7 replies to this topic

[Pruthvi1]

I am looking to upgrade my current setup but am unsure about what I should upgrade first. Currently I take pictures with a Canon PowerShot SX 510 on a Skywatcher StarAdventurer. I do have a Celestron PowerSeeker 127 EQ, and I would love to start using that but I don't have any way of imaging using it. 

 

My budget is around 900 CAD and I am unsure about what would be the best way to improve my current setup. Should I invest majority of that money on a better mount like a goto mount or improve my current camera with a dslr and a small lens or telescope?

 

[GrafikDihzahyn]

Man, if I was just starting out now, I would probably go with something like the skyguider pro w/ your dslr and camera lenses. You can even get an autoguider setup for it later.

Take your time to really learn the processes of polar alignment, optimizing your exposures, stacking & processing. It amazes me what can be done with such a simple setup. Take a look at Astrobin and search by that mount.

Here’s a YT vid for it.

https://youtu.be/6WuBKfo_KMo

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[GrafikDihzahyn]

Ah, NM. I see you are using Skywatchers version. Can you use an autoguider with that?

 

In any case, I would start with a DSLR and decent lens. Plenty of good lenses like the Rokinon out there for good prices. Something like the Canon T3i  (older but less $ and STILL great performance for astrophotogphy) and then you can self-mod It for astrophotography for better Ha response. Super simple process and only takes about an hour.

Edited by GrafikDihzahyn, 24 May 2020 - 01:22 PM.

[bridgman]

Interesting question. I'm not too familiar with the SX 510 but couple of questions:

 

#1 - am I correct in understanding that it does not have interchangeable lenses but does have a wide range zoom as standard ?

 

#2 - some people seem to have trouble taking long exposures since the camera forces a low ISO - apparently you can get around that with a remote and/or some software (or maybe just using B)... have you got that figured out already ?

 

#3 - what would you most like to improve/change about your current photos and imaging experience/effort ?

[Pruthvi1]

Interesting question. I'm not too familiar with the SX 510 but couple of questions:

#1 - am I correct in understanding that it does not have interchangeable lenses but does have a wide range zoom as standard ?

#2 - some people seem to have trouble taking long exposures since the camera forces a low ISO - apparently you can get around that with a remote and/or some software (or maybe just using B)... have you got that figured out already ?

#3 - what would you most like to improve/change about your current photos and imaging experience/effort ?

I had a variable zoom lens with extremely high noise, I have been able to reduce noise in the past with a lot of data, but that’s something I’d like to improve. I have been using this thing called CDHK to bypass that annoying feature where the ISO is locked to 80 for exposures greater than 1”. I’d like to improve my experience with astronomy and astrophotography. The noise is annoying and manually finding the object is annoying because my current camera doesn’t have a rotatable screen. I do want to use my Newtonian reflector cause it’s been sitting on my house for ever. Ideally I’d like to use it with my current setup, but I couldn’t find a way to attach that to my current skywatcher star adventurer

[Pruthvi1]

Ah, NM. I see you are using Skywatchers version. Can you use an autoguider with that?

In any case, I would start with a DSLR and decent lens. Plenty of good lenses like the Rokinon out there for good prices. Something like the Canon T3i (older but less $ and STILL great performance for astrophotogphy) and then you can self-mod It for astrophotography for better Ha response. Super simple process and only takes about an hour.

I do love the idea of getting a better camera, I think that’ll be wise. But I do want to use my Celestron powerseeker 127eq, do you know if a way to attach that to my star adventurer

[GrafikDihzahyn]

Did your scope come with tube rings? If so, you would just need to get a small mounting plate that fits on the skywatcher. I've seen these small mounts do wonders with smallish scopes, but so long as it's a fairly short focal length it should be just fine. I see that your 127 is 1000mm? Do you happen to have a focal reducer for it? You'll most likely need an autoguider for that focal length, which will add weight. Whether OAG or separate guide scope. There are some fairly lightweight 30mm mini guide scopes, but I dont have experience with any of them. You can get great results with that tracker and dslr/lenses. Possibly decent results with the camera you have so long as you can adjust the settings manually (RAW preferably). Plenty of software (free) that you will also need to learn. This hobby is one of baby steps, frustration, perseverance, learning, and THEN getting a good photo. lol

[bridgman]

The 127EQ does appear to include rings, however the rings have threaded rods coming out of the mounting points which attach to a plate on the mount head. Should be possible to attache a Vixen dovetail (which IIRC is what the Star Adventurer uses) but might require an intermediate plate.

 

It's possible that the rings also have threaded holes that could be used to directly mount a Vixen dovetail but OP would have to tell us that from inspecting them directly.

 

The scope is described as a Newtonian at f/8 (1000mm FL) but since the OTA is so short I'm thinking it's probably a Bird-Jones design with an f/4 spherical mirror and a barlow in the focuser. I guess the good news there is that the shorter OTA should be easier for the Star Adventurer mount to handle.

 

https://www.celestro...127eq-telescope

Edited by bridgman, 26 May 2020 - 07:57 PM.