Quatermass

Having got back into doing this all again and purchased a second hand eq5 mount and 200p I am about to upgrade it with the synscan go to upgrade. It was great fun working with my old eq5 mount back in 2013 using Tom Carpenters Astro EQ and the dual axis kit motors and eventually upgrading to an HEQ5 mount but thats was sold of and Im back to square one again. Upgrading the eq5 with the synscan you could argue is a bad move and it would be better to keep saving for an HEQ5 but as I have already done that in the past Im happy to get the synscan and use that but I would be intrested in hearing from those of you that have the eq5 pro and the 200p and are imaging with it. I managed to get 5 and ten minute subs with my old eq5 mount and the dual axis kit motors with guiding and a bit of tinkering so the new motors that come with the synscan upgrade should peform much better and it will be alot of fun retracing my steps. So if your imaging with the eq5 synscan upgrade and a 200p or whatever let me know how its going. Clear skies QM

Good to hear from you again yes I really loved being part of this forum all those years ago and remember doing all this to get a guiding sytem set up. For now I am happy enough to start again with just the eq5 200p and the dual axis kit with the 450d its fun to use this simple set up. But I have no doubt that getting guiding set up really helps get better subs so will be looking to go that route again but this time I will be buying a good camera for guiding as the webcam was ok but not great.

Yep I like to use mine for other photography projects. Going on to a cooled ccd camera is certainly tempting but the thought of using a filter wheel and spending even more time gathering the data from different filters is something I would only consider if I had a proper observatory set up and the telescope on a pier mount. However I did try out a Ha filter many years ago and really was impressed with the results plus the bonus of being able to image when there is a full moon.

That is something I will consider later on down the line for sure the software used to control the mount has also changed alot since I was doing it and I hope to get set up for a more perminant solution. It was nice when I had my little observatory and freezing my buns off outside is not something I want to be doing again. Im hoping to get myself an Ha filter and do some work with that. Ive allways enjoyed using a DSLR despite the issues with noise.

Well its been a long time since I posted an image on Stargazers Lounge having sold all my gear 6 years ago and taken a break from it but having moved house to a nice dark sky area I simply could not resist getting back in to it all again. I got hold of a second hand Skywatcher 200p and EQ5 mount which was how I started out back in 2012 and then added to that a Skywatcher inhanced dual axis kit. Next on my list was to upgrade my Canon 350d to a Canon 450d unmodded and then I just head to wait till a clear night gave me that chance to flex my imaging muscles again. Last night despite a bright moon I got a chance to image the wonderful Orion Nebula at last. 130 shots ISO800 30sec 30 darks flats and bias then stacked and processed. What a joy it is to be doing this again and now I have lovely dark skys to work with I cant wait to do more and get the full guided set up later on. Clear skies everyone QM

Well very happy with the skywatcher enhanced dual axis kit gave it a test run tonight after a very quick rough and ready polar alignment on my eq5 mount with my 200p a full moon but a clear bit of sky and tried a quick shot of the Orion Nebula ISO 800 30 sec exposure and got this from on single shot. Cant wait to give it a go when Mr Blobby had gone away feels good to be imaging again at long last. Looks like the Skywatcher enhanced dual axis controller is a winner and also pleased by the preformance of my unmodded canon 450d.

Wow! I came back to this post started in 2012 to have a look and realized just how much effort I put into getting that guiding system working on a budget. Its now Dec 2020 but It taught me a great deal and having sold all my gear in 2015 I have now got back into it again having moved house and got some lovely dark skies. Another eq5 mount and 200p has been purchased second hand followed by a 450d Canon camera after getting a 350d first which I will mybe mod later on. An enhanced dual axis kit second hand also to get me started again. Will I do another modded cheap guiding system? Nope just going to save my pennys for a good guide camera and later on upgrade to the synscan kit but hey its all fun to do and this forum is the best. Biggest lesson was learning how to do the processing which I love doing so come on clouds get lost I want to get out there again. Clear skies QM

Ah I see, many thanks for the swift reply I tried it out last night despite the clouds and could not get a shot with out star trails in it so must have been my settings or slack in my worm gears but will have another play with it when the clouds decide to go away again. Still in two minds about fully upgrading to the synscan upgrade for the eq5 mount so for now this will have to do so I can get back into imaging again. Hoping this enhanced controller is better then the other ones.

Quick question about the Skywatcher inhanced dual axis kit, Ive just picked one up second hand but cant find out what the two buttons on the right side of the handset are for and skywatchers manual does not tell me what they do. Does anyone have this axis kit and if so can you explain to me what the button on the side are for?

Cheers Steve moved house and sold my fish tank as well I have been married 3 times but this time round I think I got it right, life moves on just like the universe I guess and you have to make the most of it. Its been a very hard year for everyone but so far we have managed to stay safe. Although my nephew has tested positive for Covid and is now into his 4th day dealing with it but I think his going to be ok. Well I hope you really enjoy your astrophotography this time round I know I am certainly enjoying it and lookng forward to racking my brains over new software and such things. If you want some help on the processing just let me know I have got quite a few tricks up my sleeve with that after years of doing it still learning new methods. On the fish tank side of things I had a massive salt water tank and sold it to a nice chap several years ago he had it for a week then his son through a toy at it and it shattered all over his living room forunatly he had taken my advice and set up a bin full of salt water just in case. No more fish for me for a while happy to go fishing for nebula and galaxys for now lol.

Lovely place to get back into astrophotography and your kit looks spot on, seems we are following the same path way I moved house last month and for the first time in 4 years have a really lovely dark sky area which was my main reason for taking it up again. We both learned a great deal from the first time round and Im sure that will really help as we move on. One of the biggest learning curves for me was processing the data I collected and making sure I had good data to work with. As well as that the need to have a more perminent set up which made life a lot simpler. I look forward to seeing your progress Steve and hope its just as enjoyable as it was when you first began, such a great pastime imaging the night sky. The canon 350d is still a great camera dispite its lack of support now from cannon I will continue to use it as well as the 1200d when i get it. I have often thought of upgrading to a cooled camera with a filter set but too be honest I think I would be happy with my dslr and an Ha filter. here are a few shots from the last week or so taken with the old 350d. IMG_0005.CR2

Hi Michael I used to run my old 350d very well on xp 32bit with that cable but it wont run on a 64bit system as there are no drivers for it Im not a pc geek or programmer and have managed to get a thirdparty driver working that allows me to use it on my 64bit system at a very basic level https://www.aemfoto.it/wp/2017/01/07/canon-5d-and-350drebel-xt-driverlibrary-for-windows-788-110-64bit/ but it is hopeless trying to get it to connect to backyard eos and astrophotography tool as I run those both on a 64bit system. So for now I am just using it on the UB utility to obtain focus and see my images. I was hoping that I could get it working on NINA or Stellermate or Astroberry but have yet to find someone who is doing this.

Hi Steve yes the poor old 350d has been well and truly forgotten by cannon I have had several replies from them about updating the drivers but they just give a standard reply saying there not going to in so many words. I've got my eye on a 1200d which I intend to modify along with the synscan upgrade kit for my Eq5 mount so NINA should fit nicely into that set up along with a guide camera later on. It's interesting getting back into it all again though and seeing how much new software has been developed. Be interested to see how you get on with your set up as I'm doing the same having learned a great deal from doing it all the first time 😊

Nice to know astrophotography is still as frustrating as it was when I first started ten years ago but I was looking at software possiblitys astroberry stellarmate and then came across NINA and down loaded it to have gander. Very nice indeed but.. has any been able to connect a cannon 350d to it? Im getting another cannon to mod later on but it would be nice to be able to use the old 350d on this software but so far everthing hates it. Any one had any joy please inlighten me cheers... QM

I do wish Canon would sort this out and update the drivers for the older cameras the 350d is a great camera for imaging and easy to mod as well which is why I got another one. I also found this article from a chap in france how uses stellarmate with his 350d I emailed him and he says it works great so there is hope for the 350d yet http://www.astrokraken.fr/stellarmate-a-new-start-for-your-beloved-canon-eos-350d-rebel-xt-a169407488

Having got another second hand Canon 350d and finding that Canon have not updated the drivers so you can run it on a 64bit system or Backyard EOS all very frustrating I came across AButilites developed by this chap https://www.aemfoto.it/wp/2017/01/07/canon-5d-and-350drebel-xt-driverlibrary-for-windows-788-110-64bit/?unapproved=322&moderation-hash=9696922bfb25ea4a042c77a6bd455c1c#comment-322 Its basicly his version of the old EOS utilitys that came with the Camera but installing it will allow your 350d to be controlled on your laptop using a 64bit system. I have heard that Stellarmate used with a rasberry PI will also connect to the old Canon 350d but have yet to try that. Any one out there using a 350d still and if so how do you connect it to your set up? Cheers QM

Also just in case any one has a 350d and want to run it on there 64bit windows 10 laptop or pc check out this chap who has developed a neat little bit of software that will allow you to control it from you laptop called abutilitys. You will need to disable windows from stopping you installing unsigned drivers but thats not hard to do and once its done you have a neat little programme to take pictures with view them and change camera settings. Check it out here. https://www.aemfoto.it/wp/2017/01/07/canon-5d-and-350drebel-xt-driverlibrary-for-windows-788-110-64bit/?unapproved=322&moderation-hash=9696922bfb25ea4a042c77a6bd455c1c#comment-322

Hi I just took the filter out and prayed it would all go back together ok lol. the set up is all listed on my blog and I focused using a batinov mask I never used a clip filter alot of what I did was down to trying it out and if it didnt work on to the next attempt dont be afraid to experment that is the fun part you have to take risks sometimes to make progress. And now I am about to do it all again having been out tonight with my next 350d which I must confess I have forgotton how to use all the buttons and settings good job I kept a blog and lots of notes. Allways keep good notes.

I modded my 350D many years ago and just removed the filter from it. Used it for about 4 years for all my images then upgraded to a modded 1000d and to be honest it was not that much better a bit sharper and it had live view. I have now got myself another 350d which I might mod like I did the first one its not that hard to do and I am the worst guy to ask to do electrical things but managed to do it. Heres a picture of the Rosette Nebula I did with it after it was modded Rosette Nebula MC.tif

Just getting back into it all again and what better place to start then Mr Blobby taken with a Canon Rebel and a Skywatcher 150pl a couple of nights ago cant wait for all this rain to clear off though.