johninderby

Bought a cheap 14mp microscope camera for use with my inspection microscope but decided to see if it could be used for some basic lunar imaging. Uses a microSD card for image capture. Hooked up the camera to a monitor using an HDMI cable. Has a remote for control so no camera shake. Considering it was only 100 quid not that bad really. Some playing around with the settings should improve things a bit. Couple of single frame test shots using the Bresser 10" dob.

Forget using a pillar drill. Needs to be done on a lathe so check with a local machine shop to see if it is worth it. A big enough drill bit would be expensive plus would shake apart or burn out a typical home type pillar drill in a minute or two. You would need an large industrial sized pillar drill to drill a hole that size.

They are M8 threaded ones from WDS Ltd. Not cheap though but so much better than those Altair knobs. I used some 5mm thick M8 nylon washers under the knobs as the thread length was just a couple of mm short. They also do them in polished finish but I preferedd the matt. http://www.wdsltd.co.uk/product/5500/tri-knob-with-threaded-hole-316-stainless-steel-matt-finish-wds-8147/

I have one of the Altair dual fit saddles which is a big heavy lump and seems to have a similar anodised finish unlike the ADM that is more of a matt finish. I also replaced the stock knobs with some matt stainless steel ones that are far easier to tighten. With the stainless knobs cost more than the Rowan one though. Hopefully it will match. 🤔

I havent bothered with the encoders at the moment but they will be available as a DIY option later on. Also had a nice new heavy duty dual fit saddle that will be ideal for this mount. Have ordered the counterweight shaft and a weight.

Thanks for the info but wasn’t concerned. 👍🏻 Hope orders for the new mount are coming in at a decent rate. 🙂

The only problem I can see with this mount is if Rowan will be able to keep up with the demand. 🤔 Backorder?????

Trying a bit of lunar observing from the conservatory. Moon through the thin cloud not the clearest but waiting for some clear sky. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

The Lunt zoom is available under other brand names such as TS and OVL for about £85.00.

The focuser mystery deepens. Found an Orion Optics UK label on the box so it is being made for OO with the part number ACUR1. However you will find no mention of it on their website. Only retailer seems to be Telescope Express who do sell a lot of OOs stuff so it’s probably only intended for TS. It has similarities to the ACU-3S 3” focuser so probanly comes out of the same factory. Thankfully it’s nothing like the ACU-2S 2” focuser which seems a much lower quality focuser.

Nice little setup. 👍🏻 Would like to get a 72mm myself someday. Nice guard cat btw. 😁

Yes there has been a lack of 1.25” crayfords. This one is really lightweight and compact and just perfect fpr the Bresser mak. Had chance to use it this evening and it was a pleasure to use. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Or is the focuser in the correct position. Is there any adjustment on the focuser baseplate? Also the focuser could be out square in relation to the tube.

Don’t you know things are supposed to come in threes? 😁😁😁

Don’t mind messing with my own scopes but wouldn’t like to mess up spmeone elses. 🙁

Or.............

If cost is no object there is the Televue Starbeam. Far too expensive though. https://www.365astronomy.com/televue-starbeam-red-dot-finder-with-newtonian-base.html

There is a review here.

The Rigel Quikfinder is almost as good as the Telrad but more suitable for smaller scopes. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/rigel-quikfinder-compact-reflex-sight.html

Hi Just click on the choose files link and the dialogue box will open and you can then choose photos to add.

Sometimes I do view from the conservatory. Openning one of the big side windows gives a fair view to the south. Leave the heat off and tilt open a couple of windows and it is pretty close to ambient.

My little mak has a proper focuser now. 🙂🙂🙂 Ordered a 1.25” dual speed crayford focuser from Telescope Express a month ago but had to wait while they had an adapter made up to suit. 80 quid for the adapter. Ouch!!! Wanted a small and light focuser to fit the mak. Yes a regular SCT crayford would fit but would be big, heavy and bulky for this scope. Won’t be using two inch eyepices to 1.25” is all I need. Fits perfectly and looks like it came from Bresser that way. Very, very pleased with it.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 A really well made bit of kit. Sort of a mini Baader Steeltrack quality wise and feels like a Steeltrack as you move the drawtube, Has that same weighty but smooth feel. Has a T2 thread on the drawtube so easy to fit a camera if you wanted to. Don’t know who the actual manufacturer is but it has a US patent number on it. 🤔

1.25” crayford focuser for my Bresser 127mak from Telescope Express and a lovely bit of kit it is. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Details to be posted in my thread on the Bresser Messier 127 Mak.

Only got down to about -2 here on account of the cloud cover. 🙁

Or just get a cheap remote shutter release? Loads of them on eBay or Amazon. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Remote-RS-60E3-Shutter-Release-for-Canon-EOS-70D-550D-600D-450D-200D-1100D-1300D/171730293652?epid=1905650330&hash=item27fbec5394:g:JZgAAOSwEzxYc5ls