Celestron Edge HD 8 initial tests

[fwm891]

Picked up a new (to me) Edge HD 8 inch SCT yesterday and for once it was clear last night to give it a quick run imaging onto a Nikon D5100 (Mono modified) DSLR. Scope was mounted on an iOptron iEQ 45 Pro. Image captures via SG Pro and processed in PI, resized in PS CS3.

I'm waiting for a CGE mounting bar for it so I can mount a guide scope so these images are all unguided subs using short exposures - typically 30 seconds and iso speeds of 1600 - 2000.

First light was the HH (B33) - 20 x 30 sec subs iso 2000, followed by M1, M81, M109, M108 all (40x 30 sec iso 1600).

Quite happy with these as unguided captures. Focus is manual and I was lazy in only doing an initial focus leaving the rest as is. Frames haven't been graded so all subs have been used for each image. 

[Alan White]

Another scope Francis, C8 should be nice, I have just obtained one myself.

[RolandKol]

This is my Next "New" scope in the list also

Congrats!  
And really nice shots at F10 unguided

I wonder how my NEQ6 would perform

 

[PhotoGav]

You must be very pleased with those results - looks to have great potential. Accurate focus will make results even better. With regards to guiding the EdgeHD 8", I tried initally with a separate guidescope (though only the finder, if I remember correctly) and was very disappointed with results. An OAG is your best option...

[fwm891]

32 minutes ago, PhotoGav said:

You must be very pleased with those results - looks to have great potential. Accurate focus will make results even better. With regards to guiding the EdgeHD 8", I tried initally with a separate guidescope (though only the finder, if I remember correctly) and was very disappointed with results. An OAG is your best option...

Hi Gav,

I have a home made OAG but initially I'm going with an 80mm guide scope (TS) and Lodestar. I will swap the guide scope between the Edge HD and the Altair 115 EDT-APO - more chance of finding a guidestar (I hope!)