SteveMunro

4 hours ago, Jkulin said:

Steve, The back focus is the critical thing so 55mm from your CCD to the face plate of the Esprit field flattener, you will need that if you buy the scope. Remember to add extra for filters etc.

You will need to see if any of the photographic retails make a Sony T2-Adapter,  if not then you'll need to obtain a Sony>Nikon or Sony>Canon adapter and then you can use a proprietary T adapter to the Esprit, but watch your back focus as you really need to identify the CCD distances of your Sony.

I had to to do similar for my Leica, with a Leica to Nikon and then a Nikon T-Adapter.

Hope that helps?

Thanks John; I'm a cinematographer so understand the importance of back focus. My issue is that the store advertises a Sony E-Mount as well as an M-48 adapter so, despite the e-mount being listed as specifically for my camera, the guy I spoke to said it "wasn't but [I'd] need something to sort out the back focus" which of course I know but he couldn't tell me what I needed to do it! So, I understand and thank you for your reply John but, I can't be the only person that has wanted to put this camera on a scope so what, specifically, do I need to do it? Is there anyone out there that has done this, e.g. this thread's creator? Many thanks, Steve.

OK, if Jamie is not around to give the answer I need - can anyone else tell me what adapters I need to fit a SONY a7Rii to a Skywatcher Esprit 100mm Triplet Super Apo? I've tried asking the shop that sells the scope but I was being sent around in circles, and I've tried phoning SkyWatcher here in Australia and was told I'd need to wait a few days while they tried to figure it out themselves (!!WTF!!). I have my wallet ready to buy this scope but it seems no-one can let me know how I can fix my camera to it despite the scope being advertised "with the discerning astrophotographer in mind." Come on, it can't be that difficult can it?

On 17/08/2018 at 00:32, Selborne said:

Hi Guys,

I thought I would share with you my first hand experience of the Skywatcher ED100 Pro Esprit Telescope, I have only had it a few months, but so far I am extremely happy with the results, it is so sharp and the contrast is very high.

I live in a small town, Stowmarket, Suffolk, UK, where the light pollution is not to bad, but still I have to be cautious with the direction I choose to point the telescope.   All my astrophotography is done from the back garden on my patio.

I have had a few different telescopes over the years, but I always found myself moving more and more into astrophotography, so after some research I selected the Skywatcher ED100 Pro Esprit, as many of the other users had commented on the sharpness and contrast.  As I wanted to focus on more wide field astrophotography the F5.5 speed giving 550mm seemed the right choice, I also use an ED50 Skywatcher Guide Scope with an Altair Astro ASI130mm camera for the guiding and of course PHD2 software, all mounted on my Skywatcher HEQ6 mount.

Here is a shot of the Andromeda Galaxy, 20 x 30s stills at ISO 800 on my Sony A7Rii, no filters just RAW images processed with Photoshop, Stacked Mean option.  I used the Trevor Jones video on his BackyardAstro You Tube page for processing DSO's and it seems to work very well.  What you will see from the image is just how sharp it is, something that really surprised me when I processed the images.

This has inspired me to spend more time outside in the garden to photograph more objects, plus I have recently purchased an Astronomic CLS Filter for my Sony A7Rii, so I am looking forward to using this to see if it improve the contrast.  I will keep you informed.

Also I am looking forwarded to trying my Olympus EM1 MK2 camera, yes I know it does not have the capabilities of the Sony A7Rii for light gathering, but it does have a really clever mode where it can stack the images in camera to reduce noise, so I will also let you know how this went as well.

Best Regards

Jamie

 

 

5

Hi Jamie, thanks for sharing your incredible Image. I have a quick question, if you don't mind, that is related to both scope and camera (i.e. I own A7rii and I'm wanting to buy the Skywatcher Esprit 100). What mounts are you using to attach the camera to the scope? I've been in touch with Bintel and, unfortunately this time, they are unable to give me the information I need so, as you are using both which I intend to use, can you please let me know how it all came together for you? All the best, Steve