Rethinking my setup..again

[txcwboy]

I recently switched from a C8 with fork mount to a 80mm EDO APO with a C5AGT eq mount. ( i think thats the model). But I didnt do much photography with the C8 because it was so bulky to move around. I thought I got the new one to up the ante in quality and I think I did but its JUST AS BULKY ! Is there such a thing as a nice stable setup that doesnt weight 80lbs when set up. I do admit the C5 intimidates me and I have never powered it up so I have to turn it manually which is a pain. I thought I would really get into long exposures and get the whole setup. But to do it right takes some cash. I got a Bar-mask and cant seem to get it in focus yet either. Just frustrated with it all and loosing the fun out of it.I am close to having 50d money so maybe that will fix some of my XT issues too. Or do I just need to see them both and buy a nice lens and tripod ? I dont think I ll have the cash or patiences to do the 30 pics x 2 min stacks that everyone OOO and Ahhhs over

Dave

[Celestron]

Dave you talking about this Celestron mount (http://www.celestron.com/c3/product.php?CatID=11&ProdID=92) ? If you don't power it up how you going to enjoy it ? Why have a Go-To if your going to do everything manually ?? I don't have a go-to but from everyone i know that has this kind says it's easy setup . Just point it at polaris and do a Polar Alignment then do the three star alignment and your ready to go . What is it that your having problems doing ? BTW what part of north Texas are you ?

[jmx]

Sounds like astrophotography isnt for you if you don't have the patience to do 30-40 exposures even if you did get everything all setup. I wouldnt even worry about getting a lightweight setup if thats the case. It's not a hobby of instant gratification...just wait until you have to do 1-2 hours of processing on each shot.

[txcwboy]

Yes thats the mount Celestron. I have and do like to do moon shots and I would like to get a nice Milky Way pic and a bigger nebula shot.I guess I ll just have to try it ..the setup. I have the big battery to match it. Melissa, North of McKinney :)

[SteveInNZ]

Could I suggest that you get a piggy back mount for your setup. I think it's a technique that is overlooked and can yield encouraging results without a huge investment in funds or time. That 50mm f/1.4 (stopped down a click or two) will be great. It's wide enough that you can get a good chunk of milky way or the good bits of Orion without being perfectly polar aligned. It's fast enough for you to capture things you can't see with fairly short exposures.
Once you start getting images of anything, you may encouraged to sit there a bit longer next time or get that alignment sorted so that you can get it better next time.

Steve.

[Celestron]

Yes thats the mount Celestron. I have and do like to do moon shots and I would like to get a nice Milky Way pic and a bigger nebula shot.I guess I ll just have to try it ..the setup. I have the big battery to match it. Melissa, North of McKinney :)

I've never been to this place but if you can you need to visit Comanche Springs Astronomy Campus (http://www.3rf.org/Sciences/CSAC/ComancheSprings.htm) . You can call the phone #s' listed for more info . But i have a very good web friend Jay Ballauer (http://www.allaboutastro.com/) from Azle Texas in the GrapeVine area that is a heavy member there and you can learn alot from that place .

[Adrena1in]

I didnt do much photography with the C8 because it was so bulky to move around.
Damn, doesn't bode well for me and my C11! Not having a permanent "observatory" setup is a pest if your kit is big. I used to tire of carrying my EQ5 GOTO Mount outside each time I wanted to use it...my EQ6 is a lot bigger and the C11 is about three times heavier than my previous "big" scope!!

Is there such a thing as a nice stable setup that doesnt weight 80lbs when set up.
Stable does generally mean heavy I guess. Is there any chance of you setting up a very solid pier where you use your scope, so that all you need to do is plop the mount on top and you're ready to go?

Just frustrated with it all and loosing the fun out of it.
I do know how you feel. I nearly gave up completely a while back, and I haven't imaged anything, (not really), for ages. But that one time you get out and things start to go well, you'll be bitten by the bug again.

[drevilsmom]

I recently switched from a C8 with fork mount to a 80mm EDO APO with a C5AGT eq mount. ( i think thats the model). But I didnt do much photography with the C8 because it was so bulky to move around. I thought I got the new one to up the ante in quality and I think I did but its JUST AS BULKY ! Is there such a thing as a nice stable setup that doesnt weight 80lbs when set up. I do admit the C5 intimidates me and I have never powered it up so I have to turn it manually which is a pain. I thought I would really get into long exposures and get the whole setup. But to do it right takes some cash. I got a Bar-mask and cant seem to get it in focus yet either. Just frustrated with it all and loosing the fun out of it.I am close to having 50d money so maybe that will fix some of my XT issues too. Or do I just need to see them both and buy a nice lens and tripod ? I dont think I ll have the cash or patiences to do the 30 pics x 2 min stacks that everyone OOO and Ahhhs over

Dave

Please don't hesitate to fire up that mount. I have one as well, and while it initially was intimidating, I find it to be very easy to use. I've also learned a lot of star names, because of having to align and calibrate it as well, so I would suggest a good star chart to carry with you if you aren't familiar with a handful of the names of stars each night. Piggybacking is a great idea, and one that I'm pondering. I'm looking to get a widefield of Orion, once it makes its appearance at a more convenient time for me, LOL!