Evostar 80ED extras?

[MattJenko]

Hi All,

I am heading inexorably towards an Evostar 80ED as a milestone birthday present and I wondered what extras would you recommend to accompany it. I saw a very useful similar thread for a C9.25, but couldn't find an 80ED equivalent.

For a bit of helpful context, I am going for an AVX mount (the one with a bonus 6'' Newtonian for not much more) and going to keep mainly to visual to learn my way around the skies, but beyond that aim to move into astro-imaging in the not too distant future and understand that this scope/package is a good place to be for both those requirements. I am going to for the pro 80ed package, so it comes with the diagonal and case etc.

Cheers

[Lonestar70]

Hi Matt,

Excellent choice of scope for starting Astro Photography.

To connect your camera to it you need to remove the diagonal and replace it with either: -

 A 2" long extension tube and a 2" T2 camera nosepiece with appropriate Camera t-ring.

I use the Skywatcher version (50mm) http://www.firstlightoptics.com/adaptors/two-inch-focus-extension-tubes.html

However, it would appear these are out of stock at the moment from FLO

A suitable alternative would be: - http://www.firstlightoptics.com/adaptors/william-optics-2-focus-extender-tube.html

And for the Camera nosepiece and t-ring

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/adaptors/flo-2-inch-t-mount-camera-adapter.html

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/adaptors/t-rings.html

or the Skywatcher Field flattener/reducer (x0.85) with the appropriate camera t-ring. (note it uses an M48 thread so not the same as the t-ring above.)

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/reducersflatteners/skywatcher-85x-reducer-flattener-for-ed80.html

I also use a 2" nosepiece on the Flattener/reducer nose so that a light pollution filter can be fitted (if you just screw the Flattener/reducer onto the ED80 focuser tube you can't fit a filter).

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/adaptors/flo-adapter-for-skywatcher-focal-reducers.html

For focusing the camera I would recommend A Bahtinov mask: -

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/bahtinov-focus-masks/starsharp-bahtinov-focus-masks.html

And possibly a motorised focuser: -

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/misc/skywatcher-auto-focuser.html when they become available.

The only other things I can think of are: -

Dew heater strip and controller.

A guide camera and guide scope (this can be a modified 9 x 50 finderscope)

Essential for long exposures.

A good power supply for the mount etc.

For using the ED80 for visual you already appear to have a Baader clicklock zoom lens which is what I use.

There may also be some use for a good 2"  ED x 2 Barlow.

I would avoid using 1 1/4" fittings with this scope for AP using a DSLR camera... you will get too much Vignetting.

Hope this helps and good luck with the new scope... I am sure you will enjoy using it.

Best Regards.

Sandy.

[red dwalf]

i think that Sandy has very much covered everything you need, you could maybe add a hitec dc focus unit if you wish to use the computer to help with focusing, saves having to get up and down and mess around, they are ascom compatable and work either with there own software or with APT software.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/hitecastro/hitecastro-dc-focus-controller.html

maybe a coupole of active usb cables if your thinking of using your computer away from your mount / scope.

[Lonestar70]

Hi Matt,

How are you planning on controlling your mount?... the reason I ask is that if you are thinking of using a laptop then you may have some difficulty controlling the mount and cameras etc with the celestron... it cannot use EQMOD/ASCOM so if more than 1 piece of software need to talk to the mount it will not be able to if the PC/laptop port is already assigned to the mount directly.

Things like, Stellarium or CdC, PHD Guiding software etc. all need to communicate via the mounts port and only 1 software can be allocated access.

I believe a few people are having this difficulty.

Perhaps a Celestron user can advise you on this better than I can, since

I use an HEQ5 Pro mount which can use EQMOD.

Just a thought as you may feel you need to re-assess your choice of mount.

Best regards.

Sandy.

[MattJenko]

When I was doing my research I found that via a laptop you use NexRemote which is the EQMOD Celestron equivalent, so if not using the Handset, then you can use this. I know that you can even set up a wireless console controller to manage it as well via NexRemote, but was not aware of these other limitations. I'll take a look into it - thanks.

[Lonestar70]

Hi Matt,

Ok with that, I just thought I would mention it as there is a thread running here on just such a problem...

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/218655-celestron-pc-to-aux-port/

It would appear that you may need to use the Ascom POTH hub in order to get multi software access.

It's a real pity that Celestron have not used the same mount software control as Skywatcher... since they are effectively the same company... albeit different arms with different management... Ho Hum!!!  

Best regards.

Sandy.

[MattJenko]

After some internetting, I see that you are right and you also have to go via the hand controller to the AVX with NexRemote which in turn also means you miss out on some of the new functionality (PEC etc) which is still based solely in the hand controller. It is certainly less appealing than your NEQX + EQMOD recommendation. Hmmm.

[MattJenko]

Although I have a strong feeling if I ever get to the point where I am bumping up against the limitations of this mount and my fancy configurations, I will have a significantly larger shopping list of upgrades including scope + mount + my own observatory to consider etc etc

[MattJenko]

You mention a dew strip heater. Is this just something to keep the tube warm, or something that extends over the end of the scope as well?

[ChrisLX200]

You mention a dew strip heater. Is this just something to keep the tube warm, or something that extends over the end of the scope as well?

Specifically, it is to keep the objective lens fractionally above ambient temperature to prevent dew forming on it. 'Warm' is perhaps too strong a word for this

ChrisH

[MattJenko]

Cheers Chris. Sounds worth getting then. I'll go for a luke warm or tepid version  

[MattJenko]

After completely overthinking things, I have changed my mind on the mount. Getting a bonus cheap C6 or C8 is great with the AVX , but it will be just one mount and 2 scopes, which can't really both go on. I have decided to take Sandy's advice above and go with the HEQ5 instead. For observing when I finally get round to imaging with the ED80, I am going to get a nice big Dob instead of a mounted Newtonian.

[MattJenko]

Plus, the AVX is pretty noisy from what I have seen on youtube videos. I live in a very quiet village with my garden overlooked by some neighbour bedrooms, so the quieter the better. I know the HEQ5 has some grinding cog noise as well, but there are some nice looking belt mods for that if needed.

[PeterCPC]

I have an AVX which I use with a C9.25 and an ED80. It is not noisey - that's just an issue with the Youtube video and the way it was taken. It's all subjective of course.

Peter

[MattJenko]

Thanks Peter, time for some more overthinking and another possible decision change.