Quote:
Originally Posted by nebulosity.
Wow, Allen you have some beautiful images there! Looks like you have this setup working very well, but as you say it's a bit above my budget 
The CCD it self is quite reasonably priced but once you start thinking about filters it adds up quickly.
This brings me back to the DSLR question, it might be worth while to save money and build a mono 1100D with super cooling and then get a nice set of filters 
I was thinking of taking a short cut and buying something already to go, doesn't look like that is going to happen 
What do you think of the RCC? Is it needed? I thought at F6 you wouldn't need much correction 
Cheers
Jo |
Hi Jo,
To get good images you just have to pay the money.
I also had to buy quality - Parallax tube rings - to get good guiding.
The RCC is essential because it allows enough back focus
to fit all the image train & otherwise the stars are elongated in the corners.
The OAG and Lodestar are essential too because otherwise differential flexure
caused trailed stars.
The Varilock adjustable spacer was essential to get the right length
between the RCC & the sensor chip.
I also had to have the mount upgraded & the backlash adjusted out of it.
All that took many years of trial and error to come up with a working reliable system.
The whole story is there in my flickr photos.
I personally think that modifying a DSLR is not worth it.
You end up wrecking a nice camera.
The cheapest way would be to buy an already modified DSLR at a good price.
These pop up now & again on Astromart & here in the classified section.
I made the decision that unless I could get perfect guiding on long subframes
that I would stick with an unmodified DSLR.
Once I did that I jumped at a CCD & actually found it easier to use than a DSLR.