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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2014 22:34:00 GMT
I'm thinking of getting the Orion Starblast 4.5 Imaging Reflector OT to use with my Samsung SCB 2000 and my 6SE mount. I'm chasing a fast f ratio to make the most of the Sammy's 8s integration limit. If I use my Antares .5 reducer on my camera will I be able to turn the Starblast's f4 into an f2? My current set up using the 6" SCT on the 6SE with a 6.3 reducer and the .5 reducer does pretty well but I'd really like to be able to cram some more light into the Sammy. Does this seem like a workable idea?
Thanks, Kim
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2014 23:45:36 GMT
Kim you will need to get the camera deep into the scope to get focus with a reducer. Hopefully one of the guys can jump in here.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2014 0:49:21 GMT
Thanks Carl. Will I have to get the camera and reducer deep into the scope even if the scope is set up for imaging from the factory. I think Orion makes the Starblast 4.5 scope in two different formats, one for visual and one for imaging.
Kim
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2014 0:52:46 GMT
I'm thinking of getting the Orion Starblast 4.5 Imaging Reflector OT to use with my Samsung SCB 2000 and my 6SE mount. I'm chasing a fast f ratio to make the most of the Sammy's 8s integration limit. If I use my Antares .5 reducer on my camera will I be able to turn the Starblast's f4 into an f2? My current set up using the 6" SCT on the 6SE with a 6.3 reducer and the .5 reducer does pretty well but I'd really like to be able to cram some more light into the Sammy. Does this seem like a workable idea?
Thanks, Kim I used a .5x reducer with my Starblast 4.5. It will work, but if I recall I had to use a shorter nosepiece in order to reach focus with the .5x. Buy a shorter nosepiece like this : www.ebay.com/itm/1-25-adapter-to-CS-or-C-mount-camera-for-Telescope-use-/331125661327?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d18a09e8fIt will reduce the focal reduction some to maybe f2.5 vs f2, but it should come into focus. Its been over 2 years since I used this scope, but I'm pretty certain this is what I did. You will love this FOV and what the sammy can do with it. Hemmi
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2014 0:55:23 GMT
By the way, I used an SE mount with my starblast imaging reflector, this mount works great with this little scope.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2014 1:28:07 GMT
Thanks Hemmi. I just ordered the nosepiece. Your images using this scope and camera are what got me thinking about this set up.
Kim
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2014 2:34:50 GMT
If you have a 2" focuser you can use a 2" c-mount adapter. The camera fits even deeper into the focuser. That's what I use on my 10" Orion dob. Here's a link www.scopestuff.com/ss_c2bf.htm
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Post by johnno on Feb 27, 2014 3:12:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2014 14:53:53 GMT
I have watched that video, Johnno. That's one of the reasons I decided to try this scope out. I ordered the short nosepiece that Hemmi suggested but will try it with the standard nosepiece and reducer as well. I don't know if Hemmi was using the imaging version of this scope when he took that great image of the Horsehead, but I really want to try to duplicate his success. I think that I have enough information now to give this a go. I'll probably order the scope, rings, and dovetail today. Once I get everything up and running, and the weather here clears, I'll share my experiences here with you all.
Kim
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Post by johnno on Feb 27, 2014 18:12:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2014 19:36:32 GMT
I have watched that video, Johnno. That's one of the reasons I decided to try this scope out. I ordered the short nosepiece that Hemmi suggested but will try it with the standard nosepiece and reducer as well. I don't know if Hemmi was using the imaging version of this scope when he took that great image of the Horsehead, but I really want to try to duplicate his success. I think that I have enough information now to give this a go. I'll probably order the scope, rings, and dovetail today. Once I get everything up and running, and the weather here clears, I'll share my experiences here with you all. Kim I was using the imaging version FYI
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2014 19:41:42 GMT
That does appear to be a nice little Newt. Better focuser for sure, and a extra half inch of aperture. Of course the extra half inch narrows FOV slightly, but only slightly. Looks to be a good deal to me, but it may be a tad long for the SE mount. At F5 its a tad slower, and the extra 1/2" of aperture will make the tube a bit longer. The 4.5 barely clears the SE mount, so I would find out the length and make sure you it would work once balanced. Not knowing the weight and balance point, I can't say if it would work on the SE or not. For the price its worth a shot. You could add weight here and there for balance if need be. But I would messure the clearance of the SE mount before investing.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2014 20:10:40 GMT
Thanks for the additional info Johnno and Hemmi. Looks like the short nosepiece is the one to use. I'm going to go with the Starblast 4.5 since it will work with my SE mount. I should have everything in hand and set up by the time our rain storms clear out next week.
Kim
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2014 21:59:19 GMT
Great thread and lots of great info. I'm looking forward to hear how this scope worked. I'll be getting an SLT mountso most scopes will clear no problem.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2014 14:39:17 GMT
Well, I got everything in hand and set up. Took the Starblast 4.5 out last night and mounted my SCB 2000 with short nose piece and my Antares .5x focal reducer. No go! I couldn't get enough in focus. I don't know why this doesn't work since Hemmi had such great success with this set up. The camera works fine with this scope without the focal reducer, but that leaves me with an F4 scope. I could get down to F4 with my Nexstar 6SE OT with both .63 and .5 reducers. If anyone has any ideas on how to make the Starblast and .5x FR work, I'm open to suggestions.
Thanks, Kim
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2014 15:17:19 GMT
Well, I got everything in hand and set up. Took the Starblast 4.5 out last night and mounted my SCB 2000 with short nose piece and my Antares .5x focal reducer. No go! I couldn't get enough in focus. I don't know why this doesn't work since Hemmi had such great success with this set up. The camera works fine with this scope without the focal reducer, but that leaves me with an F4 scope. I could get down to F4 with my Nexstar 6SE OT with both .63 and .5 reducers. If anyone has any ideas on how to make the Starblast and .5x FR work, I'm open to suggestions.
Thanks, Kim Sorry to hear Kim, but then your experience and posting that info here is a great help to any, like me, who might have been thinking about that same set up. I thought for sure you would be able to use the FR on that scope since it's suppose to be set up for imaging. hhmmm, would there be a difference between using this scope for video, or for AP !!! Was just thinking that if one is doing just AP and nit needing to get faster than f4 then their thinking and selling of this OTA for imaging (AP) maybe it's limits. But then if others have used it with fr for vid then there must be a reason why you couldn't get enough focus. Is the focuser a 2" or 1.25 ?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2014 15:43:26 GMT
The focuser is 1.25", Rob. I'm thinking of cutting down the nosepiece a little. I have a spare short nosepiece, so if I mess one up it won't be too big of a deal. Also, I'm going to get the Mallincam Micro. I'll give the reducer a try with that camera when it becomes available with the installed hand controller, hopefully by the end of the month. If I have clear skies tonight, and my nosepiece shortening works, I'll give the set up another try.
Kim
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2014 17:13:00 GMT
Looking forward to the results. The 1.25 focuser on that and other small newts is what turns me off. At least if it was a 2" one could swap out for a better low profile focuser.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2014 17:16:37 GMT
Kim I am going to test my Ln300 with 0.5 reducer in a 2 inch holder to see if it works with my 150p, the camera fits deep inside perfectly. If its a goer I'll let you know. Hopefully it does.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2014 18:16:51 GMT
I hope it works for you, Carl. Even if it does, it probably won't help me since my focuser is only 1.25". Maybe the focal plane/chip is farther back in the LN300/Micro. That might give me enough in-focus with the Starblast.
Kim
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