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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2014 5:32:29 GMT
Edit/update: Also relooking the 102SLT option. Hi all Well as you know I have been doing some 'window shopping' and looking at different scopes and options for my first scope and mount for video astronomy....getting my feet wet. I will most likely sell both of my other scopes and will get the Celestron 127SLT. I was also looking at the 5SE but they are a bit out of my budget. Reason why I decided to sell off some scopes is a) to finance the new scope and getting into video astronomy, and b) I will be moving back to Germany some time within the next five years so I figure the less I have, the easier it will be to sell some things and bring only what I can use there later on. So this is the SLT 5" MAK that I may buy. The cheapest I could find sells for $425 with free shipping. I also found this lightly used 5SE on ebay and got a kick out of how the shop assembled the scope for ebay pics....lolol I am sure you will spot what I thought was funny... So now I have a question, how can or does one get an f12 scope down to f4 or faster ?? Double .5 fr's ??
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Post by davy on Mar 9, 2014 6:30:00 GMT
No asking gor much mate lol
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Post by davy on Mar 9, 2014 6:33:37 GMT
Yip I can see the buy with confidence ..one careful owner hardly used..lol
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Post by johnno on Mar 9, 2014 10:36:15 GMT
Rob, I've got a mak 127 and its great for planetary, but never used for DSO's
I did try it with a .5 reducer once on Saturn at F 11.81. Without the reducer Saturn was dull dark grey, then I put in the reducer and kept the same camera settings as I did with it without the reducer and Saturn was washed out, just like looking at a very bright star and it was about half the size. So I had to adjust to a fast exposure setting .
So in theory the F-ratio would be somewhere near if not faster than my ED80 which is F7.5 without a reducer
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2014 14:22:11 GMT
Rob, I've got a mak 127 and its great for planetary, but never used for DSO's I did try it with a .5 reducer once on Saturn at F 11.81. Without the reducer Saturn was dull dark grey, then I put in the reducer and kept the same camera settings as I did with it without the reducer and Saturn was washed out, just like looking at a very bright star and it was about half the size. So I had to adjust to a fast exposure setting . So in theory the F-ratio would be somewhere near if not faster than my ED80 which is F7.5 without a reducer I do wonder if a Mak is good for video since I rarely see anyone posting they use a Mak. An SCT seems to be the popular choice so I was wondering if a Mak can also be used. Having a f12 is not far from SCT f10 but I imagine that with the fr that f5 is faster than f6 or so and that would make a difference. Has anyone ever used a Mak with video on any DSO's?
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Post by Dragon Man on Mar 9, 2014 15:07:51 GMT
I know of no-one using a mak for video as it goes against the main necessity of Video: FAST optics. And yes, I see the funny bit in the photos! Why does he attach the Finderscope bracket to the focuser?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2014 15:11:18 GMT
Thanks Ken. SO, no go with the 127SLT then. I thought I finally settled on a scope and mount. I do have my eyes on that 5SE even tho they have no clue how to assemble a scope..lol. I am also checking out a 6SE....fingers crossed.
He attached the RACI to the focuser, the bracket is turned the other way.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2014 21:15:32 GMT
Here is an option I am looking at as a starter set up. The 102SLT is f6.5 and the focuser is the newer one but can be up graded later with a GSO 2" focuser for just a bit over $110. Celestron NexStar 102SLT 102mm Astro Video Systems DSO-S (package) or Mallincam Micro – package Antares 1.25" 0.5x Focal Reducer AC Adapter For Celestron NexStar SLT EZCAP.TV 116 EzCAPTURE USB 2.0 Video Capture USB to RS232 cable Total price if I get the SLT on ebay, slightly more elsewhere. $650.00. Some items are free shipping but can add +/-$25 for shipping. I can also figure close to $700.00 with any other cables etc.
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Post by johnno on Mar 9, 2014 22:31:39 GMT
Rob have a look at my video's and stills [ not the solar one's, they are with a ED80 and MTP] here with the Mak 127 and the SW AL Az mount, which is similar to your pic above and notice how it jumps about, don't know if that's down to the motors or vibration from the mount
www.flickr.com/photos/tfc475/with/10139267644/
my personal advice is to get the best mount you can afford with 2'' legs so that its rock steady, it will make a big difference for visual and video because soon as you touch that mount it will vibrate, you will be pushing that Al Az goto mount to its limit and I think that's why it was shaking about a lot. Since I've changed over to the MTP with heavy duty tripod I no longer get any vibration going through the mount and its made a massive difference. I would try and find a good used mount which is better in the long run.
When I first started off people where telling me to get a decent mount first then get a scope, but I just dived in and bought the first thing I could get my hands on. The more weight you add onto the mount the more unsteady it becomes and when you've loaded the mount up with scope and camera's and all the other bits and pieces you will be on or over the maximum them mounts can handle.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2014 23:16:03 GMT
John, thank you for all that info. I know the 102 is close to it's max from what I read on the Nexstarsite. I do have time and won't jump right into it, lts of research before I buy. I am also considering an Orion ST80 which is light and will be easier on the mount. One of the reasons I don't want to spend a lot on a rig is due to budget and also my eventual move to Germany. I can take some things with me but not a mount and scope, those I will then buy there. Getting a 5 or 6SE is out of the budget and won't allow me to get the vidcam and other gear I will need. Keeping things low cost to get my feet wet. Up grading is always possible later if I need to. I also think that with that mount I can later get the ST80 or Starblast 4.5 for video. Weighing lots of options and researching.
Nice images BTW.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2014 23:45:00 GMT
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Post by johnno on Mar 10, 2014 2:43:39 GMT
wow that's dirt cheap, to buy a hand controller is about a £100 or more, you could always stick that in your hand luggage and take it with you when you move
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Post by Dragon Man on Mar 10, 2014 8:27:29 GMT
Rob, if you are aiming at a refractor, be aware that with an Achromat you will get horrible violet fringing from the bad Chromatic Aberration that they are famous for.
You can try using a Minus Violet Filter (doesn't help much) or just use Black & White, or put up with the Chromatic Aberration.
I made my 'You Tube' video using an Achromat, so you can see how it looks. If you find it OK, then you'll be OK with an Achromat. I used a 120mm f5 Achromat. The only filter I used in the Video is an Astronomiks 'L' UV/IRfilter. The first 25 seconds will show you the bright purple Chromatic Aberration around the bright star at the start of the video, and then on every bright star throughout the whole video. That's what you get with an Achromat.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2014 15:07:46 GMT
Chris,John - Thanks fellas. I also checked out just the SLT mount. I'm not worried about the scope when I move, craigslist will cover that. My main thing is not to spend all my budget on the mount/scope and not be able to get the gear for video....may as well stick with just visual.
Ken, well that really does help. I know had I had some CA with my 102 but it really wasn't that bad, or rather didn't bother me. Seeing what video would be like is a different story, and is something to think about. I actually don't think it is that bad ! Also I had planned on the fringe killer from anyhow so maybe that would help a bit.
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Post by Dragon Man on Mar 10, 2014 15:41:14 GMT
Yes Rob, a Fringe Killer does help a little bit. But don't expect miracles as the sensors in Video cameras are very sensitive at the violet end of the spectrum.
I have a Minus Violet filter made for Achros and it doesn't do anything at all, so hopefully the Fringe Killer will work better.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2014 16:38:12 GMT
Ken I think every bit would help, and would also work for just visual.
I am still wondering about the 127Mak because I can get it at a good price with free shipping. The 5SE looks better and is SCT but also costs nearly $200 more.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2014 17:03:26 GMT
My personal opinion, Save up and get the Nextar 5se or better. Buy cheap you buy twice is my moto. Have a garage sale, and raise some cash I speak from personal experience. I have tons of stuff laying about I wish I would not have bought trying to save money. In the long run, I lost a lot more money trying to save. Watch the used market, you can get some good deals. As for the MAK, I have tried video on one. It worked great for planetary with the slow F ratio. But was to slow for anything else. I sold my mak a month later, and got a used Nexstar SE mount and a cheap orion starblast. It was cheap and worked great for DSO's with the samsung camera. Just my 2 cents Hemmi
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2014 17:39:40 GMT
Thanks Hemmi. It's good to get opinions from people who have used equipment and can give personal experience. I am watching a 5SE on ebay and some other scopes.I am actually selling ff lots of gear I don't use much and don't need. I could get a good scope/mount but I also want to get all the other equipment I will need for live/capture. This way I have it all now and won't say I still need this or that. Weighing options....window shopping...lol
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2014 20:33:12 GMT
Until I can get a good deal on a 5 or 6SE this is my main choice at the moment. I think I have it all covered to get started. If you think there is something I need to add please let me know. Celestron NexStar 102SLT 102mm Astro Video Systems DSO-S (package) www.astro-video.com/dso-s-entry-level-camera-system.htmlAntares 1.25" 0.5x Focal Reducer EZCAP.TV 116 EzCAPTURE USB 2.0 Video Capture NexStar RS-232 Cable - Item # 93920 Cable, USB to RS-232 Converter - # 18775 AC Adapter For Celestron NexStar SLT
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Mar 26, 2014 2:04:22 GMT
I'm a fellow newbie and my current thinking and research is this: 1) Get the most stable and highest weight capacity mount in budget. Mounts retain value well on resale, so its hard to get a great deal, but if you go in a different direction, you can sell it easily. The cost of the mount may even be more than the cost of the telescope. 2) Its not just the focal ratio / fastness -- is the combo of the focal length and the specs of your CCD. I leverage this website www.12dstring.me.uk/fov.php to get an idea of objects' scales and the field of view based upon the camera CCD and telescope specs. Not only can you select telescopes and cameras from a list, but you can put in your own specs if necessary. And I like selecting different objects from the menu to get an idea of scale. Have you looked at the VRC6 or AT6RC? Focal length isn't everything... aperture still helps with contrast and details. 80mm is almost half of 152mm.
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