I have the 2" on the RC8, but am looking to see if the 3" will adapt easy enough, so if you do find a solution let me know please. The 2" is a godsend compared to the fishing sinker that is supplied as standard.
Gary
I have had this battle myself, i too thought at such a cheap price it would be a great little scope just to play with some longer fl but it cannot take the 3" focuser which is a real shame! its a 10" or better and the price becomes inhibitive again
There is not a lot of weight saving between the CF and non CF tube but the price difference is such that you can afford to replace the focuser and add
electronic focusing with temp compensation if you are worried about that.
With the RC10 it was a $700 difference so it was easy choice to put a FT on it.
I guess the thing is though Yugent already has the 3015B-A FT just like me and it doesn't fit the RC8 which is pointless because then you would have to A. get the 10"RC or B get a new focuser which defeats the $$$ aspect. if the 3" focuser fitted then it would be very attractive. and without building a whole new visual back for the RC then its not really worth it!
If you only had a 2" and wanted a RC10 you would be in same boat
The 3" would be very big on the back of an 8" and you may have issues
with backfocus and balancing.
nothing a little bit of weight up the front couldn't balance out losmandy do a 2d system for that. A friend of mine on his VC200L has to do the same thing or the balance point would be under the focuser.
Really the 3" doesn't matter if it looks big. it works well! and allows alot of other practical things. Though at the end of the day its not a issue as the RC8 has a small visual back that would not accept the 3" and i think it would struggle with the 2.5" and a 2" focuser is small now days with the size of sensors avalible.!
Brendan
Yeah Brendan you completely understood the reason why I looked at the RC8. If I was going to go towards any other type of scope it would be the RC and nothing else. Why?
1. Focal length at f8 is reasonable you could use a flattener/reducer and go f6 but that defeats the purpose for most people.
2. Aperture is quite reasonable and provides good resolution compared to refractors.
3. Cost.
Even the 10" CF is not a bad option but the weight is the main concern the CF version is 7.5Kg and with a QHY9+Guidescope the EQ6 will be on the edge. G11 is the other option but then we start the money burn cycle all over again! Damn you astronomy.......
Update:
Mark - Are you using a GSO 10" on a CGEM? I read somewhere that using an EQ6 or CGEM for RC10 CF is also possible as long as a very light weight guide scope is used.
Mark - Are you using a GSO 10" on a CGEM? I read somewhere that using an EQ6 or CGEM for RC10 CF is also possible as long as a very light weight guide scope is used.[/QUOTE]
I tried it out and it is possible but I had trouble guiding toward zenith
the weight was starting to show and was responding erratically to
guide commands I use an OAG no guide scope. Otherwise it seems to cope ok just depends on the angle and weight balance . I now have a Mach1 it doesnt break a sweat with it.
Mark i don't know what was wrong with your eq6 but mine guides with perfectly round stars loaded up with about >24kgs of weight and a big swing hanging off the top of its head, see 1.2m long 254mm astrograph I have to man handle that thing...
That RC is a feather compared this is from experience of actually playing around with the ally tube version it is about half the weight of my scope.
I have my GSO RC10 CF on my Brendan adjusted tuned and pimped EQ6 , and as he says it will do the weight and give good results all day long. Nothing to fear with the RC10 CF and you should be using OAG or lightweight finder guider as standard!
Just to weigh in, contact Wayne at Starlight instruments (be sure to mark attention Wayne) and tell him which scope and that you want to use it on an 8" scope. He will let you know what adapter and which focusor. The 2" is fine and will pull up a lot of weight. Tell him I sent you and then haggle for a discount. He is good like that.
By understanding what is actually happening within the mount and having experienced it many many times before. I know the pit falls I know the important parts. they are bullet proof inside if only they actually put some more work into their worm wheels and gears........
Once again Paul, manav already has the 3" varient on this, and the scope stops being economical if you go and buy a 2" FT to go on it. Might as well go to a 10" and use his 3" as before then there is only a minimal increase in price for a big increase in size.
nothing a little bit of weight up the front couldn't balance out losmandy do a 2d system for that. A friend of mine on his VC200L has to do the same thing or the balance point would be under the focuser.
hehehe
