gary1968

Howdy, Still on my mission buying my kit for my return to imaging. I want to use one of the new 'all in one' mount/camera control gadgets like the Stellarmate or ASIAir. I have done quite a bit of research on the ASIAir, which presently has limitations that are putting me off, mostly its inability to connect to a HEQ5 via eqmod to Skysafari, only through Synscan. This means I'd have to 3 star align the mount through the hand set before I could sync through plate solving to ASIAir. (maybe my understanding of this limitaion is flawed) Anyway, I have now found out about Stellarmate which looks similar to ASIAir but the software seems more 'complete' I am not bothered about the ASIAir only being compatible with ZWO cameras, I will start of with my trusty 1000d as it is supported and upgrade to a ASI294MC Pro at some point. So, questions, what are the pro's and con's of both ASIAir and Stellarmate? They are similarly priced but as I said the Sterllarmate seems more complete. Which is better, which would you buy? Cheers, Gaz

Thanks, that might settle an argument I'm having with a work mate who is a Sony aficionado, lol

They make their own sensors?

Quick question.... Who manufactures the sensors used in canon cameras, esp 1000d?

I had decided on this scope and dedicated flattener but this thread has put me off a bit. Was the problem ever resolved, and if so how? Gaz

Decision made, I'm going for the Skywatcher 72ED and the ASI183MC Pro. I have seen some images taken with that camera and a similar 420mmfl scope on the ZWO Facebook page and it seems to be a nice combination. Still to decide on the mount but it'll be a eq5 or heq5, that little imaging package wont strain a eq5 so I wont rule that out. Thanks for the help and advice. Gaz

As for what I will be using it for, widefield DSO stuff mainly, nebulae, some galaxies, star clusters etc.... I'd like to revisit most of the objects I've imaged before as its been a while. I will most likely be buying either a new eq5pro ar a 2nd hand heq5pro..... I know how good the heq5 is as I've had them in the past..... I haven't had much experience with the eq5, other than I had a cg5gt a while back and it was a nightmare to guide.... If I go for the eq5pro I hope its better than the cg5gt. Thanks, Gaz

Now that is a nice wee scope, and a good price.... definately a contender.... Going by what you guys were talking about up there it should go nicely with the ASI183MC Pro..... Thanks, Gaz

Thanks Louise, I nice short frac won't put too much strain on the mount either... Now if only I could pick up a nice wee zs66, lol..... Gaz

Thanks for the informaion guys..... But you have sent me off on a tangent now, lol.... What if I were to change my choice of scope to a SW80ed? Would that then make the 183mc worth considering. (or any of the other 80ed's that are available) That combo would cost a bit less than the 130pds/294mc combo? Gaz

I bought the 120mc S for planetary and guiding

Thanks Adam, looks like I'll have to budget a bit more and go for the 294mc pro.....

I could get a cooled 295, its just shy of a grand though........

Howdy, Not been on here in a long time, no time for astronomy due to family etc, and a dwindling enthusiasm, anyway........ I am now looking to get back into imaging and will be purchasing kit for this over the coming few months. I intend to drive the system with the new ASIair. It will be guided by a small scope and a ZWO120mc S Imaging scope will more than likely be a SW130pds and I am torn between 2 cameras, the ZWO183mc or ZWO295mc. As I said I will be using the ASIair so it would have to be a ZWO camera, I have no interest in mono/rgb/narrow band imaging so it will have to be OSC camera. I like the look of the 295mc over the 183 as it has a larger chip and bigger pixels, whats you guys thoughts on this? I am also undecided on the normal or pro version of the camera.... The 183mc pro is a similar price to the 295mc, the pro being cooled, but the 295 has the better(?) chip. I look forward to yuor replys........ Gaz

Ah OK mate, you are too far away from me to collect so I guest I'll have to pass on it. Thanks anyway. Gaz