The Sky Rover 68 SAW is a fast apochromatic astrograph developed for wide-field astrophotography, with a 68 mm aperture, 265 mm focal length, and a very fast f/3.9 focal ratio. Its compact size, wide field, and highly stable mechanical structure make it especially appealing for portable field imaging setups.
Rather than using a conventional telescope-plus-reducer approach, the 68 SAW uses a front-and-rear optical group design that is integrally matched and co-optimised. Sky Rover states that this improves stability and reliability compared to more widely separated optical layouts, while also helping the telescope maintain clean and sharp imaging at a very fast focal ratio.
One of the standout features of the 68 SAW is its built-in flat field design, which supports full-frame imaging without needing a separate field flattener. Sky Rover specifies a 44 mm image circle, with especially strong point performance within APS-C and half-frame sensor formats.
The 68 SAW uses a shorter back working distance than conventional reducer-based systems to improve rigidity and vibration resistance. It also includes an adjustable back focus mechanism, with a default back focus of 55 mm and support for coordinated use with accessories such as OAGs, filter wheels, and cooled cameras.
Sky Rover describes the telescope tube and focuser body as precision CNC-machined as a single unit, reducing connecting components and improving overall rigidity. The dual-speed geared focuser is compatible with many motor focusers, and the compact body makes the telescope well suited to lightweight portable imaging rigs.
The 68 SAW is a dedicated astrograph and is not intended for use with visual accessories such as a diagonal.