Xsubmariner

Hi Mark, welcome back and good that you have rebuilt your setup. Martin

Reading this thread it is evident that stuf1978 has his heart set on the 2600, may I offer a few points for thought. I have owned several OSC cameras SX,Atik and QHY and only the ZWO-071 remains from what I would class as my CCD and 1st gen Cmos OSC cameras. My other OSC is the QHY268C, same sensor as the 2600 in a different package. The QHY doesn’t have the built in USB hub, as already said not a problem for OSC. The QHY does offer different modes for data management and comes with a useful rotator/coupler, this does increase the camera back focus to 23.5mm, again not a problem for OSC. There is no doubt the IMX455/571 sensor is a game changer, when you read Olly Penrice talking up OSC you know times have changed. A real benefit of OSC cameras for inexperienced imagers is the ability to capture enough data in one-2 sessions to create a colour image, which improves satisfaction and builds confidence. New data can be added as, when available and the image reworked. This is especially beneficial in the U.K. where you never know when the next opportunity to image will come. That said, there are many cameras that will deliver exceptional images in the right hands and the time has never been better for picking up a good used bargain. Is this the time to make the move to mono? I have seen several complete mono kits (camera,FW & fitters) going for barging prices. Whatever you decide there is plenty of choice at this time.

Hi Jon, welcome to SGL. A great start to a fascinating and addictive hobby.

I would think the X2 in the current equipment setup is a close call even at 55mm BF, I only accounted for 1 mm inward focus to achieve the 54.5mm min BF with 9.5mm of spacers between the FW and the OAGM. Thanks for the heads up ref the ASI174MM, looks to be a possible solution. But at £500 delivered the cheaper option for me is to machine 4mm off the front of my X2, as long as I leave some thread I can use it with my SX setups using a 5mm extension. I have the TS130 photoline F7 and Altair 130EDT also F7. I have 3x 3” Altair 1.0 flatteners (51.5mm BF) and 3x Planostar 0.79 reducers (55mm BF) for my different triplets. I understand Altair’s new flatteners were modified to give a 55mm BF. Actually it may be possible for me to machine the ends of the 1.0 flattener cone to increase the BF to near 55mm.

Nice M45 without halos, is that the Chroma filter?

Great thread thanks Jonk and others for the information, you never stop learning. Being told I have spanner hands, I generally struggle when a sensitive touch is needed so I acquired a cheap spring balance which works great for balancing these mounts. As has already been said, both of mine have differing levels of stiction in different places as you rotate the RA & Dec axis even with the motors disengaged, but as Lucas says this is normal for these drives.

Problem After building my new QHY 268M, CFW3-M and OAGM setup I have been unable to get a guide camera to focus through the OAG. While the camera came with layout cards showing this setup for 55mm, I also hoped this arrangement would let me use my 3” flatteners (BF 52mm) with my TS&AA 130 triplets. Is it possible? Having attempted this setup my conclusions are: The minimum back focus (BF) this equipment arrangement can support is 54.5mm for a guide camera with 12.5mm BF. To achieve this BF the prism will have to be set at the very outer edge of the field of view. Note every mm the prism is extended into the optical path will necessitate the adding of a mm to the FW-OAGM spacers to keep the guide camera focus tied to the imaging camera and this will increase the overall setup BF. Whereas most OAGs keep the guide camera BF fixed while the prism is altered in the QHY OAG case it appears the guide camera is fixed in position and the BF is increased or reduced when the prism altered. The layout card for the above equipment included with the camera should show the additional spacers arranged between the CFW3 and the OAGM, with the exception of the 5mm M48 threaded spacer which stays in front to attach the kit to the flattener/reducer. The recent transition to short bodied cameras, QHY600M and 268M variant necessitates a redesigned OAG to deliver a short BF arrangement <55mm. To use this arrangement with my 3” Flatteners I will need to either cut 4-5mm off the front of my Loadstar X2 or replace the 4 round head screws for countersunk units, and use a thinner M48 threaded spacer, say 2-3mm. This would recover 3-4mm and that is what I am planning to do, or should I just butcher my Loadstar X2? Back ground From what I have ascertained the minimum back focus distance from the centre of the OAG prism to guide camera sensor is 33mm + back focus of guide camera. This is based on assumption the adjustable prism is placed just inside the optical field of view to achieve the shortest possible guide camera BF. The 33 mm is measured from centre of the prism to guide camera housing base that the guide camera front face mates to. A picture shows 30mm measured and there is 3mm taken up by material thickness and the 4 housing mounting screws with round heads ( countersunk heads could recover 1mm). The guide camera housing is 38mm deep and 39.5 with the 4 housing screws removed, so for the guide camera to reach the housing bottom the camera tube must be 38mm or greater. This limited my choice to Loadstar X2, my GPcam 2 body was to short. My Loadstar X2 has a back focus of 12.5mm. Therefore my OAGM minimum back focus is 33mm + 12.5mm = 45.5mm measured, but there is a practical need for some inward focus travel, say a minimum 1mm . Moving the adjustable prism further into the optical tube to extend this distance risks covering or shadowing the APS-C imaging sensor. Retracting the prism to shorten the distance results in blanking a portion of the prism image. Therefore I assess the minimum OAGM back focus distance with a Loadstar is 44.5mm (C) . Noting there is 5mm from the prism centre and plus the 5mm thick M48 threaded spacer makes the minimum BF this kit can support =54.5mm (B) assuming you have the necessary 9.5mm spacers (A) available. To use my 3” flatteners with their 52.1mm (inc filter compensation) BF, I will need to reduce the OAGM BF by 1-2mm. I hope to achieve this by swapping the round head screws for countersunk screws will recover 1mm and possibly shaving 1 mm off the Loadstar face. With FW-OAGM spacers (A) reduced to 8.5mm and the M48 threaded adapter swapped for a 3mm thick adapter I should be able to achieve a total back focus of 51mm, jod done. Now to find a 3mm thick M48 threaded adapter.

That is the way I operate my ZWO camera’s. With the QHY you are given more control over how to tailor the cameras sensor data to your chosen target, whether this is a good thing or not, only time will tell. Personalised offset and gain values can be stored with a title within the Driver for later selection. What would be beneficial is clear, unambiguous guidance on what startup settings the uninitiated user should adopt prior to developing their own skills. Have QHY already done this in the settings for DSO/Planetary that appear after initially loading the driver software or were these values chosen randomly. I can find nothing to suggest they are recommended values can anyone enlighten me?

Nice frame Spongey, great to see. The camera appears to be performing in line with the IMX455 sensor based units, just in a size better matched to a wider range of scopes.

Nice first light SyedT, typically I have had blanket cloud for the past 2 weeks and it doesn’t look likely to clear for another week. May I enquire what version of SDK you are running with?

The only spacer that is threaded for M54 is this one and I measured ( engineers ruler) it at 4mm which isn’t aligned with the diagrams. You are correct my bad, the filter wheel is the Medium not Large, was getting confused with my Q600 kit. Don’t seem to be able to edit the post at present to correct 🤔

It is always difficult to recommend a camera for other people as there are many factors that need to be considered. If you are able to buy new and your preference is for a cmos camera why would you consider a first generation unit with its known limitations when the second generation units are already available. The new 16 bit IMX based cameras are a substantial improvement in noise, QE and don’t suffer microlensing. If you are prepared to consider CCD as well as CMOs and used, there is plenty of choice and the market has been buoyant recently with some cracking cameras to be had.

Hi Steve, I have a mix of Pyxis LE, Night Crawler and am currently fitting Falcon rotators which has been somewhat delayed as I chase short thread adapters. The LE is limited as it can only be fitted to a 2” coupling, not ideal for imagery. The NC is integrated with the focuser as a package so limited to OTA by appropriate adapters. The falcon has M54 threaded input and output which integrates nicely with the emergence of M54 in the latest QHY kit and supports larger frame sensors. Unfortunately the lack of easily available thread adapters to connect the imaging components within short back-focus lengths remains a challenge at present, hopefully this situation will improve as M54 usage increases.

From my experience the way to determine the different focusers is via the assigned COM port and selecting it within the SGP equipment window, via the focuser mechanic button prior to connecting. I keep a note of the different settings for each imaging system, especially important when running 2 instances of SGP within the same PC. The SGP manual is excellent and should help.

Hi Simon the ZWO-071 is an APS-C size sensor with a pixel size of 4.78u, coupled with the Redcat 51 it will give you an image scale of 3.9 arc/sec per pixel. I have found an image scale of 1-2 arc/sec per pixel better suits U.K. skies.

Congratulations on your new camera. The new Sony IMX sensors are amazing and it will be an excellent match for your Esprit 100.

Yes it is, as the pictures show the QHY camera and FW are substantially larger than the ZWO equipment.

Thanks Adam, I know some members were keen to find out what adapters would be included.

Hi Guys the much waited for QHY268M has arrived along with CFW3M (7x36mm) and OAGM. The camera looks great and comes with the largest set of adapters I ever received with any camera. It felt strange bolting the camera direct to the FW, but was much appreciated given the limited back focus I have with several Flatteners and Reducers. Within the kit 2 layout cards are included that show how to use the adapters to achieve a back focus of 55mm, with either CFW3M or CFW3L and with or without the OAGM. I am relieved to see QHY have provided “real world” adapters with their camera that will allow most new owners to start using it straight out of the box. Having the camera secured to the FW will not be a problem for me as I have rotators fitted to most of my imaging equipment, though I can see it not being ideal for everyone. Cleaning the camera widow if dust settles will not be quick, given the FW has to be opened and carousel removed to gain access. Should one experience dew on the camera window, I noticed a channel in the camera body to allow air to be blown in and a rubber bung fills the hole, when not in use. I hope this information is of some benefit, now for some clear sky please.

Hi Neil, I don’t believe you can go wrong with the Mesu MK2, it is definitely a mount that does what it says, unlike some other mounts I have tried. Your camera choice is interesting, while I have a mix of Cmos and CCD camera’s (QHY, ZWO & SX) my last three additions are all IMX455/571 sensor based units. These sensors offer considerable improvement over the older Cmos sensors and are worthy of some investigation.

I suspect the 268M will come with the same spacer kit as the 268C, which is also identical to the 600L. While hoping to get the 268M next week, it’s unlikely I will get any imaging done as the sky here looks dismal for a week or so. The 268C doesn’t come with a tilt plate, it has a dovetail coupling to enable the camera to be rotated. I don’t like it much as it’s possible to off-centre the camera. Once I have the camera centred I only loosen one screw to rotate or remove the camera. I am thinking of using locktight on the other 2 screws.

Hi and welcome to SGL.

+1 support for the MESU Mk2. It is a brilliant mount that just delivers great tracking/guiding performance with the minimum of fuss.

Hi Neil, Welcome to SGL. It is a good time to get into AP, weather aside. Today there is a lot of choice with; cameras, optical equipment, mounts, capture and processing software. In fact so much choice that the first major challenge is determining what components support your individual needs. This forum will provide access to a lot of knowledgeable people who will be able to support you in your first steps and beyond. Enjoy the journey.

Stuart1971 “The Pegasus one is very good, so I have heard, but it’s wwwaaaayyyyy overpriced, as all the Pegasus kit is...” A review of rotators that are available today shows the Pegasus falcon is reasonably priced. Any commercial rotator has to be a precision instrument to support the necessary accuracy and strength criteria associated with the Astro imaging demands. Ultimately any failings in these areas will degrade the final image. Currently in the process of fitting a falcon rotator in my imaging system, thinking about rip offs in this community what about threaded adapters. I had to pay £145.79 for 4 x treaded adapters to fit the rotator, that’s a rip off.