R3tr0

On 17/06/2019 at 14:02, symmetal said:

Hi R3tr0,

Your replacement is certainly an improvement. There is still slight coma in the corners but whether that would bother you in real images where stacking would likely make it less noticeable only you can say.

Alan

Yeah it produces better images from my original, I'm ok with this version, I will post some images weather dependent.

Hi 

An update on my situation the Redcat has been tested and replaced by a tested version from Rother Vally Optics (thanks for there help, very good lads) I got out last night and did a few test shots. No editing except to save out as tff and crop out the cls filter on the "Med Exp" (this was taken in full frame mode, others were in APSC mode).

Test Recat 01 (Short Exp).tif Test Recat 03 (Med Exp).tif Test Recat 02 (Long Exp).tif

Heads up, the lads at Rother Valley are having the Redcat picked up and tested for me!

I'll let you know what happens from there!

3 minutes ago, FLO said:

We have just received another delivery of RedCat telescopes (WhiteCats too) so if someone has a problem with theirs please contact us, assuming of course it was purchased from FLO 🙂 

Currently we have experienced only three that required attention (the majority are performing well and customers are pleased) but if over time we conclude RedCats require additional quality control we will arrange that (sell them with Es' Reid checks). 

HTH, 

Steve 

Thanks for the heads up FLO, got mine from RVO I have informed them and awaiting a call back.

11 hours ago, Davey-T said:

I think mine takes the prize for worst sample so far.

Coma across entire image these are centre of images.

Dave

Hi Dave, I agree you are the prize winner. did you exchange or return or intend to get it fixed?

11 hours ago, Jkulin said:

I just had a look and whilst the centres were reasonable this is from the Top left, horrendous star shapes: -

Bottom Left: -

Bottom Right

Top Right

Middle

Sorry Scott, but I really think you have got a real problem with that OTA and I woudln't waste any more time with it.

I will most definitely not be buying one until I see some consistency with the quality

Hay no need for a sorry John< i'll see if they will take it back maybe exchange for something else, I appreciate the info from all on SL.

Sorry for the long delay but here is the promised image from the redcat straight from the camera *.ARW file. examine away.

This is with Sony A7R3 in cropped mode, single 50 sec, no filter, using a Skywatcher Star Adventurer.

DSC07172.ARW

18 hours ago, Davey-T said:

Is that a single frame ? if not could you post one unprocessed.

Dave

Ill post one later unprocessed, the black corners are the Internal cls edges.

21 hours ago, Davey-T said:

Stars look OK, could you post an uncropped one ?

Dave

Here you go (DNG), I am quite new to astro and any advice is appreciated, hard to get rid of colour cast from bottom left to top right.

No crop, edges of cls are visible, a little edit. 

A7R3 + Redcat 51 (moon half full)

Bode-s Gal-3.dng

First test with Redcat - 

Taken lastnight 30 x 90s and 12 darks.

Astronomic CLS.

Heavy crop from Sony A7R3.

@Jkulin - A heads up to anyone using a Sony Alpha camera and the Redcat 51 (I'm using the Sony Alpha A7R3) the train I purchased wont work, it is a little long.

- M48 Female to T2 Male Adaptor 6mm Optical Length

 - T-Mount for Sony Alpha

I have the official sony alpha adapter from WO now and that is perfect for the job - https://williamoptics.com/48mm-t-mount-for-sony-e-red

@Jkulin

Here are a couple of images of William Yangs Setup with the upcoming E mount adapter and i love that Pier/pod!

10 hours ago, Jkulin said:

Thanks Steve, unfortunately the Sony A7R3 is an e-mount

The official e-mount for the Sony will be available on the WO website next week along with some wildlife images done using the Redcat and the A7R3 ?

16 minutes ago, FLO said:

I confess I am not sure. I use a Canon DSLR, as do my colleagues. 

We stock an Astro Essential M48 to Sony Alpha / A and a William Optics William Optics DSLR-M48 to Sony NEX. I am guessing your camera requires the former but I don't now. 

Jkulin appears to know Sony so perhaps he will confirm? 

HTH, 

Steve 

I have asked William Yang for his advice on this, I do know WO are developing a single unit for the Sony Alpha full frames to adapt the Redcat to but its still in development phase!

On 17/04/2019 at 12:04, FLO said:

I confess I am not sure. I use a Canon DSLR, as do my colleagues. 

We stock an Astro Essential M48 to Sony Alpha / A and a William Optics William Optics DSLR-M48 to Sony NEX. I am guessing your camera requires the former but I don't now. 

Jkulin appears to know Sony so perhaps he will confirm? 

HTH, 

Steve 

Just found this - 

https://sonyreconsidered.com/sony-a-mount-vs-e-mount-bc14739d5473

"While NEX, FE, and E mount lenses are all made to fit interchangeably, the A mount is not compatible into that system without an adapter."

So I think both would be needed?

3 minutes ago, FLO said:

Would this not be a good solution: 

M48 Camera Adapter 

If yes then we already stock them, in Sony fit too ?

Steve 

Would this be all that I needed, so this would go straight on the Scope and marry to the camera (full frame FE Mount) without any adapter?

RVO have no issue with me canceling the adaptors! I have them waiting on the Redcat arriving!

3 minutes ago, FLO said:

 

Please don’t be concerned about posting a link. If a competitor has a useful adapter that is not already listed at FLO then we need to know so we can add it to our stock ?

I am impressed you are speaking with William Yang. I don’t think I have had the pleasure. 

Steve 

Ok, thanks here you go for the links -

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/rother-valley-optics-m48-female-to-t2-male-adaptor-6mm-optical-length.html

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/rother-valley-optics-t-mounts.html

With William Yang I basically requested a reaction to comments made about the Redcat 51 on a You Tube channel on the "email us" section of the WO website, I wasn't expecting William to personally answer but he did and we have on going dialogue. A really nice and open guy.

8 minutes ago, Jkulin said:

So is the Red cat a T2 (42mm) fitment?

If you have a 48mm T adapter with the e-mount can I ask where you got that from?

PM sent.

2 minutes ago, Jkulin said:

So is the Red cat a T2 (42mm) fitment?

If you have a 48mm T adapter with the e-mount can I ask where you got that from?

I guess I could PM you? Im new here so Ill see if there is any option for that?

On 17/04/2019 at 09:07, Jkulin said:

Slightly off topic, but I have just bought the same camera and was interested in the red cat, where did you manage to find a 48mm T adapter and what back focus are you going to work to when the red cat arrives?

Hi I have on order the following to attach it to the A7R3 -

 - M48 Female to T2 Male Adaptor 6mm Optical Length

 - T-Mount for Sony Alpha

WO are working on production of a single adapter so may get this if the setup i am getting is any way awkward.

"what back focus are you going to work to when the red cat arrives?" The redcat has about 4" of travel with the helical focus mechanism which is part of the petzval design so there is no issue, with focusing.

EDIT: I did not get these from FLO, but I think they should be able to sort this out for you if you give them a call, I don't want to mention a competitor on there forum.

4 hours ago, Buzzard75 said:

He does a lot of talking, but doesn't really say a lot, if you know what I mean. I don't think he fully understands the construction of the RedCat, the differences between it and the original Petzval design (4-element/3-groups vs 4-element/2-groups) or the actual purpose of FPL-53 glass. The design of the RedCat appears to be very similar to Takahashi's and I can't imagine anyone in their right mind would say the same things he's said about them. I don't know what his background is, but I think there's a reason this person only has a fraction of the subscribers and why this video is three weeks old with only a few hundred views. I have a hard time believing he is a professional photographer of any sort because he states someone wouldn't use manual focus with an automatic focusing lens. That is just patently false. He made a few valid points, but the ones he made seemed somewhat petty to me. I honestly wouldn't put a lot faith in anything this person is saying.

 

Yes, William Yang also mentions the Takahashi FSQ106 and TeleVue 101 are also Petzval designs. WO has tested the redcat with both the Vixen 55SS and Borg 55, with the redcat coming out better.

6 hours ago, bokchoy ninja said:

You use the redcat 51 with the star adventurer? Any issue with weight? Do you use a guider?

Thanks!

I'm waiting for the redcat (1.47kg) to arrive, I currently use A Sony 100-400 GM (1.3kg) on a A7R3 and have to use an WO Extension bar to balance it out, No guider!

EDIT: One of the reasons i have opted for the Redcat is the 100-400 lens is a focus by wire so is a little awkward to hit focus manually. 

25 minutes ago, Sland said:

To me, that is suspicious

He did not say I couldn't post the email, when I asked him if he was ok with the idea of me posting the email, that question was one of a few he did not answer and I don't want to press him on that matter, I am personally very grateful of time he has given me. As for the Redcat and how capable it is, William is very confident in it, and his enthusiasm has passed on to me!   

5 hours ago, bokchoy ninja said:

Holy moly, great looking shots. If I already have a nikkor 180mm f2.8, is there a reason to jump on this purchase? Or should I go longer to image smaller objects? I use a star adventurer and nikon d7100 btw.

Not necessarily, you should be able to get great images from your set up, I also use the star adventurer and properly aligned should get 5+ minute exposures, alot relys on stacking software and skills with Photoshop/lightroom and this was using an astro modded D800.

Ok, William got back to me with some info on this image - 

No filters , Total exposure time 4.5 hours,  Using Nikon D800 mod, 5 minutes each shot and stacked  All together processing by Pixinsight and photoshop .