Gear Database

William Optics RedCat 71 WIFD

William Optics

William Optics RedCat 71 WIFD is a 71 mm Petzval APO refractor for wide-field nebulae, large targets, and travel-friendly imaging.

telescope $$$
William Optics RedCat 71 WIFD

Best Current Offer

Cloud Break Optics logo
Cloud Break Optics
In stock
$1,698.00

Other retailers

Specifications

Optics

Optical design
Petzval APO refractor
Aperture
71 mm
Focal length
350 mm
Focal ratio
f/4.9
Dawes limit
1.63"
Glass / elements
4-element Petzval

Imaging

Image circle
45 mm
Camera format
Full frame / APS-C / Micro 4/3
Full-frame coverage
Yes
Back focus
No flattener required
Corrected field
Flat full-frame field

Specifications

Weight
7.1 lb (3.22 kg)

Mechanical

Focuser
WIFD rack-and-pinion internal focuser
Dovetail
Vixen / Arca-Swiss dual plate

Astrophotography Fit

Best for wide-field nebulae, large targets, and travel-friendly imaging when the mount, camera format, and correction hardware are chosen as one system.

William Optics RedCat 71 WIFD sits in the telescope slot for wide-field nebulae, large targets, and travel-friendly imaging. The useful headline specs are aperture 71 mm, focal length 350 mm, f/4.9.

Camera coverage: Full frame / APS-C / Micro 4/3. Image circle: 45 mm. Back focus: No flattener required.

Fast astrographs collect signal quickly, but they are unforgiving: collimation, tilt, filter behavior, and back-focus spacing show up immediately in star shapes.

Best paired with

  • Rigid focuser, tilt adjuster, and exact corrector spacing
  • Cooled cameras with a sensor inside the corrected image circle
  • High-throughput filters that behave well at fast focal ratios

Not recommended for

  • Users who do not want to tune collimation, tilt, and spacing
  • Thick or narrow filters that show strong bandpass shift at fast focal ratios
  • Loose camera adapters or focusers that cannot hold the imaging train square

Where To Buy

Some links on this page are affiliate links. Prices and availability are pulled automatically from each retailer and updated daily.

Retailer Price Availability View Offer
Cloud Break Optics logo
Cloud Break Optics
Cloud Break Optics
$1,698.00
In stock
Updated 5/9/2026
View Offer - $1,698.00
Mile High Astronomy logo
Mile High Astronomy
Mile High Astronomy
$1,698.00
In stock
Updated 5/14/2026
View Offer - $1,698.00