Easy CG5 DSLR mount

I have been into macro photography for a while and I have something called a focus rail made by cowboy studio which is used for depth of field stacking. I noticed that it was made from two dovetail pieces bolted together and I had to test it out on the CG5 mount to see if it would fit.

Very good idea!

you don't have to build one yourself, you can buy this : http://admaccessories.​com/MDS_camera_kit.htm

http://www.amazon.com …/ref=cm_cr_pr_p​roduct_top here is the focus rail I use

I just bolted my manfrotto tripod head to the supplied bracket you get with the cg5. Saves me swapping the quick release plate on the camera too.

thats a good idea, I got my mount second hand so it did not come with a dovetail rail. I am confused about using a ballhead with this mount, can you aim the ballhead in any direction after alignment or do you point it straight forwards and level it with the dovetail bar, then slew to object?

I'm yet to get a really clear night, but I've found its best to polar align using the polar finder scope, I then point the camera to polaris and start the alignment for the goto. Each alignment star is pretty close so doesn't take long. I could just polar align and use the last settings if I want to point the camera where I want and not use the goto feature. Although the clouds just won't let up for me to try and get some practice in.

This is a good adptor for piggybacking your DSLR. You can adjust the adaptor to point your camera in two axes.

http://www.optcorp.com …px?pid=223-17755&kw=&st=0

The ADM Bogen ballheads just don't seem secure enough to allow the camera to remain firm at acute angles but this thing locks down very well.