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Post by howie1 on May 19, 2020 15:57:52 GMT
Been setting up my very portable Star Adventurer + ASI224 colour for use when our townhouse complex common area reopens after Corona lockdown. Been wanting the Orion 50mm x 162mm FL f/3.2 mini guidescope with helical focuser for a while, so finally did it. Why did I wait so long! Heaps better for VA. Also been wanting filter for a while and grabbed a second hand Baader Moon and Skyglow with UV/IR cut - all in one - so wanted to try that out too. First-light test was couple of weeks ago and been cloud, wind, rain, or other committments since then. Wanted to do some real VA to show you but as Gods did not play fair I only have the bright Eta Carina test ... but I throw it up here anyway for interest. But while I shot 4 frames, I am posting up the image of the very first 15 sec frame. To do VA - Observing with a camera I dont think you really need any more to do that aim. Love the tight focus I can now get with the helical focuser. Yeah its bright target, but I'm in bortle 6-7, with two street lights right outside and I'm in 144 townhome complex so footpath security lights too.
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Post by davy on May 19, 2020 19:17:28 GMT
Been setting up my very portable Star Adventurer + ASI224 colour for use when our townhouse complex common area reopens after Corona lockdown. Been wanting the Orion 50mm x 162mm FL f/3.2 mini guidescope with helical focuser for a while, so finally did it. Why did I wait so long! Heaps better for VA. Also been wanting filter for a while and grabbed a second hand Baader Moon and Skyglow with UV/IR cut - all in one - so wanted to try that out too. First-light test was couple of weeks ago and been cloud, wind, rain, or other committments since then. Wanted to do some real VA to show you but as Gods did not play fair I only have the bright Eta Carina test ... but I throw it up here anyway for interest. But while I shot 4 frames, I am posting up the image of the very first 15 sec frame. To do VA - Observing with a camera I dont think you really need any more to do that aim. Love the tight focus I can now get with the helical focuser. Yeah its bright target, but I'm in bortle 6-7, with two street lights right outside and I'm in 144 townhome complex so footpath security lights too. I have the orion mini guider,, not the helical focuser,, and was blown away how good the optics were,, got it just before I saw the helical one,, still happy with it,, nice bit of kit
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Post by Dragon Man on May 21, 2020 5:07:35 GMT
Myself and one of our Club members (Mike) bought the SVbony version of the 50mm helical focuser Guidescope and it comes with proper guiderings and dovetail, all for only $79, and it is extremely sharp. It amazes us that it has such fantastic optics for such a cheap scope! Probably out of the same factory www.svbony.com/sv106-finder/They also have a 60mm version, and even a 30mm version for only $46
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Post by howie1 on May 21, 2020 10:55:00 GMT
Myself and one of our Club members (Mike) bought the SVbony version of the 50mm helical focuser Guidescope and it comes with proper guiderings and dovetail, all for only $79, and it is extremely sharp. It amazes us that it has such fantastic optics for such a cheap scope! Probably out of the same factory www.svbony.com/sv106-finder/They also have a 60mm version, and even a 30mm version for only $46 Nice for the price Ken. Does that SVbony helical ;eave the camera orientated the same way it is locked down - ie so cables are always at the one direction? Or does it turn the camera as it is turned - ie so cables would turn as you turn the focuser? Agree, these little acro finderguiders are great for quick VA. And fast F/3.2 for the Orion one and f/3.8 for SVbony. I like the deal with the SVbony having guide rings and dovetail all included. I might go the 60mm x 240mm f/4 as it will give even tighter FOV with my 224 camera. I'd forgotten just how low noise and sensitive the IMX224 chip is. It's almost my fav rig now - Star Adventurer + 224 in the mini guidescopes. That's saying something given my love of the HEQ5 PRO and 8" f/5 Newt with DSLR. LOL ..... It's just so portable. I am leaving it fully assembled and just run outside with it. The other night I just rested the laptop on the garbage bin and stood there for 10 minutes. That's all it took to setup, find Eta for that test image and single 15 sec shot ... well I stacked for 4 then shut it all down. Super little rig. Just got word our common ground area in my townhouse complex is now open (lifting corona restrictions), but it is raining! The astronomy curse strikes again! Cheers and love those Gold vids Ken. Howie
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Post by howie1 on May 21, 2020 11:04:50 GMT
I uploaded to YouTube a 10 minute video of that test when I first got the helical mini guider. Was a very quick dash outside in between clouds. Eta's bright as but all that was big and visible from the front porch. Video shows the little portable Star Adventurer rig and 224 in the mini guider. Totally portable! The desktop capture starts from when I plug in the camera, then hunt and frame Eta using the manual push to mount. I've already been asked to produce a video showing how I use a digital level to accurately place the Star Adventurer so close to target. I'll do that in the next few days. A few other tips in the 10 minute video like pushing OTA with finger to work out which direction to move the object. And shows how few settings are necessary when using SharpCap to get a decent image. And shows me forgetting that I'd left the cap on the camera .... D'oh!
Anyhow here's the 10 minute video link
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Post by Dragon Man on May 21, 2020 12:56:49 GMT
Myself and one of our Club members (Mike) bought the SVbony version of the 50mm helical focuser Guidescope and it comes with proper guiderings and dovetail, all for only $79, and it is extremely sharp. It amazes us that it has such fantastic optics for such a cheap scope! Probably out of the same factory www.svbony.com/sv106-finder/They also have a 60mm version, and even a 30mm version for only $46 Nice for the price Ken. Does that SVbony helical ;eave the camera orientated the same way it is locked down - ie so cables are always at the one direction? Or does it turn the camera as it is turned - ie so cables would turn as you turn the focuser? Cheers and love those Gold vids Ken. Howie Howie, the camera (and cables) stay in the same orientation as the focuser is turned. The Helical also has a lock screw so focus won't move. Yes, the Guide Rings are a bonus. They work great and have nylon tips so they don't damage the scope tube. I would have bought the 60mm had I known they had them. I didn't look very hard and missed seeing them in their store Oh well, I'm plenty happy with the 50mm. Thanks about the Gold vids.
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