AbsolutelyN

Finally a clear night, and new moon too! Seems like early May since managed a full night imaging. Lost of firsts in this image, first image with my Esprit 80, also my first narrowband image and first time processing in Hubble palette. Taken with ZWO1600mm and the newer ZWO filters. Almost 4 hours of exposure - hope to add more exposure if the weather holds provides an opportunity. Any feedback most welcome.  

https://www.astrobin.com/413027/?nc=user
 

Absolutely stunning image Alex. Is the 6d is modded in any way? As old as the 6d is I'm half tempted to pick one up for travel as seems more HA sensitive than my Sony a7r3.

8 hours ago, Laurin Dave said:

Are you using the ZWO filter wheel? If so vignetteing  with either 1.25 or 31mm easily correctable with flats..  I've used both and saw very little difference..  31mm just slightly better

 

Dave

That's exactly what I wanted to know ... sorry if I wasn't clear enough. Yes ZWO filter wheel - probably not worth going from 1.25 to unmounted 31mm. Many thanks

Hi. Does anyone know if 31mm filters compared to 1.25" would help with vignetting with a zwo1600pro? I'm curious if it would make much difference or not. I know its fixable with flats but I'm interested it it woud make much difference as I get quite a bit of vignetting with my 1.25 LRGB filters. I'm not certain if it's the filters or the scope (esprit 100). Many thanks for any thoughts. 

I balanced mine up last night with the rings all the way down at the focusser end. When I covered it this morning the rings were about 1cm further up the tube so suspect there is still some slight slippage, will also keep an eye on it. 

Will do, I have it setup already as seems to be giving potential for reasonable clear periods tonight. So far it's holding it in place really well but I guess it could start slipping again over time. 

Yes thanks for the suggestion,  however I'd already replaced both so just cutting that bit off was no longer an option. I didn't notice the length difference until I had removed old felt and put the first new one on.

If the overhang is the issue then it may have been easier to just remove that bit as I found removing the felts hard and have very slightly marked the rings because of it. I have used the scope after changes though and it does appear to grip the tube very firmly now. 

I've just put the new felt on the rings and it does appear to have fixed it - though I need to check mounting the scope on the mount to know for certain. Not at all easy to remove the felt though. The new felt is shorter in length, so there is now no felt where the rings meet when closed. I suspect this allows the rings to close just very slightly tighter?  I'm not convinced the felt is thicker but maybe I just can't perceive the difference. 

Yes ... mine arrived today too. 4 strips of felt - no instructions. I've just emailed them asking how to add them. The felt looks the same as what's on the rings already to me. Last night I just wrapped a lens cloth between tube and rings and it gripped the tube just fine. 

Thanks. I'll test with the new spacing and see if there is an improvement. The 11mm has been moved from camera to after the filter wheel so should be 56mm in total. I assume the filter glass adds 1mm? 

 On the rings OVL said: 
We can provide some thicker replacement felt for the tube rings which will solve the issue with the rings

A quick google seems to suggest people are getting replacement rings rather than just some felt. Has anyone had this issue resolved and if so how? 

My scope is the one with the green plate, the first of the two images you posted. Thanks for info on spacing, on brief look it seemed ok but I did not look into it too far. I'm a total pixel peeper for daytime photography/lenses so will be aiming to get it bang on eventually. 

What's the distance within the 1600 itself (from filter mounted direct to camera to sensor)? Just fiddling with the various adaptor I have I came up with this which is 47.5mm but not sure on the filter to sensor distance. 

I'm curious on the spacing. I have just acquired very similar setup - esprit 100 + zwo 1600mm (pro version). I tested it last night and stars looked reasonably ok to me but I'm very new to this. Opinions if it's good/bad spacing much appreciated. I think I can see some elongation in corners. The setup is flattener, zwo 16.5mm spacer, zwo 21mm spacer, mini filter wheel, camera. Quick exposure attached.

After contacting Skywatcher they can apparently provide thicker felt for the rings. I have exact same issue - the tube just slides through the rings no matter how tight. The washers are in correct place. Not impressed with that at all as rings are basically not ft for purpose as supplied.

Hi. Could I ask a query about point 3 please? How do you actually do the test to check the spacing is correct that you show in the two images under point three?  Many thanks

Hi

I'm currently looking to get back into astrophotography after a long gap. I have a Vixen GP-DX mount which I bought back in 1998. It has dual motors but at least one motor does not function at all and I've not much confidence in the controller either. 

I'd like to use a Vixen ED80SF refractor and possibly a VC200L if I can restore it. I'm wondering what the options are regarding this mount - can it be upgraded or should I just replace it? 

Options seem to be:

1. Buy the DD3 controller and new motors. 

2. I've heard of Vixen mounts being upgraded with EQ5 Synscan or other systems but don't really understand how.

3. Simply replace it with something like the celestron avx mounting

Is it worth sticking with this mount and if so which is the best way forward? I'd like as many options as possible open - such as ability to use a guidescope and ideally control via PC etc.

How does the Vixen GP-DX hold up against more modern mountings of the same price bracket? 

Also is there any general maintenance on this mounting that should be done after years of no-use? The tripod is also in need or replacement, are there any current tripods compatible with the mounting?

Any thoughts or advice much appreciated,

Tristan