Help with Camera and lens on a GEM

[Spookyer (Brett)]

Hi all

I am looking at doing long exposures with an slr and camera lens using my gem.

If I mount my dslr camera on a ballhead that is attached to a plate above an ota on a well polar aligned mount will I get round stars if the actual camera is at an angle to the ota or do I have to have the camera precisely aligned with the ota?

thanks
Brett

[dannat (Daniel)]

no as long as the mount is polar aligned fairly well you can move the ballhead to any direction & take photos atop the telescope with the camera. make sure the whole rig is reasonable wel balance, what f/l lens will you use?

[Spookyer (Brett)]

Thanks, I thought that was the case but wanted to check before I drill this plate and mount the ball head on it.

I will use focal lengths from 14mm to 600mm

Brett