Gregely

Thanks Mark

10 minutes ago, MarkAR said:

ENS Optical has a few from £700, hope you get the Ebay one cheap.

I hope that too...😀

Thank you for the replies.

Even though incorrect I still learned a lot from the resulting searches, plus you are the only one with input so far. 

I think I am going to go for it I just hope I don't overpay.

Hmm.

I looked up the atik 314L and I think it has a different sensor. Icx285al

The starlight Xpress sxv-h9 has the same sensor but the sxv-m9 according to the manual has the icx423al

I have been looking at the datasheets for both and the icx285al seems to have better sensitivity on different wavelengths than the icx423al.

That makes me want to ask the question: Is the sxv-m9 going to be much more sensitive than my Olympus e-pl7?

I want to think yes but I really don't know enough. I wonder if anyone can help with this?

Thank you

Greg

ICX423AL.pdf ICX285AL.pdf

Thanks Stuart

I'm off to Google it.

I don't suppose you would know what would be a sensible price for a camera like this.

What I left out of my essay is that I don't have a lot of money...

Shocking isn't it... 😀

Hello SGL

I am looking at a used old (2004 ish if I'm correct) starlight Xpress sxv-m9 and guide head.

I have been googling my bottom off but I cannot find any information/review of the camera apart from the manual and a few vague references.

What I know:

Small format big pixels. (752x582)

The sensor active area I'm not sure of as the manual states in 2 separate places 2 different values, 6.5mm X 4.8mm,  and 8.72mm X 6.5mm.

Pixel size: massive (11.6um X 11.2um)

Quantum efficiency: 60% at 520nm from the icx423al sensor whatever that means. I  mean I know the higher the efficiency the more sensitive but that is just a number for me at this point.

It has a lot of useful features such as star2000, but it comes with a guider head so it wouldn't be needed.

Now the questions:

What it is like to use?

Aa beginner I have only used a mirror less Olympus camera and haven't done guiding yet since I have no guide camera. So if it doesn't work out as an imaging camera I could use it as a guide cam.

How durable are these?

It is old 16 years give or take.

Would it work in Windows 10? I think it does but I would like confirmation.

What is it worth? I really not want to overpay on a possible gamble.

I am looking to use it on my sct for small and bright and I will buy a refractor or a 6" Newtonian for "wider" fov.

Is it cooled? 

In the manual the intro states cooled, could anyone confirm/expand on that please.

Lastly anything else I should know?

Bare in mind I like older unused unloved older equipment even though I could get much better and/or easier results with newer.

Sorry for the long post.

Thanks 

Greg

Hi SGL

I popped this topic on CN too but noone seems to know anything.

I came by an old Celestron Ultima 8 pre-PEC. I really like the scope and the mount it may be that I have read too much of Uncle Rod's and other's praise that I feel this scope has some intangible personality and charm.

Anyway...

Circuitry in the base seems to work fine even though the batteries don't hold charge but drive the Ra axis . I have 2 replacement on its way to me.

Now my issue: It didn't come with a hand controller. I know it is not needed for tracking, and I don't have a Dec motor but I find it would be useful for centering in RA and D.A.R.V. method drift alignment.

I was on the verge of making a crude controller out of veroboard and 4 momentary switches that I thought to be correct from the info on various sites, but then I came across an Ultima 8 project that clearly showed the hand controller for my scope.

The pic attached is the one.

I am looking for help on how the dial and buttons are wired in and/or photos of the innards of the hand controller or if anyone knows what else is inside the handbox.

The sources I was going on so far is a combination of the following 3 links:

https://www.cloudyni...ding/?p=8015749

https://onstep.group...in/message/6300

https://github.com/garlick/ultima8/blob/master/base/README.md

These of course don't include drive rate rotary switch in the middle and if I could I would really like to to restore the full ability of this mount without spending too much  on electronics. Plus I don't want to spend time and effort on wiring something that doesn't work.

Oh and lastly I have no background  or experience in electronics just own a soldering station and a whole lot of determination.

Thanks in advance

Greg

So it has been a few weeks I just wanted to put an update on in case anyone is interested.

So the mount and scope has been listed 5 times on eBay I put in 140 for it got accepted. 

I picked it today overall so far happy with my purchase. No details had been really checked apart from visual observing and checking Ra/Dec movement. Seems fine.

I can see no immediate issues with the mount.

The scope seems in good nick mirror doesn't seem to have anything on it I can see down the tube.

Hopefully tomorrow I can check it out more in dept  try my first ever collimation and hoping that tomorrow night I can see a few stars peeking between the clouds and try it with the 4se and the 8" Newtonian that came with it. 

Greg

2 hours ago, Cosmic Geoff said:

It seems that you are determined to buy the outfit you cite despite the advice given. ?   If you are used to a dinky 4SE the weight and bulk of a 203mm Newt and EQ mount may come as a nasty shock.

I would point out that the combination of 200mm Newtonian + equatorial mount, while often offered to beginners is particularly user-unfriendly. See my negative comments under "Advice on eyepiece" here.  As for resale value, I paid £60 + carriage for my 203mm Newtonian OTA.  The seller had been dropping the price in an effort to shift it.

Thanks Geoff

I may seem stubborn but I do take the advice onboard. I doubt the seller will accept my offer...

I have no intention to keep the OTA I would probably just try to sell it and keep the mount. If nobody buying it maybe tinker with it take it apart learn from it so if/when I buy a good quality bigger scope. I am thinking at least a year before I move up or more.

2 hours ago, Cosmic Geoff said:

Re EAA, you should experiment with the kit you have got, and if you buy anything else, buy it to purpose and not because it's cheap. Be clear about what you are trying to achieve. For planets, if you are not satisfied with the eyeball view, forget EAA and go for planetary imaging. You can dabble in this with your current 4SE and a suitable planetary video camera.  Your 4SE with its built in flip mirror is actually designed for this. (If I quoted the cost new of my current planetary imaging setup you would probably feel ill ?).

This is the plan when I said EAA I probably wasn't clear that I just want to use the sensor of my (or future webcam, imaging device etc.) Camera to add to the visual observing. And I am aware that this hobby probably will over the years will eat up tens of thousands of pounds (it's the my wife's fault she got me the scope...?)

I am keeping the 4se OTA for sure.

1 hour ago, Rob said:

For Info:

The EXOs-2 is basically a Celestron CG5. Its has metal bearings on both axis, so it is slightly better than a EQ5 and hence the 13kg payload. You can also retro fit the Skywatcher EQ5 goto upgrade (only mod required is to change one fitting bolt on the RA). I have fully researched this in the past.

Also. I'm with John here on the OTA. It may/will be poor, and poss unrsellable to be fair!.

If it were me I'd skip it unless you could bag the setup for silly money!. Rob

Thanks Rob

That is the confirmation information I was looking for.

I might be masochistic (probably am...?) I want to go Spartan fully manual for at least a bit to force myself to learn the equipment which I can later (year or so) add electronic aids to (motor drives, goto functionality etc) I feel I will learn more that way if I get frustrated I cannot simply switch to the GOTO. 

Well I will be making a silly offer I think the seller will be happy with it but you don't ask you don't get...?

Lastly I just want to thank everyone on SGL for all the advice and putting up with my stubbornness.

Greg

That is what I read too apart from a higher payload capacity of 13kg for visual just under heq5's 15kg. But if I could get it for about £125-£150 that could mean that in a year or so saving I could have an 8" Newtonian OTA or sct on it for visual. So  would that be worth it mind it doesn't have any motors.

12 minutes ago, John said:

I would not even consider it for any money I'm afraid - I can't see the point when you can buy a used Skywatcher 200P optical tube for around £100-£120 on the used market and that will have good optics (I've owned a few of them).

I understand that, it is the mount that I want really. Is the Bresser exos-2 mount really that rubbish?

Thank you John

That is interesting. I haven't made up my mind I probably will leave it or I might make a ridiculously low offer on it.

Anyone else has anything to add? 

How about exos2 is that a good mount?

I know heq5 five is the best for me but I am just interested. There seems to be a lot of mixed reviews on it and bad about its GOTO.

Thanks

Greg

8 minutes ago, RolandKol said:

Just an opinion....

Before you go ahead an buy something cheaper than HEQ5, check how many nights are cloudless in your area...
So if you will start your DYI project from a very cheap mount, - you will end up wasting £££££ and LOoooots of Clear nights.... Which are somewhere between 1 and 3 per month in Uk... sadly...
Just imagine, - you placed some motors, connected, checked during a day time, looks all good... And wait 3 or 4 weeks to test... during a test you find out something does not work as should be... so wait for another 3 weeks ...

plus, keep in mind, even if the night is clear, - you cannot be 100% you will be able to image due to other/personal reasons.

Summer comes... If you are able to see planets, you can try Planetary imaging on your current setup, you just need a high speed cam, record short vids 30sec or 60 depends how fast Planets will drift of your FOV, - with highest frame rate per sec as possible and stack the best frames from them...

and if you will start enjoying the hobby, unfortunately... start saving £££....

and the highspeed cam you can use as a guidercam later.

This is great input I hadn't considered the missed clear nights. Hmm something to think about. But I do enjoy a good tinker....Hmm...

Is a Bresser exos-2 that much inferior to the heq5? 

How about the Newtonian OTA in question? Anyone wants to weigh in on that?

Thanks

Thank you everyone for the quick response

I heard that good advice is to be found on here.

Astrophotography as in full blown autoguiding and hours worth of exposures is not really my interest I simply wish to locate an object (get the satisfaction of finding it) observing it through the scope than snapping a photo or two to enhance the details (within limits)

DSLR only astrophotography doesn't really intrest me.

So I was looking at the heq5 but used on astro buy and sell it starts for £400 but more like £500. So that would be quite long before I could have one.

The way I am thinking is if I do this I can have an eq mount now, that is good enough to learn an eq mount. Also has prospects over time.

Can an exos-2 with mods match up to a heq5?

What I read an eq5 motor would fit (little bit of DIY) the exos-2 so I could start out with a single axis motor drive to give me basic tracking. 

Is this true?

Anybody would like to estimate the resell value of the Newtonian? (Provided it is what I think it is and not ruined. I know it's a risk)

Sorry for the multitude of questions but I feel that this is a good deal so I don't want to pass it up to regret it.

I will learn to write short posts I promise...

Thank you

Hi there SGL

It is very long winded so sorry...

I am a complete newbie/beginner of astronomy. So you probably can all point out why I am wrong that I cannot see.

So:

Backstory:

My wife bought me a Celestron nexstar 4se for Christmas that kick stared me on my long dormant interest in astronomy and the night sky.

I like the OTA and the simplicity of use but I found that I get more enjoyment of learning about the sky rather than just looking at something in the eyepiece that the magic fairy of GOTO bring up for me.

Also I found I learned more from finding alignment stars than using the GOTO function.

I am interested in taking photos of the objects with my M4/3 DSLR through the telescope, not to take the visually most pleasing images but to utilize the sensitivity of the sensor where my eyes fail me. (Hopefully training my eye will improve on that)

So more like EAA without the live aspect. I really don't mind waiting for 30-60 seconds for a photograph to expose and then loon at the details my eyes cannot record.

So that brings me to the question:

My funds are so limited that I need to make the changes from the price my 4se mount (ideally I would like to keep using the OTA after all it is a present...)

I found on eBay (I know now I am asking for it) an 8" Newtonian f4.5 (900mm) ON a manual Bresser exos-2 mount. For under £200

My primary interest is in the mount I know I will not be able to track for photography with it until a RA motor drive been fitted but I think I could learn the ropes with a manual then Mod the mount later (when funds allow it) maybe going for a full Onstep mod in the distant future.

What I read about this mount is that payload is 13 for visual and 7 for photography that is more than an eq5 so I can future proof myself a little. Also tracking meant to be good on this. Neq5, eq6, advanced vx, atlas are all out of the question as they are too expensive.

Is this mount suitable for my needs?

Secondly:

The 8" Newtonian is a noname "Astronomical Telescope" see below.

What my detective work points to is that this scope most likely is this:

https://www.barride-optics.com/html/Astronomical-Telescope_Reflector-Telescope_1547.html

It is parabolic and I cannot see anything fundamentally wrong with it.

I am hoping that this is a pre branded OK (not great) OTA that I can sell to cover some of the subsequent costs.

So should I buy this is this a good option?

sorry for the long winded post

And thank you

Hi

well I have just signed up to this forum with all intentions to ask about equipment and the like. I didn't think that my first post on the forum would be this but after reading this post (one of multiple) I just have to thank the poster.

So thank you.