Hi Aaron
Just to get yourself "in the ballpark" for allowable error, suggest:
- ensure you have FL and guidecam pixel sizes set ok
- put PHD2 into arcsec on the guiding graph (not pixels)
- calculate arcsec/pixel for your main imaging scope/lens and camera
Then make sure your worst guiding error isn't much over your main scope/camera arcsec value (well under is nice!
)
As to how much is to be expected, can also depend on:
- wind
- balance of scope/mount (sometimes a bit overbalanced in DEC and RA is better)
- seeing (scintillation of guide star)
- flexure between main scope and guide scope
Just taking a stab from what you've described you should hopefully have most of your DEC and RA tracking error between plus/min 2 arcsec, although for lens imaging suspect 3 or even 4 arcsec may not affect your final image appreciably.
Hope this is a starting point,
Rob