New setup with a 300 mm lens and a EQ6 mount

[Astrofriend]

Earlier when I tested my Canon 300 mm L f/4 lens mounted on my Star Adventurer I found the load on the mount too high. Now I 'm adapting it to fit my EQ6 mount and include an auto guiding camera too.

Here are drawings and photos of my rainy day project:
http://www.astrofriend.eu/astronomy/projects/project-300mm-setup/01-300mm-setup.html


/Lars

[Astrofriend]

This evening I have tested out an extender between the guide camera and the Pentax lens.

http://www.astrofriend.eu/astronomy/projects/project-300mm-setup/01-300mm-setup.html

It's ready now for a first test, just have to wait for a clear sky.

Lars

[bojan]

Looks good :thumbsup:
Did you try that lens before, how does it perform, especially in corners of the frame?

[Astrofriend]

Hi Bojan,
I have only taken one images with the 300 mm lens yet. In that time I used the Star Adventruer mount.

http://www.astrofriend.eu/astronomy/astronomy-photo/galaxies/m31/m31-galaxy.html

Taken at the full aperature f/4, not bad and it's a full frame photo but with the new setup I can do it much better. The only problem, the EQ6 mount is a bit to heavy to transport to dark places. I can't even get it into my car, but my girlfriend has a bigger car :-)

I must also get the system more power efficient when on battery power.

/Lars

[Astrofriend]

I also found that I had done a simple test of the vignetting of the lens.

http://www.astrofriend.eu/astronomy/projects/project-different-lenses-vignetting/01-different-lenses-vignetting.html

It's tested with a full frame camera.

Lars

[Astrofriend]

Today I noticed something interesting. My mini PC that have an input terminal for 19 Volts can be powered by much lower voltage. I have also installed an instrument with a Volt and Ampere meter. Now I can have more control of which of the devices that consume most power. Important when on battery power.

http://www.astrofriend.eu/astronomy/projects/project-300mm-setup/01-300mm-setup.html

I need to solve the mechanics of the motor focuser, have ordered some parts for that.

/Lars

[Astrofriend]

Is there something so exiting as when you can test something new that you have built ?

I could do my first indoor test of the focus motor with it's 3D printed parts today. It's the USB-Focus and I control it through APT and ASCOM driver. Have a look at page 7:

http://www.astrofriend.eu/astronomy/projects/project-300mm-setup/01-300mm-setup.html

The gear ratio I could achive let me use 30'000 steps of the 65500 availably. There is also an instruction how I calibrate the focuser.

/Lars