M8 with small RC

[Peter Ward]

I was curious to see how these Chinese RC's performed for myself.

http://www.atscope.com.au/BRO/images/GSO/gsom8.html

[TrevorW]

Are you a convert yet

nice image

Cheers

[renormalised]

Nice shot there, Peter. As you mentioned in your spiel, the image does have a bit more brightness than ones you get out of SCT's. The colours are good. My only quibble is that the image seems a little soft to me, although that might just be my eyes (I've only just got up!!:P:D).

As you mentioned about the field curvature in 35mm, needs a field flattener then. Is the curvature bad or is it just mild??.

Seems like this scope is a goer:)

[Omaroo]

Interesting - and a reasonable image too. It lacks much of the detail of your AP155 capture of the same object (especially within dark lanes in and around the core of the nebula and hourglass), but for the price one would probably forgive that. :whistle:

http://www.atscope.com.au/BRO/m8ap155.jpg

[renormalised]

How much are they??

[Peter Ward]

I too thought the image data was a little soft, but the scope was "straight of of the box" and needed colimation....which is why I didn't spend as much time on focus as I normally do.

Field curvature is there, but mild.

A goer? Not an RCOS to be sure, but yes. I think so. :)

[Peter Ward]

Ah...I'm on thin ice here. I'm sure if you check a few dealer websites you'll find a price ;)

[renormalised]

You wouldn't expect it to be an RCOS, but for what its worth it would be a good alternative to spending probably $10-12K for a similar sized RCOS (not that they build one)

[renormalised]

Confucius say: "If find price pleasing, Andrews will be happy chappy!!":P:D

[Peter Ward]

Nah.. there are better deals out there :)

[TrevorW]

Carl try Advanced Telescope Supplies

for $2000 thats $500 cheaper than I paid Andrews for mine

[DavidU]

They seem like a tidy little RC for the money. Esp if they fixed the reflection problem.

[renormalised]

I'll do that...I've got them bookmarked (should've thought of them!!)

[pmrid]

You've achieved a pretty sharp focus in this shot. Did you use the standard GSO focuser or swop in something else?
Peter

[strongmanmike]

Noooo ATS peddling cheap Chinese OTA's :eyepop:never, what will be next, DSLR's? :doh::rofl:

A very nice image Peter....might think about getting one :D

Mike

[renormalised]

No....modded webcams:eyepop::eyepop::P:D

[Peter Ward]

The bog standard focuser is actually pretty nice. GSO include a set of large diameter extension rings that screw in *ahead* of the crayford keeping any tilt to a minimum. You can adjust the tension and lock it once in place.

[Peter Ward]

Nothing wrong with DSLR's :) ...the Canon 5DmkII is a ripper....just lacks
a 16 bit D/A, high S/N, cooling, stabilized setpoint, dessicated chamber, selfguiding, remote head, adaptive optics...you get the drift :)

[AlexN]

Hehehe...

A very nice image Mr Ward... I would love to see the full resolution image!

[Alchemy]

not too bad and it doesnt have the flare problems ive seen on others... i presume this is a later model with a few upgrades ( spacers before focusers as well )

[telecasterguru]

Peter,

I am fairly impressed with the image. What mount did you use? If the 10" is as good I will more than likely buy one. I suppose that will mean a new mount, a new camera.....

Can't wait.

Frank

[Peter Ward]

PME...but only as it was convenient. The 10" will be a big step up price wise...over double the $$ for only 36% more light.

The carbon-fibre OTA is quite light. On a par with a Celestron 8, but significantly shorter focal length, hence I'd expect it would work well with Vixen SP, Eq5, Taka Em10/11, G-8.

Anything bigger (EQ6, G-11 Taka Em200) is nice as you could easily run two different OTA's side by side.

[Peter Ward]

In response to those who have asked me off list to provide an uncropped image.. here 'tis, warts and all (same URL)

http://www.atscope.com.au/BRO/images/GSO/gsom8.html

(also a re-do as I got some good twilight flats this evening)

[Paul Haese]

Ah nice work Peter. This object does not show reflections. I have only found them on two object, M83 and NGC4945. The stock focusor has been modded since my initial review and talks with GSO. So it should be much more stable. The baffle has also since been worked to prevent reflections too.

Yes, they may not be an RCOS but they are very good for the price.

This certainly gives me some hope for the new camera coming my way. Might get better stars than I have been in the past.

[dpastern]

I wonder how much the 10" will go for out here in Aussie land...if the 12" isn't too high, I'd be very tempted by it.

Dave

edit: oops, my apologies Peter, that's a fine image, good detail. Is this ia newer GSO RC version with fixed focuser/reflection issues?

[Peter Ward]

Dave...as I mentioned earlier the 10" will probably go for around $A4.5k...big price step for 36% more light.

The new (i.e. this one) 8" GSO RC's have had a lot of issues addressed.

I did not adjust the colimation as I was curious to see the "out of the box" performance.

With a few tweaks, I am sure the eggy stars on the right edge of the image (this explains why the left image edge is remarkably good: at the right's expense) would be much tighter.

[renormalised]

Andrews is advertising the 10" for $3499, for an August delivery.

Still $1300 more than the 8"

[Peter Ward]

Yep...sorry, a typo on my part $3.5k is about right.

My only caveat would be, as the aperture goes up so do a whole lot of tolerance issues.

eg. there are some very ordinary 6" refractors out there.

I'd much rather have an very good smaller aperture scope than an average larger instrument.

GSO have been receptive to criticism and made changes accordingly. the 10" RC could be a very interesting scope.

[renormalised]

If they keep the same quality control on the bigger optics and tube manufacturing, and it works as well as the 8" out of the box, it should be a ripper when finely collimated.

Might be worth every cent of $3499.

[dpastern]

Thanks Peter. I didn't even notice the eggy stars on the right hand side, I'm showing my still newbishness to astro imaging :whistle:

The GSO still shows good promise. Of course, you're very good at astro imaging, so the final result is at least partly due to your ability to coax out the best in the gear. Something like this would be a long term interest for me, although I need to be getting good images out of my current gear before I can justify upgrading, no matter how tempting it is.

Dave

[TrevorW]

As said before remember the mount the camera the conditions match with the scope to take these images make a big difference as well

[Tom Davis]

Great image Peter! I almost missed seeing this image -- glad I found it.

Tom

[pmrid]

Paul, as a matter of interest, I get those reflections on those same two objects and, so far at least, no other - on my 8" GSORC. I have found the focuser tends to slump out of collimation as well. Can you tell me what was done with youyr focuser, and also, how you managed to get rid of those reflections. I'll flock if there is no other solution but if Andrews can arrange a swop-out of the baffle tube, so much the better.
Peter

[allan gould]

Peter
A lovely image and goes to show what someone that knows exactly what they are doing with imaging can produce. Irrespective of the equipment your ability shows through and its nice to know you are making them available.
Well done and Im waiting to see what the 10" can do in your hands.

[Hagar]

Very nice image Peter, considering it's straight out of the box. These little scopes are really starting to shine as the poor mans imaging scope. I will be interested to see how the 10" performs. Might be worth investing in one myself.

[Paul Haese]

Peter, I changed the focusor to a feather touch. However, the new focusor has corrected most of the slump problems. The new baffle will not fit your 8" as they changed the f ratio to correct the baffle design. So use flocking to correct the baffle reflections issue.

[TrevorW]

I've got to ask here I purchased mine believing itto be an F/8 if it was not then it's been falsely advertised

If it is an f/8 then the new baffle should work fine.

?????