Setup Advice for Widefield and 9x50 Guidescope

[andrewfkay]

Hi All,

I have managed to borrow a Canon 1100d and would like to have a go widefield photography. I have the means to mount the camera to my EQ5 (with RA drive motor) but I'm unsure how best to add my 9x50 finder scope (when I mod it to take my SPC900) to the mount?

I know this is a newbie question, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'll post my first pics (don't expect too much)

Thanks

Andrew

[MattGoo]

It might take a small set of guide rings on a short dovetail to house the 9x50 finder, but then not sure how you attach the camera as well! Dual-mount bars would be an expensive option..

I have a ST80 guidescope with normal tube rings on a short dovetail, then another short dovetail on the top to which I've attached a ball head mount with my 1000D on.

PM sent as well.

[andrewfkay]

I see. I suppose it would be beneficial, in the long run, to go for a dedicated guide scope instead of using my finder scope. Could I use my SPC900 webcam with it or would I need to go for a CCD for guiding?

Thanks

Andrew

[MattGoo]

Yeah, unless anyone else can offer further advice then I think you've got two options:

1) Save up for a ST80 to use as a guidescope. You can use the SPC900 as a guidecam - I assume you have a standard 1.25" adapter for it.

2) Find a method of mounting both a 9x50 finder and your 1100D together.

Both assume you have a ST4 guideport on your EQ5 - either through the synscan upgrade or a modded EQ5 handset - and also a USB guide controller (HITEC USB Guider, SimpleGpUSB, etc).

Needless to say, a QHY5 or other dedicated guidecam is better than a SPC900 webcam...

[JohnC64]

I went down the DIY route and built myself a tbar with a finderscope shoe and a head off an old tripod.

Still use it (used it last night in fact - doing a bit of cloud dodging) and it works well.

Cheers John

[andrewfkay]

I have the Eq5 mod kit. I'm yet to do it though. I need a soldering iron.

That diy mod is precisely what I'm looking for. Would this be a suitable setup if I got an ST80 to guide with?

Cheers Gents.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[JohnC64]

The DIY TBar option when combined with a ST80 might be pushing it. The problem would be in balancing the setup. Its not too bad when its just a camera and the finderscope as both are relatively light.

You then might need to add counterweights to get the balance back.

Cheers John

[rowan46]

would this be any help? http://www.scopesnskies.com/prod/finder/universal-finder-mounting-shoe/hotshoe.html

[MattGoo]

Hopefully attached an image of my widefield setup, which consists of a ST80 guidescope with a short dovetail on top and bottom of the tube rings. A ball head has been added onto the top dovetail to hold my 1000D.

I used the inside holes on the dovetails, since the ST80 itself is also sometimes piggybacked onto my ED80 using the outer holes.

[andrewfkay]

Nice. I think I'll just have to save up a little and go for the setup with the ST80.

Thanks for your help

[SniffTheGlove]

I used a piece of 18mm plywood 350mm lg to cut to the shape of a vixen dovetail, then I put a SW finder shoe on each end (one to put my SW9x50 QHY5 FinderGuider on, the other for my Illuminated SW 9x50 Finder, then in the middle I put one of these on http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SLR-DSLR-Black-Camera-Lens-Tripod-Shutter-Quick-Release-Clamp-Plate-Adapter-Set-/360564035814?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item53f34a90e6 as it has a sturdy fixing point (I thought that replace screw lock ball heads might move in use)

Know I currently just mount the plywood dovetail on top of a cheap ST80 I brought for casual observing, look at my Avatar photo