Askar FRA300 Pro Review: A Compact Wide-Field Astrograph for Deep-Sky Imaging

Introduction

The Askar FRA300 Pro is designed as a true no-fuss wide-field astrograph, bringing Petzval simplicity and full-frame performance into a single compact package. It is a quintuplet astrograph built from 5 glass elements, including one piece of extra-low dispersion (ED) glass to deliver sharp, color-corrected images across the entire field.

The specifications are straightforward: a 60mm aperture, a 300mm focal length, and a focal ratio of f/5. Thanks to the Petzval design, it offers a 44mm corrected imaging circle with no extra reducers or field flatteners required. Weighing in at just over 5 lbs, it is an excellent option for portable astrophotography rigs, and nearly any equatorial mount will handle it with ease.

When we say no-fuss design, we mean that critical backfocus and spacing are no longer an issue. As long as you can achieve focus with your adapters and imaging train, you will have a flat field across your full-frame field of view.

Who This Telescope Is For

This is a very small, compact refractor that should impress anyone looking for a wide-field, powerful astrograph. It suits two broad groups of buyers particularly well.

If you are a beginner astrophotographer looking to upgrade from a camera lens, the FRA300 Pro removes much of the complexity that usually comes with a dedicated telescope. And if you are a more advanced astrophotographer looking for a dedicated wide-field powerhouse, it delivers that too in a package light enough for travel and portable setups.

Main Strengths

The optics are the core of the story here. Five glass elements with one ED element keep color correction tight across the field, and the 44mm corrected imaging circle means full-frame cameras can be used without additional correction optics. That combination of simplicity and coverage is what makes this design appealing for deep-sky work.

The focuser is another standout. The FRA300 Pro comes with a 2.5-inch dual-speed 10:1 ratio rack and pinion focuser, paired with a built-in 360-degree rotator for precise framing. Fine framing control matters a great deal at 300mm, and the rotator makes composition adjustments straightforward.

Finally, the build quality deserves mention. The OTA ring, dovetail, and carrying handle are all CNC machined, and the handle doubles as an accessory mounting platform. For a scope pitched at portable rigs, that kind of practical detailing adds real day-to-day value.

What Comes in the Box

Askar ships the FRA300 Pro with a sensible accessory set aimed at getting you imaging quickly. In the box you will find the telescope itself along with several threaded adapters: an M42, an M48 with 2-inch filter threads, and an M54 adapter, ensuring compatibility with nearly any imaging setup out of the box.

The dew shield is adjustable and includes a matching red anodized dust cap. There is also an additional finderscope shoe for your guidescope and other accessories, which is a welcome inclusion for anyone building a portable imaging rig.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The FRA300 Pro is firmly a wide-field specialist. At 300mm and f/5, it is built around large targets like nebulae and galaxies rather than small, high-magnification subjects. If your targets live at long focal lengths, this is not the tool for them.

It is also worth planning your exposure expectations. In our testing, getting the most out of the scope on a faint target meant collecting a substantial amount of integration time, and post processing required real work against light pollution gradients. The optics held up their end, but the scope rewards patience and a solid processing workflow.

Putting It to the Test on the Andromeda Galaxy

To see what the FRA300 Pro could do, we pointed it at Messier 31, the Andromeda Galaxy. Andromeda is our nearest spiral galactic neighbor, lying 2.2 million light-years away just outside the constellation Cassiopeia. The galaxy contains around a trillion stars and is quite bright, making it a strong target even from Bortle 7 suburban skies. With the 300mm focal length, M31 frames perfectly along with its two companion galaxies, Messier 32 and Messier 110.

Our test setup paired the FRA300 Pro with a ZWO EAF, a ZWO ASI2600MC Air, and a ZWO AM3 mount, all sitting on top of an Apertura Anchor. Over four successful nights of imaging, we collected about 24 total hours of exposure time.

Examining the raw data in a corner mosaic, the top left, top right, bottom left, and bottom right corners were all consistently sharp, and full-frame camera users can expect impressive results as well. In post processing we had to work hard against heavy light pollution gradients, but that did not stop the scope from producing an impressive final image.

The galaxy’s dust lanes, the bright blue star-forming regions, and the faint outer halo were all captured with great clarity, which is genuinely impressive from Bortle 7 skies and from such a small refractor. The FRA300 Pro really embodies what it means to be a Petzval refractor.

Buying Advice

If you are upgrading from a camera lens or choosing your first dedicated refractor for astrophotography, the FRA300 Pro is a great option. The combination of a flat 44mm field, no external correctors, a capable focuser with rotator, and a weight nearly any equatorial mount can handle makes it easy to live with. Advanced imagers after a dedicated wide-field powerhouse will find it just as compelling. Plan for generous integration time on faint targets, and the optics will reward you.

Conclusion

The Askar FRA300 Pro delivers on its promise of Petzval simplicity with full-frame performance in a compact, portable package. Sharp corners, color-corrected wide-field images, thoughtful included accessories, and a genuinely no-fuss imaging experience make it a strong choice for anyone serious about wide-field deep-sky astrophotography. Clear skies.