Go Back   IceInSpace > Equipment > Astrophotography and Imaging Equipment and Discussions

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #1  
Old 11-07-2020, 03:21 PM
MarkInSpace (Mark)
Registered User

MarkInSpace is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 219
Rebooting Astronomy interest now selecting guide scope and auto-guider

Hi -
I'm returning to astronomy after a 15+ year pause - and things have changed!
Long ago I sold my LX-10 8" SCT and LX-200 10" SCT.
For better or worse, I dived in and bought a used HEQ5, a modified 600D and a used WO ZenithStar 71 + flattener&reducer (which is slowly traveling over from the US).
I also picked up an inexpensive 150mm Newt and coma corrector.
Now, all I need a guide scope and guider.
Are the 50mm guide scopes available on EBay OK? Should I go 60? Should I spend more and get a name brand? Maybe hold out for a 60ED going cheap?
what are your thoughts?
Next what about the auto-guider? Is the ZWO ASI 120MM Mini Guider a good option?
I've just found and joined this site - woo hoo!!
Very interested to hear your thoughts.
-Mark
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-07-2020, 07:13 AM
Startrek (Martin)
Registered User

Startrek is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sydney and South Coast NSW
Posts: 5,990
I’d recommend an Orion 60mm guide scope with helical focuser and ZWOASI120MM-S guide camera for your 150mm newt mounted on your tube rings with a 14” losmandy dovetail bar ( nice solid guiding set up )
Oh and use PHD2 guide software , it’s free and used extensively around the globe so plenty of support locally including IIS forum

For your smaller refractor you could get away with a 50mm guide scope and mini ZWO guide camera or just use the 60mm

Photos of my 150mm and 200mm imaging newts

Good luck and welcome back
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (F1F636B7-4999-4891-8485-0E110483BA87.jpg)
207.0 KB35 views
Click for full-size image (03F8C5BA-6E01-4E67-AD2F-1087EC8E9398.jpg)
209.6 KB39 views
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-07-2020, 07:28 AM
Startrek (Martin)
Registered User

Startrek is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sydney and South Coast NSW
Posts: 5,990
Correction, I used an Orion mounting bar 340mm long x 44mm wide x 15mm thick mounted on the OTA tube rings to mount the 60mm guide scope
The losmandy 14” dovetail bar mount my OTA to the telescope mount
The photos should help to show my set ups
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-07-2020, 12:19 PM
ChrisV's Avatar
ChrisV (Chris)
Registered User

ChrisV is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,737
I've got a 50mm zwo guidescope I picked up here second hand. I've also tried a 60mm and didn't really see much difference - but it had a bigger fov for more stars. I use an asi290mm - but only used that as I already had one for Halpha video astro (EAA or whatever you want to call it). Definitely phd2 for all the reasons mentioned already. And all mounted the same as Martin has done
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-07-2020, 02:02 PM
MarkInSpace (Mark)
Registered User

MarkInSpace is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 219
Thanks for the good tips, Chris and Martin
I'll have a look for guide scopes here, there's always EBay if i cant find anything suitable!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-07-2020, 04:08 PM
Startrek (Martin)
Registered User

Startrek is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sydney and South Coast NSW
Posts: 5,990
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkInSpace View Post
Thanks for the good tips, Chris and Martin
I'll have a look for guide scopes here, there's always EBay if i cant find anything suitable!
Please note: Don’t buy the ZWOASI120MM USB2 Camera !!!! as it has inherent intermittent problems with connections and drop outs etc. ZWO have had issues with the driver etc..
Make sure you buy the ZWOASI120MM-S USB3 Camera
You can still connect it from camera to laptop with USB2 cable up to 5m cable length or use a compliant USB3 cable suitable up to 5m if you need that length
Also if your using PHD2 as your guiding software it is recommended by the PHD2 developers and the general Astro community to connect the guide camera direct to the laptop via Ascom ( not ST4 connection which is camera to mount then mount to laptop) Refer attached
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (AC0B5085-E046-449C-A144-8FC1DF8B583B.jpg)
168.5 KB35 views
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 26-07-2020, 04:51 PM
MarkInSpace (Mark)
Registered User

MarkInSpace is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 219
Noted - thanks for the heads up!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 27-07-2020, 06:57 PM
xelasnave's Avatar
xelasnave
Gravity does not Suck

xelasnave is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Tabulam
Posts: 16,866
It's sounds as you could end up with two finder scopes..if you do, with a little tinkering you could use one as a guide scope and save some bucks.
Alex
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
auto-guider, guide scope, zenithstar

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 07:36 PM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Testar
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement