Very happy with my new scope. Shots taken with modded 20D (thanks Eric) and 5-10 frames stacked at 5min and iso800. Dark subtracted.
Field was very flat and shots processed with levels adjustment only. Colour was true and very, very little colour around bright stars. Have just ordered a Moonlight focusser for this scope.
Regards, Allan
PS Sorry for the jpeg artifacts but the RAW shots are very smooth
The Meade APO CFL with 4.5" draw tube and focus lock on the Focus spindle. Now apparently its a straight swap over for the focusers.
Steve Massey is offering this on the 127mm APO with LVW22mm eyepiece as an upgrade option. After seeing your trouble and Dennis' focuser then I thought that I would upgrade to the best as I'm thinking that in the future I will be putting a large CCD on the end of it.
Got it in the Moonlite Red so the scope would be colourful on the outside but not on the inside if you know what I mean.
I think I will go the same way with the Moonlite focuser, motorised seems to be the best way to get critical focus though I was thinking about putting an accufocus on the existing crayford for now while I save up. Did you order in AU or directly? Did you order the motor drive (DC or servo?)
Red white and blue huh - very patriotic! Shame you cannot get green and gold.
The Meade APO CFL with 4.5" draw tube and focus lock on the Focus spindle. Now apparently its a straight swap over for the focusers.
Steve Massey is offering this on the 127mm APO with LVW22mm eyepiece as an upgrade option. After seeing your trouble and Dennis' focuser then I thought that I would upgrade to the best as I'm thinking that in the future I will be putting a large CCD on the end of it.
Got it in the Moonlite Red so the scope would be colourful on the outside but not on the inside if you know what I mean.
Allan,
Are you getting a motorised focuser as well? How much was the upgrade from Steve?
I think I will go the same way with the Moonlite focuser, motorised seems to be the best way to get critical focus though I was thinking about putting an accufocus on the existing crayford for now while I save up. Did you order in AU or directly? Did you order the motor drive (DC or servo?)
Red white and blue huh - very patriotic! Shame you cannot get green and gold.
Thanks for those comments.
I ordered direct from Moonlight and its slightly cheaper than buying from Steve - about $US519 delivered to Aus in about 5 days. Can't wait.
You can get it in Meade blue, or green or gold. All the anodising looks very very nice.
Didn't get the motorised version although I was tempted to do so. Just trying to cut down on the use/dependance on a laptop.
Steve has the focuser available but at about $AU40-50 more. If you want it imediately then talk to Steve Massey.
For what its worth I've processed the M83 shot in photoshop to bring out the details and I'm very happy with it as there is so much detail in it. I've included a close crop of it from the full frame original so that you can see what this scope is capable of when focused carefully. Sorry about the jpeg artifacts again. If you take the image down close to the original size then you can see the increase in detail with out all the arifacts
Allan
The Meade APO CFL with 4.5" draw tube and focus lock on the Focus spindle. Now apparently its a straight swap over for the focusers.
Steve Massey is offering this on the 127mm APO with LVW22mm eyepiece as an upgrade option. After seeing your trouble and Dennis' focuser then I thought that I would upgrade to the best as I'm thinking that in the future I will be putting a large CCD on the end of it.
Great results Allan, it's good to see more images from the 127mm scopes.
What was the trouble you guys had with the focuser? Just that I believe the focuser is the weak link in my 127mm APO as well.
Great results Allan, it's good to see more images from the 127mm scopes.
What was the trouble you guys had with the focuser? Just that I believe the focuser is the weak link in my 127mm APO as well.
Cheers,
Rob
The trouble with the focuser is when the adapter holding the camera is tightened up there is some movement so that the camera film plane is NOT at right angles to the scope axis and so you get different focus across the film/CCD plane. Also if you use the lock knob to fix the focus it shifts slightly and you loose best focus. I use a WO 2" coupler to the T adapter to insert the camera into the scope and that was far better than one with the safety cut out in the barrel which causes large movement. This problem can be fixed by putting 2 extra screws to push the brass compression strip in the focusser to give an even grip on the adapter. Mine had very minimal play but David's was horrendous. Quality control I guess.
I'm getting analy retentive in my old age and can do without minor irritations. The problem would just get worse with the larger CCDs so hence the moonlight focuser.
The trouble with the focuser is when the adapter holding the camera is tightened up there is some movement so that the camera film plane is NOT at right angles to the scope axis and so you get different focus across the film/CCD plane. Also if you use the lock knob to fix the focus it shifts slightly and you loose best focus.
Thanks Allan,
Those issues are familiar to me. Both come down to the design and assembly/setup of the focuser. I've carried out some simple mods which mostly fix the issues, perhaps I should put together an article in 'Equipment Discussions' or 'ATM projects' to explain what I've done.
Those issues are familiar to me. Both come down to the design and assembly/setup of the focuser. I've carried out some simple mods which mostly fix the issues, perhaps I should put together an article in 'Equipment Discussions' or 'ATM projects' to explain what I've done.
Cheers,
Rob
Sounds good...even a brief note here Rob. I use a WO 2" photo adpater - seems to get the camera flush/square to the draw tube ok, I do not use the focus lock as it appears not to help and I plan to put an Skywatcher electric focuser on anyway.
I would think such an article would be highly interesting
Hi All,
Please check my post in ATM and DIY projects for some adjustments I've made to my 127mm APO focuser. Perhaps it will be of assistance to existing and future owners of this scope.
