All the gear but no idea - what should I use for what?

[A40farinagolf]

Hi,

I haven't posted for a while as I've been busy on my kit car, now getting time to get the scope out again. I want some general help please as I've loads of kit but need general guidance.

I have the following kit:

CPC925 + guidescope + ZWO Colour camera

Celestron focal reducer

DSLR camera adaptor

Canon EOS550 (unmodded)

Several Luminos eyepieces @ 1.25" and 2" + 2.5x Barlow

Santa is also bring me:

Altair Astro 130mm APO refractor

0.79 x field flattener

Do not have a mount for this yet - how about a AZ EQ5GT or AZ EQ6GT? Any others?

Ultimately I want to do visual and astrophotography of planets, moon and DSO and limited terrestrial use.

What equipment should I use for what purpose?

Would a AZ EQ5GT support my APO 130mm (8Kg) adequately for astrophotography?

Seasons Greetings,

Mark

[rowan46]

for planetary imaging your cpc 9.25  is going to be pretty decent. If you are going to image with the 130 however you are going to need a flattener/ reducer and a bigger mount. Visually the eq5gt alt az should take it but i think its not up to the job for good photo's with this big a scope i would think the eq6 alt az would be better. On paper with the flattener /reducer and a decent mount the scope looks like a pretty decent imaging scope

[alan potts]

As Rowan said, the EQ 6 would be better. I have a HEQ 5 Pro and have just got an AZ EQ 6 and it is a different class in my opinion. It is not just the 8 KG it is all the other bits and bobs which can soon add another 4kgs.

BTW I know why I am getting nothing for Christmas, Santa is bringing it all to you, I think the 130mm is a nice scope, I fancy the new TS F6.6 model. You will have some very nice gear after this Christmas, hope you get a pack of clear skies with it.

Alan.

[DaveS]

It's not the mass alone with a big 'frac it's the moment arm. There's a big lump of glass at each end and that is going to take some moving. My gut says the AZ EQ6 (Not 5) will be the minimum.

I suspect one or two will suggest either a 10 Micron GM 1000 HPS or a Mesu 200.

[A40farinagolf]

All,

Thanks for your feedback, much appreciated and consensus view seems to be AZEQ6 GT so I'd better start saving.

How about the iOptron iEQ45 Pro? It's not AZ though so not as flexible.

Alan,

Santa will get to your location before mine as he travels E to W so you might get the scope intended for my house. The TS does look good and it's reasonably priced.

Merry Christmas,

Mark

[DaveS]

I think the latest version of the iEQ45 is convertible as well, however others have found problems with backlash in the worm / wheel with long 'fracs. Not sure if the latest model has solved it.

[A40farinagolf]

Hi,

I'm getting my new mount next week AZ EQ6 GT so I'm almost ready to start a comparison of the two scopes - CPC925 versus APO 130mm. I would appreciate your feedback on my predictions of the suitability below. Thanks M

Suitability score out of 10

CPC925 on 130 APO on

Function wedge AZ EQ6 GT

Visual planets 7 9

Imaging planets 8 8

Visual moon 8 10

Imaging moon 8 9

Visual DSO 9 5

Imaging DSO 7 8

Pier set up 9 9

Portability 5 7

Guiding 8 9

Polar alignment 7 8

Set up time 8 9

Visual sun - via film 6 8

Imaging sun - via film 6 8

Visual sun - via kwarke 0 8

Imaging sun - via kwarke 0 8

Cool down time 7 8

Collimation 8 9

AZ ease of operation 9 8

EQ ease of operation 7 8

127 156

67% 82%

[A40farinagolf]

Hi,

Apols as the layout before I sent the post made sense but the issued post has repositioned the text.

The first score / column is for my CPC925 on a wedge and the 2nd score is for the 130mm APO - marks are out of 10

Regs,

M