Questions on Nexstar 8SE

Clifford60 · Post by **Clifford60** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:29 pm

Too bad, this Friday you are out, otherwise you will be able to see Meng Lee in his astrofoto action in the NUS ob.

Try a Mersing session, you will be able to see guy like Kochu, Matthew, etc doing astrofoto and you will see the hardware they have to take on such a task.

So, wait.... until your know the long list of requirement before you decide to get into DSO astrofoto.

Post by **weixing** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:41 pm

Hi,

So, wait.... until your know the long list of requirement before you decide to get into DSO astrofoto.

They are the professional class.

For budget limited starter who wish to learn DSO astrophotography, you can start with a decent telescope (start with < 1000mm focal length) on a suitable EQ mount with RA motor drive and a DSLR. Learn to do good polar alignment and with patient, you'll able to get decent astro image. You can learn and slowly upgrade your equipment as you get more experience.

Have a nice day.

mySG_jy · Post by **mySG_jy** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:12 pm

Just try out my first photo session with my SE6 with the Webcam ProII. it is hard to get a good setting. out of 10 photo that i have taken only the first one looks a bit better. guess still a long way to learn

Post by **weixing** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:54 pm

Hi,

Just try out my first photo session with my SE6 with the Webcam ProII.

Have you try mounting something heavy (such as a DSLR) at the visual back of your 6SE??

My friend had a 6SE and he complaint to me that the tracking was not good as the Moon keep drifting out the field of view fast when he try to take Moon image through his 20D. I haven't got the chance to do a detail check on his setup, but I suspect that either the mount cannot take the load or the mount is sensitive to unbalance load (back too heavy and front too light).

Anyway, heard that the 8SE use the exact same mount as the 6SE... wonder does 8SE had this problem??

Have a nice day.

Post by **acc** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 11:12 pm

Yes the 6SE and 8SE use the same mount. Properly balanced, the mount should not have any problems slewing/tracking with a SLR affixed.

mySG_jy · Post by **mySG_jy** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 11:18 pm

initial weight on the gears that attached to the scope while doing skyalignment is important. if the alignment weight is different from the actually weight that you are planning to put on such as the DSLR then the tracking will be off for sure. I have tried by changing from a 1.25" eps to 2" with barlow, the tracking is already off like your friend described.

cataclysm · Post by **cataclysm** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 12:14 am

Quote:Basically, I need a scope for DSO photography.

Your 102mm F5 refractor is a good start for learning DSO Astrophotography. The focal length is not too long, so alignment is less demanding and don't depend much on seeing. You just need an EQ mount and may be a minus violet filter or LPR to reduce the CA and light pollution.

Hi, couldn't agree more with Weixing. You can do alot already with the 102mm for DSO, its fast F ratio will help a great deal. Try it on some bright objects like the M8 which is high on the night sky now, or better still the great Orion Nebula by year end, you will be surprise on what you can do with it! I clearly remembered not long ago when i just ventured out on astrophotography with a wrong footing, where i bit more than i can chew by starting imaging with the Mewlon. At F11.5 and 2400 fl, its too slow too long & too heavy.

Post by **acc** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 12:14 am

mySG_jy wrote:initial weight on the gears that attached to the scope while doing skyalignment is important. if the alignment weight is different from the actually weight that you are planning to put on such as the DSLR then the tracking will be off for sure. I have tried by changing from a 1.25" eps to 2" with barlow, the tracking is already off like your friend described.

Hmm this is strange cos' I had one such scope and switching from 1.25" orthos/plossls to 2" eps weighing almost 1kg did not cause any problems. Could the clutch be slipping? A possible solution may be to balance the scope halfway between your lightest and heaviest eps.

Tachyon · Post by **Tachyon** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:46 am

weixing wrote:Hi,
So, wait.... until your know the long list of requirement before you decide to get into DSO astrofoto.
They are the professional class.

For budget limited starter who wish to learn DSO astrophotography, you can start with a decent telescope (start with < 1000mm focal length) on a suitable EQ mount with RA motor drive and a DSLR. Learn to do good polar alignment and with patient, you'll able to get decent astro image. You can learn and slowly upgrade your equipment as you get more experience.

Have a nice day.

Or... you can observe what I do - it will be a great lesson on what NOT to do for astrophotography! :oops:

raychan · Post by **raychan** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 1:12 pm

Hi guys...

Looks like I'm convinced the 102mm is more than adequate for wide-field astrophotography.
Guess what I actually need is an EQ mount that has autotracking.

Anyone selling theirs ?