A couple of questions if I may.....

[Digz]

Following on from my success at DSO's over the past couple of nights. I am starting to look at the widefield aspect of astrophotography.

I currently have a spare dovetail bar and my questions are as follows:

1. What would I need to attach my camera to this spare dovetail? I do have a manfrotto ball head but I assume I need some sort of screw to thread through to connect this head to the dovetail?

2. If I polar align with my camera mounted on my EQ6 instead of the scope do I need to perform any 1, 2, or 3 star alignments? What I am getting at is after Im polar aligned and powered up can I slew to a part of the sky and start imaging i.e. once powered does my mount automatically going into sidereal tracking?

Any other thoughts on mounting my camera to my mount for widefield are greatly appreciated - apart from the fact it is probably overkill, lol.

TIA

[steppenwolf]

1. What would I need to attach my camera to this spare dovetail? I do have a manfrotto ball head but I assume I need some sort of screw to thread through to connect this head to the dovetail?

A 1/4" Whitworth Screw will do nicely

[Digz]

Many thanks for the reply Steve, just found the answer in your book as well, knew it was in there somewhere but just couldn't see it!!!

Having done a quick Google search on this type of screw it looks potentially hard to get hold of, is that right? I have a local B&Q which I was hoping to get it from, I guess I can take the dovetail with me and see what fits?

Thanks for the response.

[steppenwolf]

I have got the Whitworths quite easily - I use Namrick who do mail order and will definitely have them.

[Psychobilly]

If your stuck let me know... I have a couple hanging around after putting this together...

http://stargazerslounge.com/diy-astronomer/112274-today-i-have-been-making-guided-dual-dslr-setup.html

Only problem is you might have to make a clearance slot in the bottom of the dovetail for the bolt heads...

Peter...

[Digz]

Thanks for the link Steve, Ill check them up. Also thanks Peter for the heads up, Ill let you know how I get on. BTW just checked out the set up - looks good!!!

[Psychobilly]

Whats the dovetail puck like on the EQ6... on the EQ3 Pro its hollow in the center on the HEQ5 its flush so the bolt heads had to be recessed into the dovetail.. a 2 min job on the milling machine.....

[Carbon Brush]

Just a quick one on the screws. I'm always messing around trying to join things together, so have ended up buying odd packs of 5 or 10 screws, nuts, threaded rod, etc from the likes of ebay. 1/4" UNC and whitworth are near enough the same. UNC stainless is very popular on Harley bikes. For a few quid you easily end up with an assortment of bits to hold most scopes and camreas together in whatever configuration you can think of. Hope this helps.

[Digz]

Cheers David I think Ill be doing this.

Peter, you'll have excuse my ignorance but what is the puck? If I recall correctly the base of the dovetail is flush and the inside is recessed.

[Psychobilly]

It's just what i call the bit on the top of the mount that the dovetail fits into...

Peter...

[Digz]

Ah ok, I cant recall at the moment so Ill check when I get home later.

Cheers

Lee