Help! Bought a second hand SW Flextube 12" and...

[Yvan_be]

... Want to keep my 8" F/6 dobsonian to put on a decent mount, as a platform for piggy back astrofotography, using Oly E-1, E-3, E-500, E-620 and Zuiko OM's ranging from 24mm f/2.8 to 180mm f/2.8. Occasionaly a Tokina ATX-SD 300mm f/2.8.

What mount would suit my needs? Can spare some cash, but I'm not rich...

[Ant]

I think for a 8" F6 you're looking at a HEQ5 minimum. They do sometimes pair the 8"F5 on a EQ5, but in my opinion your scope would be under mounted with an EQ5.

Cheers

Ant

[russ.will]

An EQ5 type mount is 'okay' for visual with an 8" Newt, but it's pretty much at the visual limit and piggybacking throws the CoG even further out. It's a definite no-no IMHO.

To be honest, I'd just put the camera on the EQ5 and keep the Newt as a Dob. What you're proposing is just going to make everything more difficult and you won't be able to do any observing whilst exposures are being taken.

I say this from the point of view of someone who's tried it, owned an HEQ5, EQ5 clone, 8" Newt (twice), Oly E-300, 500 & 510 and EP-1.

Russell