my imaging rig is finally coming together

[monoxide]

its taken me a while due to work but i've finally got 95% of the bits and pieces sorted out, and whats not here is ordered/on the way.

i managed to piggyback the ED80 on top of my 6" newt today and it is VERY rigid, i have my focusing gear on the way which will hopefully arrive tomorrow (low profile 10:1 + JMI pc focus) and i just ordered a QHY-8 from Gamma :D.
now all i have left to do is install the focuser and jmi gear, get the guider up and running again then work out the QHY8 and i'm in business.

i'd still like to get a focal reducer for the ED80 and a 2" Ha filter but that can wait until my wallet recovers from the new camera.

my plan is to image through the 6" and guide through the ED80, the focal lengths are reasonably similar though (600mm vs 750mm) so the ED80 might not do much imaging until i get a FR.

while it might not be an 'all out' setup its still competent of getting good data while still being fairly lightweight/portable which is a big plus.
i'll post some more pictures once i get the new focuser on and throw it all on the mount.

[davewaldo]

Very nice setup! I can't wait to see what you produce with it all!

:)

Dave.

[monoxide]

just added the 10:1 focuser and JMI PC focus.
id like to hear from anyone else that has the motofocus/pc focus because my first impressions of it are that it kinda looked more like a toy and the way of 'fixing' it to a GSO focuser is just horrible. either way its on there and ready for a test run when the weather clears up.

[Ric]

Very neat & tidy setup Tj. I'm looking forward to your first images through it.

Cheers

[monoxide]

thanks Ric,
although the way the weather is here at the moment that might be a while off yet.

im still not real happy with the motofocus unit, the bit that slides over the fine focus knob wasn't even turning it, i had to line the inside of it with sticky back felt just so it could get a grip on it but in doing this i have lost manual focus ablity. it is also very noisy.
but even after saying all that it still works good enough now that focusing will be a much easier affair and i'll be happy to spend as long as it takes to get it right, no more back and forth from the focuser to the pc to check how i'm doing.

[Ian Robinson]

Looks good.