ST80 & QHY5 combo

[Coco]

Seems a popular choice on here for guiding

Does the ST80 need any additional focus tube extensions?

Cheers

Guy

[Merlin66]

For direct focus with the QHY5 it needs about a 50mm extension.

[Whippy]

Why not use your ZS66? Makes a great guiding scope when it's not on imaging duty.

Tony..

[Coco]

The ST80 was a:cheap second hand b: frees up the ZS66

Im going to run the ZS66 with a DSLR gathering free data when using the 314L+ , it seems silly not using the 40D at the same time...

Guy

[Whippy]

Ah, fair enough .

Tony..

[ollypenrice]

Similar to my situuation, Guy. I made the same decision and actually the ST80 makes an even better guidescope in my view. Faster and mechanically more rigid. The 66 has a lot out behind the end of the main tube.

My ST80 came with dodgy Barlow so out with the lens, in with the camera and there's your extension. When you cramp down the lockscrews the drawtube is very firm and getting perfect focus is not necessary for guiding. I don't touch the focus for months at a time.

Olly

[Merlin66]

I use the ST-80 at the moment with a flip-mirror; as an 80mm finder and then flip over to the QHY5 for guiding the C9.25/ spectroscope combo on the NEQ6