guide scope and camera recommendation

[alexd106]

Hi all

I currently have a sykwatcher equinox 80 ED on a EQ5 mount. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good guide scope and camera for this scope? I was thinking of a ZWO mini guide scope with a ZWO ASI120MM or if my budget can stretch to it a skywatcher Evoguide 50ED. I was hoping to use the guide scope with PHD2.

Thanks
Alex

[Juno16]

Hi Alex,

Hopefully someone with more experience will share their knowledge.

In my limited 3 years of imaging, I have used one guide camera and two guide scopes.

My first and only guide camera is an Orion Star Shoot Autoguider. I bought it as a package with the Orion 50mm guide scope (the Magnificent Mini package). The Orion 50mm guide scope was a breeze to focus (helical focuser). I focused it once 3 years ago.

I recently purchased an ZWO 30mm mini guide scope that works fine, but I found it a pia to focus. I use PHD to focus and when turning the ZWO barrel to focus, the star that I was measuring HFD moved around so much that I found it very troublesome to keep tracking it down to measure HFD.

The Orion Star Shoot Autoguider has been great. I leave the guide scopes mounted on two different scopes and I swap it out the camera as needed.

I have heard a lot of good things about the ASI 120MM and wouldn’t hesitate to buy one (and probably will soon.

[Gordon]

I’ve used the ZWO mini guide scope and the ASI120mm for a while now and they work great!

[alexd106]

Thanks for your comments Jim and Gordon. I have read that the ZWO can be difficult to focus but its light weight and price make it quite attractive. I am also considering the Evoguide 50ED but it costs quite a bit more and I am concerned my EQ5 might not like the extra weight. On the other hand, the evoguide seems to be quite a competent wide field scope in its own right.
Cheers
alex

[Gordon]

Thanks for your comments Jim and Gordon. I have read that the ZWO can be difficult to focus but its light weight and price make it quite attractive. I am also considering the Evoguide 50ED but it costs quite a bit more and I am concerned my EQ5 might not like the extra weight. On the other hand, the evoguide seems to be quite a competent wide field scope in its own right.
Cheers
alex

Keep in mind a guider doesn't need to be perfectly focused, close is good enough (in fact even better!).

It takes a bit to get it where you want it but once you have the locking ring keeps it in the same spot.

[STEVE333]

Just FYI I've been using the Orion Magnificent Mini Autoguider package (guide camera and scope and scope mount) for several years now and it works fine for me.

Steve

[AstroBee]

Orion Magnificent Mini Autoguider package

+1

[AstroBee]

You didn't mention which imaging camera you are going to be using. If you are using a different ZWO camera I would shy away from using a ZWO camera as your guidescope. I've had nothing but trouble with PHD2 wanting to connect my main imaging camera as the guide camera and the other way around.
At this point the only solution I've found is to keep my 2600mm unplugged until PHD2 launches and connects to the 290mm camera. Then plug the 2600mm in and connect it as the imaging source.
If anyone else has a solution to solve that issue I'm all ears.

[chris_g]

I use the Orion 60mm multi purpose guide scope with the 120mm with PHD2. The 120mm is a breeze to focus using APT as an imaging camera. I've found that trying to focus with PHD2 is a royal PIA!

[Gordon]

You didn't mention which imaging camera you are going to be using. If you are using a different ZWO camera I would shy away from using a ZWO camera as your guidescope. I've had nothing but trouble with PHD2 wanting to connect my main imaging camera as the guide camera and the other way around.
At this point the only solution I've found is to keep my 2600mm unplugged until PHD2 launches and connects to the 290mm camera. Then plug the 2600mm in and connect it as the imaging source.
If anyone else has a solution to solve that issue I'm all ears.

What imaging software?

I don't set 'automatically' connect in either NINA or Sharpcap, and haven't had any problems with either.

[AstroBee]

You didn't mention which imaging camera you are going to be using. If you are using a different ZWO camera I would shy away from using a ZWO camera as your guidescope. I've had nothing but trouble with PHD2 wanting to connect my main imaging camera as the guide camera and the other way around.
At this point the only solution I've found is to keep my 2600mm unplugged until PHD2 launches and connects to the 290mm camera. Then plug the 2600mm in and connect it as the imaging source.
If anyone else has a solution to solve that issue I'm all ears.

What imaging software?

I don't set 'automatically' connect in either NINA or Sharpcap, and haven't had any problems with either.

@Gordon ,

I use both SharpCap and NINA. If I have everything USB connected via my Pegasus Astro Ultimate Powerbox V2 then what happens is I launch PHD2 first and when it goes to connect it tries to connect to my 2600mm. I have to go into the PAUPB and disable the USB port my 2600mm is connected to first, then launch PHD2, connect the 290mm, then turn the USB port for the 2600mm back on and everything connects as usual.

[Gordon]

@AstroBee Have you created the equipment profile on PHD2? See page 7 in the manual. That should determine the correct camera PHD2 requires.

[AstroBee]

@AstroBee Have you created the equipment profile on PHD2? See page 7 in the manual. That should determine the correct camera PHD2 requires.

I have, and yet it still seems to want to connect to the 2600 instead. I'm set up in my backyard for a bit of tinkering. I'll go into PHD and make sure there is no profile that looks at the 2600 and try again.