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Post by davy on Dec 30, 2020 10:42:00 GMT
What portable kit do you use
This has to be the hardest of choices,, Just can't seem to get something that's portable, easy to carry and comprehensive. I started off with the star adventurer, and Canon dslr tethered to panasonic toughbook,, byeos,, and I got bored with it,, moved over to my azgti mount in eq mode,, definitely better, the goto function kept me busy,, but only using my dslr and lens,,
Missed having a scope,, my fear was damaging my new esprit ed80,, I then pulled out my eq3 Pro,, much better,, eq mount so what's not to love. I tried my skywatcher WiFi dongle oh it and It works great. Can put a scope on without fear now 😁, but the kit is growing in size again.
I've got the zwo asi air pro on back order from first light optics,, So it's back to the drawing board.
What I have been impressed with is the compact approach the zwo asi air pro brings to the game,, can see the azgti coming back out,, and using the Canon 5d mk2 with it's big sensor to capture stuff
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Post by Dragon Man on Dec 31, 2020 11:54:50 GMT
I don't have a portable setup. Never have. Unless you count my 12" dobsonian Even when I use to take my gear to our Astro Camps I used to pack up everything and set it all up for the full 5 days. And we aren't talking about a laptop or two. I had 2 big desktops and 2 huge old CRT monitors I used a tent as the control room. It used to take 2 trips with the car fully loaded and a trailer fully loaded. Glad I only had to go 2.5 kilometres which is handy on those times when you forget a cable. Others had hundreds of kilometres to travel if they forgot something. Only took me a few minutes I don't go anywhere to need a portable setup.
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Post by jaybee on Jan 2, 2021 9:30:16 GMT
I am down the beach in Jan Juc on the Victorian Coast. As far as I can tell it is always cloudy Anyway, I have my portable setup which is the evostar 72 ed and AZ-GTI and ASIair. It will probably not be used. Have a happy new year everyone. 2021 is shaping up to be similar to 2020. Another advantage of living in Snake Valley ,Ken......FREEDOM! cheers Paul
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Post by Dragon Man on Jan 2, 2021 12:29:09 GMT
. . . Another advantage of living in Snake Valley ,Ken......FREEDOM! cheers Paul We are under the same restrictions as every other Victorian Paul, just that there's no police and hardly any general public around to see you without a mask, not that we need to wear one. We'd be lucky to see 1 or 2 people all day. What is hilarious is that 'legally' when I go prospecting in the bush with not a soul around for miles, I still have to wear a mask! yeahhh, riiiiight! Sorry folks, now back to the thread on Portable gear
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Post by davy on Jan 3, 2021 12:38:55 GMT
I'm finding out that there are a few folk on astronomy Scotland that are using the asiair Pro,, and coming out with pretty decent images,, one guy actually done a video capture and stacked to a single image,, well impressed,, video astronomy in Scotland,, shurely not 😁
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Post by davy on Jan 6, 2021 13:12:59 GMT
Asiair Pro getting delivered today and we're in tier 4 + lock down 😁
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Post by ChrisV on Jan 10, 2021 22:00:16 GMT
Mine is an EQ5. I've made it Goto with onstep - run by skysafari on my phone. Camera is a canon450D with filters pulled out with Samyang 14 or 135mm lens. Sometimes just run it with an intervalometer, and others with a laptop.
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Post by jaybee on Jan 12, 2021 0:36:41 GMT
At Jan Juc down the Victorian Coast. We had 2 clear nights in a row , but the only place to use my portable setup is just under the street lamp out the front of the house . Each year I say I am not going to bring a scope on holidays but then I always do. It sits on the deck in everyone's way for 2 weeks and then we go home. cheers Paul
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Post by Dragon Man on Jan 12, 2021 6:04:48 GMT
. . . . Each year I say I am not going to bring a scope on holidays but then I always do. It sits on the deck in everyone's way for 2 weeks and then we go home.
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Post by davy on Jan 12, 2021 17:37:44 GMT
Started building up the portable kit,, waiting on a grub screw bolt coming so the azgti doesn't hit the original plastic handle bolt, Need to buy a new android tablet,, one I have is too old for the asiair Pro app 😭. Bollocks more money. Still waiting on the field flatner and some adapters
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Post by fondofchips on Jan 12, 2021 21:00:34 GMT
My 8 x 40 Minox binoculars are my favourite portable kit and versatile for holiday use. There is a lot to be said for optical equipment that is quick to use, sometimes clear patches are barely around for long enough to use anything else. I'm not so good at keeping them still nowadays but can still see the Orion nebula on a very clear night with them. Davy - have you seen the Northern Lights? - www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-55630880
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Post by davy on Jan 12, 2021 22:12:27 GMT
Not from mine Harry,, like a wet blanket at mine,, Im a member of astronomy Scotland and a few folk further north and in darker areas have posted up some nice images. Been looking at binos,, just for the same reasons,, quick visual fix,
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Post by davy on Jan 12, 2021 22:16:32 GMT
Well the spending isn't slowing down on the portable kit, 😭 My android tablets operating system is too old,,, (where have I heard that before,,,, too old,,, 😂) Mine is (4) and need (6) or above required,, no council tax to pay next month so looking at this www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203226148355
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Post by Dragon Man on Jan 13, 2021 14:04:05 GMT
Well the spending isn't slowing down on the portable kit, 😭 My android tablets operating system is too old,,, (where have I heard that before,,,, too old,,, 😂) Mine is (4) and need (6) or above required,, no council tax to pay next month so looking at this www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203226148355Hey, that seems pretty cheap davy. Good find.
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Post by davy on Jan 13, 2021 20:53:42 GMT
The grub screw came today fits the mount perfectly Another bit done and dusted Got email today from first light optics, my field flatner and adapters for the esprit are being delivered tomorrow,
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Post by davy on Jan 14, 2021 20:59:40 GMT
The field flatner came today,, I bought too many bits,, I bought an Adapter that holds a filter,, mmm didn't need it, the field flatner came with the Adapter ring that joins the focuser to the flatner,, built it up and can focus on street lighting about a mile Away,, most and fog so not going to get any testing done, Snowed last night, had about 3" lying on the ground when I was heading to work, 2o minute journey took me nearly an hour,, rained the rest of the day and washed most of it Away 🤔,, more snow forecasted for tonight
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Post by Dragon Man on Jan 15, 2021 7:20:01 GMT
Davy, you must have sent some of your weather down here! It's supposed to be the middle of Summer here but it's freezing!!! Yesterday was 16c, last night was 6c and today is only 12c with thunderstorms. Yeah, I know, that's not freezing, but is bloody cold for the middle of Summer!
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Post by davy on Jan 15, 2021 7:58:24 GMT
Davy, you must have sent some of your weather down here! It's supposed to be the middle of Summer here but it's freezing!!! Yesterday was 16c, last night was 6c and today is only 12c with thunderstorms. Yeah, I know, that's not freezing, but is bloody cold for the middle of Summer! no snow last night but froze the slush to ice in the car park at mine
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Post by fondofchips on Jan 15, 2021 10:51:32 GMT
Davy, you must have sent some of your weather down here! It's supposed to be the middle of Summer here but it's freezing!!! Yesterday was 16c, last night was 6c and today is only 12c with thunderstorms. Yeah, I know, that's not freezing, but is bloody cold for the middle of Summer! That's gold prospecting weather Ken! Must be absolute bliss when there's less flies around!
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Post by Dragon Man on Jan 15, 2021 14:16:13 GMT
Davy, you must have sent some of your weather down here! It's supposed to be the middle of Summer here but it's freezing!!! Yesterday was 16c, last night was 6c and today is only 12c with thunderstorms. Yeah, I know, that's not freezing, but is bloody cold for the middle of Summer! That's gold prospecting weather Ken! Must be absolute bliss when there's less flies around! Sure is Harry. My son and a friend of ours are out there again tomorrow but I'm staying home this time. Too much to do around the house and I keep putting it off Time to catch up on stuff on our property while it's not baking hot
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