Thanks Mike, for putting me on to Steve at My Astro Shop, who sent me a Vixen Polarie on Friday. Two day turnaround - very nicely done MAS!
Can't wait to give it a burl tonight - conditions pending. It's going to be great to get outside and take wide fields without having to lug that bloody G11 about. The back is not was it used to be...
I've seen some top notch efforts with these from the various users who have one here on IIS. Progress reports to come. Can't wait to try the 75mm (150@35mm) f/1.8 on the OM-D.
Thanks Mike - looking forward to it myself. You've managed some spectacular shots with yours, so I can't wait to give it a rip. My back yard isn't exactly Cape Leveque, but what they hey!
Cheers guys , and good on you Greg I think they're selling quite a few from what I can see.
David - no - just the basic kit. Tonight I set up and just used my trusty Suunto compass set to TN (11 deg offset) and an inclinometer to 34 indicated degrees. It's as coudy as heck out and the oval down the road has megawatts of light coming from it but I'm looking at round stars in most corners at 3 minutes at 24mm. I'll hop out to our darkish-sky site tomorrow night and drift align with the OM-D's reticle-equipped monitor at 14 mag. Should be interesting.
Out of interest - do you have the scope, and if so how do you find it? I have issues with Sigma Octans and polar scopes.
There is an accessory called the Polar Meter which may help if you don't want the polar scope. I'm reasonably certain it will work in the same way for the southern hemisphere and it does look like it will give more accuracy over the built in meter.
Basically does what you are already doing with your compass an inclinometer.
There is an accessory called the Polar Meter which may help if you don't want the polar scope. I'm reasonably certain it will work in the same way for the southern hemisphere and it does look like it will give more accuracy over the built in meter.
Basically does what you are already doing with your compass an inclinometer.
Cheers guys , and good on you Greg I think they're selling quite a few from what I can see.
David - no - just the basic kit. Tonight I set up and just used my trusty Suunto compass set to TN (11 deg offset) and an inclinometer to 34 indicated degrees. It's as coudy as heck out and the oval down the road has megawatts of light coming from it but I'm looking at round stars in most corners at 3 minutes at 24mm. I'll hop out to our darkish-sky site tomorrow night and drift align with the OM-D's reticle-equipped monitor at 14 mag. Should be interesting.
Out of interest - do you have the scope, and if so how do you find it? I have issues with Sigma Octans and polar scopes.
i wouldnt be without mine Chris. i use the compass and level to get rough alignment then put in the polar scope to finish it off
That looks like the ticket Jarrod. I heard about and even saw it before, but haven't looked closely until now. Ordering now....
It does look alright, I have the polar scope for mine but I think this will come in handy for those times when you may not have a view north or south to align by or even in daylight for tracking the Sun or Moon.
Even a rough align with a Polarie is pretty good, not perfect but still useable.
Shame I can't find a European dealer yet, if I order from the US I'd be expecting the real cost to be closer to $100 maybe more.
Nice one Seems these beasties are selling like hot cakes. I ordered one from MAS yesterday so looking forward to having a crack at some wide-fields. Will be going away to NSW mid north coast next week so hope I can get some nice beach/coastal nightscapes in while away
Great stuff Adam I was speaking with Steve today and he's seeing quite number walk out the door recently.
Here's the first half-decent session that i've had with it.
OM-D, 90 secs, 12-500mm kit lens @f/4.5 at ISO1600. These are single frames. Over the weekend I intend to take dozens of subs in properly dark conditions. Can't wait to give this setup a proper go.
Last night Greg Walton at the ASV monthly meeting had a polarie, he has built a counterweight arm for the Polarie, the original camera mount is removed, it has a hole in the middle so you can leave the polar scope intact & you can rotate the counterweight arm so it is easier to position the camera.
He had test images with a PST & ED80, I didn't get a photo unfortunately
I just got my polarie, here is a link to a 60 sec shot at f2.5, 12mm on mu 4/3 GX1 MW polarie
Nice one Seems these beasties are selling like hot cakes. I ordered one from MAS yesterday so looking forward to having a crack at some wide-fields. Will be going away to NSW mid north coast next week so hope I can get some nice beach/coastal nightscapes in while away
