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ragebot
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/26/05
Posts: 1672
Loc: Tallahassee, FL, USA
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Hi All,
I hope this is the right place to post this question. I have seen several threads in various forums about focusing using a Bahtinov Mask. There are also links to places that sell them and/or provide free templates you can print out to make your own.
I am thinking of getting or making one and did a web search which pointed me to a page with what I will call the "new" Bahtinov mask, which sorta looks like a Hartman mask to me. Here is a link to one of the many vendors selling the new mask.
Has anyone used this product and how does it compare to the more conventional mask?
Thanks in advance.
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Meade ETX 90, Meade AR5, Orion ED80, Atlas GT, 8 in Newt, Coronado DS SM40, Garrett 10.5X70, Sigma SD10, SD14, Canon 1D2, Xti, Nikon CP4500, C-14
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thj
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/07/06
Posts: 578
Loc: San Tan Valley, Arizona
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Very interesting! I've never seen a mask like this but as you said, it does look like a combination Hartman/Bahtinov mask.
Either way, I love my "old style" DIY Bahtinov mask - I simply can't justify $50+ for something like this if one can make one fairly easily at home (with a little DIY experience). If you haven't come across this mask generator yet take a look. I used it to make my mask from cardboard but in more humid climates plastic would be a better material as the card board might warp.
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Thomas
(My Astro Photos)
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N 33° 09' / W 111° 33'
Orion 10" Newtonian
Orion 102mm F/7 ED
Atlas EQ-G
Stratus 21/13/8/5 mm EPs
Orion 32mm Q70 EP
Plössls in many shapes and sizes
Celestron NexStar 114GT (for "Grab-n-Go" moments)
Canon Digital Rebel XSi (a.k.a. 450D)
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thj
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/07/06
Posts: 578
Loc: San Tan Valley, Arizona
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Just wanted to add the following, since you asked "Which Mask Is Best For Focusing?".
For visual use observing a Bahtinov mask can be difficult to use on smaller scopes. In my 102mm refractor, for example, I can barely see the diffraction spikes on even the brihgtest stars and the mask is pretty much useless. For astrophotography this is obviously not an issue as I simply expose 10+ seconds and get spikes even on fairly dim stars.
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Thomas
(My Astro Photos)
--
N 33° 09' / W 111° 33'
Orion 10" Newtonian
Orion 102mm F/7 ED
Atlas EQ-G
Stratus 21/13/8/5 mm EPs
Orion 32mm Q70 EP
Plössls in many shapes and sizes
Celestron NexStar 114GT (for "Grab-n-Go" moments)
Canon Digital Rebel XSi (a.k.a. 450D)
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letimotif
No Complaints
Reged: 05/20/07
Posts: 2016
Loc: Far Flung Isles of Langerhans
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Two of our club's members did a presentation on Bahtinov masks Sunday night. Both are experienced imagers, one of whom had constructed his own versions. The upshot is that this one appears to be a serious improvement for imagers.
As far as the cost, though, I can't say whether it would be worth it for everyone.
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Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a Heaven for?
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ragebot
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/26/05
Posts: 1672
Loc: Tallahassee, FL, USA
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So has anyone used the "new" mask I linked to or is everyone posting that they like the "old" style mask?
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Meade ETX 90, Meade AR5, Orion ED80, Atlas GT, 8 in Newt, Coronado DS SM40, Garrett 10.5X70, Sigma SD10, SD14, Canon 1D2, Xti, Nikon CP4500, C-14
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Bill Weir
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 1299
Loc: Metchosin (Victoria), Canada
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Have you asked this sort of question in the imaging section seeing as imaging is primarily what it is used for? It might be a better place to look for this imformation, as opposed to the Beginners Forum.
Just a thought.
Bil
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6'' Orion SkyQuest
12.5'' f/5 Custom Truss Dob
William Optics 80mm ZenithStar ED II
f/5 25" newtonian on a giant GEM, any time I want
Observing sessions grand total for 2008, 121.
So far in 2009, 92
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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 8431
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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Tell you what, I'll move it there...
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Pete
6" Apogee/LXD55
Starhopper 6" Dob
Spaceprobe 130EQ
Black C8 OTA
WO Zenith Star 66 Patriot Edition
Sun Pak Pro 7500 Platinum Edition
8X42 Bushnell H2O Porro
7X35 Tasco
10X50 Nikon Actions (Type 7)
15X70 Skymasters
Dell Inspiron Dual Core 531s
"Science without Religion is lame, Religion without Science is blind" A.Einstein.
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Scott Mitchell
sage
Reged: 07/28/07
Posts: 263
Loc: Atlanta-ish, GA
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I haven't heard of, nor used, this new mask that you linked to. However, I can tell you that the Bahtinov isn't very hard to make and that it is a game changer in terms of ease of focusing. I should also mention that the design is fairly forgiving in terms of the accuracy of the cuts. My lines are a bit squiggly on the mask for my 8 inch, but they still work great!
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