Guide Scopes for my Auto Guiding Setup

[noideasteve]

I currently have an Orion Short Tube 80mm with an Orion SSAG CCD Guider and I was thinking of taking some weight off of my mount. Is was looking to use a 50mm scope as my guiding scope. Is there any difference in guiding performance between a larger scope and a smaller one? 

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.... Thank You!

[red dwalf]

i`ve a few mates that use the 50mm finder guiders and they have no problems, i wanted to lighten my mount also and swapped my st80 guide scope for a 10 x 60 altair guide scope and my guiding has not suffered.

[iksose7]

I use an Orion 50mm guide scope and havent had any problems so far. I may be wrong but whether or not moving to a shorter length guide scope will have a negative effect will depend on the focal length of you imaging scope. The 50mm is suitable for guiding up to 1500mm but if your scope had a focal length of 1500mm+ then you may want to stick with the 80mm or even consider a off axis guider.

Callum

[noideasteve]

thanks guys!

[Singlin]

I have a 1000mm newtonian scope.

I can guide better with my finder guider than my St 80.

I think this is due to flexure from the heavier St80.