The 1.0x flattener does not change the focal ratio of the telescope itself. After attaching it to the Askar 140APO, it still maintained a focal ratio of 7. The flattener corrects field curvature and coma, resulting in flatter field edges and finer star points.

The 0.8x reducer can bring the focal ratio of the Askar 140APO to F5.6. This is a standard gearbox with field flattening capability. A shorter focal ratio allows the OTA to have a wider field of view and faster exposure times, making it suitable for capturing large areas of nebulae, star clusters and faint, fast-moving celestial objects.