Opinions/ Therapy please...
First off, please let me preface this post with a confession that I may simply be suffering from cabin fever, but I am still considering a major change in my imaging equipment... for "better" images and perhaps to put a few extra $$$ in my pocket to pay off some bills.
The equipment that I have had for some time includes the following:
Camera - ST2000xm with CFW10 and full selection of filters.
Mounts -
Losmandy G11 Gemini
Tak NJP (no real images with the mount... I miss my Titan that I traded for it)
Imaging Scopes:
10" f/5 Newt. optimized for imaging (excellent scope).
W.O./ AT66 with 0.8x reducer flattener.
TMB80ss
Recently acquired -
Orion 120ed
Aries 127 Fluorite triplet with huge field flattener (an impulsive buy on a great scope) in a William Optics tube.
This is where your advice would be appreciated.
Here are a couple of my thoughts:
1) Mount options:
I bought the G11 as a travel mount a couple of years ago, but have only taken it to a dark site about once a year (I am thinking of parting with it first)... I figure that for the once a year that I haul a scope to a dark site I could take my NJP off the permanent pier and use the portable pier that came with it. The polar scope is incredibly accurate and fast to polar align.
The other option is to sell the NJP and keep my G11. The G11 has guided very well when I have used it. This option puts alot more $$$ in my pocket, but I lose the fast polar align feature of the NJP, some weight capacity,... and well... a tak mount. It would probably take me years to save up for another mount in its class... Then again the G11 does track well and I think it would handle all of my otas except the 10" f/5, but I do have an 8" f/6 dob that could replace it as an astrograph.
2) ST2000 vs. STL11000
The 127mm Triplet that I just received has the ability to provide tack sharp images across a fov much larger than even an STL11000... so the STL11000/ 127 triplet package is an intriguing package. Large swaths of the sky... pretty close to an ultimate imaging system (at least on my budget).
The $$$ saved from selling either of the mounts could fund the difference in prices of the two cameras.
The conflict in my mind is whether I will see a dramatic improvement in my images... Perhaps I should bail on the entire 5" apo / STL11000 idea and just use my other scopes including the 120ed that I have yet to use (bought for visual)...
Decisions, decisions. Please understand that I feel priviledged to own all of this fine equipment... I am just in a mood for change (too many scopes, and ideas)...
Clear skies and thanks for the tips/ advice,
Joe
First off, please let me preface this post with a confession that I may simply be suffering from cabin fever, but I am still considering a major change in my imaging equipment... for "better" images and perhaps to put a few extra $$$ in my pocket to pay off some bills.
The equipment that I have had for some time includes the following:
Camera - ST2000xm with CFW10 and full selection of filters.
Mounts -
Losmandy G11 Gemini
Tak NJP (no real images with the mount... I miss my Titan that I traded for it)
Imaging Scopes:
10" f/5 Newt. optimized for imaging (excellent scope).
W.O./ AT66 with 0.8x reducer flattener.
TMB80ss
Recently acquired -
Orion 120ed
Aries 127 Fluorite triplet with huge field flattener (an impulsive buy on a great scope) in a William Optics tube.
This is where your advice would be appreciated.
Here are a couple of my thoughts:
1) Mount options:
I bought the G11 as a travel mount a couple of years ago, but have only taken it to a dark site about once a year (I am thinking of parting with it first)... I figure that for the once a year that I haul a scope to a dark site I could take my NJP off the permanent pier and use the portable pier that came with it. The polar scope is incredibly accurate and fast to polar align.
The other option is to sell the NJP and keep my G11. The G11 has guided very well when I have used it. This option puts alot more $$$ in my pocket, but I lose the fast polar align feature of the NJP, some weight capacity,... and well... a tak mount. It would probably take me years to save up for another mount in its class... Then again the G11 does track well and I think it would handle all of my otas except the 10" f/5, but I do have an 8" f/6 dob that could replace it as an astrograph.
2) ST2000 vs. STL11000
The 127mm Triplet that I just received has the ability to provide tack sharp images across a fov much larger than even an STL11000... so the STL11000/ 127 triplet package is an intriguing package. Large swaths of the sky... pretty close to an ultimate imaging system (at least on my budget).
The $$$ saved from selling either of the mounts could fund the difference in prices of the two cameras.
The conflict in my mind is whether I will see a dramatic improvement in my images... Perhaps I should bail on the entire 5" apo / STL11000 idea and just use my other scopes including the 120ed that I have yet to use (bought for visual)...
Decisions, decisions. Please understand that I feel priviledged to own all of this fine equipment... I am just in a mood for change (too many scopes, and ideas)...
Clear skies and thanks for the tips/ advice,
Joe
