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In what situation would I want to use a focal reducer?

Using the Focal Reducer

There are some cases where you want to reduce the focal ratio on your telescope in order to take the perfect night sky photo. For instance, if you own a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with a focal ratio of f/10, meaning the lens has a focal length 10 times its diameter, you should consider using a focal reducer to take pictures. An f/10 focal ratio has a long focal length and slow exposure speed to photograph objects like larger galaxies and nebulae. The focal reducer works by altering the beam of light in the telescope before it hits the eyepiece, reducing the focal ratio.

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