Dindale

Hi Adam, Thanks for te elaborate answer, I really appreciate it! I have been hinging on two thoughts: get a decent EQ mount first and work with the camera and lenses I have right now, or try to get as much out of the MSM tracker with maybe a lighter lens, like the AFM, improve my skills and then go for the EQ mount. I bought the MSM just to see if I could get something out of my current gear, and I was quite surprised what is already possible, and that made me hungry to go further. Last time I tried this was roll film on a Russian camera back in the eighties… Any thoughts on this (not on the roll film camera)? I can get decent 60 sec subs with the 100mm, which is less than 700 grams. The 70-200 with tripod collar comes in at some 1600 grams, and I can see and hear the MSM struggling with it. I got a half decent shot of Orion a week ago on a damp night with the big Canon but could not go beyond 10 second subs. That is why I thought by reducing the weight significantly I could continue to use the MSM for a while but get a longer focal length. Polar alignment is still an issue then with the longer focal length (as opposed to the 100mm Zeiss). Bahtinov mask, lens warmer and power source(s) are all there, I just have to exercise some more discipline to use the warmer.

Relative newbie here. I am still working with normal photography lenses and a simple (MSM) tracker and consider this Askar a nice step up before I go “full APO”. My current tracker is way too light for my Canon 6D mk II and 70-200 f2.8, less so with my Zeiss Makro-Planar 100mm. I am planning to go for a real GOTO mount and dedicated astro camera and guiding and everything, but first I want to practice on this lens (and filters) before I invest further. I live in a Bortle 4 area but with some nasty LED streetlights relatively close. Reading this thread I have come up with the following shopping list to get started: 1. Askar FMA180 2. Baader T2 EOS adapter 3. Astronomik L3 filter, M48 to screw on the front of the Askar, not sure if this helps against LED lights? 4. Baader T2 fine adjustment rings, not sure if this is needed in this setup? Am I missing anything here or other advice you can give me? Thanks!