JohnPlenge
member
Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 39
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Hi everyone,
I'm considering purchasing a Hyperstar for an 11" alt-as mounted scope and have a few questions for people who have one:
1. Are you glad you bought it and would you buy it again?
2. If you own the Feathertouch SCT Microfocuser, do you consider it worth purchasing?
Thanks.
John Plenge
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Fordracer1
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/05/04
Posts: 830
Loc: Springfield, MO
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John,
I just picked up a used Nexstar 11 GPS carbon fiber tube scope and a Hyperstar III back in July and so far I love it! I definitely think it was a good purchase and do not regret it at all. Mine does have the FT focuser and I really like it as well and find focusing with it using a Bahtinov mask quite easy. In all fairness the scope came with this focuser and I don't have the original to compare with but as focusers go (especially FT) the price is pretty reasonable. Here is a recent thread with some info about and images from my NS11/Hyperstar:
Hyperstar Thread
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John Moody
Losmandy G-11
Orion 8" Newt w/Moonlite CR1 motofocus
Baader MPCC
NS11 GPS Starbright Carbon Fiber
Orion 120ST
Meade 5000 80/480 Triplet APO
WO .8 Reducer
15X70 & 25X100 SkyMasters
Modded Canon 40D
Stiletto IV Pro
WO Binoviewer
http://panthercreekastro.mysite.com
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JohnPlenge
member
Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 39
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Hi John,
Thanks for the quick reply. I saw your thread a few hours ago and it went a long way toward convincing me to buy a Hyperstar, but I'm hoping to hear from a few more people before I make a final decision. Since this is a $1,000 investment, I don't want to move too fast.
Tha Bahtinov mask is new to me. How does it compare to using other focusing aids?
John Plenge
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Fordracer1
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/05/04
Posts: 830
Loc: Springfield, MO
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John,
The Bahtinov mask seems to be very quick and easy compared to many other focusing aids, at least in combination with a camera that has live view. It seems to be very good in bad seeing compared to most other things I have used.
There are at least a couple of other CN members that are currently waiting on Hyperstars from other posts I have seen and I know Samir Kharusi has a C14 Hyperstar and uses it for DSLR imaging. He frequents this forum and if you don't get a reply you might try a PM. Also search for posts with his user name and you should find some info regarding Hyperstar.
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John Moody
Losmandy G-11
Orion 8" Newt w/Moonlite CR1 motofocus
Baader MPCC
NS11 GPS Starbright Carbon Fiber
Orion 120ST
Meade 5000 80/480 Triplet APO
WO .8 Reducer
15X70 & 25X100 SkyMasters
Modded Canon 40D
Stiletto IV Pro
WO Binoviewer
http://panthercreekastro.mysite.com
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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 17717
Loc: Brooker, FL
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I have the Hyperstar III (and also the old Hyperstar I), with the F/T focuser and the wired Micro-Touch from Starizona (which is an add-on to the F/T, and well-worth the investment.) I currently use it mostly with the Mallincam, as I'm building a library of recordings for use at public outreach where seeing is clouded out.
Fordracer1's images tell the story well:
1. Short exposures, eliminating most mount issues, and
2. Very wide fields.
What his images don't tell is that the critical focus zone (CFZ) is 7 microns - that's 7/1000 mm. IMHO, the F/T microfocuser is essential, and the Starizona Micro-Touch worthwhile.
But the Hyperstarred SCTs open a whole new vista in observing and imaging.
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N11GPS Fastar
TOA-130S
MK66 Std
Vintage C5
Megrez II 80mm ED Triplet APO
SolarMax 40
NJP Temma II
Sirius EQ-G
ST8XE/CFW-8(LRGBHa)/AO-7/DF-2/STV Dlx/ST237a/350D (Unmodded)/Mallincam Color Hyper Plus/DSI III Color/DSI II Pro
Two not-spoiled Golden Retrievers - Maggie and Casey
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering. - Arthur C. Clarke
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Fordracer1
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/05/04
Posts: 830
Loc: Springfield, MO
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Never having used a stock focuser I can't really comment on it but I know Rusty is right, the critical focus zone is indeed small. I have no problem hitting it pretty well with the reduction knob on the FT but I have tried using the non-reduced knob and I can say that I think it would be very difficult to reliably achieve good focus with it so some sort of fine focuser is probably a necessity. Now that I have the scope on the Losmandy mount in the observatory I have a JMI motofocus unit on the FT (it drives the reduced knob) and I am controlling it with a Rigel Systems nFocus controller which is capable of very fine movement and that works VERY well, but I had no trouble using the fine focus knob manually with the mask. I also think some sort of focus aid is a necessity if you want to reliably achieve good focus. If the mask wasn't working so well I would probably be looking at the Starizona autofocuser that Rusty is using.
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John Moody
Losmandy G-11
Orion 8" Newt w/Moonlite CR1 motofocus
Baader MPCC
NS11 GPS Starbright Carbon Fiber
Orion 120ST
Meade 5000 80/480 Triplet APO
WO .8 Reducer
15X70 & 25X100 SkyMasters
Modded Canon 40D
Stiletto IV Pro
WO Binoviewer
http://panthercreekastro.mysite.com
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Samir Kharusi
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 06/14/05
Posts: 982
Loc: Oman
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I would recommend it highly! But the Hyperstar 3 does such a fantastic job optically that you will very quickly wish to upgrade your mount to a GEM, so you might as well start saving towards that 
Many people's equipment acquisition goes as follows:
1. Alt-az SCT
2. Camera, cheap CCD or unmodded DSLR
3. Equatorial Wedge
4. Rather futile, inexpensive additions like focusers, focal reducers, a zillion eyepieces
5. A semiAPO or even a small premium APO
6. Autoguiding
7. Modded DSLR
8. Realise the futility of much of the above, get Hyperstar3
9. Switch to a GEM, ditch the semiAPO (or even a premium APO)
OK, my recommendation is to skip as many of the rather futile in-between purchases and go deliberately towards the end game. Hyperstar 3 on a GEM using a modded DSLR (or a monoCCD) with tiny pixels and LiveView. I would say specific end targets could be, depending on how keen you think you will be and how much money you plan to spend (whatever the amount, just double it because that is what you WILL spend):
A C11 or C14 Hyperstar on a GEM somewhere between a CGE and an AP1200, modded Canon 500D (smaller=better than a 50D or a 7D). Try to steer clear of spurrious distractions in-between and save yourself a bundle  Choice between a C11 and a C14 should be based on whether you are going to be shooting portable or at home. The C14 is portable only theoretically, like once a year, not on monthly outings like a C11. It's not just the OTA's weight, there is also the weight of an appropriate mount (I would say that a CGE-Pro or an AP1200 will be much more suitable than a CGE. A CGE is "OK" as a stop-gap for a C14 but not as an end-game) that increases the luggage for portable use.
Nevertheless, equipment purchases constitute 80% of this hobby, so there will be many differing opinions, and anyway, why should you not waste your hard-earned $ on spurrious purchases? I did. And so did/does everyone else...
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Bored? Peruse my website:
http://www.samirkharusi.net/
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JPGriffin
member
Reged: 05/13/09
Posts: 35
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No regrets here. I have a similar set up to Fordracers (used NS11 GPS Carbon Fiber and Hyperstar3) but I use the stock focuser with the JMI Motofocus. I am still working out getting that great focus, mostly using Nebulosity as my focus aid. I started imaging with a stock 20Da but then modded my 5D Mark2 and now image with that and I couldn't be happier.
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John Miranda
member
Reged: 09/13/09
Posts: 39
Loc: Oro Valley, Arizona
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I've had my Hyperstar III for about 2 weeks and it transformed what I am able to image in Alt-Az. I find I can achieve focus by connecting the camera to a laptop, use "Live View", zoom in 200%, and adjust the stock focus until stars become points. I'm sure more refined focus systems are very helpful, but if your DSLR offers "Live view" or similar, you may be content with what you can achieve on your laptop display as a start.
I am new to astro-imaging, but using Hyperstar got this shot of M31 a couple days back (32 subs at 30 seconds each, ALt-AZ on CPC11)
http://www.johnmiranda.com/astronomy/m31b.jpg
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John Miranda
www.johnmiranda.com
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JPGriffin
member
Reged: 05/13/09
Posts: 35
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Very nice M31. I am still trying to get the processing down on my subs of that object. I have a bunch of 30 second exposures with the Hyperstar done in Alt-Az.
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Grouptele
sage
Reged: 08/11/07
Posts: 303
Loc: Qcy, IL
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Quote:
why should you not waste your hard-earned $ on spurrious purchases? I did. And so did/does everyone else...
Your 9-stage progression from stargazer-to-imager describes my own learning curve - with the exception of stage 8, which I have not seeked (yet).
I have no doubt that if anyone is serious about imaging, hardware selection would start at step 8. But I suspect the typical novice is not sure of his/her conviction to astronomy or astroimaging, and purchasing the costlier Hyperstar (and supporting) hardware is thus considered a risky investment. I sure was not.
But that step 8 is sure tempting 
Victor.
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C8-XLT, G5, AT66
EQ-G
Starshoot color CCD
Canon XS, HapMod
SPC900NC webcam
Edited by Grouptele (10/27/09 08:55 PM)
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JohnPlenge
member
Reged: 04/24/05
Posts: 39
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Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the input.
I have to report, that after about 2 months of thinking it over, reading posts on various forums and based on the input I've received from my post here, that I am no longer considering buying a Hyperstar.
Why? Because yesterday, I placed an order for one on Starizona's website, in other words - I done bought me one!!! Now I just have to wait until it arrives and the weather decides to cooperate.
Thanks again.
John
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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 17717
Loc: Brooker, FL
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I have an APT wedge, but have yet to use it with the Hyperstar - haven't seen the need to.
--------------------
N11GPS Fastar
TOA-130S
MK66 Std
Vintage C5
Megrez II 80mm ED Triplet APO
SolarMax 40
NJP Temma II
Sirius EQ-G
ST8XE/CFW-8(LRGBHa)/AO-7/DF-2/STV Dlx/ST237a/350D (Unmodded)/Mallincam Color Hyper Plus/DSI III Color/DSI II Pro
Two not-spoiled Golden Retrievers - Maggie and Casey
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering. - Arthur C. Clarke
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JPGriffin
member
Reged: 05/13/09
Posts: 35
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I think you will be happy with your choice, John. I know I love mine and I have years of refinement in imaging techniques to look forward to with the Hyperstar.
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