ZS71 or ED80 for a Star Adventurer

[daveangie0110]

Hi All

I am looking to purchase either a William optics ZS71 or a Skywatcher ED80 DS Pro for my Star Adventurer but i am torn between the two.

Would the ED80 with a DSLR and a guide scope be to heavy for the Star Adventurer, i have been told i would be ok but i would be on the limit.

Can anyone give me some pro's and con's between these two scopes.

Many thanks

[jijc76]

Hi !!

I think that for image the mount is the most important...I think that SW ED80 is heavy for your mount... In my opinion, I think your better option is ZS71... The problem of guiding can go crazy...   and I say for my experience...

Regards

Juan

[Alien 13]

I think both would be too much for that mount although the reduced ZS71 at 330mm FL might just work but its very heavy and tricky to balance, the ED80 is a bit slow for a DSLR and the longer FL would be harder to control.

Alan

[toxic]

i think any ed scope would be to heavy for this mount it is on intended for camera and lens i have 1 and i tried it with my altair astro lightwave 60 edt and it was too heavy by means of the counter balance was not strong enough to add more weight and vibration was terrible.

but great just with the canon eos 1100d and the 70/300 stock lens.

[xtreemchaos]

i agree with Alan and chris, both when you get your kit on would be too heavy for your mount. clear skys charl.

[Amra]

I have the exact same inquiry in another thread so I'll be following this discussion.

Although it looks like I should just drop the idea with a refractor and get a decent telephoto lens instead to use with my SW Star Adventurer.

[daveangie0110]

I pressed the button and gone for a ZS71, my local astronomy club has just got a ZS71 on a star adventurer and he said he is getting 4 minute unguided exposures, but needs a 600g counter weight.

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[toxic]

you would be much better to get a decent wide field lens or even just sticking with the lens you have you will get some cracking images like that.

i know where near as good as some i have seen on here with the star adventurer but this is 20 x 30 second subs and just 5 darks .Eos 1100D 28/50mm lens at 28mm star adventurer on a standard camera tripod.

Cygnus area from Crimdon Dene 

[Amra]

4 minute unguided, that's nice. Is it with a DSLR attached as well?

[daveangie0110]

Yes with a dslr attached as well.

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[StuartJPP]

I pressed the button and gone for a ZS71, my local astronomy club has just got a ZS71 on a star adventurer and he said he is getting 4 minute unguided exposures, but needs a 600g counter weight.

I am hoping that it wasn't the ex-IO Astronomy owner claiming that...many claims about unguided subs with long focal lengths were made but not once was any evidence produced.

[daveangie0110]

No, it was not and yes I have seen the evidence

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[Thalestris24]

Hi

Any progress on your choice of scope? I too am considering what refractor I could get on my Star Adventurer. I've been guiding it and using a Travelscope 70 at 400mm but it really deserves better optics! Weight is an issue though... I've been looking at the TS carbon fibre ed70 but there are questions about it's colour correction. Also the Lightwave 66 ED-R but not sure about weight with the flattener. It's hard to find what I want!

Louise

[Slynxx]

On 10/12/2015 at 20:32, StuartJPP said:

I am hoping that it wasn't the ex-IO Astronomy owner claiming that...many claims about unguided subs with long focal lengths were made but not once was any evidence produced.

Have to agree with you to an extent.
I own a ZS71 + WO 0.8x R/F + Canon 700D attached to SW SA. It is hard as nails to get the subs time up from over one minute, I know this from experience. A solid based tripod certainly helps this cause. Ok, some purists are laughing or foaming at the mouth about the SA but it can, with a little patience & some swearing... produce some good quality subs.
Here is my setup & my first light with the SW + WO ZS71:

 

[michaelmorris]

I can't get 4 minute clean unguided subs at that focal length with my Astrotrac.  If you can get get good 4 minute unguided subs with a SW Star Adventurer, then all I can say is that it's a cracking bit of kit!

[Slynxx]

I've achieved well over 5mins subs with Canon 700d and 75-300mm EF III lens. Much harder with the WO ZS71.

All trial and error. Found using a ball head raises the subs time frame as you don't need to adjust the alignment when you unlock everything for your target.

[Davey-T]

I've used my SWSA with WO Star71 plus DSLR around 3kilos I think and it can easily do 2min subs and probably longer.

Dave