ATIK OAG WITH 383L + QHY5

[steve2310]

Hi all

Just wondering if anyone has got/used an Atik OAG with a QHY5 as the guide camera? I am considering moving to the world of OAG but I have concerns if the QHY5 is sensitive enough and also have concerns about the extra weight on the Megrez 72 and Equinox 120ED focusers???

Any experiences of OAG would really be useful before I spend any (more) money.

Thanks,

Steve

[riklaunim]

I use QHY5 and it works and usually there is a guide star somewhere in the OAG range. The only drawback is the CMOS fixed pattern noise.

As for Atik OAG - from what I see it can't rotate the guide head around the axis. Brightstar OAG or Celestron Radial Guider (and T-thread modded Baader RCC OAG) can move around the axis and that helps a lot (expecially for long focal lengts where FOV is small)

[steve2310]

Mmmm, thanks for the info RIK. I was looking at the Atik as I have the EFW2 FW but I'm not so sure now.

So the Brightstar etc would definately be preferable?

[riklaunim]

I use SCT and rotating OAGs help a lot when looking for a guide star. On shorter focal lenghts it may not be as important but I think it should help too.

[steve2310]

Thanks Rik. Your thoughts have swayed me as to which way is preferable with my system. Seems strange that the Brightstar are quite a bit cheaper as well compared to the ATIKs?

I'll have to give it some thought....

[riklaunim]

Price depends on the diameter of the OAG (Atik bigger for big full frame chips?) and also on the length (very short are very expensive). Brightstar or sometimes Celestron mods are the cheapest among those "good" OAGs that work. Semi sized - good for refractors or catadioptric scopes with big backfocus.