Which guide camera for 130 PDS?

[Zayvin]

Hi all,

I have decided to delve into the astro photography world. Can you recommend the best guide camera for my set up please.

I have a (as yet unopened) AZ-EQ6 GT, Skywatcher Explorer 130 PDS and Skywatcher EvoGuide 50ED.

My thoughts are at the minute, either stick with my 224mc or perhaps go with a 290mm.

What do you think best?

 

[carastro]

You say you already have Skywatcher EvoGuide 50ED, that is a very good guidescope.  Is it the guide camera you meant to ask about?

Carole 

 

[Zayvin]

Hi Carole,

Yes, sorry for the typos!

[Shibby]

Hard to beat the QHY5L-II mono for the money. The small pixel size is well suited to mini guide scopes.

[carastro]

I agree, its a great little guide camera.  I think there are a few more suitable ones on the market these days, but you'll have to see what else people recommend as I have no experience of them.

Carole 

[vernmid]

I use a ZWO ASI120MC on my 130PDS. Works very well and doubles as quick and easy planetary imager

Vern

[Gerry Casa Christiana]

Whatever you use its better to get a mono camera for the extra sensitivity  

zwo 120mm for example cheap but not nasty 

[Susaron]

I do use an ASI120MM usb2.0 to guide along with a 60mm guide scope, it goes frankly well, but if I were you I would go for something with usb3.0, and of course mono, the ASI120MM usb3.0 or the 290MM will work very well.

Cheers

[alacant]

Hi. I'm using a clone of the 120mm. Works well with both a 60mm guide telescope and an OAG on the 130pds. Tested on the OAG up to 1200mm focal length.

HTH

[Stub Mandrel]

8 hours ago, vernmid said:

I use a ZWO ASI120MC on my 130PDS. Works very well and doubles as quick and easy planetary imager

Vern

Same here

[Zayvin]

Thanks for the help everyone. I think I am going to go with the 120mm but the usb 3 version in case I fancy some mono planetary work in the future.

[Stub Mandrel]

For those who come after, with the 120MC I have had no problems getting a selection of guide stars, wherever I point my scope so far, but my guide scope is about f3.5 so quite 'fast'.

Neil