Chris

Well, I've hit the button on a vintage Super Takumar 50mm F2 which has been pre converted to an EOS EF-S fitting buy what looks like an Ebay shop. Cost £28.99 plus fiver postage Thanks for all the help, and I'll report back

Thanks for the link Alex Yes, the thought had crossed my mind. I may go down this route if I decide not to sell any more stuff. If I can dig out more stuff to sell I might fund an EQ3 head and motor, or even a Star Adventurer.

Thanks - book marked p.s I thought you must have meant Knight of clear skies

Sounds like you can't just rely on the F ratio with lenses when it comes to astro, so it's really good to have some brands to check out. I'm back on Ebay once the kids are in bed to see what I can find armed with all this info

Cheers Tim, I'll check them out And I'm definately on the SWMBO budget with a pending house move

Cheers for the link, it's really good! I feel like I've learnt a bit obout AP with lenses just by spending 5-10 mintues reading it I might be best buying a fast 50mm Prime lens by the sounds of it, at least until I've got some kind of tracking sorted. The only worry is that the modded camera I'm buying can't have been shimmed or filter replaced modded for the money I've paid, so I do need to be careful that any lens I buy which requires and adaptor reaches infinity focus. With this is mind I'll check the price of EOS prime lenses, but may just risk an M42 fitting and make sure I get an adaptor that specifies infinity focus to reduce the risk.

Hi everyone, I'm looking for a bit of advice regarding used budget Canon Lenses which are usuable for DSO imaging? I've been blinkering the imaging side of astronomy for the last 18 months or so, but gave in yesterday when I saw a modded Canon 350D for sale for next to nothing. I just couldn't turn it down even though I really shouldn't be spending I'm quite excited about the prospect of tinkering with imaging again, although literally all I have is the pending camera, my old T-ring and programmable timer, and erm? that's it! I can't dig out enough Blu rays to sell to buy an apo, so was thinking about a cheap second hand lens. Also this would have a shorter focal length so I might get away with knocking something really rudimentary together when it comes to tracking? It's only when I look at the Canon lenses on ebay I realise I don't have that much of a clue? These are some of the following lenses I've seen: -Tamron 70-300mm macro Canon fit -Canon EF 80-200mm MKII F4.5-5.6 Zoom Lens for EOS SLR's -Sigma 28-200mm 3.5-5.6 AF DL Aspheric IF Zoom Lens Fro Canon EOS EF Film SLR (I think this might work manually with a DLSR?) -Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 II IS Lens Any thoughts on the above, or other suitable lenses for DSO imaging much appreciated p.s. Budget wise - hoping to spend less than £50 Many Thanks.

Lovely setup seiko, well that's an understatement. Chris (also in Ipswich (hint ))

Just some further thoughts before you hit the button on a Ali AZ4. I had the chance to use the Ali AZ4 with the ST120 and WO binoviewer barlowed 2x to get it to focus. I'm guessing I was working at around 100x considering binoviewers add to the barlowing effect. You would expect things to be more shakey at high power than the low power single eyepiece views I had previously, but things were VERY shakey (I couldn't rest my eyes sockets on the eyecups without it wobbling quite a bit, and don't ask about focusing ) I would still get an Ali AZ4 if you want something easy to carry with a semi decent weight limit, but if you ask me it's only suitable for short focal length low magnification viewing. So things like binoculars with an L-bracket or scope with 800mm focal length or less for example. As for the ST120 AZ4 bino exeriment: As a specialist widefield low power scope I coudn't really expect a great deal on a Moonlit night. Especially when Barlowed to an inch of it's life to get it to focus with my BV unit. It didn't do bad all things considered, yes there was a good half inch of violet halo around the Moon, but once the tube currents settled I was able to pull out reasonable detail in Tycho such as the ejecta streaks, and fairly 3D detail around the wall of the sea of crises, and the northen region of the sea of fertility, and to the east of the sea of tranquility, this all looked good as it was near the teminator at the time. M42 was really washed out but the trapezium stars were right in my face! Also betelgeuse looked lovely and juicy. I could have done with an Apo for the Moon as it lacked contrast but the stars looked nice other than a touch bloated. The main thing was the shaking as I couldn't put my eyes into the eyepieces to get totally absorbed into the view. Actually, I would really go for the steel legged AZ4 thinking about it, then you're future proofed.

Sounds good. I do recognise Spike now you've pointed him out. Without wishing to get too morbid, didn't his tomb stone simply read "I told you I was ill".....Brilliant I can just about remember the Goonies, but not the Goons

I think that's the story for a lot of us I think my wifes lost count of the scopes I've had over the years, come to think of it, so have I!

I meant a new edition for you Sorry for the confusion

Ah, that Evo 150 looks like a new edition!? P.s if you have any spare telescope seeds, let me know

Crikey, a five inch Apo! That should serve you well, congratulations

I had to Google this John. Is he the coat hanger esq character in the middle with the big smile? If so I do have a very slight weight advantage

Well, I've used the setup for single eyepiece viewing a few times now and the mount performed brilliantly - easy and smooth to move on both the axis, the friction of the axis are easily adjusted, and very little vibration at 600mm focal length. The mount is also super light with the ali legs, which is great if like me you weight 9 1/2 stone wet through and have knotted string for muscles. I'm gleeming that the ali legged version will be fine with scope such as ST120, ED100, C6, Mak127 etc, whereas the steel legged version can handle a bit more. I did once have the steel legged version and it didn't flinch at anything I got round to throwing at it, but it did feel twice the weight of the Ali version.

They will love it. Certainly is a proper scope. I hope it's clear for you so you can introduce them (get them hooked) on astro

Thanks Paul, likewise with the AR127L and Skytee

My latest frac setup is a Startravel 120mm f/5 and AZ4, taken in part ex for my 5" f/9 Bresser plus Skytee. It's on trial at the moment to see how it performs with binoviewers. Well, now that Fozzie has helped me find a way to get it to reach focus with BV's It balances well which is a good start!

Derek, your ED120 setup is looking very classy with all that bling. It wears it well, and must be a joy to use

Congrats Roy, I really like the candy apple red with the brass, it's stunning. Hope you enjoy the Zeiss with it now it's a bit shorter

Looks great dave! I meant to reply to your other thread. I'm very much looking forward to your thoughts on this scope when compared to your stable of long fracs. This should be interesting

Hey Phil, good to hear from you buddy What an amazing setup you have there! Cheers for the offer, I'll have to find an excuse to go down the A12 so I can come and have a look, especially if it's sunny so I can look through that monster Lunt of yours

Wow that's one big Lunt! Literally makes my Lunt 35 look like a finderscope.

Nice one Garry Like Derek I had to sit on my hands, suppose to be selling not buying! Great bargain though so I bet plenty of use were tempted by it. It would be great to hear your thoughts on it? I have the 5" f/9.4 version and the optics are lovely for an achro, and a bargain at the new price net alone second hand