Pryce

Indeed, that's what I'm thinking as well. I had already ordered a automatic focuser from FLO, which I believe should get me around the dual speed focuser issue. And moving the primary mirror up the tube would be an easy task with longer bolts and springs to hold the mirror in place, but now that it turnes out I need a bigger secondary mirror as well, I'm honestly thinking it would be smarter to cancell my order for the automatic focuser (for £45 and that hasn't been shipped yet), sell off my 150P and instead just buy myself a 200P-DS!

Hmm. The 2 element SW cc is that the same as the 0.9x SW CC? Would you mind giving me an example of a CC that works well with my setup?

Oh of course! I'll try making it work without major adjustments first, but if the P versions has a smaller secondary that the PDS versions as mentioned above and moving the primary mirror up the tube isn't an optimal solution, I might just "make the best of it" with the 150P for now and then save up for a 200 or 250 PDS

No coma corrector yet, and yeah, I heard the drawtube might need to get shortened down but that's a very minor adjustment as far as I understand

I see. So basically I should just forget converting my 150P to a PDS and rather just buy abother PDS OTA instead? Unless the adapter I've bought works as intended and I don't have to move the primary mirror of course.

You lost me here unfortunately. Can you elaborate?

Hopefully! It'll bring the camera much closer to the focuser. So we'll see once it arrives!

Time I have too much of. I work nights, and a fulltime nightjob for me is 11 shifts a month. So I have 20ish free nights where I can go out. And I can even bring my setup to work and have it just outside the door. This is literally the perfect hobby for me 🤣

Oh yeah, one of my 550D cameras are in the process of being astromodded for full spectrul as we speak. The guy doing it should be done this weekend

Roger that! So my new tentative plan is: 1. Guide scope & camera + dew heater for guide scope(i guess thats smart) 2. Coma corrector 3. Filters 4. ??? 5. Profit

I see! Where I live conditions are pretty bad. But I usually drive up to a friends house where the bortle 3/4 ish. Maybe even less. 20-30 minutes after adjusting to the dark I can see the glow of the milky way, M31 and a few other Messier objects with the naked eye. So the next thing on the list will definitely be a guide scope & cam then. Anything esle I absolutely need? Coma corrector? Focal reducers? Dew heaters(are those even relevant for a newtonian)?

So in theory I only need to move the primary a centimeter or two to correct for the adjustment in the focal point? Or i might not even need to at all since I've bought a M54 to T adapter that I scew right onto the draw tube. That might solve my focusing problem.

Oh! Thats super interesting! Mind dropping some links?

Interesting to see thats there's dedicated gloves for that! So far I've just been using my combat gloves with the tip of the thumb, index and middle finger cut! 😅

Remember to coat them in vaseline when you're not using them for long periods or the leather will dry out! Especially if they're old and stored in a loft. So after your last use of the season, clean them off with a wet rag, let them dry and coat them with vaseline before putting them in storage! If you do that you'll have great shoes for many many maaaany years! I've had mine for the past 12 years and they're not even showing signs of breaking apart 😆 Won't that cause too much vibration to be sustainable?

Allright, it's me again guys.. Sorry for yet another question. I'm just so excited about this and I want to get it right! So like I've said before, I'm going the imaging route. My setup would be a EQ6-R Pro SynScan, a Explorer 150P(where I'll be moving the primary mirror up and adding an automatic focuser), 550D cameras. I'd like to primarely take pictures of nebulas and galaxies, but eventually planetary, lunar and solar as well, but thats not high on the priority list at the moment. Obviously I'm looking into getting a guide scope, but do I need to have one for DSO imaging? Question one: Is there anything I NEED to add for good quality images of DSOs? Question two: Will I get decent quality images using the mounts tracking, shorter subs(60s?)and removing the images with startrails in post processing? Question three: What filters should I get first? And should I peioritize filters over a guide scope?

Hey yall! It's me asking stupid questions again! So I couldn't wait starting with imaging so I've ordered a EQ6-R Pro. I already have a 150P and I'm going to move the mirror up the tube for prime focus. So my first question, how far do I have to move the mirror up the tube to reach prime focus with a DSLR? I've already ordered an adapter so I can connect the T adapter on the drawtube itself(ie. No EP holder and barlow) And my second question, what can I expect from a 150P without a barlow in terms of imaging? Does anyone know of (or have) any photos taken with a similar setup?

Hey yall! I'm about to start out with imaging and I was wondering if anyone had any raw data to share so I can start practicing stacking and editing before I get the mount I need for imaging. Pryce

I haven't even been in this hobby for a month(unless you count sitting outside just looking at the sky or sitting in stellarium for hours) and I've already made the plunge and ordered myself a EQ6-R. I couldn't wait. I want to start astrophotography so badly and since it's my birthday tomorrow, I figured, why not? I'm so excited I can't even sleep! I was just laying in bed earlier and I actually started crying out of sheer excitement and joy! I CAN'T WAIT for it to get here! Anyways, in other words. Not even a month in and this hobby is already more expencive than my car and I couldn't be happier!😁

In the Norwegian army we used something called fotposer, translated to "feetbags" which is cold weather footwear that you just pull over your boots. We cut camping mats and put them in the bottom of these before putting them on. Same function as just standing on the mat, but you're more mobile

Indeed, and thats why I'm confused about the focal length, since the primary mirror is higher up the tube and the focuser is shorter. Making the distance between the primary mirror and the focuser of the camera(on P-DS) shorter than that of the primary mirror to eye piece of the P versions.

This might be a stupid question but as far as I understand focal length is the distance between the lens/mirror and the focal point(eye piece) Then, my question is this; how can the listed focal length of the Explorer 150P and 150P-DS(or any of the P/P-DS siblings for that matter) be the same (750mm) when the primary mirror of the P-DS is closer to the secondary mirror AND the P-DS has a shorter(or lower) focuser?

It seems that my best(and most logical) option is to upgrade with a Dual-Speed focuser instead of modding. I'm still fairly new and I made the mistake of wanting to "learn the ropes" with visual before venturing into imaging. Buuuuuuuut I tried taking a few of the moon with my refractor and well.. I'm all in now. So I guess for now my standing plan is to upgrade my 150P with this (as far as I can tell that's the same focuser as the P-DS reflectors?) and this. And possible a guiding scope/cam? Yes, I'm fully aware that the EQ3-2 mount is considered too unstable for astrophotography, but unfortunately it's what I have until I'm able to save up for a EQ6. But hey, I've seen some great images coming from EQ3-2 setups, so at least I'll be able to get started. For now I'll just have go with my original plan of learning the ropes until upgrades can be made. Edit; actually, I might as well just buy another OTA. Like the 130P-DS as it's lighter and the EQ3-2 with a motor would probably like that better than a 150P-DS with a camera