Well - I've finally brought my latest imaging rig into existence. The C8 won't stay long as it's due to be replaced with a Tak FSQ-106, but until then this'll do
The setup:
1) Celestron C8 with Meade f/6.3 focal reducer and WO red dot finder.
2) William Optics Megrez 80SD guide scope with WO red dot finder and guide camera (not shown)
3) Takahashi FS60-C used as visual finder in this capacity since cameras block the other two when trying to center objects for the cameras
4) Canon 350D on C8 at prime focus
5) Nikon D40 on RHS of saddle plate w/Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 prime lens for widefield
6) Losmandy G-11 mount with custom jarrah side-saddle plate (very solid)
Heating this apparatus are 9 (nine) individual heater strips running off one of my variable pulse-width controllers.
I plan to photograph the entire Messier Catalog over time with this setup just for something to do. The main camera (350D) doing the high-mag work at prime focus and the Nikon taking contextual wide-field shots of the region around the object/s. The rotation and axial alignment of the two cameras will remain the same. The Tak is also axially aligned with the C8 so that I can visually fine-tune my composition for both cameras.
The fun begins
