C11 XLT upgrades

[ourkind (Carlos)]

Hi,

I just have a few questions in regards to upgrades for my C11.

1. Can I install a moonlight focuser or similar to achieve better focus?

2. If yes, can it also lock the mirror in place?

3. Can I attach a hyperstar camera to it?

4. Can anyone recommend a good OAG for it?

Essentially these are the questions I need answered before I fork out cash for a heavy mount. I'm in two minds weather its worth keeping for deep sky imaging or not?

Thanks in advance

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Carlos,
I have and use a C11 on a NEQ6pro mount.
You can fit either a Feathtouch crayford or just a Feathtouch mico focus knob. The replacement knob certainly works for me and does improve the "holding" of the mirror.
If the secondary holder says "Fastar" on it, then yes you can use the Fastar option.
As a minimum the Celestron Radial guider will work but there are many options. I really comes down to preference and price.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by ourkind

Hi,

I just have a few questions in regards to upgrades for my C11.

1. Can I install a moonlight focuser or similar to achieve better focus?

Yes at the back as a standard focuser. I use a 10:1 microtouch to move the mirror on mine from starizona.

Originally Posted by ourkind

2. If yes, can it also lock the mirror in place?

I don't think it can.

Originally Posted by ourkind

3. Can I attach a hyperstar camera to it?

If it's fastar compatible. Otherwise you can get a kit with the hyperstar. It's not much more money.

[ourkind (Carlos)]

Excellent thanks Ken and Marc, that makes my C11 a keeper! now to aquire these items

[Rigel003 (Graeme)]

Just to give you a different perspective, Carlos, I've owned a C11 for years and used it extensively for visual observing and hi res planetary imaging, but by choice my deep sky photography has always been with small refractors. You'll get better wide fields, way smaller stars, generally crisper images, and better guiding without a mammoth mount. Just an alternative approach to what you're considering.

BTW I just explored your flickr site and the photos and presentation are great. Loved the pyramid shot!

[ourkind (Carlos)]

Thanks Graeme I really appreciate your input and you also make a good point. But please correct me if I'm wrong, with a larger apeture and longer focal length I can take close up images of smaller DSOs, for example many Planetary Nebulas and distant Galaxy Clusters? This is something I'm looking at achieving, that said I also love the widefield images of an ED80 or of a slightly larger apeture essentailly I'd like the best of both worlds

And many thanks for your kind glowing words about my image gallery, you are the first one here to mention it and its nice receive such compliments. Yep the Pyramids was definately a surprise and I was fortunate enough to have a good camera and lens handy to record that moment

Cheers!