OAG for c11 and moonlite

[blink138]

thanks nathan and peter for advice on guidescope versus OAG
now i have a c11 with a moonlite focuser that can house an f6.3 reducer which i plan to use
my camera will be hopefully a "medically modified" 60d which i can obtain through my optometrist practice for my patient retinal imaging or i may just purchase a 60da for the same purpose
i am currently trying to find out from canon australia if the mods for the medical are the same performed for the 60da
anyhow i will have one or 'tother regardless
what will be a good OAG / guide camera combo for my setup?
any ideas from a similar setup experiences most welcome
pat

[blink138]

anybody got a similar setup that can give some advice?
pat

[whzzz28]

Pat,

There are many combo's out there.

Two of the more common guide cameras are the SX Lodestar ( http://www.sxccd.com/lodestar-autoguider ) and QHY5 ( http://www.gamaelectronics.com.au/qhy%20cmos%20prices.html).
The QHY5 is half the price of the lodestar, however the lodestar has better sensitivity (which may help for an OAG).

Starlight Xpress also have an OAG that retails for around $300, you can see it on this page (minus the FW): http://www.sxccd.com/sx-usb-filter-wheel

Ideally if you went with the SX OAG then id get the Lodestar to go with it.

I personally don't own an OAG at this time so i cant give you much more, but the Starlight Xpress OAG is well known and probably one of the cheaper ones. Combined with a Lodestar camera and you get a great guiding setup.

The QHY5 works well, however it lacks the sensitivity of the lodestar. Will it be a problem? depends where you image from and what you are imaging. In a star desert it may be hard to find a star, thus the extra sensitivity of the lodestar is fine. If your imaging something in the 'belt' then either camera will be fine.

SX lodestar and OAG can be purchased from Claude @ AEC: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~aecclaudio/starlight_xpress.htm

The QHY5 you can get from Theo at Gama electronics: http://www.gamaelectronics.com.au/qhy%20cmos%20prices.html

Hopefully someone else will pip-in some suggestions.

Good luck.

[blink138]

thank you very much nathan, i will look into the sx
much appreciated
pat

[Poita]

I have the starlight xpress OAG and Lodestar on a C9.25 and can strongly recommend it, it takes up very little space, is light as a feather and I never have trouble getting a guide star.

[blink138]

thanks peter
pat