Off Axis guider for a Intes Micro 500

[seeker372011]

I finally bought the Intes Micro 500 that I have been eyeing for some time-5 inch f/10- and wonder if off axis guiding would be the way to go..but before I spend $300 or more on a Lumicon Easy Guider I thought I'd check to see what the IIS opinion was on this notion

any advice most appreciated
narayan

[gbeal]

I'm sure Ponders will answer this, he is an off axis guiding convert.
Given your sig contains both an ED80, and an Atik camera, why not use this to guide, on a side by side setup? That way for DSO's use the M500, and for wider stuff switch cameras/guiders

[seeker372011]

Thanks Gary, that is the other option..in fact probably the way I will go..its just that I have the ED80 and a 5 inch newt guide scope nicely teamed and I was considering not tampering with that set up

boy its a bit different with a Cadiotropic-the longer focal length and the image shift when focusing etc all need a bit of getting used to
narayan

[gbeal]

Narayan,
you are right on the money there. I love the little Maks, but the image shift, even if only slight, plus the longer focal length will make it a challenge indeed to image with. Try a reducer, but if you are going that way, to me it makes better sense to start with an imaging newt anyway. Lovely travel scope though.
Gary