Vixen Flattener HD Kit for FL55SS

Sharp star images throughout a photographic field of full frame DSLR cameras.

The flattener HD for FL55SS improves off-axis image quality greatly with a minimum change of the focal length. It secures an image circle of 44mm that covers imaging sensors of full frame DSLR cameras.

A minimum loss of light toward the edge of photographic field. A 96% of rich illuminated field of view is adequate for the full-size imaging sensors.

Generally astrophotographers are annoyed with the drop-off of light toward the edge of illuminated field of view when taking faint deep-sky objects with a telephoto lense or dedicated astrophoto instrument. Although this may be corrected by complicated image processing on a PC, it all depends on the image quality of an original photograph. The flattener HD kit solves this problem as it works to keep a large 96% illuminated field of view at the very edge of a 44mm image circle. You will feel no hint of light loss if used with a full frame DSLR camera. Astrophotography of nebulae and star clusters are fun with the flattener HD Kit.

Illuminated field of view at the edge of photographic field.

96% with use of DSLR cameras with the full frame size of imaging sensors. 99% with use of DSLR cameras with the APS-C size of imaging sensors.

Comparision in light loss between the FL55SS with the flattener HD lens and a standard telephoto lens or astrograph.

FL55SS with the flattener HD lens

Standard telephoto lens or astrograph

Ultimate light transmission coatings for extremely high contrast images.

The same anti-reflection AS coatings that are used for our high-end VSD100F3.8 renowned for extremely high light transmission (99.9% per surface) are provided on each of the lens surfaces fo the flattener HD lens. Besides, elaborate matte-finishes are given to eliminate internal reflections and loss of light completely.

Sample images "Veil Nebula"

Setup configurations