Different OTA for Nexstar Evolution Mount

[DaveyLeo10]

Ok this might be a stupid question but I own the Nexstar Evo 9.25' and as much as I love the scope I'm getting more ambitious with my astrophotography. My big problem is my FOV. Even with a focal reducer it's a struggle to fit the larger targets into the shot. My question is whether I could get a smaller OTA without needing a different mount. Would I be limited to SCTs or would I be able to get a refractor on there? 

Thanks

[Filroden]

I use an 80mm refractor on mine and I've also mounted a camera + lens. It looked tiny on it but the goto and tracking worked really well (and StarSense also).

[DaveyLeo10]

Which make of refractor did you use?

[Filroden]

The Skywatcher Esprit 80. It's just a little too long with a cooled CMOS camera but was fine with a DSLR for clearing the mount base. 

[DaveyLeo10]

Yeah I use a DSLR so that's fine. What can I expect in terms of exposure times and image detail? I can get up to 1 min exposure at the moment since I don't have a wedge. 

[JG777]

I use my Equinox 80 on it, not tried with a DSLR though but the pic should give you an idea.

[Filroden]

On 12/31/2016 at 00:15, DaveyLeo10 said:

Yeah I use a DSLR so that's fine. What can I expect in terms of exposure times and image detail? I can get up to 1 min exposure at the moment since I don't have a wedge. 

I can get between 30s and 60s depending on where in the sky my object is. Objects in the East or West directions and with altitudes lower than 60deg are best to minimise field rotation. I have gone out as far as 90s but with my camera I see no additional benefit. I'm better stacking 3 times as many 30s exposures (it's only a 12bit camera but with very low read noise).

This is an image I'd taken with the 80mm refractor and a Canon EOS 60d.

Here's one taken with the refractor and a ZWO ASI1600MM-C:

[James1967]

On 03/01/2017 at 20:22, Filroden said:

I can get between 30s and 60s depending on where in the sky my object is. Objects in the East or West directions and with altitudes lower than 60deg are best to minimise field rotation. I have gone out as far as 90s but with my camera I see no additional benefit. I'm better stacking 3 times as many 30s exposures (it's only a 12bit camera but with very low read noise).

This is an image I'd taken with the 80mm refractor and a Canon EOS 60d.

Here's one taken with the refractor and a ZWO ASI1600MM-C:

Wow! They are stunning.