First Light VC200L

[allan gould]

Had a go at M20 with my latest purchase - a Vixen VC200L.
I was interested in this scope due to its ability to handle a reducer and still give a flat field.
I've only very quickly processed these frames.
The first is 2hr of 5 min subs without reducer while obviouly the second is 1.2 hr with the reducer after a meridian flip. All shots with the QHY8 camera.
Too bloody cold to carry on and the moon came up.
Quite happy re the stars and with the thinned vanes - thanks Leinad (Dan).
The shot with the reducer was focused with a Bahtinov mask while the first was done by eye. I think the reducer shot is sharper. Im still getting used to this scope.
Comments welcomed.

[leinad]

Great first light for a quick process.

Look forward to seeing more :)

[peter_4059]

Looking good Allan.

[garymck]

Allan,
the scope is an imager's delight. I was stupid enough to sell mine, and have regretted it ever since. Once collimated (easy with a Tak collimation scope), they perform superbly. Good luck with it, and I look forward to seeing some new pics!
cheers
Gary

[CoolhandJo]

The stars have some good shape and depth. I think they needed some flats - but still a flat field. Looks to be some light leak or something top right?

I am considering a VC200L myself.

[allan gould]

Thanks for the vanes and other assistance - when I finally packed it in it was 3am and thats why the minimal processing. Too tired.

Could not have done it without your help, Peter. Many thanks as I would have been all at see without your assistance.

Funny you should say that Gary, as you are not the first Ive heard that from.

[allan gould]

Paul
Don't understand your second statement.
Don't see the light leak top right, which frame?
Allan

[CoolhandJo]

Allan,

I have marked up where I can see light in the corner (only on my laptop). You may have to increase the brghtness to see it on your monitor - but it could possibly be an out of frame star procuding the lighter corner?

Nonethless the image is fantastic. I just wanted to bring your attention to it just incase you ahdnt noticed it before.

[Terry B]

Great to see the vixen working well. Good job.

[allan gould]

Thought you initially said top right, thats top left!
I dont see it in the meridian flip so I dont think its a bright star just off screen but it could be a light leak as you suggested.
Didnt see it initially but do now - thanks for that.
It wasnt meant to be a pretty picture but primarily an analysis of the flat field with and without the corrector - so Im happy with this second hand scope. It may wind up being my main imager as its so versatile and a lot lighter than my 10" scope.

[allan gould]

Thanks Terry, its always a gamble buying a scope second hand sight untested, so to speak. But Im happy with it as it will do what I wanted.
Just got fed up with seagulls.

[ozstronomer]

Allan

Both shots look great, looks like that scope is a winner

[multiweb]

That first shot at native FL is a beauty. Scope's a definite keeper. Nice one. :thumbsup:

[CoolhandJo]

Allan,

yep I figured you wanted some "technical" feedback on the image thats why I pointed it out.

GReat priced scopes too!

[troypiggo]

Very nice! I'm impressed how much of the blue reflection nebula you can get from your location. Would have thought the light pollution would have drowned it out somewhat. Gotta be happy with that.

[DavidU]

Impressive ! HIP88396 at Mag 6.7 is just beyond the area marked.

[richardo]

Very nice first light here Alan.
Congrats on your purchase.
You have your colours spot on!!

A good way to go when focusing is to find around a 2-3mag star near the object you intend to image, set your binning to 2xs, focus the image a bit at a time till you see the secondary spikes get as sharp as possible, then check with a 1xs binned image.
If two of the spikes are nice and sharp but the other two are not, this will be collimation.
The secondary spikes do help no end to find if you are spot on with focus or not.
If the night is super clear, and you still find the spikes are lacking sharpness, then check your collimation.

All good though and have fun with the new purchase.

Rich

[Shiggy]

Great pictures Allan!

[Ross G]

Great shots Allan and a great scope......you beat by 15 minutes in buying it!

Ross.

[allan gould]

Thanks Geoff

Its easier to guide at f9 than at 2500fl, Marc

Thanks for the headsup, Paul


Im constantly amazed at what you can do with the QHY8 from the near CBD of Brisbane.

[allan gould]

Thanks for pointing that out Dave - explains the ghost.

I'll remenber that Rich, thanks for the headsup.

Thanks Shaun.


A 15 minutes is a lifetime for some of us! Hope you manage to get one as there are a few getting interested in these scopes.

[atalas]

Looking good Allan....got a larger image?I'd like to have a closer look at the stars.

[allan gould]

Louie
On extreme close up you can see that the stars are actually small diamond shapes rather than round. I expect this may be due to the vanes or some slight remaining miscollimation.

[atalas]

Thanks Allan,I wanted to see If every VC200L had this issue and so far all the ones I've seen do.

I've also seen this with the Tak BRC I think...possible cause? thick spider veins.

A very flat field so certainly makes for a great 8" imaging scope.

[leinad]

Hey Allan,

I'm going to say that looks like optical misalignment and it could be the focuser tilt. :sadeyes:

Ive attached a crop from one of the brighter stars around M83 and stretched where I thought it was best. Guiding and focus wasnt the best during this stack.

I have seen this same issue though on the VC with stock vanes and focuser. I'll see if I can locate my old pics where this was similar.

[leinad]

Not sure if these help as a reference?
I tried not to over stretch here. These are some of the brighter mag stars in lagoon with bad guiding and seeing on the night.

You'll see the squareness resemblance with the med stretch; but not nearly as bad as stretched with standard vanes.

Highstretched
Medium stretched
No stretch(std high low values)

[allan gould]

Dan
I think you are correct as the final collimation I did on the VC200L was not exactly right. It was off just a little. I tried to correct it last night but completely messed up my collimation and was just getting it near correct when the clouds rolled in.
Tonight I redid the collimation and again it was almost perfect but better than the M20 shot I posted. After looking at the stacked image (really quick and dirty) the stars were definitely better, but the clouds rolled in before I could absolutely nail the collimation.
I really feel that collimation is the fact of life with this scope and at least it's good practice and something I will have to get down pat.
I'll post a picture of the re-collimated shot when I get to the laptop again.
Allan

[leinad]

Have you got good tools?
With Hotech 2" Laser collimator and Catseye I nailed collimation in less that 10mins.

Let us know how you go.

[allan gould]

Dan
I know you have said the above previously and I understand the clear advantages of the hotech laser collimator but how in the heck do you do the Catseye part as you can't center spot the mirror of the VC200L?
Please explain !!! :confused2:

Allan

[h0ughy]

well it looks like a keeper scope Allan

[Paul Haese]

This bodes well Allan. Nice image scale. I look forward to more images from you with this new gear.

What do you mean is was too cold. I thought you were an ex SA guy. Friday night it was 5 degrees at Clayton. It was starting to get cold at 130am. Sounds like you might be getting soft up there.:P

[leinad]

Ahh srry Allan I'll explain. :)
I used the XLK catseye with the two viewing holes.
Using the centered view hole the reference is similar to collimation of a newt but without a marked primary or secondary dot.
I'll email you a Vixen collimation document to assist.

[allan gould]

David, I like the image scale and the type of image it gives. Somehow it seems less harsh than an SCT image and more like a Newtonian.


I agree Paul as I liked 1Ponders image scale with his VC200L and was pleased to see that I have a flat imaging field with and without the flattener from Vixen. I guess this makes sense as it was designed in the days of 35mm film and so can do a QHY8 or QSI 583 chip easily with or without the reducer. I think this was what convinced me to get one.
Yes, ex-SA -not ex-SAS!
It was quite cold and I'm not getting any younger. Just ask those at Astrofest last year what the temps got to on some nights - below freezing and so for this year I've bought a freezer suit. I may be getting soft but not silly
:screwy:
I'll get some nice images this year at Astrofest by keeping it simple.

[allan gould]

That would be great Dan but I really don't see at the moment how it's done with the XLK without a spotted primary. Or maybe I'm just too thick!
Allan

[leinad]

Hopefully my email helps explain. :)

[Tandum]

I had one of these too allan. Ponders got mine with reducer adapters masks etc etc etc when I got the 10". You need a lot of time under clear skies to collimate them, I found it hard to do. Now that 10" is gone and I'm back with an 8" rc. Go figure.

[leinad]

It is confusing and tedious until you know the tricks.

I learned the hard way by pulling the entire scope and mirror cell apart(cleaned); then reassembled and spent hours! to get it all aligned with just a cheshire tool and orion 1.25" laser :(

Good outcome from it all is I know exactly what I need to do and can collimate pretty quickly now; then fine tune with a star test and CCD.

You'll get it; just takes some persistance :P