fetoma
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/26/06
Posts: 1099
Loc: NW Ohio
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Gotta love the competition with these companies, and the new technology coming out. The smaller Paramount ME has me excited as well as the 8300 camera choices. Looks like everyone finally jumped on the 8300 bandwagon!
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Frank in NW Ohio
Vixen CF VC200L and R200SS
Meade SN-10
Celestron 9.25" SCT
Meade 8" f/6.3 SCT
Intes-Micro M73
Stellarvue 80/480 LOMO Triplet
Takahashi FS-60C
Celestron CGE
QHY8 and SXV-H16
www.jerseydevilastronomy.com
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Gus_Smedstad
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/02/06
Posts: 1156
Loc: Boston 42° 16' N 71° 08' W
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Quote:
the link at the top of this thread says it requires "only 90mm of inward focus travel", but "you can add up to 30mm worth of accessories, such as a filter wheel, to the SteadyStar without adding to the total backfocus"
I'm unclear how that works, but Newt owners are pretty much out in the cold anyway. I have a whopping 14mm of inward focus available, even with a Moonlight low-profile focuser and the 1" spacer block removed.
- Gus
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Gus Smedstad image gallery
Orion Atlas 8 EQ-G
Celestron Onyx 80EDF (guiding / widefields).
Orion Starshoot Autoguider
QHY8
Philips SPC900NC
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fetoma
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/26/06
Posts: 1099
Loc: NW Ohio
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I don't think you would want to use it with a newt Gus, more so an SCT.
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Frank in NW Ohio
Vixen CF VC200L and R200SS
Meade SN-10
Celestron 9.25" SCT
Meade 8" f/6.3 SCT
Intes-Micro M73
Stellarvue 80/480 LOMO Triplet
Takahashi FS-60C
Celestron CGE
QHY8 and SXV-H16
www.jerseydevilastronomy.com
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Gus_Smedstad
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/02/06
Posts: 1156
Loc: Boston 42° 16' N 71° 08' W
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Why in particular? I'm not clear how the device prefers one type of optic over another, other than the inward focus issues.
Though to be perfectly honest, I'm kind of leery of off-axis guide solutions anyway. Mainly because it's my understanding that finding a guide star can be a PITA. I've gotten used to the convenience not hunting, after I switched to the combination of SSAG, 0.5x reducer, and 500mm f/6.25 scope.
On the other hand, I had so many discarded frames from my last imaging session that improving my tracking issues looks very attractive.
- Gus
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Gus Smedstad image gallery
Orion Atlas 8 EQ-G
Celestron Onyx 80EDF (guiding / widefields).
Orion Starshoot Autoguider
QHY8
Philips SPC900NC
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nofxrx
Vendor (HyperCams & Mods)
Reged: 07/12/05
Posts: 2501
Loc: Palm Bay,Florida
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Very cool info on this thread!!!
I know one thing is for sure.I WILL be on the waiting list for the NEW/old: SBIG ST-8300ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I owned the ST402ME and loved it.The cooling,the sensitivity(which,I do know the 8300 will lack a little bit there,who cares?!!),and everything right out of the box worked so well,it gave me a sense of what a real astro imager must feel like with "Pro" equipment.
I think it was a couple years ago that the smaller ST bodies had a newer/enhanced cooling system included that would easily cool at 30degC below ambient and only be running at ~65-75% at my home in muggy Central Florida...
The TINY ST402 is $1695!!!!!!(With class 1 and FW/filters installed,which I had) .For only $300 more you will be able to get the HUGE(comparatively) sensor.
The only thing that would make it sweeter would be a small FW inside that could come as an option.Since with this cam one would HAVE to buy a 2" filter set and wheel...it will still be a pretty costly system..
IMHO I would strongly recommend the ST402/1603/3200 bodies with the enhanced cooling package.
Anyways,David thanks for all the great info!!!!
Cant wait for more..
CS!
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Brent Oliver
WO-66SD*WO-Megrez102ED-Special Edition*Super C8 Plus*
CGE Pier-Mounted
Some Cameras,some Filters
HyperCams&MODS
My Gallery
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David Pavlich
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 8687
Loc: Mandeville, LA USA 30.22 X 90....
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Quote:
Why in particular? I'm not clear how the device prefers one type of optic over another, other than the inward focus issues.
Though to be perfectly honest, I'm kind of leery of off-axis guide solutions anyway. Mainly because it's my understanding that finding a guide star can be a PITA. I've gotten used to the convenience not hunting, after I switched to the combination of SSAG, 0.5x reducer, and 500mm f/6.25 scope.
On the other hand, I had so many discarded frames from my last imaging session that improving my tracking issues looks very attractive.
- Gus
Hey Gus...I'm in your camp being concerned about finding a guide star with that small pick off prism. But the majority opinion at the AIC was for off axis guiding if at all possible. As a matter of fact, this is exactly how the Orion A/O works. Orion had the A/O set up with, you guessed it, the SSAG. I'm looking forward to the reviews from the various publications and especially some of CN's testers.
David
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Proud Member; PAS NOLA,
"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research..."
A. Einstein
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pawinemaker
member
Reged: 08/12/09
Posts: 26
Loc: SW Pennsylvania
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Looks like Orion just posted it on their website. It's in mono as well as color.
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The surest way to invite bad viewing weather is to order new hardware.
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ScottD
super member
Reged: 04/22/07
Posts: 194
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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For anyone that hasn't already seen the SBIG version...
http://www.astrophotoinsight.com/content/sbig-announced-sr-8300-aic-2009
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Celestron CPC925
Celestron F/6.3 Focal Reducer
Feathertouch Focuser
Losmandy Counterbalance
William Optics SZ66 SD APO w/ ADM Rings
William Optics 0.8 Focal Reducer
Canon XSi - Self Modded
Orion StarShoot Autoguider
Philips SPC900
Orion 2" Filter Wheel
Hardin 12" F/5 Dob
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mnaf
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/03/06
Posts: 788
Loc: Bay Area, CA
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I saw that.
I thought the Parsec was going to be they're #1 product in the 'new product countdown'.
I wonder what #1 will be.....
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~Mike
AP Mach1GTO
Orion 8", AT66ED, Tak. FS-60CSV
Discovery 80mm refractor
Meade LPI, DSI Pro, DSI Pro II, SXV-H9
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BlueGrass
member
Reged: 07/25/09
Posts: 85
Loc: Wasatch Front, UT
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Perhaps a new mount? The Atlas has been around for quite awhile and Orion is due for an upgrade to keep up with the Celestron 'Jones'... 
... I've been looking to upgrade and get a reasonable OSC or mono CCD and guess I'll have to wait now to see the reviews.
Orion shows availability as Feb 2010... too late for Santa....
Edited by BlueGrass (11/02/09 10:04 PM)
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ZMass
sage
Reged: 11/07/07
Posts: 269
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I'm trying to wrap my head around the SBIG being $900 less than the Orion. Way to shake things up!
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-Zeke Mass
Encinitas, CA
6" Custom Newt on CG5
CCD Labs Q285M (Qhy2 Pro)
ST-80 guide-scope with DSI Pro
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AlexN
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/09/08
Posts: 979
Loc: Brisbane - Australia
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The SBIG AO unit only works with self guided SBIG cameras.. you've already laid out big dollars just to have a camera capable of using the SBIG AO-8... With the Orion AO unit, you can use a cheap, modified Canon 300D DSLR and a QHY5 guider and have the use of AO... The SX-AO unit is similarly priced to the Orion one, however it requires you to use the very very expensive SX Lodestar autoguiding camera.. If you ask me, the Orion one is reasonably priced..
Their KAF8300 based cameras are a little expensive, More than the QHY9 thats for sure... Good to see they have implemented regulated cooling... But here is the kicker.. SBIG ST-8300M is $700USD cheaper.. I know which one I have pre-ordered.
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Apogee Ortho-Star LOMO 80/480 APO
WO ZS70ED
HEQ5 Pro + EQMOD
Astrodon NB Filters
Orion SS Pro 2
SBIG ST-8300M on order.
QHY5
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Tapio
super member
Reged: 09/24/06
Posts: 157
Loc: Tampere, Finland
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I thought that SXV-AO worked best with Lodestar but you could use other cameras as well.
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Tapio
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J.P.M
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/14/06
Posts: 1340
Loc: 65"01'N25"47'E
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I Haven't seen a software doing that?
There is no mechaical reason why SXV-AO didn't wor with any guider.
How ever, software level AO and the guidecamera are coupled together so, that no third party camera can be used.
If there is a SW, that allows to use of a third party camera, I'm interested.
I have experience with Maxim, but haven't tryed others, like AstroArt.
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PER ASPERA AD ASTRA
J-P Metsavainio, Finland
LX200 GPS 12", SkyWatcher ED80, Canon 200mm EF f1.8L, Tokina 300mm AX f2.8, SXV-AO, QHY9, QHY8, QHY5, Lodestar
BLOG:http://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/
IMAGE PORTFOLIO:http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/
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chicot
super member
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 190
Loc: Liverpool, UK
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I think the SXV-A0 unit works with any SX guide camera, not just the lodestar.
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Meade 10-inch LX200 classic
Williams Optics ZII80
Starlight Xpress SXV-H9
Starlight Xpress Lodestar autoguider
Meade DSI III
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John Wunderlin
Vendor - Spike-a Focusing Mask
Reged: 10/01/04
Posts: 699
Loc: Mineral Point, Wi
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Sbig now had detailed information about their camera on their site.
http://www.sbig.com/sbwhtmls/ST8300.htm
Wow- I love Orion, but if I can get an SBIG camera for less- that's pretty much a no-brainer.
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John Wunderlin
Vendor - Spike-a Bahtinov Focusing Mask
Empire Ranch Observatory
Iowa County Astronomers
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John Wunderlin
Vendor - Spike-a Focusing Mask
Reged: 10/01/04
Posts: 699
Loc: Mineral Point, Wi
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Would the adaptive optics unit allow you to use smaller pixel cameras with longer focal length scopes, or doesn't it work that way?
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John Wunderlin
Vendor - Spike-a Bahtinov Focusing Mask
Empire Ranch Observatory
Iowa County Astronomers
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J.P.M
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/14/06
Posts: 1340
Loc: 65"01'N25"47'E
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It has no effect to a image scale. Imaging conficuration should be as well scaled as possible to a local seeing conditions.
It makes imaging with longer FL easier though, specially if you mount is less than perfect.
AO-is like a very accurate guiding.
Actually the right term for amateur AO units is not a
"Adaptive Optics" but "Active Optics" since the wavefront is not effected, just guiding.
In some environments, like mine, it can reduce a lower frequency turbulens, like a heat bubbles from buildings.
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PER ASPERA AD ASTRA
J-P Metsavainio, Finland
LX200 GPS 12", SkyWatcher ED80, Canon 200mm EF f1.8L, Tokina 300mm AX f2.8, SXV-AO, QHY9, QHY8, QHY5, Lodestar
BLOG:http://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/
IMAGE PORTFOLIO:http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/
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John Wunderlin
Vendor - Spike-a Focusing Mask
Reged: 10/01/04
Posts: 699
Loc: Mineral Point, Wi
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I guess I thought it artificially improved seeing, so I was thinking you could use a smaller chip... With the 8300 chip binned 2x2, it gives 10.8 microns which is still a bit small for a big SCT scope according to what I've read.
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John Wunderlin
Vendor - Spike-a Bahtinov Focusing Mask
Empire Ranch Observatory
Iowa County Astronomers
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J.P.M
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/14/06
Posts: 1340
Loc: 65"01'N25"47'E
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Effect to a stars FWHM is minimal, if you have a good mount.
It has some impact but it's few percents.
I have a Meade LX200 12" and QHY9. I have reduced Meade to f4.65 with a Celestron f6.3 reducer.
It gives me image scale 0,8 arcsec/pixel. This is very good scale for me, slightly oversampled is good for deconvolution.
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PER ASPERA AD ASTRA
J-P Metsavainio, Finland
LX200 GPS 12", SkyWatcher ED80, Canon 200mm EF f1.8L, Tokina 300mm AX f2.8, SXV-AO, QHY9, QHY8, QHY5, Lodestar
BLOG:http://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/
IMAGE PORTFOLIO:http://astroanarchy.zenfolio.com/
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