is a coma corrector necessary?

[chemtom24]

will a coma ceorrector be necessary when i start imaging in the very near future? just waiting for gear to arrive and trying to get thigns sorted

[brantuk]

If you're imaging with a newtonian scope then a coma corrector is highly likely to be needed - allmost mandatory - haven't heard of one that doesn't need it yet.

[RikM]

If you chose smaller targets you can crop out the edges, so a coma corrector is not strictly necessary when you start out. But it is highly recommended that you get one to get the best results.

I don't have a coma corrector yet and you can clearly tell that in my images.

[ollypenrice]

The answer is Yes, though you can get going without and crop off the outer parts of the image. Maybe pick your targets accordingly - eg planetaries, globulars...

Olly

Edit,

Sorry Rik, we crossed in the post!

[chemtom24]

thanks everyone - looks liek im in the market for one then

withotu one will i just have blurred stars/star trails around the edge of my images? i guess il get my own answer soon lol

thanks everyone.

[Psychobilly]

as well as cropping you can give them a gentle nudge back into shape with the lens correction tools in later editions of photoshop... but the comma corrector is a better bet long term...

[steppenwolf]

I used to image without one on my SW 10" Newtonian but the difference made it a very worthwhile purchase - a Baader MPCC (and maybe others too) will give an extra 10mm inwards focus travel which is a bit of a bonus but you need to bear in mind the necessity of correct spacing of your camera sensor the the mounting face on the corrector. Does you 200P have the older r & p focuser or the more recent Crayford? If the former, you may have issues with a corrector at the right spacing and attaining focus.

[chemtom24]

steve, i beleive its the crayford as once its racked in or out the wheel will still keep turning - somehting that didnt happen with my old R & P on my old 150. could be wrong tho, i hvnt took this one apart to have a look.

[steppenwolf]

Certainly sounds like a Crayford. Even if it isn't, I have a solution!

[chemtom24]

so youre saying that with a coma corrector i may have trouble getting enough 'in focus travel' on the focuser?

also, if anyone has a corrector going, i want it just looked, didnt realise hwo much they are!

[Stephen]

so youre saying that with a coma corrector i may have trouble getting enough 'in focus travel' on the focuser?

also, if anyone has a corrector going, i want it just looked, didnt realise hwo much they are!

Thought you were doing it on the cheap

The Baader new is only about £100 isn't it? On my shopping list too ....

[chemtom24]

Thought you were doing it on the cheap

The Baader new is only about £100 isn't it? On my shopping list too ....

hehe so did i!

have you got some images youve taken without one i could have a look at if you dont mind?

[Stephen]

hehe so did i!

have you got some images youve taken without one i could have a look at if you dont mind?

I'll let an expert supply the images - I'm still learning