Skywatcher 80mm Auto Tracking telescope

[DJDD]

Hi all,

Does anyone have any experience with the Skywatcher 80mm Auto Tracking telescopes?

For instance:
- how sturdy are the mounts?
- could I do short exposure (2-3 minutes), or longer exposure) astrophotography with a DSLR on the end?
- comparison with the PRO series?
- The system is labeled as Auto-tracking (Alt-azimuth), any ideas on how well it tracks?

Any thoughts welcome.

Kind regards,
DJDD

[DJDD]

bump. :)

[Terry B]

Have you got a link to the scope and mount?

[DJDD]

thanks for the reply.

I saw it on the Bintel shop site under specials.
https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=7727

This looks like the telescope at the Skywatcher site.
http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/swtinc/product.php?id=132&class1=1&class2=109

thanks for your thoughts.

cheers,
DJDD

[csb]

It looks exactly the same as the Celestron Nexstar mount (older model) that came with various scope packages : Nexstar 80GT, 102Gt ,etc

http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=CTNS80GTL

Celestron's newer Nexstar are designated SLT (ie Nexstar 102SLT) and have upgraded controller, software AND steel legs.

The GT mount does get a good write-up here and at other places (the mount is better than the optics, which are ok):

http://www.nexstarsite.com/Reviews/NexStar80GT.htm

It is certainly cheaper than the Nexstar 80SLT.

[DJDD]

it does look remarkably similar, doesn't it.

thanks for the links.

DJDD

[dugnsuz]

- how sturdy are the mounts? PLASTIC:(!!!
- could I do short exposure (2-3 minutes), or longer exposure)
astrophotography with a DSLR on the end? DOUBT THAT YOU COULD AS IT'S ALT/AZ. FOR 2-3 MINS YOU'RE GOING TO NEED AN EQUATORIAL MOUNT.
- comparison with the PRO series? CHALK AND CHEESE!:lol:
- The system is labeled as Auto-tracking (Alt-azimuth), any ideas on how well it tracks? NO IDEA! BUT CERTAINLY NO GOOD FOR SHORT EXPOSURE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

MINIMUM PACKAGE FOR THE KIND OF IMAGING YOU WANT TO TRY MIGHT BE AN ED80 ON AN EQ3 MOUNT, MOTOR DRIVEN IN RA. THAT WILL BE A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THIS SCOPE THOUGH.
ALL THE BEST
DOUG:thumbsup:

[DJDD]

Thanks, doug, for your detailed reply. I did not hold out much hope but I cannot help myself when i see things on special! :lol:

I also looked up some comments on the Celestron mentioned below and decided it would not be the way to go.


About one day after I passed on your EQ3-type mount I had a Homer Simpson moment (D'oh!). I should have just bought that and worked with my D80 for a while. :rolleyes:


cheers,
DJDD

[dugnsuz]

I've had lots of D'ohs in the past and I'm sure there'll be more to come:P
Doug

[DJDD]

I try to live and learn. :D

DJDD

[Stephan]

Hi DJDD,

The mount really looks like the older Celestron NexStar GT series.

If this is true than the mount is NOT PLASTIC, it is rather is all metal with a plastic cover. Just the tube ring is plastic but you could replace it with a dove tail holder.

http://www.alpineastro.com/mounting_accessories/nexstar_bracket/nexstar_bracket.htm

The only big problem of this mount is the tripod. If you can make some sort of an adapter to fit it to another tripod than it is not a problem. If the Celestron goto hand-controller would fit you would have a nice little goto mount.... not too bad but not really cheap either.

Clear Skies

Stephan

[dugnsuz]

"Perfect for the office, apartment or any balcony with a view"

[dugnsuz]

As Stephan says,"as is" - the mount would probably be a nice visual GoTo setup with a short tube 80mm. But, as your question and interest seemed to lean towards astrophotography I reckon this would be a waste of money - and if you want to get into imaging, you are going to need some!:whistle:
As you already have a very nice camera, I would recommend trying the route I have taken and buy an EQ mount + RA motor drive to do some wide field imaging before moving on to the scope. I struggled with the idea for a while before taking the plunge - I thought if I didn't have a scope I wouldn't have the full experience etc etc. But, just imaging with the camera and mount was easy, rewarding and a great learning curve.
Good luck with your choice.
Doug:thumbsup:

[csb]

Why wouldn't this mount be any good for astrophotography?

I'm about to buy a used Nexstar GT mount for a Coronado PST. I'll be imaging with a DMK ccd camera.

[DJDD]

thanks, all, for your replies.
I think that buying this and then modifying it is a bit too much effort and will add to the cost, as well as probably having a lesser quality solution.

As doug says, perhaps an EQ mount + RA motor drive is the best way to go forward.

cheers,
DJDD

[csb]

OK, I found why Alt/Az mounts aren't so suitable for astrophotos.

It's to do with field rotation. The Alt/Az mount cannot rotate the scope with the sky when tracking, whereas the equatorial mount is able to.

I have just now bought the Nexstar mount. So then it should be ok for imaging the sun....I think?

[[1ponders]]

Craig, field rotation for the short integration avi you are taking won't be a problem. Registax will be able to deal with them np at all. It's when you start to take longer integrations (it depends on Focal Length) that field rotation becomes an issue. I used to do webcam imaging with an LX200 with np.

[csb]

Well, that confirms it - I made the right choice.

I was thinking the problem mainly was with dslr doing long single exposures.

Hmm, so registax is a right, powerful tool!