Buying Hyperstar vs dedicated wide field refractor

[Saganwannabe]

I want to jump into wide field imaging. I’m gonna purchase either a hyperstar for my EdgeHD 11 or a dedicated wide field refractor (100-130mm Tak or Stellarvue triplet).

I’d love to hear from someone who has some first hand AP experience with both of these rigs. I know that getting a dedicated wide field refractor would give me additional benefits over the Hyperstar (ie: smaller/more portable telescope, temp equalizes quicker, etc), but I’m interested in a purely “end result” comparison. Which setup will give me brighter, sharper, “better” images?

[JayTee]

While you are waiting for someone with the experience you're asking about to reply, you may want to check out Astrobin.com and search for images taken by the two different imaging setups you're asking about.

Cheers,
JT

[sdbodin]

I would get the Tak 106, seems that funds are not a problem. Would be really portable, if that is needed. And you would have two fine scopes to investigate targets. The wide field Tak for big nebulae and the 11 inch for those small things, galaxies come to mind. Right now, galaxy season, I am planning a bunch of wide field shots of the Virgo cluster and simultaneously shooting thru the big scope at individual galaxies. Twice the fun at the same time.

Just thoughts,
Steve

[yobbo89]

If you don't mind swapping out to the hyperstar and collimating it then a 11'' at f2 sounds very nice ! the f2 hyperstar will be about 2.5 to 3 times faster depending what refractor you're looking at.i only use my sct for planets as i have medium fl size scope and most of the year it doesn't get used until it is planet season so in perspective you can see how a hyperstar could add more use to your sct over the seasonal year.

The tak 106 is also nice at f5, there is a x0.6 reducer for it, bringing it down to f3 at 334mm fl, a f2 hyperstar is very nice but a f5 refractor isn't much of a deal breaker, especially when it is a nice scope like a tak.

i can only ask, would you rather swap out the hyperstar or swap over the scope, swapping a scope over will be much easier.

I have some fov comparisons below of the edge 11'' hd at f2 and a tak 106 at f5 and with the reducer at f3, included a full frame dslr camera and a zwo 1600 thats near aps-c size.

hd 11'' at f2

tak106 at f5

tak106 at f3

btw do you plan on using a mono camera? osc? filter wheel ? going full automation ?

i have no experience with the two, but i'm guessing with the hyperstar on the sct you'll have to focus, lock the mirror down to stop mirror flop,and then adjust it over the night ??

[Saganwannabe]

I’ll be using a reducer, Celestron OAG, filter wheel, Atik Titan mono autoguider, and a full-spectrum modified dslr.

[SkyHiker]

Check out this thread on the astronomy forum:
http://www.astronomyforum.net/astrophot ... 2-apo.html

[Saganwannabe]

Thanks for all the useful information. I just pulled the trigger on a used/like new Hyperstar V3 for my EDGEhd 11. Can’t wait to try it out!
Any pointers on this configuration would be appreciated.