Astro-Tech AT70ED 2.8″ f/6 ED Refractor OTA

Description

ass (premium) with a camera angle adjuster on the focuser and a Vixen dovetail with two tube rings. The AT70ED uses FK-61 glass (entry-level ED), a simple dual-speed focuser without CAA, and a single mounting ring with a 1/4″-20 foot. The AT72EDII is more capable as an imaging platform and has better color correction. The AT70ED is lighter, more portable, and cheaper. Both are good scopes. The AT72EDII is the premium version.

Can I use the AT70ED for astrophotography?
Yes, but with caveats. The 1/4″-20 mounting is fine for small mirrorless cameras or planetary cameras on a solid tripod head. At 420mm f/6, the AT70ED is a wide-field imager. Pair it with a small chip camera for deep-sky work galaxies, nebulae, open clusters all fit nicely at native focal length. There’s no dedicated reducer or flattener for this model, so you’re working at native focal length and focal ratio. This is straightforward wide-field imaging work, not planetary or planetary nebula work.

What mount does the AT70ED need?
For visual use, any decent photo tripod with a standard ball head will work nothing fancy required. For short imaging sessions, a tripod works too. For tracking-based astrophotography (say, a 30-second planetary video or a 5-minute deep-sky image), you need an equatorial mount capable of precise tracking. At 4 pounds, the scope fits on most mid-range equatorial mounts. A Vixen dovetail plate ($2040) lets you mount the scope on any head with a Vixen-style saddle. No exotic mount required.

Can I mount this on a camera tripod?
Yes directly. The 1/4″-20 foot threads into any standard photo tripod head. The scope is light enough that a decent ball head or pan-tilt head handles it without strain. For visual use, this is a fine setup. For long-duration imaging, an equatorial mount or alt-azimuth head with tracking capability is better, but a tripod works for quick looks or short camera exposures.

What do I need to start observing with the AT70ED?
The scope itself, a tripod (or mount head), eyepieces, and a diagonal. The AT70ED accepts standard 2″ and 1.25″ diagonals and eyepieces. Start with one good eyepiece a 25mm gives you 16.8 and a nice wide field for deep sky. Add a 9mm or 10mm for 46 to 47 for brighter planetary and lunar work. A 2 Barlow doubles your magnification options. A finder scope or red-dot finder makes acquisition much easier. These are all available separately nothing locked into Astro-Tech proprietary designs.

Is the AT70ED good as a travel scope?
Absolutely. Four pounds, 18 inches long if you include the mounting ring, and simple mechanics make it ideal for travel. The 1/4″-20 foot threads into any tripod head you can fit in a travel bag. A small ball head, a couple of eyepieces, and a diagonal fit easily in a carry-on. The scope will survive transport, cool down fast at a new observing site, and perform the same way it does at home. This is a genuine grab-and-go scope.

Optional Accessories

• Vixen Dovetail Plate (ATVUP9) Mounts the AT70ED on equatorial or altaz heads. Recommended if you move beyond photo tripod use.
• Finder Scope (ATF850SI 850) Makes object acquisition faster and more reliable. Improves the observing experience significantly.
• 2 Telecentric Barlow (AT2XTB) Doubles your eyepiece magnification options. Useful for lunar and planetary work.
• Standard Eyepieces Start with a 25mm wide-field eyepiece for deep sky (16.8), then add a 9mm or 10mm for higher magnification (4647). AT or third-party eyepieces both work.

Final Thoughts

The AT70ED is an entry-level ED refractor that doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t. It has FK-61 glass, not FPL-53 or FCD-100. It has a simple focuser without a camera angle adjuster. It mounts on a photo tripod with a 1/4″-20 foot. These are practical choices that keep the price low without sacrificing optics or mechanics. You get genuine ED performance in a package you can carry, afford, and actually use without overthinking it. Wide-field deep sky, lunar detail, planetary observing, double stars the AT70ED does all of these well enough to spend real time with the scope. That’s what matters.

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