Dual or triad/trio imaging system, need opinions please

[TareqPhoto]

Hi all,

Yesterday i tested my dual imaging setup again but i didn't make more frames or enough data as i got busy and distracted, and that was the best situation for testing that, i ended up with data of two filters in short time, that it wasn't possible if i was using only one camera and one filter, so that definitely strengthen my plan for having too many things at once.

Now because i am having three scopes one of them is still not arriving, i calculated what i need as scopes to make this dual/trio imaging system possible, and for that i wanted some help from you to find out what scopes should i get if possible.

 

A. Wide field range [270mm-320mm]:

• I have ordered 90mm F/6, it is 540mm, if i buy Apex 0.65x reducer and say APS-C that will put me in about 280-310mm focal length zone, and my second scope for that range to be used with 4/3" i was thinking strongly about Askar FRA400 and its own 0.7x reducer, this way i finished two setups, then i just have to see which third scope to go if i want to use one more mono camera i have between QHY163M or ASI1600, Sharpstar 61II is in my mind but its old generation reducer they says it causes CA, so in this case if i get this combo then i only have to use either Ha or SII filter with it, is that making sense or i better buy also a well full corrected scope APO so i don't get limited with which filter to be used with it? Third scope is optional, and it is cheaper so it is just in my mind to add or not.

 

B. Mid field range [500mm-700mm]:

• For this i have this 90mm F/6 triplet again at native for 540mm, and i also have my GSO 6" F/4 Newt which is giving 600mm, and there is 0.9x reducer, it will make it 540mm also, at this range i don't need many scopes than two anyway, not sure i will do much at this range more than wide field or long field, but if you have any idea of what can be suited there if i want to make three, what that will be?

 

C. Long field range [800mm-1500mm]:

• For now i have only Meade 8" F/5 which is 1000mm focal length, there is 0.9x reducer CC to make it 900mm or using Paracorr to make it 1150 according to that Barlow effect from PC, i am worrying a lot in this range as it started to be at limits of my mount, so it means i have to find a scope small weight maybe but giving something like 900mm up to 1200mm to be paired with 8" F/5, i prefer a refractor so i don't worry about crossed spikes from two reflectors, i can't depend on my 7" Mak unless there is a nice reducer for it and i use maybe at least a full frame camera, so i will ignore the Mak here, what could be a possible match at this range then without spikes? This one is what made me to think about another mount cheaper, but i might end up with same weight or even more than 8" Newt here, and that will change the plan for cheap mount anyway.

 

I know many here don't like this idea or goi9ng dual or multiple system or whatever, but in my case i really like it, and i want to do it so i focus less on the nights i am spending with only one setup, no matter issues there, i can manage by the time, so i hope to see your suggestions and recommendations, thanks.

 

[ratskrad]

I built a dual imaging system over the past 8 months mostly due to extreme boredom caused by the past year. I choose to go with a WO GT81 IV f/5.9 that I can step down to f/4.72 using the WO 6AIII FR/FF going from 478mm to 382mm for the focal length. The other scope is a AT 152EDT at f/8 running 1200mm for a focal length that will with the .72 FR/FF go down to f/5.76 for an 864mm focal length. It took a bit to collect the pieces and on Feb 8th I was able to run both and collect a couple of hours of photons. For me at least I set this up as a test bed to eventually have a remote rig somewhere it is darker than where I live, not to mention weather challenges as it has been snowing the past week with not much of a break being forecast for the next week. Both scopes have ZWO EAF's for automatic focusing and SGP was set to refocus at .5 C temp changes and that happens often during a imaging session during the winter. In the past I always used drizzle but have to figure out how to use it when shooting with two cameras at different sub lengths. The cameras are both based on the Sony IMX571 APS-C chip with one being an Orion G26 OSC and the other a ZWO ASI2600MC-P that has a ZWO EFF attached to it that has some narrowband dual and tri-band filters. While I do not use a FF in the 152 I am using one on the GT81 and it is one I have had for years and is the AT2FF. I did crop the GT81 picture just to bring the objects into view better but the stars did look pretty good all the way to the edge. Guiding is a ASI120MM-S in a WO 50mm Uniguide scope mounted in the Saddle Handle Bar on the GT81. The total weight is 53.4 lbs on a mount rated for 75 lbs of imaging gear. All power and USB is run off of a Pegasus UBP v2 attached to a dovetail plate and the rig is run from a mini PC mounted to the eyepiece tray on the mount. Two wires from the scopes come down in a soft wire loom with one being a USB to PC and the other being 12v DC running to the UPB. 

I like you don't really care what others think of my hardware choices as they were arrived at based on what was available at the time as I am not one who likes to wait lol and health issues have told me to just do it and yes other equipment choices are possible and time will tell if I make them but this has been fun and a learning experience. For me last week it felt like something was accomplished lol mind you on something 99.99999% of humans will not nor do they care about but I'm in it for myself and with only a few message boards, videos and the stars aligning this was put together and works. When the snow stops and the skies clear I'll be back out in the backyard getting more photons collected to add to these pictures.

So native focal lengths on the 2 pictures. Two nights of subs for 2h 29m for the 152 and one night for 1h 29m on the GT81. Took the first night to work out the kinks when it came to running three cameras and two focusers at the same time but between software and ASCOM drivers it all worked. 

[TareqPhoto]

44 minutes ago, ratskrad said:

I built a dual imaging system over the past 8 months mostly due to extreme boredom caused by the past year. I choose to go with a WO GT81 IV f/5.9 that I can step down to f/4.72 using the WO 6AIII FR/FF going from 478mm to 382mm for the focal length. The other scope is a AT 152EDT at f/8 running 1200mm for a focal length that will with the .72 FR/FF go down to f/5.76 for an 864mm focal length. It took a bit to collect the pieces and on Feb 8th I was able to run both and collect a couple of hours of photons. For me at least I set this up as a test bed to eventually have a remote rig somewhere it is darker than where I live, not to mention weather challenges as it has been snowing the past week with not much of a break being forecast for the next week. Both scopes have ZWO EAF's for automatic focusing and SGP was set to refocus at .5 C temp changes and that happens often during a imaging session during the winter. In the past I always used drizzle but have to figure out how to use it when shooting with two cameras at different sub lengths. The cameras are both based on the Sony IMX571 APS-C chip with one being an Orion G26 OSC and the other a ZWO ASI2600MC-P that has a ZWO EFF attached to it that has some narrowband dual and tri-band filters. While I do not use a FF in the 152 I am using one on the GT81 and it is one I have had for years and is the AT2FF. I did crop the GT81 picture just to bring the objects into view better but the stars did look pretty good all the way to the edge. Guiding is a ASI120MM-S in a WO 50mm Uniguide scope mounted in the Saddle Handle Bar on the GT81. The total weight is 53.4 lbs on a mount rated for 75 lbs of imaging gear. All power and USB is run off of a Pegasus UBP v2 attached to a dovetail plate and the rig is run from a mini PC mounted to the eyepiece tray on the mount. Two wires from the scopes come down in a soft wire loom with one being a USB to PC and the other being 12v DC running to the UPB. 

I like you don't really care what others think of my hardware choices as they were arrived at based on what was available at the time as I am not one who likes to wait lol and health issues have told me to just do it and yes other equipment choices are possible and time will tell if I make them but this has been fun and a learning experience. For me last week it felt like something was accomplished lol mind you on something 99.99999% of humans will not nor do they care about but I'm in it for myself and with only a few message boards, videos and the stars aligning this was put together and works. When the snow stops and the skies clear I'll be back out in the backyard getting more photons collected to add to these pictures.

So native focal lengths on the 2 pictures. Two nights of subs for 2h 29m for the 152 and one night for 1h 29m on the GT81. Took the first night to work out the kinks when it came to running three cameras and two focusers at the same time but between software and ASCOM drivers it all worked. 

Well done there, hopefully i will finish my dual or multiple imaging setup sooner or later and see how it will perform, but i think sooner ir not possible as most stores are delaying shipments, and i am still waiting my APO triplet i ordered since last October anyway, and waiting another nice budget to buy a second APO scope.