sw 150pds/eq5/motors/canon 500D - o.k.?

[DavePrice]

Dear All - first post..

After dithering for years, I think I am on verge of ordering..

1/. EQ5 + polarscope + motors

2/. sky-watcher explorer 150pds

3/. canon 500d

I already have the canon camera....

Reading the 150pds specs, its not clear to me if I just need a single canon camera adapter (as I would with a 150p) or whether the 150dps does not have the t-thread bit on its eyepieces. Can someone clarify what I have to get to connect camera to the 150dps.

I was also debating piggybacking the camera, with its own 75-300mm lens on the 150dps - would that work? - anyone doing that?

The above is already way above the price of what I had originally planned to spend, so comments that my list is not really silly would also be greatfully received!

Planned use is a mixture of viewing plus some initial attempts as atrophotography of some DSO etc.

I might then try fitting the eqmod kit later with the mod of the motor controller etc.

Thanks Folks, Dave Price

[Black Knight]

I'm pretty sure you can attach the Canon the PDS just using a suitable T-ring without a nosepiece. There was a thread on here yesterday where that very thing was discussed.

Plenty of people do piggyback DSLRs on top of the main scope using a dovetail. Or the simple alternative would be to attach the camera directly to a dovetail, perhaps using a conventional tripod ball head, and then mount that to the mount directly using something like this:

http://www.modernastronomy.com/accessories.html#accDovetails

Deluxe Vixen Style Photo Dovetail and 1/4 inch Camera Screw - £19.99. Which is currently being discussed in another thread.

And welcome to SGL

[brantuk]

You will be able to attach the camera on top of one of the tube rings for piggyback wide angle shots of the sky - it comes with a camera adaptor on the ring. The DS is the better one for deep sky photography - the dual speed focuser will give you better/easier control at the focus point.

You'll need a bhatinov mask to focus. For prime focus photography I'm not sure if it has a direct T-thread conection - but they usually do. If not you'll want a T-ring and additionally a T-adaptor. The motors are a doddle to fit - your list looks sound to me and will give you a good start.

[DavePrice]

I splashed out a bit more than planned. I ordered the EQ5 Pro "goto" mount rather than just motors.

[brantuk]

They allways do lol - nice purchase congrats