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smasraum
sage
Reged: 01/13/08
Posts: 492
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I've got the AP fever, but I don't have an AP budget. I've "settled" for visual observation with my Z8.
I've used my Canon Rebel XT for some simple short exposure AP in the past. I've managed to capture the running man when shooting the Orion nebula
http://home.swbell.net/smasraum/Orion_M42cropped.jpg
I've managed M31, M32 and M110
http://home.swbell.net/smasraum/M31croppedpartprocsm.JPG
I know they aren't great, but I think they're neat. I'd like to try for more before I can afford a CG5. I was thinking that I could keep using my camera/300mm lens by itself, but possibly put it on something like the little EQ1 mount with a motor and at low focal lengths get much better shots.
1 What do you guys think?
2 Does anyone know if the EQ1 mount/head could be mounted to a photo tripod? I suspect that my photo tripod is more sturdy than the tripod that comes with the mount.
Thanks
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Steve
Houston (Friendswood), TX
 Space Center Houston
8" Zhumell Dob - Woo Hoo!!
Celestron C102 f/5 - Thanks Tim!
21mm, 13mm Hyperion
2.5x TV Powermate
Canon Rebel XT
Nikon 7x35
Bushnell 10x50
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Protheus
Vaguely offended
Reged: 09/01/07
Posts: 4643
Loc: Illinois, US
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Quote:
1 What do you guys think?
Me? I think those shots are better than what I've done so far with similar equipment. 
Chris
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"To tread the sharp edge of a sword;
to run on smooth-frozen ice,
one needs no footsteps to follow..."
"Well, people sometimes ask me 'how did you get involved in astronomy?' I said 'I got born, what's your problem?'" -- John Dobson
"In discussing the large-scale structure of the cosmos, astronomers sometimes say that space is curved, or that the universe is finite but unbounded. Whatever are they talking about?" -- Carl Sagan
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smasraum
sage
Reged: 01/13/08
Posts: 492
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Should I ask this in Beginning Imaging or Mounts, or something else.
Chris, thanks. Those shots are about 1.5secs (I think either 1.3 or 1.6 sec exposures). I think the Orion is about 45-50 shots stacked, and I think the M31 is about 15-20 shots. Now that M31 is getting higher in the sky, I want to try again with about 50 shots.
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Steve
Houston (Friendswood), TX
Space Center Houston
8" Zhumell Dob - Woo Hoo!!
Celestron C102 f/5 - Thanks Tim!
21mm, 13mm Hyperion
2.5x TV Powermate
Canon Rebel XT
Nikon 7x35
Bushnell 10x50
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RussL
Music Maker
Reged: 03/18/08
Posts: 1575
Loc: Cayce, SC
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Sure, you could put your camera on an EQ-1. Just unscrew the head from the camera tripod and bolt the whole thing on the EQ-1 with a 1/4"-20 bolt (if it's that size). Lock the camera head and just mount your camera on it as usual.
I don't know how good the motor drive for the EQ-1 is for AP, but I'll bet it would be fine for short exposures. And I'm sure it's just sidereal speed. Also, I've heard that there are times when it gets in the way. I would imagine trying to point toward the zenith might be one of those times. I have an EQ-2 and had trouble with the fine control cable/knob last night pointing at the zenith. The knob on the end of the cable was running into the base. I don't have a motor on mine. Otherwise, and for the most part, I think you'd have a blast with the EQ-1. If you could find a used EQ-2, you'd like it even better. It's beefier. 
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--Russell
"Akita mani yo." Observe everything as you walk. (--Lakota)
Celestron Celestar 8 Standard SCT, f10
Celestron 80mm Wide View ref., f5
Criterion RV-6 Dynascope, Newt., f8, (c. 1962)
Sears Discoverer 60mm ref., f7, (c. 1973)
Celestron Ultima DX 10x50, 6.5 TFOV
Tasco 7x35 wide
Several mediocre eyepieces
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RussL
Music Maker
Reged: 03/18/08
Posts: 1575
Loc: Cayce, SC
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Wait a minute, is that what you're asking? Or did I get it wrong? Or was it:
EQ-1 head onto a photo tripod. I'm sure there's a way if you make an appropriate plate. It would have to be a beefy camera tripod, though. The EQ-1 tripod ain't that bad, really. My EQ-2 is plenty steady with my ST80 on it. A friend of mine has a StarBlast on an EQ-1 and says it feels just fine. The StarBlast OTA weighs about five pounds, I think.
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--Russell
"Akita mani yo." Observe everything as you walk. (--Lakota)
Celestron Celestar 8 Standard SCT, f10
Celestron 80mm Wide View ref., f5
Criterion RV-6 Dynascope, Newt., f8, (c. 1962)
Sears Discoverer 60mm ref., f7, (c. 1973)
Celestron Ultima DX 10x50, 6.5 TFOV
Tasco 7x35 wide
Several mediocre eyepieces
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smasraum
sage
Reged: 01/13/08
Posts: 492
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I was thinking EQ1 head/mount on a photo tripod. I have a really beefy tripod. I was thinking that the table-top EQ1 at $50 would be worth it if I could stick the head on my tripod. I'm just wondering if/how the EQ1 connects to the legs that it comes with.
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Steve
Houston (Friendswood), TX
Space Center Houston
8" Zhumell Dob - Woo Hoo!!
Celestron C102 f/5 - Thanks Tim!
21mm, 13mm Hyperion
2.5x TV Powermate
Canon Rebel XT
Nikon 7x35
Bushnell 10x50
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RussL
Music Maker
Reged: 03/18/08
Posts: 1575
Loc: Cayce, SC
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Quote:
I'm just wondering if/how the EQ1 connects to the legs that it comes with.
If it's like my EQ-2, the base of the mount has tabs that stick out to accept the legs. To my surprise, though, these tabs don't have holes for the bolts to go through, but slots for the bolts to slide up in. But when I tighten the wing nuts on the bolts, everything holds together just fine. I'd rather the slots were holes for the bolts to go through. Makes me feel like I'm gonna pick the whole thing up and leave the legs behind. But, as I said, it works just fine.
Some how you'd have to make a plate that would attach to your tripod and still be able to slip the slots on the EQ-1 (assuming it's like my EQ-2) down over some bolts, but I'm not sure how you'd make it stay, unless you were careful about a tight fit and then tightened the wing nuts. Maybe you should try to find someone who has an EQ-1 to take a personal look at it. You might find that it would work as it is, with its tripod.
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--Russell
"Akita mani yo." Observe everything as you walk. (--Lakota)
Celestron Celestar 8 Standard SCT, f10
Celestron 80mm Wide View ref., f5
Criterion RV-6 Dynascope, Newt., f8, (c. 1962)
Sears Discoverer 60mm ref., f7, (c. 1973)
Celestron Ultima DX 10x50, 6.5 TFOV
Tasco 7x35 wide
Several mediocre eyepieces
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smasraum
sage
Reged: 01/13/08
Posts: 492
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Yeah, I'm thinking that it might be better to just use the tripod that comes with it.
Thanks
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Steve
Houston (Friendswood), TX
Space Center Houston
8" Zhumell Dob - Woo Hoo!!
Celestron C102 f/5 - Thanks Tim!
21mm, 13mm Hyperion
2.5x TV Powermate
Canon Rebel XT
Nikon 7x35
Bushnell 10x50
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RussL
Music Maker
Reged: 03/18/08
Posts: 1575
Loc: Cayce, SC
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Do you already have the EQ-1? If not, don't overlook the EQ-2. It costs a lot more, but it is better. My EQ-2 also has a knob for RA fine control that is opposite the stem where you attach the cable/knob. I leave the cable/knob off and just attach the shortest cable/knob thing on the Dec control stem. That way I only have one cable to get caught on things, and I can reach the RA knob(wheel) that's already there. I don't know if the EQ-1 has that or not. It might, but I don't know. Mine also has a swivel base. Don't know if the EQ-1 has that or not either. Can't tell in the photos. But Orion could tell you about both these features, I'm sure. The only thing I know for sure is that the EQ-2 weighs 17.5 lbs and the EQ-2 is something like 11-12 lbs. I'd say the EQ-2 is more rigid, too. It's rated at a 9 lb. load, max, whereas the EQ-1 is rated at 7 lbs. max, according to Orion. I think they'll both hold more than that and still be ok, to a point. Don't know if the tripods are any different or not, but I think the one on the EQ-2 may be thicker. I bought my EQ-2 for $95 used. 
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--Russell
"Akita mani yo." Observe everything as you walk. (--Lakota)
Celestron Celestar 8 Standard SCT, f10
Celestron 80mm Wide View ref., f5
Criterion RV-6 Dynascope, Newt., f8, (c. 1962)
Sears Discoverer 60mm ref., f7, (c. 1973)
Celestron Ultima DX 10x50, 6.5 TFOV
Tasco 7x35 wide
Several mediocre eyepieces
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ZachK
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/21/05
Posts: 667
Loc: Israel
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I was planning to get an EQ-1 (All I can afford right now). And put it on a bogen tripod that I have and use that to do widefield imaging with my Pentax K-1000 or my Rollei TLR.
At least that the idea, I'll see if it works.
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Zach Kessin
Yesha Israel
Meade ETX 127 Mak-Cass
15x70 Celestron Skymaster Binoculars
Sinar F 4x5 view camera
Rolliflex Camera 80mm F2.8
Pentax K-1000 Camera 35,50 and 60--300mm zoom
3 kids, Large cat, small dog
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RussL
Music Maker
Reged: 03/18/08
Posts: 1575
Loc: Cayce, SC
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Zach and Steve,
Something else I thought of: you might be able to unscrew the head of the EQ-1 from the base. I don't know what kind of thread it would have, though. I know that many Bogen (Manfrotto) tripods use a 3/8" bolt. Looking under my EQ-2, the size of the bolt head makes me think it may be a 3/8" bolt. Don't know about the EQ-1. Ask Orion.
Steve, in your case, it wouldn't matter since you may have to make a plate to attach to your surveyor's tripod and you could drill and tap accordingly. If the EQ-1 head will unscrew then you may have a viable option here. Then again, you may find all this unnecessary if the EQ-1 tripod seems ok to you.
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--Russell
"Akita mani yo." Observe everything as you walk. (--Lakota)
Celestron Celestar 8 Standard SCT, f10
Celestron 80mm Wide View ref., f5
Criterion RV-6 Dynascope, Newt., f8, (c. 1962)
Sears Discoverer 60mm ref., f7, (c. 1973)
Celestron Ultima DX 10x50, 6.5 TFOV
Tasco 7x35 wide
Several mediocre eyepieces
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smasraum
sage
Reged: 01/13/08
Posts: 492
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Quote:
Zach and Steve,
Steve, in your case, it wouldn't matter since you may have to make a plate to attach to your surveyor's tripod and you could drill and tap accordingly.
Nope, not a surveyors tripod. Just a photo tripod. I want to do the same thing as Zach.
--------------------
Steve
Houston (Friendswood), TX
Space Center Houston
8" Zhumell Dob - Woo Hoo!!
Celestron C102 f/5 - Thanks Tim!
21mm, 13mm Hyperion
2.5x TV Powermate
Canon Rebel XT
Nikon 7x35
Bushnell 10x50
|
RussL
Music Maker
Reged: 03/18/08
Posts: 1575
Loc: Cayce, SC
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Quote:
Nope, not a surveyors tripod. Just a photo tripod. I want to do the same thing as Zach.
Oops, thinking of a different thread off the top of my head.
Nonetheless, depending on what kind of thread the EQ-1 has (if you can unsrew the head) it might work, or you might need an adapter plate to change you from one size thread to another.
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--Russell
"Akita mani yo." Observe everything as you walk. (--Lakota)
Celestron Celestar 8 Standard SCT, f10
Celestron 80mm Wide View ref., f5
Criterion RV-6 Dynascope, Newt., f8, (c. 1962)
Sears Discoverer 60mm ref., f7, (c. 1973)
Celestron Ultima DX 10x50, 6.5 TFOV
Tasco 7x35 wide
Several mediocre eyepieces
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smasraum
sage
Reged: 01/13/08
Posts: 492
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That's what I was hoping. Thanks.
--------------------
Steve
Houston (Friendswood), TX
Space Center Houston
8" Zhumell Dob - Woo Hoo!!
Celestron C102 f/5 - Thanks Tim!
21mm, 13mm Hyperion
2.5x TV Powermate
Canon Rebel XT
Nikon 7x35
Bushnell 10x50
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Tony Flanders
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 2062
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
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Quote:
Yeah, I'm thinking that it might be better to just use the tripod that comes with it.
That would be my vote. The tripods that come with EQ-1 and EQ-2 mounts are fairly flimsy -- as astronomical tripods go. But frankly, standards are way higher for astro tripods than photo tripods. What counts as flimsy for astronomy would be quite robust for terrestrial photography.
The main virtue of photo tripods is portability. If that's not an issue, you'll get more for your money from astro tripods.
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Tony Flanders
eyeglasses
6x15 and 8x32 monoculars
8x25, 7x35, 10x30 IS, 10x50, and 15x70 binoculars
70mm and 100mm achromatic refractors
4.5", 7", and 12.5" Dobs
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ZachK
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/21/05
Posts: 667
Loc: Israel
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I have a bogen 3036, so its pretty beefy, I use it for my 4x5 LF camera as well as my 127 ETX OTA.
I was going to get the tabletop version of this tripod with the 90mm MCT scope as its only $10 more than the bare OTA. This is assuming that I can get my dad to bring it with him when he comes to visit (Astronomy stuff costs a bloody fortune here in Israel)
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Zach Kessin
Yesha Israel
Meade ETX 127 Mak-Cass
15x70 Celestron Skymaster Binoculars
Sinar F 4x5 view camera
Rolliflex Camera 80mm F2.8
Pentax K-1000 Camera 35,50 and 60--300mm zoom
3 kids, Large cat, small dog
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