Astrotrac

[poltabs]

I am thinking about buying an astrotrac for imaging and wondered if those of you who have one could give me some real world feedback as to the accuracy and usage of the system?

How easy is it to pola align accurately?

Is it really accurate enough to do 10 min subs with a 300mm lens?

Any feedback and thoughts would be appreciated

Cheers

Kevin

[barkis]

Hi. Kevin,

Beyondvision, who is a Kevin also, owns and uses the Astrotrac very effectively, and has produced some brilliant images with his setup. He may well read your post and respond, but if not you could contact him by Personal Message and ask his advice. He will be pleased to help.

Ron.

[Beyond_Vision]

Hi Kevin,

I have been using an Astrotrac since it first came out and have been very pleased with it's performance. It's very well made and engineered and has been faultless so far. It's tracking accuracy has been superb with exposure of up to 20 mins with lens of short focal length. I tend to use it with lenses from 10mm to 300mm and have taken 5min exposures. I know people who have used it at 500mm focal length and higher with upto 5 minute exposures.

Here is a few links to pictures I have taken.

http://stargazerslounge.com/imaging-widefield-special-events-comets/76246-lulin-50d.html

http://stargazerslounge.com/imaging-widefield-special-events-comets/74666-orions-belt-sword-50d.html

http://stargazerslounge.com/imaging-widefield-special-events-comets/74076-hyades-pleiades-ngc1647-comet-kushida-144p.html

http://stargazerslounge.com/imaging-widefield-special-events-comets/69020-cygnus-perseus-kelling-heath.html

http://stargazerslounge.com/imaging-widefield-special-events-comets/66864-milkyway-panorama.html

I tend to use it for very widefield use with DSLR and wide angle lenses but it's very capable of carrying a large refractor and tracking very accurately. The polar scope is superb with 3 alignment points on the reticule. Polar alignment is very easy to do but to do a three point alignment you will need fairly dark skies as the third star is quite dim.

I would think it would be pushing it to use a 300mm lens for 10 minute exposures but it may be posible with drift alignment.

Regards

Kevin

[Tinkerbell]

Ditto what Kevin said

[Milamber]

I always said it was way too expensive when an EQ1 could do the same job at a fraction of the price.

Then I tried one... and had to apologise to Richard afterwards

Arthur

[brianb]

How easy is it to pola align accurately?

Is it really accurate enough to do 10 min subs with a 300mm lens?

Alignment - with the polar scope - is exceptionally easy provided you have slow motions on the head that the 'trac sits on.

Accuracy is incredible, don't know about 10 min subs with 300mm as my skies would be washing the image out but 2 min I've done with pinpoint accuracy.

The thing to watch out for is the balance - the camera lens & 'trac all hang to the north of the tripod centre so there is some risk of toppling if too much weight is added. This obviously depends on the splay of the tripod legs. My setup is OK with a 300mm f/2.8 lens on a Canon 40D body - that's no lightweight - but I wouldn't want to hang any more weight on it.

[poltabs]

Many thanks for the info and help, still undecided really, HEQ5 or Astrotrac, I will post a new thread to discuss

Thanks again

Kevin

[Catanonia]

Many thanks for the info and help, still undecided really, HEQ5 or Astrotrac, I will post a new thread to discuss

Thanks again

Kevin

HEQ5 then when u are ready go for a scope.

Made the same decision myself last week and if you get into it, then you will want a scope and a guider, plus t pieces and definately want that £500 worth of astrotrac recooping

[poltabs]

I have decided on the Astrotrac as I already own the NS8 and dont want to get into guiding plus I believe the Astrotrac will be more accurate than a HEQ5.

Now anyone got one for sale? :-)