pvelez
19-06-2010, 10:01 AM
Some of you may have seen my posts about the SBIG ST-8300M. I have a Meade SN 8 inch scope at a fast f4 so I ordered a 2 inch filter wheel from SBIG. The beast arrived a few weeks back and the nose piece more recently.
The new camera rig is quite heavy - just under 2.8kg. This was a load for the EQ6 - especially as the OTA is weighty too. The camera was way too beefy for my humble JMI electronic focusser.
I was tempted to shift the camera set up and buy a QSI583 - the drop in the Aussie dollar and lack of interest for the SBIG put paid to that.
So... I upgraded to an RC8. The stock focuser is much more solid and handles the camera and filter wheel with ease. A bonus is that the weight distribution is so much better now the imager is at the back of the OTA. I managed to stretch my guiding out to 10 minute subs - at least on 1 side of the meridian.
Here's my first effort with the new set up. Its also my first attempt at LRGB and I'm quite happy with it.
There's about 1.5 hours of L (5 and 10 minute subs) and around 40 minutes each of R, G and B (5 minute subs binned at 2x). Aligned and combined in Maxim DL - quite easy once I figured out how to combine in Stack and then combine in Colour.
I've changed pcs so I have yet to load up Photoshop so there is no other processing applied other than the standard Medium stretch in Maxim.
Comments would be welcome
Pete
The new camera rig is quite heavy - just under 2.8kg. This was a load for the EQ6 - especially as the OTA is weighty too. The camera was way too beefy for my humble JMI electronic focusser.
I was tempted to shift the camera set up and buy a QSI583 - the drop in the Aussie dollar and lack of interest for the SBIG put paid to that.
So... I upgraded to an RC8. The stock focuser is much more solid and handles the camera and filter wheel with ease. A bonus is that the weight distribution is so much better now the imager is at the back of the OTA. I managed to stretch my guiding out to 10 minute subs - at least on 1 side of the meridian.
Here's my first effort with the new set up. Its also my first attempt at LRGB and I'm quite happy with it.
There's about 1.5 hours of L (5 and 10 minute subs) and around 40 minutes each of R, G and B (5 minute subs binned at 2x). Aligned and combined in Maxim DL - quite easy once I figured out how to combine in Stack and then combine in Colour.
I've changed pcs so I have yet to load up Photoshop so there is no other processing applied other than the standard Medium stretch in Maxim.
Comments would be welcome
Pete