I'm either going to get a newer but used cg-5 mount or vixen GP and want to use them for astrophotography. I don't have a scope yet but wanted to use the mount directly with a Digital slr. My question is there a mounting plate or something that will allow you to directly mount a Digital slr to either of these mounts. Eventually I'll pick up a scope too(orion EON 80ED) but for now I want to get my feet wet doing some widefield astrophotography. Can these mounts do that well and with just a DLSR?
CG-5/GP with DSLR mounted
Started by aaronius, 07/23/2008 02:25AM
Posted 07/23/2008 02:25AM
Opening Post
Posted 07/23/2008 03:21AM
#1
Either of these mouns can easily be fitted with a 1/4-20 screw that will fasten to the bottom of a DSLR. They are adequate--size wise--for whatever camera lens you choose to use up to 300 mm, and probably more, and even when mounted to a short focus refractor. You will be able to get good (not necessarily great) deep sky images with the rig.
Where you will hit the top end is where you try to guide--make sure your motors and control electronics accept an autoguider.....some of the older models do not. And you will suffer from periodic error, gear backlash, and so forth. So, your exposures will probably be limited in time.
However, yes, you can take lots of intro astrophotographs (and with lots of patience and experience even beyond intro) with a CG-5/GP carrying a DSLR and a short refractor.
Alex
Where you will hit the top end is where you try to guide--make sure your motors and control electronics accept an autoguider.....some of the older models do not. And you will suffer from periodic error, gear backlash, and so forth. So, your exposures will probably be limited in time.
However, yes, you can take lots of intro astrophotographs (and with lots of patience and experience even beyond intro) with a CG-5/GP carrying a DSLR and a short refractor.
Alex
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