TheSkySearchers

(Cross-posted to the AP section... but this subforum gives me a different sample of users. )

Hello to all,

If you know me, you know I like my fracs.

I typically use my Stellarvue 70mm apo for astro work - its my only AP scope and I have been gathering images for about 8 months. I have about 6 months of guiding under my belt, and the rig works fine.

My rig -
Mount: NEQ6
Camera: Canon 60D and a new 2600MC pro.

At this point, galaxy season is coming. I want to get a scope with more reach for DSOs. A friend of mine has a c8 edge HD (6 months old) and the dedicated reducer for sale for a good price. My friend bought a larger scope.
I have no experience using SCTs, I have been a refractor person up to now.

Before this deal came along, I was thinking to buy a 120 mm SW Esprit, but this new offer is literally 40% of the price. Of course the Esprit is way more money, but I want to check in here to see whether anyone with experience with the edge HD for galaxy AP work has compared them to a refractor: any and all thoughts on this are appreciated.

Thanks,
Ian

I’ve no recent (i.e. digital) experience doing AP. Almost all my AP experience is decades old and analog. (Glass plates I kid you not.) I do have visual experience using a 120mm Ed doublet and a 9.25 Edge. I’d give the edge to the Edge.

notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Fri Jan 29, 2021 7:33 pm I’ve no recent (i.e. digital) experience doing AP. Almost all my AP experience is decades old and analog. (Glass plates I kid you not.) I do have visual experience using a 120mm Ed doublet and a 9.25 Edge. I’d give the edge to the Edge.

Thanks not_Fritz!

As time goes on, I find myself less enamored of SCTs / Maks and more strongly a frac boy. YMMV.

pakarinen wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 2:25 pm As time goes on, I find myself less enamored of SCTs / Maks and more strongly a frac boy. YMMV.

Frac boy.

Yes, much appreciated. I have nothing against my fracs, they work well.

Ian

My experience with astrophotography comes from the analog era, the middle ages. But some things don't change. The Esprit has a focal length of 840mm, compared to the Edge 1260mm (with 0.63 focal reducer). What I know about astrophotography, the latter demands a lot more from the accuracy of the mount. On the other hand in the Edge the smaller galaxies will become 1,5 X their size (lineair) compared to the Esprit.
Bad seeing in the optical tube will be higher in the Edge. Star points are better defined in the Esprit.
But ok, I'm a refractor boy after all.

pakarinen wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 2:25 pm As time goes on, I find myself less enamored of SCTs / Maks and more strongly a frac boy. YMMV.

I've always loved the crisp image quality provided by decent refractors, but being a galaxy hunter I really need the aperture of my SCT, despite the softer image.

For visual galaxy hunting aperture is the most important factor. I love my fracs, but for galaxies 9.25" is the weapon of choice. Our local 800 strong astro club is dominated by AP people and 90% of them use large SCTs, vanilla or Edge.

So here is a different take; if the deal on the Edge is that good (you mention 40%), then it is the equivalent of Gold out there right now. You can always quickly sell the OTA/reducer online at a good price (quite possibly more than you paid). The Edge is a well constructed instrument, all the attachments/adapters are well known, and you would be imaging in no time.

Shortages in the retail space are real. These used OTAs sell very quickly online. It is a very low-risk decision.

I would give it a try, like right around now. After a few sessions, you may just want to switch back to the frac.

Ian,
If you were doing visual, I would say go for the C8. Photographically, the wider field of the frac, combined with a good field flattener, might be worth considering. For really faint galaxies, aperture is king but for photographing mid-brightness galaxies, the refractor might be worth considering.

Also look at the weight of each OTA. Some fracs are very heavy.

Cheers
Joe

I’ve gone back to frac’s for me the simplicity of lenses over mirrors is part of it. The other part is that I don’t see myself pushing for faint galaxies. I may try on my SE6, but I expect it is aperture limited. Not looking to purchase any new scopes for sometime.

My wife made a veiled threat, that she had “always wanted eunuch slave” , I think .

Yes, not really in my future plans.

Greenman wrote: ↑Tue Feb 02, 2021 1:15 pm I’ve gone back to frac’s for me the simplicity of lenses over mirrors is part of it. The other part is that I don’t see myself pushing for faint galaxies. I may try on my SE6, but I expect it is aperture limited. Not looking to purchase any new scopes for sometime.

My wife made a veiled threat, that she had “always wanted eunuch slave” , I think .

Yes, not really in my future plans.

It is not just faint galaxies. For visual larger aperture shows more details in brighter DSOs.

What is that about wives and telescopes? Would they prefer us to have bar crawl as a hobby?

Bigzmey wrote: ↑Tue Feb 02, 2021 6:25 pm Would they prefer us to have bar crawl as a hobby?

I gave that up a couple of decades ago but with the proper training and ramp-up, I think I could compete in my age group.

Bigzmey wrote: ↑Tue Feb 02, 2021 6:25 pm

Greenman wrote: ↑Tue Feb 02, 2021 1:15 pm I’ve gone back to frac’s for me the simplicity of lenses over mirrors is part of it. The other part is that I don’t see myself pushing for faint galaxies. I may try on my SE6, but I expect it is aperture limited. Not looking to purchase any new scopes for sometime.

My wife made a veiled threat, that she had “always wanted eunuch slave” , I think .

Yes, not really in my future plans.

It is not just faint galaxies. For visual larger aperture shows more details in brighter DSOs.

What is that about wives and telescopes? Would they prefer us to have bar crawl as a hobby?

Fair point, on both points

pakarinen wrote: ↑Tue Feb 02, 2021 7:46 pm

Bigzmey wrote: ↑Tue Feb 02, 2021 6:25 pm Would they prefer us to have bar crawl as a hobby?

I gave that up a couple of decades ago but with the proper training and ramp-up, I think I could compete in my age group.

I was showing a real promise but had to give it up when I got married. All the sacrifices we make.