_Belial

They really need to sort out their app thought, it's truly disastrous atm. I mean Stellarmate OS is fine, for when you're near a laptop and can use ekos/kstars, but for the sheer flexibility ASIAir has with their app and device, this wont' come close until Stellarmate can sort out their terrible app.

Thank you so much, just need to find out the exact size now :)))

Thank you, the one I have in there now is about 15mm but just doesn't seem to lock the focus, I can still turn the green focus ring and the focus adjusts.

Hi all,

I've somehow (ok I know how, it was dark and I lost it outside :P) the focus lock screw on my evoguide 50mm. I tried the screw that came with the little eyepiece spacer and although it fits, i don't think it's quite long enough as my focuser isn't locking when it's fully in.

Does someone know the dimensions please of the evoguide focus screw so that I can find a replacement?

Thank you

2 minutes ago, davew said:

If you've already got the l-Extreme there would be no harm in letting it run one night while you're doing other things. I doubt you'd be over impressed with the results in comparison to the 183 but most of these modern mirrorless cameras seem to let a bit more red through than you'd think. 

Just as an aside, you may find it a good idea to get another battery but as you'll soon see, they are a bit expensive. MPB photographic sell the EN-EL15b second hand from time to time and the difference in price is dramatic. Keep going back and checking. Other EN-EL15 batteries work ok but only the b and c can charge in camera. I find it a boon that I can charge my battery in my camera bag with the supplied USB cable as I walk around finding nice spots to image.

Have fun,

Dave.

ooh I'm not expecting it to beat the 183, just want something portable as my other setup took ages to get setup and where I use it I'm really restricted to the West/SouthWest so wanted something I can throw in a backpack, take in the car a bit further away and get something different which I can't se form home (i.e anything W/SW).

Good point on the battery though, I actually just assumed that the el15b would let me shoot + charge at the same time, is that not he case then? In which case yep, I will need to get another battery

Thanks so much for the advice.

2 minutes ago, alacant said:

Hi

How about keeping it simple (and economical!)? This adapter allows you to use standard telescope fittings, just as you would with a F. All that wonderful back focus to play with:)

Cheers

 

ahh I did indeed order one of those from FLO

Thank you so much Dave,

I got in touch with FLO and they recommended some adapter I could use so I've ordered that and hoping it'll arrive tomorrow so I can have a play next time we get clear skies

Thanks for the info  on the ISO drop, I'll have a look at that. I had an ASI183MC which made life much easier before but this is for a more portable setup I can keep in a backpack and as my Z6 is usually in there I want to try using that instead. I@m guessing as it's not astro modified there'd be no benefit at all in me using my L-Extreme in the imaging train anywhere?

HI all,

I've got a NIkon Z6 lying around (unmodified) and want to use it for a portable astrophotography setup. I Was wondering has anyone else used one of these and if so are you connecting it direct to the camera or using the FTZ mount adapter? Is there any advantage of one over the other at all and how much back focus do you need with a Z6 please?

Thanks in advance

I have the same issue on my HEQ5Pro, from what I read when I got mine, it's just a bad design on the HEQ5 Pro's. I use an ASIAir for all my PA now so don't ever use those setting circles at all.

2 hours ago, keramos said:

Hi,

 

I would kindly suggest not to throw your backpack, but gently place it in your car 😆

I personally use this backpack, see below.

Can get WO Redcat with DLSR in the bag, also have enough space for dew strap, finder scope and camera, ASIAIR pro, iPad, 2kg counter weights and few other bits and bobs.

Beschoi DSLR Camera Backpack Waterproof Camera Bag for Sony Canon Nikon Olympus SLR/DSLR Camera, Lens and Accessories, Black (Large)
Learn more: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01M4MDTNP/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_o4dJFbAH5FXVG

There are other options that might be suited for your gear.

 

LoL, good point about the throwing 😛 But your setup sounds pretty similar to mine so will certainly take a look at that backpack, impressed that you can fit the counterweights in there as well, so hopefully i'll be fine to throw an azgti and a wedge in there, i'll get my tape measure out

Thank you

Hi all,

I've just (well, apart form the ASI120MM Mini which is out of stock everywhere) got my "portable" kit delivered this week, which consists of

WO Redcat 51

WO 32mm Guidescope

WO Wedge

Star-Watcher AZ-GTi (+ counterbalance bar/weight)

I already have a modified 600D (Bought off here)

So excluding the tripod, I would really appreciate a recommendation of a backpack to be able to put all this stuff into (along with room for an ASIAir Pro and some dew strips) so when the skies look clear I can just throw the backpack in a car and head off into the hills somewhere.

Does anyone have a decent backpack they have used and could recommend at all that I could fit all the above into?

Thanks in advance

Ah never mind

The good folk at FLO recommended some risers I could use (a common issue with the zenithstar it seems) so I ordered a set of these which they said should work just fine

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dovetails-saddles-clamps/primaluce-lab-30mm-plus-spacer.html

Good morning stargazers,

I have a small issue which I'm hoping someone can suggest a solution for with my setup.

I have a HEQ5-Pro and a William Optics Zenithstar 73 II, all good, working fine and finally managed to get some of my first pictures last week and was very please, yey!! However the problem is I cannot get my scope balanced properly on the DEC because I cannot move the telescope far enough forward because the focus rings on the scope hit the body of the HEQ5

Does anyone know of any risers or something that which I can order to lift the scope up and so be able to move it further forward so I can balance it properly at all please?

Thanks in advance

Ah it must affect a range of flatteners/reducers then, I got same email about the 0.8 flatener/reducer for my ZS73 as well

2 hours ago, TerryMcK said:

flattener

Thank you all so much for your reponses on this, I'd watched some youtube videos on flateners and thought yes, I'll get one one day, didn't realise how essential they would turn out to be Alas FLO + RVO don't have the flatener for my Zenitstar in stock so I'll have to wait a while, I do have a 47mm extension tube though so I guess I'll try it with the 1.25" adapter. Still so much to learn, there was me thinking, ok buy a telscope, shove a camera at the end of it, job done :))

Thanks again, invaluable information from you all.

Thank you all so much for that, I'll try again later, thank you.

Hi All,

I recently purchased a William Optics Zenithstar 73 II APO, I've got a canon 600D which I'm using prime, I have a t-ring and adaptor and fits into the scope fine, but for the life of me I cannot focus at all. I've tried all the way down the focus wheel and doesn't come anywhere near close to focusing at all. I tried this with the moon and stars, just a blurry mess, am I missing something obvious? I an put my 120M guidecam in fine and it focus' but the 600D won't come close, but the camera itself is fine as I can use the lens and it can focus fine?

Any advice gratefully appreciated.

Just updating, it was the power supply. I connected the mount direct to my car's 12v socket to test this afternoon and it all works fine, guess not all PSU's are equal

Thank you

Thank you gents, I was actually just using an extension cord from my house then a 12V 2A psu to power it, i've ordered the celestron powertank 17Ah, hopefully that will be fine.

Hi all,

I got my new HEQ5-Pro this week from FLO, excitedly set it all up yesterday and awaited darkness. However, when doing my polar alignment I noticed an issue. When it slews to my guide star the mount resets itself, here's a youtube video of it occuring.

I've emailed FLO but thought i'd check on here as not had a reply off them yet. Am I missing something obvious here? It seems to happen when the motors are moving in DEC and RA at the same time. I.e I can use the controller to move in either direction with no issues, but whenever I try to move in both, it resets like in the above video.

Can anyone offer any advice at all?

Thanks in advance

// Carl