Is this a feasible astro-photo rig?

[BCN_Sean]

Apologies if this is in the wrong section, I didn't know whether to put it here or in the getting started with imaging sub-forum.

I'm currently looking to build myself a portable astro-photo setup, nothing too big as one of the considerations is to be able to pack it in to a carry box that is similar in dimension to roughly airline hand luggage size without the tripod.

The plan I'm looking at over the next year is to go up to 300mm maximum, adding in a small guider setup running on a Raspberry Pi 4 and using a lightweight mirrorless (APS-C, ~4.8µm pitch) and a dew band for the time being to get (hopefully) 60 - 120 seconds per sub with an all up weight of a bit less than 3kg if all mounted on the same end of the bracket.

Mount wise, I'm leaning towards the SkyWatcher StarAdventurer 2i as with a few others I've looked at in a similar price range seem to have a few compromises although may be slightly better (mounts like the iEXOS-100, AZ-Gti) or my local place doesn't supply them (the smaller iOptron mounts).

Is this a sensible setup or am I expecting for too much from too little?

Any insights, suggestions or prods in different directions greatly appreciated!  Thanks in advance.

[Tomatobro]

I regularly use a Star adventurer pro and pulse guide via PHD2 , ZWO  mono camera and a 50mm guide scope.  Accurate polar alignment is essential and I use Sharpcap pro for both polar alignment and image acquisition. 120 second exposures can be done with this setup. My favorite lens is a modified Samyang 135mm at F2

Edited January 25, 2021 by Tomatobro
update

[BCN_Sean]

1 hour ago, Tomatobro said:

I regularly use a Star adventurer pro and pulse guide via PHD2 , ZWO  mono camera and a 50mm guide scope.  Accurate polar alignment is essential and I use Sharpcap pro for both polar alignment and image acquisition. 120 second exposures can be done with this setup. My favorite lens is a modified Samyang 135mm at F2

Thanks for that! I don't think I'd be going down the sharpcap route, but PHD2 is where I'm thinking with guiding.  That Samyang has tempted me a bit but at the moment it's not that high priority on the list as I've already got that area covered, but with how many folk wax lyrical about it, it's on there!

[TerryMcK]

2 hours ago, BCN_Sean said:

Apologies if this is in the wrong section, I didn't know whether to put it here or in the getting started with imaging sub-forum.

I'm currently looking to build myself a portable astro-photo setup, nothing too big as one of the considerations is to be able to pack it in to a carry box that is similar in dimension to roughly airline hand luggage size without the tripod.

The plan I'm looking at over the next year is to go up to 300mm maximum, adding in a small guider setup running on a Raspberry Pi 4 and using a lightweight mirrorless (APS-C, ~4.8µm pitch) and a dew band for the time being to get (hopefully) 60 - 120 seconds per sub with an all up weight of a bit less than 3kg if all mounted on the same end of the bracket.

Mount wise, I'm leaning towards the SkyWatcher StarAdventurer 2i as with a few others I've looked at in a similar price range seem to have a few compromises although may be slightly better (mounts like the iEXOS-100, AZ-Gti) or my local place doesn't supply them (the smaller iOptron mounts).

Is this a sensible setup or am I expecting for too much from too little?

Any insights, suggestions or prods in different directions greatly appreciated!  Thanks in advance.

Sounds like a good setup. The SW Star Adventurer will be great for what you want coupled with PHD2 on the PI. Astroberry on the PI will work great for that as PHD2 is included. Couple it with a small guidescope like a ZWO mini guidescope,  a ZWO ASI120MM guide camera then you should be good to go.

[KP82]

Star adventurer will be a good starting point if you plan to stick to camera lenses or very short refractors (e.g. WO Cat 51). With the help of guiding, you can easily get 2 mins subs if not more. Astroberry on RPi4 can also do plate solving polar alignment with your guiding setup. 

The iEXOS-100 will give you a bit more headroom if you plan to move up to a 70-80mm refractor. It has the same worm gear/stepper motor belt drive system as the bigger EXOS2 mount. Once you add the azimuth adjuster, a heavier tripod and more counterweights, it will be able to accept a 7kg+ imaging payload. However the price will go up to £500. I use mine for visual only with an 107mm triplet, a 2" diagonal, a 50mm diy eFinder and medium weight eyepieces. It's rock stable.

Edited January 25, 2021 by KP82

[BCN_Sean]

Thanks @TerryMcK & @KP82, that's eased the thought process somewhat as I'm coming off a Haig mount and that maxes out at 200mm ~60 seconds and was not knowing what to expect with a portable unit.  At the moment, I'm going to be sticking to the same lenses that I have in my terrestrial photography setup whilst I get my head around the mechanical and post capture side of things, then at the end of the year (or may be next, depending on how long we've restrictions for) sitting down, looking through where I'm at and looking where I want to go from there.