Hi all this is my first post I have an Orion ED80 good optics but terrible focuser and can't justify a moonlite focuser. Looking to upgrade to William Optics triplet 71mm is this a worth while upgrade for astrophotgraphy. I live in bortle 4 skys. Will the reduction in aperture make a large difference in mono photography of deep space locations. Thoughts appreciated
Provided you're happy with a bit shorter focal length and wider field of view it's a very worthwhile upgrade. The WO 71 triplet with reducer in the classifieds is a bargain if that's the scope you're looking at.
Yes that's definately a worthwhile upgrade. The aperture difference is very minor and what you gain in image quality will more than make up for it.
In that price range also consider the Askar FRA400. The main advantage is that it's a Petzval design meaning you don't have to worry about backfocus distance which as we all know can be a major pain.
Am I better off keeping the ED80 and add a PRIMA LUCE LAB ESATTO 2" ROBOTIC FOCUSER with adapter. Cost approx $1200. Is the image quality of a new scope any better than the 53glass in the ED80. I want to keep long focal length and may buy a 400mm scope for larger targets. Ideas appreciated as still very new to hobby but have to do something as 533 MC Pro will not hold focus due to weight.
Before pulling the trigger on such an expensive focuser have you tried fine tuning the tension on your focuser? I have a QHY 294M, CFW3, Starizona Nexus and a bunch of adapters (about 1.5kg in total) on my Sky-Watcher 2" Crayford focuser and it holds focus fine, I just had to tighten it a little.
Valid and good point Tony, my only concern is how much will the focus change throughout a night of imaging as I will not be near scope. I live in Western NSW and assume temp plays a big part in keeping focus. I could be wrong often I am
What focuser are you using currently? I have that scope and when I started in the hobby, I'd manually focus with a bahtinov mask and then lock down the focus. But sometimes just locking would be enough to throw focus off a touch.
I then bought a PrimaLuceLab Sesto Senso. That's a decent focuser but not with any heavy payload because it connects to the fine focuser knob. The ZWO EAF is a better focuser in that regard, because it connects to the coarse focuser. Cheaper, too.
I sent my Sesto Senso back when I got my Esprit and bought the Esatto 3". It's a fantastic focuser, but if I were you, I'd start with the ZWO EAF. If you like it, great. Later on you can sell it and get an Esatto if you so wish.
Thanks Adam, the issue is the stock Orion single speed focuser slips with the weight of reducer and camera as its a Crayford style no gears the ZWO cant keep focus unless locked down then I am worried that this force will burn our my ZWO EAF
