Sword of orion, test of new Bintel focuser

[tornado33]

Hi all
last night I finally got to test the new Crayford Bintel focuser fitted to my 6 inch F3.6 Schmidt Newtonian "Cometracker". It goes well, focusing was FAR easier, especially with the 10to 1 reduction. After just a few 10 sec test images I had just about perfect focus. I imaged Orions sword.
5x5 mins iso400 and 4x5 mins iso800, uhcs filter, MPCC coma corrector. Modded 350D.Very light polluted skies. All I now need is a better guidescope, the cheapie I have now shows stars like seagulls, no matter the collimation. I might get one of those cheap Andrews refractors for the job. Anyway heres a full frame view, and a full res. crop showing the nice small stars.

The image was shot from my 2nd Sampson mount as it sits in the garage, looking out through the roller door. Polar alingment not too bad as I only aligned all the images on just 1 star, yet no field rotation :)

Im sure with a better fuidescope showing pinpoint stars I will be able to guide even better.

To sum up, the focuser is very good though might struggle to hoist a heavier cooled DSLR.
Scott

[iceman]

Clear last night? Doh!

Well done Scott! You should try and get out to some dark skies sometime.. i'd love to see what you can do in better conditions.

[leon]

Looks pretty good to me Scott, can i ask why such a red cast through the image.

Leon

[Garyh]

Good going Scott!
Was totally overcast up here last night you lucky fellow!
Would you recommend the focuser for imaging with a heavy DSLR?
cheers Gary

[tornado33]

The red cast seems to come from the UHCS filter and that the camera is moded. Sky was heavily light polluted as well
This is a low profile focuser for scopes with limited backfocus, for conventional scopes the normal profile one would be the go. I would handle heavier loads as the bearings that guide the 2 inch shaft are further apart, with mine they are very close together, if I push down on it with the camera on I can see some movement. On its own, my 350D is light enough that it does not move, but I think a cooled one like Houghys might be too heavy. Scott

[h0ughy]

well we might have to test that;)

[theodog]

Nice ones Scott.