combined stack with one automatic stretch
M 45 Pleiades: 1 h 45 min (21 x 300 s) of light, ASI6200MC Pro, the raw combined stack with one automatic stretch
M 101 Pinwheel Galaxy: 1 h (12 x 300 s) of light, ASI6200MC Pro, the raw combined stack with one automatic stretch
Markarian's Chain: 2 h 40 min (32 x 300 s) of light, ASI6200MC Pro, the raw combined stack with one automatic stretch
Leo Triplet (M 65, M 66, NGC 3628): 3 h 25 min (41 x 300 s) of light, ASI6200MC Pro, the raw combined stack with one automatic stretch
NGC 4631 Whale Galaxy: 1 h (12 x 300 s) of light, ASI6200MC Pro, the raw combined stack with one automatic stretch
NGC 7000 North America Nebula: 40 min (8 x 300 s) of light, ASI6200MC Pro, the raw combined stack with one automatic stretch

On the JUWEI-17, then on six other mounts

What is it for

Two things it is for

Full-frame deep sky

Askar says the telescope is suitable for full-frame sensors, so I tested it with the ASI6200MC. With a sensor this big there is no place to hide any dodgy stars, and from its corners the stars look a very healthy shape.

Galaxies and clusters

Its huge aperture makes light work of imaging the most popular deep-sky objects.

Watch the review

Is BIGGER always BETTER? (Askar 103 v 140 v 185 Telescope) · published 24 July 2025 · 10:21 · Watch on YouTube · 55,018 views, 1,493 likes on 2 Oct 2026

Jump to

1:53 The Askar 140 and its 1x flattener
2:23 Askar 140 results: the corners on full frame
2:56 Planets through the Askar 140
3:06 The Askar 185
6:20 The Askar 140: the Goldilocks scope
6:38 Jupiter: the Askar 140 beside the C8 EdgeHD
8:17 Light gathering against price
9:19 How much weight goes on the mount

Transcript of the review video 1,869 words · 11 chapters · searchable

Press a time stamp to play from there.

0:00 Is bigger always better? Three Askar triplets

0:02 Is bigger really better? 0:02 In today's video, I'm going to be comparing a 4 in, a 6 in, and an 8 in telescope to see what deep sky wonders each of them are capable of capturing. 0:09 Over the last 7 months, I've been testing each of them out, whilst also utilizing some of their unique accessories, such as the Askar 103's 0.6 times reducer, which makes it a very fast telescope. 0:19 And never before have I owned a refractor telescope as stupendously large as the Askar 185. 0:27 Costing over 5,000 British pounds and weighing almost 20 kg, I'd expect that this scope will let me see the aliens on the moon Europa. 0:33 So, let's see what they can capture. 0:36 I'm Damon Scotting and this is Astronomical.

0:42 The Askar 103

0:44 To start off with, I'm going to be reviewing the cheapest telescope of the range, the Askar 103. 0:45 Much like all of the other telescopes in its range, you can buy a 0.8 times reducer and or a one times flattener to complement it. 0:55 But here's the really unique aspect when it comes to the Askar 103. 0:56 You can also purchase a 0.6 times reducer that gives this scope a focal length of 420 mm and an F ratio of 4.0, which is really fast. 1:08 It's worth pointing out at this point that although this telescope is just under £1,000, this particular reducer will set you back another £300. 1:13 And to be completely honest with you, it's not worth it. 1:17 Particularly when it comes to astrophotography. 1:19 Unfortunately, the quality of the images suffer thanks to the 0.6 times reduction. 1:23 Lots of the images start to feature stars with magenta rings. 1:27 Visually observing for a scope is fine. 1:29 It's an enjoyable experience. 1:31 But since I started imaging with the Askar 103 telescope first and a 0.6 times reducer already attached, I immediately had the fear of are these telescopes rubbish? 1:39 But it turns out without the 0.6 times reducer. 1:41 The telescope is extremely capable and produces especially nice images considering its price tag. 1:47 So, the Askar 103 gets a tick in my book, but I wouldn't invest in a 0.6 times reducer, but that's just my opinion.

1:53 The Askar 140 and its 1x flattener

1:54 Moving on to its slightly bigger brother, the Askar 140, I decided to also use the one times flattener to accompany it in my explorations, especially since I was going to be testing this telescope out with this ginormous full-frame sensor in the ASI6200MC. 2:11 Yeah, with a sensor this big, there is no place to hide any dodgy stars. 2:12 It's time to find out if there's a reason these telescopes are so cheap. 2:17 The company that makes these telescopes, Askar, does say that the telescope is suitable for full-frame sensors, but let's see how true that statement is.

2:23 Askar 140 results: the corners on full frame

2:24 I must admit, I'm surprised by the quality, especially on the edges of the images. 2:30 These are the raw stack shots, and as you can see from its corners, the stars look a very healthy shape. 2:37 Overall, it is a really nice telescope. 2:39 I'm very happy with the Askar 140 and out of the three telescopes, this is the one I've spent the most time with. 2:43 And based on these images, you can see why. 2:47 So, I think given the price tag, size, and image quality produced on the Askar 140, I may have found a sweet spot for us amateur astrophotographers who have a more than modest budget and are looking for a large and capable refractor telescope.

2:56 Planets through the Askar 140

2:58 With a refractor this size, it's even viable to take images and videos of the planets. 3:02 Videos that are, in fact, of a very high quality, such as these.

3:06 The Askar 185

3:06 But I didn't stop there. 3:06 I was obsessed with this range of Askar telescopes and decided to do something I'd never done before and tried an absolutely gargantuan monster of a telescope. 3:22 Right. 3:22 So, we've had big, we've had bigger, and yet surprisingly somehow this isn't the biggest. 3:24 Yeah, as of the time of releasing this video, there is actually a model that's even bigger than this called the Askar 203. 3:31 Now, I won't be reviewing that for multiple reasons. 3:36 The main one being due to the expense of the telescope. 3:37 But the secondary reason, which is more than adequate, is because of the colossal weight of the telescope. 3:43 I mean, look at this one here. 3:43 It is absolutely huge. 3:45 It is pretty much the length of my entire wingspan, especially once we get a camera attached to this. 3:52 And then in terms of weight, I mean, at 18 kg, it really is pushing the limit of most traditional mounts. 3:57 Certainly pushing the limits of a strain wave mount like the EM31 Pro here, which can handle payloads of up to 20 kg. 4:03 So, because of this telescope, we are very much putting this to a stress test. 4:06 But I am quite confident that it's going to be more than capable of doing so. 4:10 In fact, I'm so confident that, as you can see, I've attached a bunch of different accessories. 4:15 Just at the very back here, I have an Optolong L-Ultimate filter. 4:19 Using this filter is supposedly going to cut through a large chunk of it and allow me to image the night sky. 4:24 And that is doubly important tonight because tonight is a full moon which as far as deep sky imaging goes is pretty much the worst time ever to image the night sky. 4:35 Yeah, I'm not going to say it's pointless, but compared to the images that you achieve under moonless skies, they just look rubbish. 4:40 The goal that I'm hoping to achieve tonight is I want to image the same objects with the filter attached. 4:46 So without a further ado, we've seen the Askar 103, we've seen the Askar 140. 4:50 Now, let's see what the Askar 185 can really do. 4:57 Right. 5:38 So, there we go. 5:38 These are the results achieved after several months of using this range of Askar telescopes.

5:40 Final thoughts and ratings

5:42 And here are my final thoughts and ratings. 5:44 The Askar 103 is an absolute steal at 999 British pounds. 5:47 The 4-in triplet refractor telescope at this price feels like a no-brainer. 5:52 Like I said earlier, I was very worried when the images I first captured with a telescope were filled with magenta ring stars. 5:56 So steering clear of the unique 0.6 reducer would be my best bet. 6:01 Most experienced astrophotographers will tell you that telescopes like this aren't designed to have their focal ratio be this low. 6:06 It does all sorts of weird things to the image, but normally as just a £999 scope that it is, it takes some pretty special images. 6:16 So, factoring in the price, it gets a 7.8 rating from me. 6:18 Next was actually my favourite scope of the three, I think I'll start referring to the Askar 140 as the Goldilocks scope simply because it's not too big, it's not too small, it's just right.

6:20 The Askar 140: the Goldilocks scope

6:28 Its huge aperture means that it makes light work of imaging the most popular deep sky objects, but it can also handle imaging the planets, which makes this scope a very good comparison for the Celestron 8 in EdgeHD for £1,899.

6:38 Jupiter: the Askar 140 beside the C8 EdgeHD

6:44 I did have the two of these telescopes imaging the same planet at the same time side by side. 6:47 Now, presented with these planetary imaging comparisons, I think I'd still say that the C8 EdgeHD is the favourite. 6:54 But for that telescope, planetary imaging is its main purpose. 6:55 I personally still prefer the Askar 140 over it when it comes to imaging the entirety of our night sky. 7:01 So yeah, it's definitely my favourite. 7:03 It sits right there in a sweet spot and that's why I'm giving it a 9.1 rating out of 10, which then leaves us with only the biggest telescope left to discuss. 7:12 Now, given that the question at the start of this episode was, is bigger always better? 7:17 And the Askar 103 and Askar 140 have had increasingly higher ratings, what can we expect from the Askar 185? 7:22 Well, the bottom line in terms of my user experience is this telescope is just about too big for its own good. 7:28 What I mean by that is that with the accessories and a guide scope attached to the telescope, it is knocking right on the door of the AM5N or the EM31 Pro mount's payload capabilities, which are both stated to be 20 kg. 7:41 Perhaps this wouldn't be as noticeable or as concerning if the sheer size of this telescope wasn't so enormous. 7:46 It's a true spectacle that without a doubt captures the best quality images of the entire lineup. 7:52 It's simple physics. 7:52 The larger aperture of the same design telescope means it has increased light gathering capabilities and therefore can capture more detail images of the night sky. 8:02 So, here's the thing. 8:02 Even though the Askar 185 is the most powerful of the three telescopes, I wouldn't actually say that the improvement in image quality is significant enough for me to choose it over the Askar 140 or the Askar 103. 8:12 Therefore, I think a 7.6 rating is well deserved. 8:16 And I mean, look, if we go through a comparison of the relative light gathering capabilities of each of the scopes, then we're looking at five times the cost of the Askar 103 for the 185 with just 3.23 times multiplier in terms of light gathering capabilities.

8:17 Light gathering against price

8:30 As for the Askar 140, it's about a 75% increase in light gathering for 2 1/2 times the cost. 8:36 So, this is the viewpoint that I'm taking for this video. 8:38 Yes, bigger is always going to be better, but in terms of user experience and pound-for-pound value, no. 8:44 If we add the top-of-the-line Askar 203 to the mix, then this becomes even more apparent. 8:49 This enormous scope has only just been released, and it truly is the monster of this family. 8:55 Priced at just under 8,000 British pounds, it's almost twice the aperture size of our beginner telescope, the Askar 103. 9:01 So, the Askar 203 is eight times the cost of the Askar 103 with four times the light gathering capabilities. 9:06 Meanwhile, the Askar 140 is four times cheaper than the Askar 203 with just less than half the light gathering capabilities. 9:13 So, these two metrics don't exactly increase in line with each other, but that's because of different variables that have to be accounted for, such as manufacturing costs.

9:19 How much weight goes on the mount

9:21 Yeah, you'll be able to decide for yourself what the max payload of a telescope is that you'll be willing to handle. 9:26 But at 23.5 kg, the Askar 203 is the last thing I'd be looking to try and place on my mounts on a dark, cold night in the middle of winter. 9:34 Whereas, even a little baby mount like the JUWEI-14 can handle the payload of the Askar 140, provided you use a counterweight. 9:40 In conclusion, a very good line of budget friendly triplet telescopes released from Askar. 9:46 If you're interested in checking out any of them for yourself, then be sure to click one of the links listed in the description below and make sure you subscribed for more videos like this. 9:55 Thanks for watching. 9:55 I'm Damon Scotting and this was Astronomical

Check out more videos on the Askar 140APO

£999 Telescope V.S £2000 Telescope V.S £5000 Telescope!?

25 Jul 2025

Tested numbers and the download

Finished image

Licence: for personal use, credit Damon Scotting. Both JPEGs 4,096 x 2,723 px.

-10 C sensor temperature during imaging set point -10 C

977 mm focal length, plate solved Askar states 980 mm

2.11 x 1.41° field of view 9,576 x 6,388 px on ASI6200MC Pro

61 MP ASI6200MC Pro 9,576 x 6,388 px, 36.0 x 24.0 mm

Should you buy it?

80/100 Stars for Your Buck

Pros

The corners hold up on full frame: in the raw stacks of my 61 megapixel frames the corner stars keep a healthy shape.
An hour was enough for the popular targets: 12 x 300 s on the Whirlpool and the Pinwheel, 15 x 300 s on the Orion Nebula.
It handles the planets too: with a 2x Barlow it shows Jupiter's belts, the Great Red Spot and the moons.
I personally still prefer the Askar 140 over the C8 EdgeHD when it comes to imaging the entirety of our night sky.
On a full-frame sensor it sees 2.11 x 1.41 degrees: the whole Pleiades fits, and the Leo Triplet sits at a good scale.
It arrives with tube rings, a handle, a 300 mm Losmandy dovetail and a fitted case.

Cons

The 1x flattener that gives the 44 mm full-frame circle is an extra purchase, $329 on the maker's own page.
It is heavy: 9.2 kg for the tube and 10.9 kg with rings and dovetail, so it wants a 15 kg class mount or a counterweight.
It is not a planetary specialist: in my side-by-side Jupiter test the Celestron 8 inch EdgeHD came out ahead.
Pound for pound the Askar 103 is better value: the 140 collects 1.85 times the light for 2.1 times the price.

I think given the price tag, size, and image quality produced on the Askar 140, I may have found a sweet spot for us amateur astrophotographers who have a more than modest budget and are looking for a large and capable refractor telescope.

Who the 140APO is for

Full-frame deep-sky imager

Buy

Of the three Askar triplets it is the one I have spent the most time with, and with the 1x flattener it covers a full-frame sensor.

Galaxy imager moving up from 100 mm

Buy

980 mm puts M 51 and the Leo Triplet at a useful scale while the field still holds the whole Pleiades.

Owner of a 15 to 20 kg mount

Buy

At 10.9 kg with rings and dovetail, plus a camera and guide scope, the whole rig stays inside a 15 kg payload.

Complete beginner

Skip

It is a big, heavy tube that needs a flattener, a mount and a camera on top: my recommendation is the Askar 71F first.

Planetary specialist

Skip

My recommendation is the Celestron 8 inch EdgeHD, the planetary scope I set beside the 140.

Askar 103 owner thinking of upgrading

Skip

Bigger is better, but pound for pound the 103 is the better buy: keep it unless small galaxies are all you shoot.

Three alternatives I have reviewed

Questions and more about this review

Reviewed by

Damon Scotting

The Telescope Man Verified

BSc (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics and Cosmology, Loughborough University PGCE / QTS, University of Nottingham

About Damon About Damon Damon Scotting is The Telescope Man. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Physics with Astrophysics and Cosmology from Loughborough University and a PGCE with QTS from the University of Nottingham, and taught physics in secondary schools before becoming an astronomy creator. He is a contributing writer for BBC Sky at Night Magazine and the author of 42 Wonders of Our Night Sky, and his photograph of the galaxy M100 with the dwarf planet Ceres was Highly Commended in the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 competition run by Royal Observatory Greenwich. He has appeared on the BBC's Blue Peter. More than 750,000 people follow his astronomy channels on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, and he has reviewed more than 140 telescopes, mounts, cameras, filters and accessories hands-on for this site. More about Damon · How I test · Damon's book

I review all kinds of gear: most of it I buy, some is gifted and some is loaned, and all of it is reviewed the same way. How this site is funded

Eight questions, answered

Questions about the Askar 140APO

Reviewed 24 July 2025 ·Updated 24 September 2026

I review all kinds of gear. Most of it I buy, some is gifted and some is loaned, and all of it is reviewed the same way: no company sees or approves a review before it is published. Shop links marked Ad are affiliate links: I earn a commission when you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. How this site is funded

Does the Askar 140APO cover a full-frame sensor? Yes, with the optional 1x flattener, which gives a 44 mm image circle. Every deep-sky image on this page is on the full-frame ASI6200MC, and the raw stacks show the corners. The raw stacks against the finished images ↓
Do I need the 1x flattener? For a large sensor, yes: Askar states no image circle for the bare triplet. The flattener keeps 980 mm at f/7 and needs 55 mm of back focus. The specifications and the comparison table ↓
What mount does the Askar 140APO need? The tube weighs 9.2 kg, or 10.9 kg with rings and dovetail, and my captures ran on the EM31 Pro. Even a little baby mount can handle the payload of the Askar 140, provided you use a counterweight. The rig on the mount ↓
Can the Askar 140APO image the planets? Yes: the Jupiter loop on this page is the Askar 140 with a 2x Barlow and a ZWO ASI533MC.
Askar 140APO or Askar 103APO? The 103 costs £999 against £2,098 at First Light Optics and is the better value. The 140 collects 1.85 times the light and puts small galaxies at 980 mm instead of 700 mm.
How long did the images take? Between 40 minutes and 3 hours 25 minutes each, in 300 second subs with the camera cooled to -10 C. What I captured ↓
What field of view does it give? 2.11 x 1.41 degrees on a full-frame sensor at 977 mm, the focal length my plate solves measured. Tested numbers and the download ↓
What have I not tested on the 140APO? I have not tested the 0.8x reducer, visual observing, or a mono camera with filters on the Askar 140.