BrƎИsꓘi
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They called it paradise, I don't know why...You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye.
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Apr 13, 2020 6:09:19 GMT
After a year or so of literally stumbling around in the dark with a Seben 1400-150, last year i took the plunge and invested in my "retirement hobby".
I've purchased a Skywatcher 200P on an EQ5 with Synscan guider.
I was hoping to rig this up with my Canon 200D for astro shots, but the IR cut mod would mean crippling a really nice camera.
So CCD appeared the best route to take. I've got a ZWO ASI178MC and a smaller Bresser 70/350 Refractor mounted on a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro.
So far, most of what i've been doing is "seeing" only - to get used to the equipment. It's a sharp learning curve, but should (hopefully) keep me busy during semi-retirement.
Equipment List:
Skywatcher 200P
Bresser 70/350 Refractor
ZWO ASI178MC
EQ5 SynScanTM Computerised GOTO Equatorial Mount
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro
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Steve
Wordles & Heardles 
Queen Mab
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Post by Steve on Apr 15, 2020 17:25:38 GMT
What kind of money did you lay out for that lot Martin?
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Raf
Dragonfly Trumpeter
Sweet like some kind of cheese
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Post by Raf on Dec 18, 2020 17:09:31 GMT
I've just got my first telescope, 60/350. But I've been unlucky, it's my third day with it and it looks like it's gonna be the third consecutive stormy night.  |
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BrƎИsꓘi
Administrator
They called it paradise, I don't know why...You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye.
Posts: 3,738
Likes: 2,870
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Dec 19, 2020 7:28:44 GMT
I've just got my first telescope, 60/350. But I've been unlucky, it's my third day with it and it looks like it's gonna be the third consecutive stormy night. finger's crossed Monday (conjunction Saturn/Jupiter) will be better |
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Raf
Dragonfly Trumpeter
Sweet like some kind of cheese
Posts: 198
Likes: 236
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Post by Raf on Dec 19, 2020 18:32:36 GMT
I've just got my first telescope, 60/350. But I've been unlucky, it's my third day with it and it looks like it's gonna be the third consecutive stormy night. finger's crossed Monday (conjunction Saturn/Jupiter) will be better Our summers are very rainy and living in São Paulo, with all its pollution, surely doesn't help If I were on holidays, I'd definitely travel somewhere higher in the mountains and far from the city to have better odds. But who knows? Fingers crossed! |
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BrƎИsꓘi
Administrator
They called it paradise, I don't know why...You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye.
Posts: 3,738
Likes: 2,870
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Dec 19, 2020 18:50:45 GMT
What kind of money did you lay out for that lot Martin? well, there's been a bit of an overhaul of the equipment: Astronomy Equipment ♦ Skywatcher 130p Alt-AZ (with Celestron Starsense auto-align for skywatcher + GPS + wifi) ♦ Bresser AR90S – 90/500 F/5.5 ♦ Bresser 70/350 F/5 ♦ Zwo ASI 183MC Pro (cooled) ♦ SVBony SV205 ♦ Omegon Minitrack LX-2 (clockwork EQ tracker) ♦ Skywatcher Star Adventurer Pro EQ mount ♦ Barlow 2x 3x & 5x ♦ 2x Celestron 7ah power tanks Photography Equipment ♦ Canon 200d ♦ Canon EOS M ♦ Samyang 14mm F/2.8, ♦ Samyang 85mm F/1.4 ♦ Samyang 135mm F/2.0 ♦ Canon kit lenses 18-55mm & 70-300mm ♦ TinyMos NANO 1 + lenses ♦ Fiji WS1 3D camera. ♦ Fujifilm Finepix S8650 For me - it's been a sharp learning curve - some stuff is excellent, but completely unsuitable for various reasons. for example, the 200P EQ in the first list - a piece like that is NOT one for moving around. it's best fixed in one location - it weighs an absolute ton, so I used it to fund the 130p - much more luggable! Most of the camera equipment, I've had for quite a while (years) - and really, only a lens here/there ever gets added/sold. I find that most of the stuff i "try" manages to retain its value, so selling onward doesn't mean a loss. All told though Steve there's approx £3,500 in astro gear and £2,600 in photography equipment. hobbies are money sink-holes. |
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BrƎИsꓘi
Administrator
They called it paradise, I don't know why...You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye.
Posts: 3,738
Likes: 2,870
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Mar 15, 2021 10:48:53 GMT
My Tinymos astro camera has been listed on ebay, as - between the Canon 200d and Zwo ASI 183 - i've too much tech i'll not get regular use out of.
So the above list will (soon) be shortened somewhat:
♦ TinyMos NANO 1 + lenses and spare batteries
♦ Fiji WS1 3D camera - i can't believe what these are currently fetching on ebay, so next £1 fees offer, it's going up
♦ Fujifilm Finepix S8650 - really nice bridge camera, but there's no room for it in the camera bag - when out and about
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BrƎИsꓘi
Administrator
They called it paradise, I don't know why...You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye.
Posts: 3,738
Likes: 2,870
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Apr 7, 2022 16:28:41 GMT
Just found an old Makinon 200mm F/3.3 lens on ebay really cheap too. Thought I'd take a risk on it. Arrived today immaculate condition and with my 2x extender I've now got a 400mm Astro lens.  |
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Apr 7, 2022 16:42:37 GMT
Just found an old Makinon 200mm F/3.3 lens on ebay really cheap too. Thought I'd take a risk on it. Arrived today immaculate condition and with my 2x extender I've now got a 400mm Astro lens. Nice! You do take your chances on eBay, but sometimes it can be worth it. |
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BrƎИsꓘi
Administrator
They called it paradise, I don't know why...You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye.
Posts: 3,738
Likes: 2,870
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Apr 7, 2022 17:53:48 GMT
these lenses were around in the 80s and designed for film cameras - there four or five different makes/models - but they're typically rebadged Chinon lenses.
if you get a good one then they're usually really good - the rest nothing of the sort.
well, i tested it earlier: the aperture is nice and smooth and focus is good.
but night may bring entirely different results...fingers crossed not.
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