Skywatcher EQ6 Pro Accessories

[skwinty (Steve)]

Hello to everyone in Iceinspace Australia
My name is Steve Winterton and I live in Cape Town , South Africa..
I have a 12" GSO dob and have recently purchassed an EQ6 Pro.
Took nearly 6 months to arrive.OTA rings were the wrong size 10" instead of 12". Having a set made as I cant wait another 6 months to get going.
Have a Canon 40DH with all accesories and still no astropix!!
My next issue is with an extension tube. Have tried to locate in the UK and Europe but have only received negative replies ie We dont ship to South Africa. Does any one know of a supplier in Australia who would ship to South Africa?

Your assistance would be appreciated.
Kind Regards
Steve

[Hagar (Doug)]

Try Andrews Communications in Sydney.
http://www.andrewscom.com.au

I Know they sell them as I bought one from them a while back. about $60aus + freight.

Good luck

[Eternal]

Also try http://www.myastroshop.com.au as I'm sure Steve would have no problems posting to South Africa.

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi Steve and welcome to IceInSpace!

What do you need an extension tube for?
I'm not sure that your 40DH will come to focus in the 12" without moving the mirror up the tube or getting a very low profile focuser.

Have you held it up to the focuser to try it?

Are you planning to do DSO imaging and/or planetary/lunar?

[skwinty (Steve)]

Hi Mike
I need the extension tube because the telescope bangs into the tripod when aimed close to zenith.
I have not yet tried tried to take pix as i am still waiting for OTA rings.I used a broomstick to test OTA clearances. Please elaborate on the focus issue. I am new to astrphotography but would like to try all aspects of astrphotography.
I am not expecting to do long exposures but rather track n stack with max exposures of about 2 minutes as i do not have auto or manual guiding.

Regards
Steve

[skwinty (Steve)]

Hi Mike
I read the article on modifying a newtonian for dslrs. I now understand the focus issue. However this will only affect the camera focus at prime focus and not when using eyepiece projection. I need to weigh up whether i should shorten the OTA and use a 50mm extension for eye piece visual and photographic. At prime focus for photography I do not use the 50mm extension.Am I understanding this correctly? Anyway I still have some way to go before making these decisions and would like to thank the IIS guys for their help with respect to suppliers of accessories. Steve from MyAstroshop has confirmed he will supply and ship to South Africa.
I called the extension a tube extension but should have called it a pillar tube extension. Thanks once again for IIS input.
Regards
Steve

[h0ughy (David)]

you might like to send a pM to photoncollector, he modified his 12" GSO

[Zuts]

Hi Steve,

I image in a park so have to set up my EQ6 each time. I found the DEC levers on the EQ6 a real pain and in fact bent a pair in the first week as I wasnt sure what I was doing regards drift alignment. Luckily Bintel gave me a new pair

Anyway, I found these DEC levers a very good purchase and they make it far easy to DEC adjust. A bit expensive but well worth it.

http://www.starstuff.com.au/eqaccessories.html

Paul

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by skwinty

Hi Mike
I read the article on modifying a newtonian for dslrs. I now understand the focus issue. However this will only affect the camera focus at prime focus and not when using eyepiece projection. I need to weigh up whether i should shorten the OTA and use a 50mm extension for eye piece visual and photographic. At prime focus for photography I do not use the 50mm extension.Am I understanding this correctly? Anyway I still have some way to go before making these decisions and would like to thank the IIS guys for their help with respect to suppliers of accessories. Steve from MyAstroshop has confirmed he will supply and ship to South Africa.
I called the extension a tube extension but should have called it a pillar tube extension. Thanks once again for IIS input.
Regards
Steve

I am not an expert, but...

For starting out eyepiece projection is good and can allow you to take some images. However in general eyepiece projection is not so hot as you pick up all the imperfections of the mirror and of the eyepiece you are using. On the moon though it is fine.

Most people use prime focus. Once you move the mirror you can still use it for visual by getting a focus extension tube the same length as the main mirror adjustment. For example a second hand cheap 2 inch barlow, with the glass removed may be got on Astromart second hand.

Paul

[iceman (Mike)]

I bought some long bolts from Bunnings, to replace both my altitude and azimuth ones. I also bought a small handheld ratchet (with the right socket). Flip it back/forth for tighten/loosen.

The standard adjustment bolts/screws are totally inadequate when you have a heavy load on.