bluesilver

Thanks for the replies, I hadn't heard of them before and just did a bit of a search. These are the wooden ones i take it? A tad hard to find them here in Australia, but still need to search a bit more. I did come across AVALON T-POD 90 TRIPODs though, similar sort of design, not sure what they are like either. But i am guessing much better than the standard tripod mount even with the GEOPTIK TRIANGLE

Hi, I currently have one of the new Skywatcher AZ/EQ6 mounts and i am now planning to mount a Skywatcher Esprit 150 on his mount for imaging. A big ask i know and the weight will be getting up there. But i have been doing a bit of a search around and came across a few things from A company called Geoptik, I think they are Italian. But what i have found is a product they call GEOPTIK TRIANGLE FOR TRIPODS, Basically they attach to the legs and make the tripod more stable https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p7713_Geoptik-30A502---Triangle-for-various-mount-tripods-like-EQ6.html And also a GEOPTIK SADDLE UPGRADE FOR AZ-EQ6 & NEQ6 Just interested to know if anyone has had any experience with any of these before or know if they are a worth while upgrade?

Thanks, if all else fails i will have to look at that slide in adaptor you put a link to. I was a tad concerned with that long T-adaptor that is used for the DSLR. Below is what it looks like without the long T-adaptor.

Thanks heaps for the photos, yes looks like a slightly different setup to hat i have. This is what i have now ended up with, Just wasn't too sure if i had it right, but looking at you setup it is similar I haven't got a reducer or flattener in mine. Pretty much just remove the DSLR and install the asi017mc Dose this setup look right to you? first time using one of these cameras as i have just been using DSLR before. Just have to wait for a clear night to see how it all works.

Hi, Just had a reply from another source and it appears to work, not sure if it is correct or not. But this long 2" T adaptor with 48mm thread that came with the scope, screwed onto the end of this T-adaptor is an attachment for a Canon DSLR ( i forgot to mention this bit sorry ) I have found that if you unscrew this Canon ring adaptor of the end of this long 2" T adaptor with 48mm thread, you then have this Canon ring adaptor. On the Canon ring adaptor there is 3 small flat head screws, undo these and and the ring adaptor comes apart in 3 pieces, a Canon adaptor, ring with a 48mm thread and a adaptor that is something like 3" to 48mm. You set aside the first two pieces, and re screw this 3" to 48mm adaptor back onto the long 2" T adaptor with 48mm thread. Then the ZWO asi017mc spaces screw straight onto it. So long story short, if i have this all setup and installed correctly, the ZWO asi017mc camera now screws directly onto this long 2" T adaptor with the the two spacers attached. Basiaccly just taking of the DSLR camera and reinstalling the asi017mc in its place. Dose this all sound correct?

Thanks again for the reply, very much appreciated. Is there by any chance you have a photo of this setup? I am just trying to work out a picture this 2" adaptor. My scope doesn't have this 2" adaptor and also didn't come with a diagonal either. I have got a 2" GSO diagonal that i use when i want to use eyepieces, but even after unscrewing this i can't see how to fix the ASI017MC to the scope. My scope came with what they call a 2" T-adaptor with 48mm thread and a Canon T-Ring 48mm http://www.astroanarchy.com.au/telescopes/Skywatcher_ED150_Deluxe.html But still no lock getting them to attach to the camera. My camera as i am guessing is the same as most ZWO asi cameras, has a female thread on the camera, the two spacers have a male and female thread, so that once they are screwed onto the camera you are left with a female thread on the spaces. That then means that i need a male thread at the focuser end to allow me to screw the spacers onto. The camera come with two spacers, T2 21mm extender, T2 48mm 16.5mm extender and a M42 - M48 adaptor. http://www.astroanarchy.com.au/astrophotography/ZWO_071MC_Pro.html I think i need to connect the camera and spacers to the end of the 2" T adaptor with 48mm thread, if i take this 2" T-adaptor of i am left with something like a 78mm thread ( 3"), way to big far any of the fittings that came with the camera. Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the reply, appreciated. I have the Evostar 150 ED DS-Pro which has the apochromatic lens element and a Crayford duel speed focuser When you say connecting the DSLR to the focuser, Mine came with that adaptor included, it just screws onto the focuser and the DSLR then just connects to this. I just then wind out the focuser to get a correct focus. Just trying to work out how to connect this ASI107MC to the focuser. It would be great if i could find out more about this Evostar ED 150 0.77x Focal Reducer / Flattener, sounds like the right one, but just waiting to here back.

Hi, I have a bit of trouble trying to find out what the correct flattener / reducer to use for the Skywatcher Evostar 150ED Deluxe The Deluxe version is pretty much the same as the standard version but with the upgrade focuser. ( black focuser not the standard white one ) I am lead to believe that the focuser on the Deluxe version is the focuser from the Skywatcher Esprit 150 So i am looking to mount a ZWO ASI107MC camera to this scopes focuser. I think i need a flattener / reducer to make this happen. Now i see that Skywatcher make the standard ED 150 Refractor 0.85x Focal Reducer / Corrector, but i think this is for the standard model with the standard white focuser. I think i need the one for the Esprit 150, they call it Esprit 150 Refractor 0.77X Focal Reducer / Flattener. But i have just seen on a site here in Australia one called Evostar ED 150 0.77x Focal Reducer / Flattener. Now they both look the same but the specs are slightly different Esprit specs are: F/D = 5.4 F= 809mm Image Circle = 36mm Evostar specs are: F/D = 6.2 F = 925mm Image Circle = 34mm I can't get hold of the Shop here and they still haven't replied to emails so was hoping i might be able to possibly get some advice from here? I haven't seen this Evostar ED 150 0.77x Focal Reducer / Flattener listed anywhere else, i have done a bit of searching and nothing has come up which is a bit odd, can't even see any of them on Skywatchers site either. So basically just trying to find out what is the correct Reducer / Flattener to use with this scope and if the camera will mount directly onto it, or is there another way to mount the camera? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Apologies Michael, Not really nailed it, Just trying to work out actually how to get the correct numbers, You did give me a link and the formula but part of it i could work out how you got the numbers and i didn't really get to find out how You are correct though in that we went over pretty much all of it, just the main part of working it out i was asking about here. Seelive has got the answers i was looking for, combined with the answers on cloudy nights i think that has tided up the loose ends.

Hi, So i have been guiding without dithering mainly because i didn't and still don't know how to correct set it up So my equipment is: Imaging camera - Canon 600D ( specs say Pixel width and height are both 4.3um Main scope is 1200mm focal length aperture 150mm Guide camera is ASI290mm mini ( specs tell me it is pixel size is 2.9um ) Guide scope is 240mm focal length aperture 60mm From what i have read doing a bit of research is that they recommend a setting of 12 for dithering distance in APT But i am trying to work out how to get to these numbers, ( I guess i just like doing things the hard way ) Mainly want to know how to work it all out if i change to a dedicated Astro camera i can then go back and work out a correct dither for that when and if the time comes. So some just say leave the scale setting in PHD2 to 1 and just set the dithering distance to 12 in APT, that is all good, but would be really nice to know how these numbers are come by. I have played around with the settings in astronomy tool https://astronomy.tools/calculators/ccd I put my camera pixel size in ( 4.3 ) and telescope focal length ( 1200 ) and get a figure of 0.74 I then put my guide camera pixel size in ( 2.9 ) and guide scope focal length ( 240 ) and get a figure of 2.49 That is about as far as i can get with my understanding, not really sure what those final numbers mean and how i am suppose to use them. If anyone can please help me out here, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Yes, i fist did think that a 5X barlow would be a tad extream, but i may very well be wrong here and most possibly are, But from what i have read, they say that the best f-number for imaging planets is around f 20, dose this sound correct? As my 16" Skywatcher Dobsonian is rated at f 4.4 Camera is ASI224mc Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks for the replies, appreciated. That is the issue with the Skywatcher goto setup, I don't think you can get ascom to work with it as it is only designed for mounts like the AZ-EQ6 type mounts, not the straight up and down, left right mounts like the goto It would be great if it could, that is what i generally use with the AZ-EQ6 mount, but now want to use FireCapture with the goto mount and Dobsonian. I figure i should get way better images from the Dobsonian especially being 16" Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Hi, I am hoping someone mght be able to give me some advice or information in regards to FireCapture and using it with a Dobsonian with goto. So i have a 16" Skywatcher Dobsonian that is on a goto mount The camera that i have is the ASI224mc camera for planetary imaging. I was thinking about using FireCapture and the Dobsonian for doing some planetary imaging when the planets come back around for us in the Southern Hemisphere. Now i have been using FireCapture on a Skywatcher AZ-EQ6 mount with another scope and works great as i drive everything via ascom and the laptop, so no hand held controller. I just came up with the idea that i should really be using the Dobsonian for this planetary imaging as it would give much better results hopefully. So the question is, can FireCapture be used with the Dobsonian goto mount? Generally FireCapture slightly moves the mount to keep track of the image of so i think when using the AZ-EQ6 mount. I realize that FireCapture has the option in the menus to keep the object centered inside the box ( ROI ) this is what i always have been using, i was just interested to know if this will all work with a goto mount as FireCapture has no way of controlling the mount at all? I will be using a 5X barlow to get the ideal f- number up to around f20 Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks heaps for those photos. Helps explain the setup a lot. I will definitely look into this setup as it looks to be spot on for what i am after. I have a bit of gear here that i can use to tweak the setup a bit, but overall very impressed with that setup. Greatly appreciated.

I should of also asked it it is an issue to have the guide scope mounted off to one side rather than having it directly mounted above the shoe of the scope? Just looking at some options as there was a few things mentioned that i didn't first pick up which is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks for the replies, appreciated. Good to know it will fit the AZ-EQ6 mount, Yes i was thinking about that balance and was wondering if that small foot would allow enough room to get a correct balance. Also a good pick up on the guide scope being off to one side, i didn't even notice that in the images until it has just been mentioned. I like the idea now of going with scope rings to at least get the guise scope to sit directly about the mount. Any chance that you might have a photo of the setup with the it fitted with the fitted Primalucelab scope rings? Very interested in this setup as i think that is the way i would go. It would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

Hi, Just after a bit of information on the Skywatcher Esprit 80 I have a new Skywatcher AZ-EQ6 mount, ( the one that has the green dials, USB post and came supplied with dual heads ) I was just interested to know if i purchased a new Esprit 80, would the foot fit straight onto my mount or would i need to purchase a separate foot to get it to mount correctly? I have been trying to do a bit of a search for this but so far unable to find out. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Might not be quiet related to the equipment that you have, but if you use SharpCap, this will polar align you very well, this is what i use in the Southern hemisphere and works a treat.

Thanks for the replies, appreciated. Yes, i have been using astronomy tools to work out how things might look with different cameras and scope. I did look at the Williams line of scopes, but was interested to here what people thought of the Esprit 80 as it is suppose to be a good scope. Not to be confused with the Evostar 80 Was looking at Skywatcher mainly because this is what i currently have and been using. I think the Esprit 80 comes with a dedicated flatter / reducer also, could be wrong, but will check into that.

Hi, I am hoping to get a bit of advice on which way i should possibly be going here. I am looking for a scope for imaging. I currently am using a large Skywatcher Evostar 150ED, it is a great scope but just a little too big when i am trying to take images of the larger nebulas like Orion. For instance, with the Evostar 150ED, when i am imaging Orion, i get pretty much all the entire Orion Nebular. I would like a smaller scope so that i can get the running man Nebular in the same frame, ( i hope that makes sense ) The 80mm looks like to be a good size scope for these larger Nebulars. I am imaging with a Cannon 600D DLSR camera. Mount is a Skywatcher AZ-EQ6 Guide scope is an Orion 60mm guide scope. So after all that, i was just interested to here what everyone's advise is on going for a Skywatcher Esprit 80 or look at a Williams scope. I have read that the Skywatcher Esprit already has a flattener installed in the design, where the Williams line you need to get one separate. I am leaning more to the Skywatcher as it is what i already have, just need a larger dove tail to fit the AZ-EQ6 shoe. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks for the replies, appreciated. Yes i did forget to mention about the mount. I am using the Skywatcher AZ-EQ6 and guiding with PHD2 Everything is run of a laptop completely, just need to get a electric foucuser I appreciate all input and advise. Yes, i will have to have a look at those reducers as well, I thought the scope might be a tad on the large side for imaging with, but wasn't planning on using it for that at the time. A smaller scope like a 80mm or 100mm would of probably been a better choice for imaging with. Thanks.

Hi, I am looking to get into a bit for of the astrophotography side of things. I am mainly looking image galaxies and nebular I currently have a ASI 224MC camera for planetary imaging but now looking to something dedicated for DSO My scope is a Skywatcher Evostar 150ED Focal length is 120mm and F8 I have been trying to find the best camera suited for this scope. I have been using Astronomy tools to try and work out what is best suited and i wanted to stay with ZWO just because i am already using one of them. I want to go with a color camera as i am still learning all this and the added extra complications and filter with a mono camera might be a tad too much at this stage for me. So in the end i came back with two options: ASI071MC and ASI294MC The ASI017MC looks to give a slighter wider view than the ASI294MC but they both look to be a good match for this scope. I have no idea on what binning is or what it means, so i left that part alone So what i was hoping was for any advice on what my choices on these two cameras are, weather i have selected poorly or if they would be a good choice. I have a guide scope and guide camera, Guide scope is an Orion 600 guide scope and the guide camera is a ASI290mm mini Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Yes, i first thought that also and them thought that GSO might of been a cheaper version of the StellaLyra. But after emailing them about it, it is definitely the correct price, they are one of the better deal places we have here.

Looks like a nice setup and also interesting looking at the link for the carbon truss setup version. I don't know if there is much of a differance between brands, but i see the one you linked to was a StellaLyra version, I can get GSO version of the same thing for around £770 less. Now that seams like a lot, but is the GSO brand a lot cheaper? The site is not the best to navigate through, But i just scrolled down and selected Guan Sheng Optical Then it was just not far from the top of the page if interested. http://www.andrewscom.com.au/optical-telescopes

Thanks for the replies, appreciated. Yes, forgot to mention the imaging camera i would be using, apologies for that. It is the ZWO ASI224MC A C14 would be great, but i have heard a lot of mixed review in regards to that scope, it appears that it is a 50 50 ratio if you get a good one or a bad one. But always open to advice. The StellaLyra 8" f/12 M-LRS Classical Cassegrain as mentioned looks to be interesting option also.