Just a correction on semantics. The RC51 doesn't have a back focus requirement. In other words, you don't have the get the sensor exactly 55mm from a reducer. All you need to do is get it in focus. Now, of course, if you add too many spacers / adapters / gadgets between the scope and the sensor, then even with the focuser racked completely in you might not be able to achieve focus on the stars. Looking at the way you've got it setup, it seems to be the 2600 with the tilt plate -> some adapter -> EFW -> some adapter -> rotator -> some adapter -> scope. With the tilt plate, the sensor is 17.5mm back. Get rid of the tilt plate and bolt the camera directly to the wheel and you'll save 7mm (5 from the tilt plate and 2 from the T2-T2 adapter you used to connect it to the wheel). Hopefully that'll be enough.
Hi Jon, yep you are right with regard to the term backfocus when it comes to the Redcat 51. My Gen2 with the helical focuser while adding the camera to the image train with the way it came out of the box caused me to hit the limit. I immediately chuckled when I was doing a daylight focus to see how close I was off which I expected when I saw the tilt plate. I think I can makes things work. The funny thing is while I bought the rotator I've not had to use it yet for framing. 😊
Thanks for the reminder/clarification on the RC51. I've been considering some of the Petzval/Quintuplet for a future purchase for different aperture from my two existing setups (edgeHD11 and WO81). My issue on the WO81 was also focuser being completely racked in. Maybe one of these would still require squeezing a fair amount out of the light path for those that want to add a EFW and rotator. Something I will have to watch out for whenever i do get going down this path. .
nice looking rig! should be great! FYI sending a picture of the final set up/cables etc sometimes helps starfront set up up if they have any questions about what goes where...or even better just label both ends of the cables if any doubts.
Bill just wanted to add a comment that I'm heading down similar path as you . Hardware is pretty much there now but need to fix a focuser issue on guide scope and then get switched over to Nina target scheduler working at least on my WO81 setup. My EdgeHD11 setup requires a bit more hardware and stability so your discussions about rotators and flats is a great help. The lack of clear nights this fall in Houston has me behind and life business has me behind on image processing since doing all the reconfiguring on the W081 setup. This last round I collected both SkyFlats (mornings) and Alto/Giotto flats since I was at must running three filters with the OSC. I'm really enjoying your videos (lurking for sometime) and the channel change is actually much more aligned with my path now since I can't really travel due to things around the house. Keep up the good work and I'm looking forward to seeing your setup at StarFront.
Thank you for the positive comment on the channel direction. Much appreciated. 👍 Keep me posted on your progress. Life business certainly can get in the way of our ability to move fast and then there is the weather which at times is not our friend. 😊 Interestingly since I put down my deposit at Starfront a couple of weeks ago noone there has contacted me. That's OK because it gives me more time to implement what I need to implement before the scopes hit their facility.
i faced a similar backfocus issue on my Williams Optics 81 with the 0.7x reducer. I added 7x efw (even with OSC camera) and primalucelab rotator and this just was always above the 55mm backfocus (best I could do was 63 with precise parts orders) . I did not want to go the route of buying another camera just to be able to direct mount the EFW without built in tilt adjuster to recover what I needed and still be over a bit on backfocus. I then discovered "SVBONY SV209 Field Flattener, 1.0X Flattener Corrects The Field, FMC Coating, M63x1 Connection, for SV550 80mm F6 APO OTA Astrophotography" The advantage here is it has several backfocus options available depending on what thread/extension combinations you use (55, 91.5, or 103mm). Just by dropping one extension I had 91.5mm to play with and keep the EFW and rotator in there with just normal thread adapters. So far at least with my camera and 81mm aperture the stars look good out to the corners. Minor tilt I need to work on. The ASI071MC pro without tilt adjuster and the EFW7 will not support direct attach and no adapter that I could find. This also meant I actually did more filling of the frame without the 0.7 reducer feature so far a win-win.
No but I was aware of it however. Another imager, Greg Meyers who I had a conversation with at Night Fall 2024, mentioned the Deep Sky Dad Flap Panel. He uses it and likes how it performs so I thought OK let me give it a try. As you may know by watching the channel I'm a fan of Wanderer Astro and have their Mini V2 rotator and PowerBox Pro V3.
I can't recall if you covered this in another video -- did you try the Primaluce Giotto flat panel flap? What made you choose the Deep Sky Dad over the Giotto (given you have a lot of other Primaluce equipment)?
Well I have two Giotto's, a 120MM and a 220MM. Excellent panels. It's a decision based on the cost of the Alto for each scope. I can get the RedCat 51 Flap Panel and EdgeHD 8 Flap Panel each for less then the two Alto-2 I would need. Also my 220MM I've been using on my EdgeHD is two small in diameter per Fillipo at PrimaluceLab so I'd need to purchase the Giotto 255MM. So simply cost decision. I'll sell the two Giotto's to offset some of the cost of the Deep Sky Dad Flap Panels.
I thought you used to have a regular AM5? Have you found the upgrade to the N giving better guiding? I’m in two minds about upgrading my original AM5. Or just get more gear…
I have the original AM5 and now the AM5N as well. I sold my EQ6-R Pro a couple of months ago before I decided to put my scopes into Starfront. Once I made that decision I needed to purchase a second mount. I've not had a chance to guide with the AM5N yet so I can't answer that question. Let me know what you decide to do. Your need to make that decision would be a good topic for an Astro Chatter Podcast episode! 😉 Let me know if you are interested. 👍
I had forgotten why I never bothered getting into astronomy, thanx for reminding me why lol.
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the video.
Just a correction on semantics. The RC51 doesn't have a back focus requirement. In other words, you don't have the get the sensor exactly 55mm from a reducer. All you need to do is get it in focus. Now, of course, if you add too many spacers / adapters / gadgets between the scope and the sensor, then even with the focuser racked completely in you might not be able to achieve focus on the stars. Looking at the way you've got it setup, it seems to be the 2600 with the tilt plate -> some adapter -> EFW -> some adapter -> rotator -> some adapter -> scope. With the tilt plate, the sensor is 17.5mm back. Get rid of the tilt plate and bolt the camera directly to the wheel and you'll save 7mm (5 from the tilt plate and 2 from the T2-T2 adapter you used to connect it to the wheel). Hopefully that'll be enough.
Hi Jon, yep you are right with regard to the term backfocus when it comes to the Redcat 51. My Gen2 with the helical focuser while adding the camera to the image train with the way it came out of the box caused me to hit the limit. I immediately chuckled when I was doing a daylight focus to see how close I was off which I expected when I saw the tilt plate. I think I can makes things work. The funny thing is while I bought the rotator I've not had to use it yet for framing. 😊
Thanks for the reminder/clarification on the RC51. I've been considering some of the Petzval/Quintuplet for a future purchase for different aperture from my two existing setups (edgeHD11 and WO81). My issue on the WO81 was also focuser being completely racked in. Maybe one of these would still require squeezing a fair amount out of the light path for those that want to add a EFW and rotator. Something I will have to watch out for whenever i do get going down this path. .
Nice rig , Mate
Thanks 👍
This rig looks great! Excited to see the photos you get with it!
Thanks. It looks like it will be after the first of the year before I'm imaging from Starfront but I will share the images.
nice looking rig! should be great! FYI sending a picture of the final set up/cables etc sometimes helps starfront set up up if they have any questions about what goes where...or even better just label both ends of the cables if any doubts.
Great tip on the pictures and labeling the cables. Thanks Greg. I liked your latest astro images from Borrego Springs Sculptures field. 👏👏👏
Bill just wanted to add a comment that I'm heading down similar path as you . Hardware is pretty much there now but need to fix a focuser issue on guide scope and then get switched over to Nina target scheduler working at least on my WO81 setup. My EdgeHD11 setup requires a bit more hardware and stability so your discussions about rotators and flats is a great help. The lack of clear nights this fall in Houston has me behind and life business has me behind on image processing since doing all the reconfiguring on the W081 setup. This last round I collected both SkyFlats (mornings) and Alto/Giotto flats since I was at must running three filters with the OSC. I'm really enjoying your videos (lurking for sometime) and the channel change is actually much more aligned with my path now since I can't really travel due to things around the house. Keep up the good work and I'm looking forward to seeing your setup at StarFront.
Thank you for the positive comment on the channel direction. Much appreciated. 👍 Keep me posted on your progress. Life business certainly can get in the way of our ability to move fast and then there is the weather which at times is not our friend. 😊 Interestingly since I put down my deposit at Starfront a couple of weeks ago noone there has contacted me. That's OK because it gives me more time to implement what I need to implement before the scopes hit their facility.
i faced a similar backfocus issue on my Williams Optics 81 with the 0.7x reducer. I added 7x efw (even with OSC camera) and primalucelab rotator and this just was always above the 55mm backfocus (best I could do was 63 with precise parts orders) . I did not want to go the route of buying another camera just to be able to direct mount the EFW without built in tilt adjuster to recover what I needed and still be over a bit on backfocus. I then discovered "SVBONY SV209 Field Flattener, 1.0X Flattener Corrects The Field, FMC Coating, M63x1 Connection, for SV550 80mm F6 APO OTA Astrophotography" The advantage here is it has several backfocus options available depending on what thread/extension combinations you use (55, 91.5, or 103mm). Just by dropping one extension I had 91.5mm to play with and keep the EFW and rotator in there with just normal thread adapters. So far at least with my camera and 81mm aperture the stars look good out to the corners. Minor tilt I need to work on. The ASI071MC pro without tilt adjuster and the EFW7 will not support direct attach and no adapter that I could find. This also meant I actually did more filling of the frame without the 0.7 reducer feature so far a win-win.
Cool, good to hear. 👍
Just curious - did you consider the Wanderer flat panel? I have one and it's really awesome.
No but I was aware of it however. Another imager, Greg Meyers who I had a conversation with at Night Fall 2024, mentioned the Deep Sky Dad Flap Panel. He uses it and likes how it performs so I thought OK let me give it a try. As you may know by watching the channel I'm a fan of Wanderer Astro and have their Mini V2 rotator and PowerBox Pro V3.
I can't recall if you covered this in another video -- did you try the Primaluce Giotto flat panel flap? What made you choose the Deep Sky Dad over the Giotto (given you have a lot of other Primaluce equipment)?
Well I have two Giotto's, a 120MM and a 220MM. Excellent panels. It's a decision based on the cost of the Alto for each scope. I can get the RedCat 51 Flap Panel and EdgeHD 8 Flap Panel each for less then the two Alto-2 I would need. Also my 220MM I've been using on my EdgeHD is two small in diameter per Fillipo at PrimaluceLab so I'd need to purchase the Giotto 255MM.
So simply cost decision. I'll sell the two Giotto's to offset some of the cost of the Deep Sky Dad Flap Panels.
I thought you used to have a regular AM5? Have you found the upgrade to the N giving better guiding? I’m in two minds about upgrading my original AM5. Or just get more gear…
I have the original AM5 and now the AM5N as well. I sold my EQ6-R Pro a couple of months ago before I decided to put my scopes into Starfront. Once I made that decision I needed to purchase a second mount.
I've not had a chance to guide with the AM5N yet so I can't answer that question.
Let me know what you decide to do. Your need to make that decision would be a good topic for an Astro Chatter Podcast episode! 😉 Let me know if you are interested. 👍