Happy, yes! i thought I would show what I have at the moment and while I have the time. I am looking after my Daughter at the moment (she has chicken Pox) and i just started to have another play with the toys.
The mount is rock solid, and one day I might get another threaded bar made up and put in on the meade tripod I have. But for now I am very happy with it.
For the scope I was able to find a temporary mount block for and adapt it for the mount.
I also bought a new solar filter for it. i had to pad out the filter to fit the scope, but it is a snug fit and doesn't move.
the scope moves extremely well and smoothly, and with the 3 5.4kg weights, an appropriate sized scope could be accomodated .
The version of the synscan is 2.04.
Note the baffeling in the the M500, I beleive it helps the contrast and reduce stray light.
Nice h0ughy. Looks like your going to have a good time with it. I'm glad your enjoying the finder. It is nice and clear and sharp to look through but unfortunately I found it a pain to use
As someone not familiar with the M500 , whats its specs houghy ?
Intes Micro Alter M500 5" F/10 Maksutov-Cassegrain OTA
Clear aperture: 5" (127 mm)
Secondary mirror diameter including baffle: 42 mm
Percent central obstruction including secondary baffle: 33%
Tube diameter: 158 mm
Tube length: 345 mm
Tube weight: 3.3 kg (7.26 lbs)
Internal baffles similar to the Alter M603
Percent reflectivity of mirrors: 96%
Mirror substrate: Pyrex
Minimum optical quality for the system: 1/7th wavefront p.t.v.
Photographic field of view: 1° 45'
Scope comes with certified optical test report, one year warranty on coatings , owner's manual with complete collimation instructions and unlimited customer service for as long as you own the telescope.
Now I finally see what Hendrix was on about when he sang "Excuse me why I kiss the sky"! Great looking rig. Hope to see some photos shot through that there cannon real soon.
Nice Houghy, almost an overkill for the poor wee Mak, if there is such a thing as an overkill. I had one for a while on a G-11, same deal, but man was it solid.
Get a decent focal reducer and shoot some sky.
Gary
The baffling in that telescope will improve the contrast incredibly. I installed baffles in my 12-inch 'scope and the improvement was astonishing, both visually and photographically.
If you shine a torch down the end of the scope from an angle, you'll see that the light might make it past the first few baffles but not too the primary mirror.
Pardon my ignorance, Houghy, but how is your scope an improvement on the 12"LX200, or are you keeping your Meade too?
What, sell the Meade, O Rod wash your mouth out , i would never give that up, even when the electronocs eventually die, that's why i got the EQ6. to use now and learn with the smaller scope and to parallel the camera on and guide (autoguider next aquisition). i wanted something a bit more portable .
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, i would never give that up, even when the electronocs eventually die, that's why i got the EQ6. to use now and learn with the smaller scope and to parallel the camera on and guide (autoguider next aquisition). i wanted something a bit more portable 
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