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Celestron C8 imaging train setup - Checklist
I've purchased a Celestron C8 to do galaxies, planetary and if I can get the guiding to work well enough for the exposures required; small DSO.
This time around I am doing research BEFORE I start buying stuff.
The Plan:
Imager; I am going to start with a Canon DSLR with the aim of going to an astro camera soon. Optimum backfocus according the Celestron for a C8 is 5 inches (127mm).
44mm (for DSLR)
Guiding; I've figured out that due to potential mirror flop it's best to use an OAG. Some googling has me more confused about what's a decent OAG. Everyone seems to have a beef with every brand and type, so I've settled on a ZWO.
16.5mm
Reducer/Flattener; I'm not sure I will be dealing with this in the short term and may have to out up with the stars at edges being elongated. Having said that, I've not seem an image from an 8 inch SCT without a reducer/flattener. Are they really bad? Should it really be necessary, I want to keep the focal length as long as possible but I'll give that up rather than be stuck with a rubbish picture. Has anyone experience with a .8 or so reducer/flattener that gives a really flat image on a C8 celestron?
Filter wheel; Have a ZWO mini, 5 filters should do me for the moment.
20mm.
Filter Drawer; have a ZWO already, didn't with with my refractor and DSLR. This is a 2 inch drawer for the L-Extreme. For the use of the DSLR I'll leave a blank hole in the filter wheel, does this work or should I just leave it out given the intended targets? Bortle 6-7
25mm
44
16.5
20
25
105.5mm
That leaves me with 21.5mm for a reducer and/or spacers. I'm guessing the reducer/flattener will change this calculation, the amount depending on which one chosen. If it doesn't, I am having the worlds thinnest reducer/flattener or giving up something, likely the filter wheel for the moment.
I'm inviting suggestions and comments as I want to buy once - cry once and any issues I get will be due to my meager skills. I'm doing okay with refractors but this is my first reflector.
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