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NKT
sage
Reged: 09/23/09
Posts: 205
Loc: CT
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What are your opinions of using an Orion 4.5" StarBlast reflector as an imaging scope? I been thinking of getting the 80ED refractor when I saw the StarBlast. It's lighter, larger aperture and faster. It's also less expensive 
I would still probably try a side by side mounting with my CGEM 800.
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CGEM800
Orion 80ED
Canon XSi/Meade DSI II
Find fellow amateur astronomers: www.ScopeBuddies.com
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Jeronimo Cruz
sage
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 234
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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You could go that way but...
The starblast has a smaller corrected field of view. You'll aslo see diffraction spikes on bright stars. IMO, the starblast focuser is barely up to visual use let alone imaging.
I recommend starting with the ED80. I used to own a Vixen ed80sf. Because it is a refractor and because the focal ratio is slower, the outer FOV will be sharper. You also have the option of buying a focal reducer/field flattener for the scope which makes it even better for imaging. The ED80's have a good stock Crayford focuser that is ok for imaging. You won't need to bother with presice collimation either. It is a very nice scope for the money and also makes a good grab 'n' go scope.
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Jeronimo
TeleVue 101 + Gibralter
Celestron NS11 GPS/wedge + Hyperstar
Photon Instruments 127mm + SV F50W2
Lunt Solar Systems LS60DS Ha + Celestron CG-5
Naglers, Panoptics, Pentax, Nikon binoviewer
Fujinon 10x70 FMT-SX, 7x42 CD; Canon 15x50IS;
Pentax 7x50 PCF WP, 10x50 PCF WPII, 10x50 DCF SP
Work
20" R/C RCOS on Paramount + Tak FSQ
16" R/C RCOS on Paramount + TEC 140
16" Meade LX200 SCT + TV 76
Ethos, Naglers, Panoptics
Coronado Solarmax 90mm Ha
Coronado Solarmax 70mm Ca
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DaemonGPF
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 4034
Loc: New Mexico
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I have one up for sale right now actually in the shop and swap with a ton of accessories. I used it for a year as an imager and guidescope. Learned a lot on it. Optics are great, if you don't mind diffraction spikes - some like them, some don't. It's very light, very compact, and it takes no time at all to get decent exposures with it. The limiting factor to an SB4.5 is that it is 1.25" optics, so you can only go so big on the chip before you have vignetting and other issues, and you can't use the giant chip 2" cameras at all. I used an SSII and a DSI II on it with no issue and had plenty of room to go. A 1.4mp camera would do fine on this scope. It's definitely great for widefield imaging. The aperature is large enough that you can barlow it sufficiently for smaller FOV targets as well. There is no color correction needed on these by design. I currently have my SB4.5 coupled to an AT66ED to get the best of both worlds. I like the APO for certain things, and the reflector for others.
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-Josh
http://cleardarksky.com/c/AlbuqNMkey.html
My AP Gallery
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DaemonGPF
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 4034
Loc: New Mexico
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This was a shot I took when I first got the scope and was learning AP. It's not a masterpiece or anything, but it shows that the scope is fully capable. Exposure time - 120 seconds at longest.
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-Josh
http://cleardarksky.com/c/AlbuqNMkey.html
My AP Gallery
Edited by DaemonGPF (11/01/09 04:19 PM)
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NKT
sage
Reged: 09/23/09
Posts: 205
Loc: CT
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Thanks for the info! I realize I would get spikes using the reflector, but I'm all right with that for now. I figured the SB could be a cheaper starter imaging scope. Granted the 80ED can be had for a nice price, the SB is just much cheaper. If there were no quality issues, I think the focal length and aperture would make it an easy scope to start out with. Perhaps down the road I can still pick up an 80ED and use the SB for more visual.
With that said, would there be any issues using my Canon XSi on it?
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CGEM800
Orion 80ED
Canon XSi/Meade DSI II
Find fellow amateur astronomers: www.ScopeBuddies.com
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 7071
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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The StarBlast is a nice little imaging scope for small CCDs. You do have to be a little patient with the focusser, but it works okay. However, I don't think you'd come close to reaching the prime focus with a DSLR, though you might be able to use it with a Barlow.
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-John
================================================
Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I, II, & III), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
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NKT
sage
Reged: 09/23/09
Posts: 205
Loc: CT
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Any other options other than a barlow? Wouldn't that affect the FOV?
Sorry for the silly questions... 
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CGEM800
Orion 80ED
Canon XSi/Meade DSI II
Find fellow amateur astronomers: www.ScopeBuddies.com
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 7071
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Not really, to reach all the way back through the body of a DSLR you'll need to extend the focus farther out and the only way to do that is with at least a mild Barlow. This will also reduce the field of view a bit, but that's not a big deal as the StarBlast won't fully cover a DSLR chip anyway. Keep in mind the imaging StarBlast is configured to cover a type 1/3 CCD chip.
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-John
================================================
Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I, II, & III), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
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NKT
sage
Reged: 09/23/09
Posts: 205
Loc: CT
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That kinda puts a damper on that... 
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CGEM800
Orion 80ED
Canon XSi/Meade DSI II
Find fellow amateur astronomers: www.ScopeBuddies.com
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Gregk
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/19/06
Posts: 1594
Loc: Gilbert Arizona
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I'm thinking also you'll deal with coma around the edges
although most in exspensive scopes have that also
greg
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www.azspaceblog.com/
Orion Star Shoot Pro OSC
Oiron Star Shoot II OSC
Celestron Cg-5 ASGT mount
Celestron ED80 Piggy back with william Optics 66mm APO
Celestron 6" SCT Piggy Back with william Optics 66mm APO
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DaemonGPF
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 4034
Loc: New Mexico
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He could use an extension tube. But, I agree, I don't think any of the SB scopes will fully illuminate a large CCD chip like that in a DSLR. The secondary is much too small.
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-Josh
http://cleardarksky.com/c/AlbuqNMkey.html
My AP Gallery
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