Hi Wido, great video, thanks for sharing. I have my 8" Edge HD since 2013, I have never wanted another scope since. I deliberately selected this scope because it is extremely versatile for deep sky, planetary & lunar. A great all rounder! I have never been disappointed with it. Clear skies everyone 😊.
Very good review. I own a C9.25 EdgeHD, with hyperstar and it’s a wonderful combo. I’m able to use it at f10, f2.3 or f20. I upgraded from a C6 and since 2013 never looked for a replacement. Highly recommended the EdgeHD series.
Good that you confirmed my decision to buy an EDGE HD 8" for the reasons you mentioned. I was inclined to buy a refractor so that no collimation is ever required, but the refractors are with less aperture, lengthy and heavy for the same price of EDGE HD 8".
I had the celestron 8" but sold it and bought a 80mm triplet refractor which I enjoy very much with a focal length of 480. But I miss the celestron so I think I will get another. For me, I think the 80mm refractor and the 8inch celestron are not too big, but not too small and I really like them both for different reasons.
My aperture-fever went in the opposite direction. I started with a 5" 1500mm MAK (very slow at f/12) and after about two years I invested in a refractor for the sole purpose of zooming out and being able to capture a wider field of view at a much quicker f/ratio. I still use the MAK for the moon and planets (and some bright galaxies) though.
Thanks for a great review. I was 50/50 between the 8 HD and the standard 9.25 SCT. (same price) I went with the latter on the recommendation of the store. The 9.25 is a great scope also but has taken a long time for me to collimate it to my satisfaction. I get 'almost' perfect stars to the edge now too. In hindsight I would have chosen the 8 HD as it is lighter during set up.
This post is very interesting to me. I just retired and am taking up a long planned hobby of astrophotography. I am facing this exact choice. I have had a telescope most of my life, but never representing this level of investment. So, I appreciate your honest post and I am going right straight to the 8 HD.
@@sampayne7303 I am certain you will be happy with that choice. I literally have not used my 9.25 since posting the message above. It is just too heavy to lug in and out each night. With camera, reducer and guide scope it is over 11 kg. I generally just set up the 6 SCT which is half the weight and easily handled. Enjoy the 8HD
Extremely useful and comprehensive. I have been out of the game for a while and have been caught up in the size of my mirror. Thanks you for a great review
Thanks for including those charts showing the classic, coma reducing and edge SCTs! I’ve ordered a Meade 6” ACF SCT so it was nice seeing what the coma reducing effect will be.
Nice review ! SCT telescopes are amazing, so compact with much versatility and quality. I have a C8 and just bought my first ZWO cooled camera, the 183MC Pro, and also an Hyperstar :D . But I don't really get the Edge HD telescope, it's natively corrected at F10 but with modern CMOS cameras with small pixels (2 to 4 microns) we would be oversampled between 0.24arcsec/pixel and 0.47arcsec/pixel, and even with a bigger aperture or focal length with a normal seeing of 2-4arcsec the limit to not oversample is 0.60 arcsec/pixel. The only thing suited for this oversampling is lucky imaging, it's the technique used for planetary (and small and bright planetary nebula) to limit the seeing fluctuation by taking a lot of really fast exposures, so the Edge HD correcting at F10 make no really sense to me unless you use very big pixels or if you bin binning (or have an exceptionnal seeing)... So If I use my C8 for deep sky imaging it's only with a reducer, and all reducers have good correction while the custom 0.7 reducer for the Edge HD is crazy expensive. The native build type of the Edge HD also narrow the possibility of SCT accessories (there is a 0.4 reducer by Starizona but for now it's only for classic SCT and not Edge HD). And finally, if we connect a Hyperstar, the built in flattener of the Edge HD will not be included in the optical train, so a classic C8 with the Hyperstar will produce the exact same quality picture as the Edge HD. So, in short, I see no point of buying the Edge HD over a classic SCT because it's more expensive (there is a mirror lock but as we need to refocus multiple times in one session I don't really like it with a focus motor), it has more expensive accessories, and it reduces the compatibility with other SCT accessories. After that, you talk about using a barlow for planetary with this setup, but if you have a 178MM (I believe you have this one) there is no need for a barlow because at F10 you would be already at 0.24arcsec/pixel which is the limit of sampling with this 8" aperture which has 0.57arcsec resolution (I don't talk about the seeing resolution here, but the Dawes resolution of a given aperture), you can see this in the Planetary Critical Sampling calculator here (to be precise the ideal F ratio would be F11) : www.wilmslowastro.com/software/formulae.htm#CCD_Sampling . Understanding sampling is very important, it's more important than F ratio because with small pixel you gather less light than large pixel, so the speed is only calculated with aperture, pixel sampling and quantum efficiency of the camera. In fact I think that in astrophotography the only 2 big factors are aperture size and arsec/pixel sampling. For example with my 183MC with 2,4 micron pixel I will even be oversampling with the 0.63 reducer unless I have very good seeing, so for me to use this camera properly I need to buy the Starizona 0.4 SCT Reducer to be at 0.6arsec/pixel, so even putting my C8 at 800mm focal length I'd still image at the maximum resolution I can for an ok seeing (small pixels compensate for focal length, it's exactly like having more "zoom"). But If I use the 294MC Pro with double the pixel size I could image with double the focal length (1600mm) and have the same 0.6 arcsec/pixel, so this two setup would have same speed even if it's different focal ratio (that's why F ratio is not really important, but aperture is). I chose the 183MC camera specially for its small pixels so I can have a really good sampling with a big reducers, with the Hyperstar I would be at 1.2arcsec/pixel so not at the maximum resolution of 0.6, but with dithering and drizzling I could compensate for this loss in quality, double the quality and return to 0.6, and have the best of both world in one setup : wide field of view and a big resolution for small DSOs... The best setup in term of quality would be going mono because with color cameras we have a loss in detail, and the 294MM have an even bigger sensor with really small pixels (same size as the 183), so if I want even better images, the next step would be here for me... There is a lot to understand with sampling, but you can calculate yours with Stellarium, or by using this other web calculator astronomy.tools/calculators/ccd_suitability , or the other site I already shared. Have fun with your scope, and clear skies !
This is a really great point. Correct sampling size is not talked about or understood by most astrophotographers and you synopsis is fantastic. Thanks for sharing!
so stupid question. I am planning on using this with a full frame mirrorless camera, though it is running at 47MP so I am guessing the pixel size is still rather small(?). I'm thinking EdgeHD makes more sense for full frame cameras? (at least if they have less pixels than mine)
I bought my Edge 800 cuz of your vids. Still buying things for it before 1st use. Got a generator ordered yesterday.......gotta have my latte out there lol. All I need now is the main camera. Leaning towards ZWO..your vids are always full of God info, thanks for all the work you put in.
Thanks for the “Hi Martyn” Wido, I feel quite honored!! Enjoyed your review and like you I’m happy so far with my 8 Edge HD. I bought the Nexstar evolution 8 EdgeHD system which came with the single arm Alt/Az mount. Out of the box, my system is great for visual observation and with just a low cost 2x Barlow and planetary camera it does a great job for planetary imaging. Yes, I’d also buy this scope again! Clear skies!
@@AstroForumSpace it’s a less common English spelling and it’s just pronounced “Mar Tin”. Several times I was in Amsterdam some people there thought I was Dutch and twice in about 2O or more trade show visits to RAI, I found that my name tag had been “corrected” by the convention staff to “MARTJN” 😂😂😂.
Excellent you have definitely cleared my cobwebs in my mind on which one to go for. Appreciate it if you could take us through the final setup you have for DSO and planetary astrophotography. I also would request you to have a complete series on the selection of hardware for photography to processing and post-processing steps. That would be a great help for a newbie like me.
Great review. I have the regular non-Edge SCT8 and I agree this is a very versatile scope. You need to give the Hyperstar a try at some point, going to F/2 makes the scope a massive light bucket (about 12 times the light gathering ability of F/7) and has been a game changer for me.
Do you really need one if it's on an equatorial mount of this quality? I'm new to the game, so maybe I'm missing something, but isn't a Hyperstar more useful on something like and Alt-Azimuth mount?
@@timwilde4200 hyperstar turns the SCT in a fast widefield scope. The reason why people use it on altaz is that even a 10s EAA captures matches the snr of a 250s capture at f/10.
@@physmc1 Yeah, I'm slowly getting to that point with all the reading I'm doing. I had always assumed telescopes were monster magnifiers to see what they do, so it's somewhat surprising to find that something like the Hyperstar 'reduces' the Celestron to the level of a decent telephoto lens for a fullframe camera - albeit one with a fairly fast aperture. Am I reading that correctly f2 x 200mm = 400mm? I'm curious though, given that I come from a photography background - wouldn't you get similar results mounting something like a Nikon D850 and a good quality 400mm on an equatorial mount for a telescope, even if the slower speed of the lense required a longer exposure?
Great - having 6 months experience on this scope is valuable for would be purchasers. Nice to see subscribers climbing. Stunning images and nicely shot and edited.
Thanks for this. I've been on the fence whether the 8 is worth it, or 9.25 would be better. I guess 9.25 still might be better, but 8 certainly sounds like a great and absolutely valid option, esp. from price-performance perspective. Clear skies!
Hi Chris, yes, definitely. Main consideration for me was the price difference. The 9.25 will give you a better resolution as it has a bigger aperture. Clear skies.
Hyperstar is awesome, love it. But there are several issues that might influence your decision: 1. Installing and uninstalling takes additional time. 2. Filters. If you live in a light polluted area you will need narrowband filters. They are produced only by Baader, expensive and really hard to find nowadays. 3. No way to add a filter wheel. You will need additional accessories to store filters and change them quickly. 4. Probably will need to think about different camera to avoid over/under-sampling. But once you get around these issues - there's nothing better than ~f/2.
Hey! Great vid on the edge hd my friend! As you well know, us amateur astronomers and astro imagers often struggle with knowing what 'scope and equip' to buy so vids like this are always welcome! Thank You! Wes, Liverpool, UK.l
By chance I stumbled upon your fine channel, I really enjoy your thoughts as I am going to purchase this exact scope & mount! My only problem is a back order of both. Subscribed!
What a versatile scope the SCT is. Could you use the HyperStar and 0.7x focal reducer together? That'd be like a 270mm f/1.3 scope which is pretty crazy. I have a standard C8 as part of a NexStar Evolution package. Had been thinking about getting a wedge for DSO which I think I will. Bigger question is should look at upgrading to the edge HD, or keep it cheap and just get the Celestron.67 reducer/corrector. I very much doubt the HyperStar is in my future either way.
Love your reviews. I've had my eye on one of these for several months but no matter where I look they are backordered and I'm hesitant to order one without knowing when it might arrive.
Nice Telescope. I have the Nexstar 8 and Nexstar 5. Celestron makes good Telescopes. I have owned telescopes from a 17.5 dob to a 70mm and the 8 inch SCT is my favorite. Thanks for the video.
Everybody says the 9.25" Celestron is a really good performer. I heard that the 9.25" Edge is twice the price of the standard model though. That's a lot of money! I haven't tried it yet, but I also heard that DSO astrophotography is more difficult with an SCT, so I'm doubtful the Edge would be a good match for me. I use an FC-100 for DSO astrophotography, and I have a lot of fun with that. I'd really be interested in a standard Celestron 9.25" for visual observing though.
Hi Wido, thanks for the video. I found that OAG is even better option for guiding the Celestron Edge 8"HD vs. separate guide scope. I see you use a surprisingly low FL guide scope. Can you all comment what type of guiding works for you or recommended for this specific telescope? Thx in advance.
Finally! Only 1 year. The following item(s) arrived in stock! Item Quantity In Stock CEL-91030-XLT Celestron EdgeHD 8 OTA - 8 f/10 Aplanatic SCT OTA - CGE Dovetail - 91030-XLT 1.
Thanks for the review Wido. Absolutely gorgeous pictures. Quick question. I joined your live chat moon shots the other day and noticed you paned around the moon. Was this done digitally or slewing the scope, if so didn't it effect your tracking? Thanks again for the vid.
Thanks Perry! I'm remotely connected to my scope, so the scope actually slews in real time. I've made a video on how to setup eqmod here: ua-cam.com/video/C4wGuV_ctKM/v-deo.html eqmod had a lunar tracking speed, it's a tiny bit different from siderial tracking rates and helps to keep the moon centered. Clear skies!
Just curious from a photographer's point of view. Firstly, when it comes to the balance of a wide field telescope as against the narrower view of the Edge, can't you simply use the Edge to take a series of images that can be cropped & stitched together in a program like Photoshop to give you that wider field of view? On stock C8s without the Edge's corrections, it would also help eliminate some of the issues on the fringes of the image? Or is the downside that, with each image potentially needing hours of exposure, it could take numerous nights to render the desired results via such a path?
Creating mosaics can be done, but you need to be very patient. Multi-hour or sometimes multi-night sessions are needed for one tile. Add to that the horrible weather conditions in winter and short nights is summer, plus post-processing challenges of sticking pictures together, and you know why many folks choose different focal length telescopes depending on the target vs creating mosaics. This is not your average snap and move on hobby.
@@AstroForumSpace No worries. I was simply curious because of the seeming commitment one way or the other to the various types of telescopes. Kind of clever how they've made the SCT more multipurpose through features such as the HyperStar. I do a LOT of mosaics photographically, generally with panoramas, so that's why I was curious on the point. I'm on the verge of retirement and am looking to get into astrophotography as an extension of my interest in photography. I used to own a basic reflector years ago, but other than that I'm on a huge leaning curve at the moment trying to figure out what to buy. I'm leaning very much towards a setup similar to yours. I was originally going to buy the stock combination of the 8" Edge with the AVX mount, but I read here and there that the AVX isn't the steadiest for very long exposures, which is why I was leaning towards spending the little extra for the ZWO ASI1600mm Pro.
Great video, do you ever use this telescope for viewing? I'm curious to hear what kind of nebula structures/galaxies and colors you can see with this one.
Great video! If you were to buy a new Astrophotography dedicated camera today (May 2023) which one would it be. I'm thinking about getting this scope but only have a ASI2600 camera right now. I presently have a WO 120mm (780mm focal length) but I want more focal length for the galaxy season. Thanks
Hi there. If you're going to use the Edge HD primarily for galaxies, keep in mind that most galaxies are pretty small so you don't need a camera with a huge resolution. In fact, a camera like the newer asi533MM or MC Pro could do a nice job already. ASI2600MM/MC is great too ofc. I have some articles and a comparison table on my website, perhaps useful: astroforumspace.com/zwo-cameras-comparison-table/
Wido, my Edge HD 8 finally came off back order! It arrived today and of course the weather is supposed to be on and off rain this week. I have a question for you. if you are using an auto focuser, how do you set your mirror clutches? I would imagine that tightening them up while an auto focuser is trying to make minor adjustments would not work very well
Wido, after having used the Edge for some time now, for someone just getting started, would you recommend sticking with the 8” Edge, or going with a 9.25” non-Edge? Just an opinion, no pressure. 😃 I’m into visual observation AND EAA. I know there are other types/options, but I really like the versatility and being able to get a reducer/corrector and have two focal ratios available (or 3 with Hyperstar, but my wife would probably kill me, too .. and then bury the scope with me! 😳😃) But, I’m recently retired, and she did say I needed a hobby. 🤷♂️
Hi there! For visual use, a bigger aperture is always better because you cannot add exposure time to your eyes :-)! You need a big bucket to collect these photons from space. The C9.25 will probably give you a better view compared to an 8" and you can definitely do some casual EEA with it. If you're going down the rabbit hole of dedicated long-exposure astrophotography (like I did) you also want a flat field and a high-quality reducer/hyperstar. That's where the Edge HD comes in. I see that Agena Astro has a couple of those C9.25's available at "reasonable" price :-): bit.ly/3qxaWLH Clear skies!
@@AstroForumSpace awesome, and I’ll check back with Agena. Appreciate the timely response and good advice! “Clear skies” to you as well, sir! (That’s the first time I’ve used “clear skies” .. yep, I’m THAT new! 👍😃)
@@AstroForumSpace I use a permanent concrete pier mount and only use the head of the EQ5 pro. Its rock solid, but I wondering if the motor units are strong enough to handle it. I currently use a 6" Classic Cassegrain without any problems(approx 7.5kg)
Great update. I've one on order hopefully arriving soon! Aside from the barlow/reducer/hyperstar are there any other accessories / tools for collimation you'd recommend to get ? Thanks.
Not really, if you'll have all those add-ons you'd be able to range in focal length from 400mm to 6000mm (with a 3* Barlow). That should get you enough flexibility to photograph almost any target. Clear skies!
Hi there - haven't seen videos of you using this scope since this video. Do you still use it or does it no longer fit your needs? any further thoughts on the usefulness of this scope within your stable of scopes? thanks.
Great video thanks! I have this scope and I think I have to study it more since we are in galaxy season😃. But I just got the Orion 8" astrograph that I really need to try, so after trying it I will get back to the 8"edge again😁. Thanks for the info.. God bless.
The AVX can carry the edge HD too, but the EQ6r Pro is more accurate in tracking the stars. That's very useful as the focal length is 2000mm. At that magnification you need sub-arc second accuracy in tracking to take sharp long exposure pictures.
Thanks! Nope, no significant vignetting with the ASI1600MM Pro. You may get vignetting when using newer models that have an APS-C format like the ASI2600MM Pro.
great video. i just bought an Edge 8. and 2600MM with zwo 2 inch EWF and optolong 3nm 2inches SHO and LRGB filters. I also have 0.7x reducer. and 174mm mini guidecamera. need some help for guiding setup. i need clarifications for the following: 1) which OAG is better suited zwo OAG-L or Celestron OAG? 2) would the new camera 2600MC DUO work well for Edge 8? Pls advise.
Great review... I like the "...so I didn't buy the Hyperstar YET" (mentioned twice! Mrs Astroforum watch this space) Was the 8" also a budget issue (as compared to a 9.25")?
Nice review! Thank you! :) I see that you are shooting from the city too, would this telescope be a good choice for a Dslr ? Haven't got an astro cam yet ... and 0 narrow band filters either ...
Thanks for your videos, are amazing! Help me please: How often do you have to collimate it? Is it difficult to do it? Please can you say the maintenance you have done and how often since I want that telescope but I have been told that it requires a lot of maintenance and adjustments. Thanks!
Hi there, my edge HD was well collimated when it arrived, I didn't need to change it. I've have used the telescope for almost a year and collimation is still good.
Hi Wido, congrats for your information in general. I have a questions for you about SCT 8 HD. Please, what kind of focuser do you have for this OTA? Did you have issues guiding with your guiding scope or you hace OAG system? Thanks in advance.
I recently bought the 8" edge. The scope itself seems to be very well made. However what on earth were they thinking when they designed the eyepiece end. The star diagonal is ok but the tightening thumb screws are just junk. People pay an awful lot of money on eyepieces and other various bits and bobs to attach to the scope. Only to have it scratch dent and damage it when you wind the screws in. If I'd of realised it was like this, I'd of reconsidered my options
Can I ask you a favor? I’m planning on getting the Edge 8. I have an AZ eq5. My question is if you can measure the vixen spacing that slides into the mount. Not sure if I will need to buy a vixen mount. Or a attachment . What comes with the scope. My mount takes vixen. My mount is like the HEQ5
@@AstroForumSpace thank you sir. Just got the L extreme. Game changer for my heavy light polluted area. I was getting very disappointed with my results. New hope!
I always found it on the limit or really a little over. The slightest hint of a breeze and my tracking was all over the place. Also you really need to go with an OAG. I run it now on a GEM 45 with a Celestron OAG and it is very solid.
@@AstroForumSpace thanks mate probably have to look at a 6 in or similar due to finances. Got a zwo 224mc the asiair plus, and mount just not sure what brand. Celestron, Meade or similar? You guys have so much more experience than I so value your feedback
What focal length do you have for the guide scope and which model? Which guide scope camera? Okay, later in the video you said you use a 162mm guiding scope. I thought that might be too small? Thanks
I'm not sure, it has been one year since I've bought the telescope and I still have round stars in my FoV. Probably good to check the collimation though, thanks for reminding me 😉. Clear skies.
How do you keep from being oversampled with the barlow? When I add a barlow to my 8" Edge HD and ASI 462mc i get all kinds of blurring and what i'd call a washed out halo. No amount of focusing, exposure time or gamma has fixed it.
Hi Bobby, with that combination you're indeed oversampling your pixels a great deal, with a 2x barlow you'd be at 0.15" per pixel, and without it at 0.3". I don't know where you live, but good astronomical seeing is usually around 1" per pixel - in the Netherlands, they are often 1.5" per pixel or worse. Do you use this setup for planetary?...you could try capturing planets with that setup, or also deep-sky? For deep-sky, my setup has a reducer to get down to 1400mm instead of the native 2000MM FL, and I'm using an asi1600mm pro which takes met to 0.55" per pixel - and I still experience some oversampling with that setup. I do that on purpose to magnify some of the awesome small galaxies like M51. People usually recommend a deep sky setup that is around 1" per pixel to avoid under/oversampling. Hope this info helps, let me know. Clear skies!
Wido, can you help me get mine off of back order :-)? I'm plugging along with a 6se on a EQ6R-Pro mount that finally came in off back order. I am sooooo jealous!
@@AstroForumSpace Wido, I'm just playin' around. I've been waiting for it since January. With COVID there is just nothing I can do about it but dream and be patient. I LOVE your channel, I have picked up a lot of good stuff. Dale in Boise, Idaho. At least I know what it will look like when I can assemble it. P.S. spring rain showed up today and so did my L-Enhance filter. Some times, no matter what you do, you can't win!
Hi Wido, I very much enjoy your videos and as of this Friday I am the proud owner of the C8 Edge HD! I hope to be able to use my little ZWO 120 mm guide scope, despite advice elsewhere that I would need a longer FL guide scope for such a large FL main scope. You expressed surprise that your little « guider » still works on your HD, are you still getting good results with it?
Hi Arthur, I hope you'll have a good time with that telescope, I sure did! If you have any questions, feel free to ask them. Yes, I still use the 120MC and 50mm guidescope. It is ofcourse on the low end of what is recommended, but with the .7 reducer it is doing the job it needs to do. I even won an NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day with that guidescope and camera setup, I can't believe it :-). Clear skies!
@@AstroForumSpace Thank you for your reply and encouragement, and congratulations on that APOD award! The Pacman nebula was among the first DSOs that I was able to capture with my 76 mm refractor and (more or less successfully) process using Startools. You are showing us all what is possible and that is definitely inspiring!
So many questions unanswered it's hard for a newbie to find the right choices and all the different accessories that are available and all the terms like coma abberation bortle class etc if your new to it all then it's hard to understand anything been doing research on all sorts of astro related for like 2months and the info is getting too much
@@AstroForumSpace dat is gemakkelijk gezegd hoor als je er al even mee bezig bent natuurlijk want de meesten raden om met een dobson te beginnen voor het visuele deel en de nacht hemel te verkennen en dan over te schakelen naar fotografie ook omdat dat goedkoper is en veelzijdiger althans dat heb ik me laten wijsmaken
Hey there. Quick question. So would this scope fit on a HEQ-5 mount? I am disabled so I am limited on how much weight I can move around. The HEQ-5 is likely the biggest I can go with a mount, unless I move somewhere where I can have a permanent mount. Also, when imaging the planets, how large of a print can you make with this scope? And last question, would this scope be able to image the Heart and Soul nebula?
the HEQ5 would be able to carry a C8, especially for moon and planetary imaging you should be fine. For deep-sky astrophotography you may want to revert to a smaller APO refractor telescope to catch the heart and soul nebula. about 300 to 500mm focal length is enough to catch the heart and soul. Planets are very tiny objects in the night sky. Don't expect any poster worthy prints. See my community tab where I posted some of my latest planetary pictures so you'll know what to expect. Clear skies, good luck!
Hey, thank you so much for responding! So, my setup for the Heart and Soul nebula, will be a Star Adventurer 2i pro, a 75-300 lense, and a Canon T3i (modded). I am hopeful that I will be able to get both nebulae in my field of view. As for the planets, I could accept an 8x10, but I prefer a 10x13. And I want them to be clear, no pixelation. If my camera won't give me an 8x10 or a 10x13, could you please tell me what would give me that image size? Thank you for your time and advice.
Ah man, I miss my SCT. Great video. Too bad I live in the PNW now and clouds aren’t that interesting through a telescope.
Hi Wido, great video, thanks for sharing. I have my 8" Edge HD since 2013, I have never wanted another scope since. I deliberately selected this scope because it is extremely versatile for deep sky, planetary & lunar. A great all rounder! I have never been disappointed with it. Clear skies everyone 😊.
Thanks David, good to hear you're also positive about the edge.
Yup. The 8” Celestron Edge is hands-down the best off the shelf widely available 8” Schmidt-Cassegrain money can buy. And affordable considering
Very good review.
I own a C9.25 EdgeHD, with hyperstar and it’s a wonderful combo. I’m able to use it at f10, f2.3 or f20. I upgraded from a C6 and since 2013 never looked for a replacement.
Highly recommended the EdgeHD series.
Thanks for your input Alfredo, clear skies!
Thank you so much for this video, mine is supposed to arrive on Monday and I'm hoping to get some of your fantastic results with it!
Have fun!
Mine is arriving in a few days, so keen to hear if you still (after 2 years) like it?
Good that you confirmed my decision to buy an EDGE HD 8" for the reasons you mentioned. I was inclined to buy a refractor so that no collimation is ever required, but the refractors are with less aperture, lengthy and heavy for the same price of EDGE HD 8".
But you can’t beat the image clarity and wide scale asltrophotograpy of a good refractor. This Edge HD8 is very good though
I had the celestron 8" but sold it and bought a 80mm triplet refractor which I enjoy very much with a focal length of 480. But I miss the celestron so I think I will get another. For me, I think the 80mm refractor and the 8inch celestron are not too big, but not too small and I really like them both for different reasons.
Aperture fever hasn't afflicted me yet, but now I know which telescope to check out when it does. Thank you for the review and sharing your pictures.
My aperture-fever went in the opposite direction. I started with a 5" 1500mm MAK (very slow at f/12) and after about two years I invested in a refractor for the sole purpose of zooming out and being able to capture a wider field of view at a much quicker f/ratio. I still use the MAK for the moon and planets (and some bright galaxies) though.
Thanks for the update Wido! I'm still waiting to get my 8" EdgeHD. Glad to hear you would still recommend it after six months of use! 👍
Me too:( mine is back ordered until late July
@@samueljohnson5310 I ordered mine from high point scientific back in January. No sign of it yet.
@@s.daryander1549 omg. This is awful
@@s.daryander1549 well I didn’t get the HD but still
I always watch for your video's, Wido. I enjoy getting your alternate highly competent, but often more soulful view from other reviewers.
Thanks so much Bill, I appreciate that!
Thanks for a great review. I was 50/50 between the 8 HD and the standard 9.25 SCT. (same price) I went with the latter on the recommendation of the store. The 9.25 is a great scope also but has taken a long time for me to collimate it to my satisfaction. I get 'almost' perfect stars to the edge now too. In hindsight I would have chosen the 8 HD as it is lighter during set up.
Thanks for adding your personal experiences Wolfie, highly appreciated!
This post is very interesting to me. I just retired and am taking up a long planned hobby of astrophotography. I am facing this exact choice. I have had a telescope most of my life, but never representing this level of investment. So, I appreciate your honest post and I am going right straight to the 8 HD.
@@sampayne7303 I am certain you will be happy with that choice. I literally have not used my 9.25 since posting the message above. It is just too heavy to lug in and out each night. With camera, reducer and guide scope it is over 11 kg.
I generally just set up the 6 SCT which is half the weight and easily handled.
Enjoy the 8HD
Extremely useful and comprehensive. I have been out of the game for a while and have been caught up in the size of my mirror. Thanks you for a great review
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks again. I went for it. Now waiting for it to come in stock.
Congratulations! Hope it'll be delivered soon Anthony. Don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions. Clear skies!
Bought it in 2014. Still use a lot! Very user friendly OTA.
I love my EdgeHD 800. I ended going with a Celestron OAG and ZWO 174mm mini for guiding, which for me, improved my guiding.
Thanks for including those charts showing the classic, coma reducing and edge SCTs! I’ve ordered a Meade 6” ACF SCT so it was nice seeing what the coma reducing effect will be.
Nice review Wido, with some great example photos
Nice review ! SCT telescopes are amazing, so compact with much versatility and quality. I have a C8 and just bought my first ZWO cooled camera, the 183MC Pro, and also an Hyperstar :D . But I don't really get the Edge HD telescope, it's natively corrected at F10 but with modern CMOS cameras with small pixels (2 to 4 microns) we would be oversampled between 0.24arcsec/pixel and 0.47arcsec/pixel, and even with a bigger aperture or focal length with a normal seeing of 2-4arcsec the limit to not oversample is 0.60 arcsec/pixel. The only thing suited for this oversampling is lucky imaging, it's the technique used for planetary (and small and bright planetary nebula) to limit the seeing fluctuation by taking a lot of really fast exposures, so the Edge HD correcting at F10 make no really sense to me unless you use very big pixels or if you bin binning (or have an exceptionnal seeing)... So If I use my C8 for deep sky imaging it's only with a reducer, and all reducers have good correction while the custom 0.7 reducer for the Edge HD is crazy expensive. The native build type of the Edge HD also narrow the possibility of SCT accessories (there is a 0.4 reducer by Starizona but for now it's only for classic SCT and not Edge HD). And finally, if we connect a Hyperstar, the built in flattener of the Edge HD will not be included in the optical train, so a classic C8 with the Hyperstar will produce the exact same quality picture as the Edge HD. So, in short, I see no point of buying the Edge HD over a classic SCT because it's more expensive (there is a mirror lock but as we need to refocus multiple times in one session I don't really like it with a focus motor), it has more expensive accessories, and it reduces the compatibility with other SCT accessories.
After that, you talk about using a barlow for planetary with this setup, but if you have a 178MM (I believe you have this one) there is no need for a barlow because at F10 you would be already at 0.24arcsec/pixel which is the limit of sampling with this 8" aperture which has 0.57arcsec resolution (I don't talk about the seeing resolution here, but the Dawes resolution of a given aperture), you can see this in the Planetary Critical Sampling calculator here (to be precise the ideal F ratio would be F11) : www.wilmslowastro.com/software/formulae.htm#CCD_Sampling . Understanding sampling is very important, it's more important than F ratio because with small pixel you gather less light than large pixel, so the speed is only calculated with aperture, pixel sampling and quantum efficiency of the camera. In fact I think that in astrophotography the only 2 big factors are aperture size and arsec/pixel sampling. For example with my 183MC with 2,4 micron pixel I will even be oversampling with the 0.63 reducer unless I have very good seeing, so for me to use this camera properly I need to buy the Starizona 0.4 SCT Reducer to be at 0.6arsec/pixel, so even putting my C8 at 800mm focal length I'd still image at the maximum resolution I can for an ok seeing (small pixels compensate for focal length, it's exactly like having more "zoom"). But If I use the 294MC Pro with double the pixel size I could image with double the focal length (1600mm) and have the same 0.6 arcsec/pixel, so this two setup would have same speed even if it's different focal ratio (that's why F ratio is not really important, but aperture is). I chose the 183MC camera specially for its small pixels so I can have a really good sampling with a big reducers, with the Hyperstar I would be at 1.2arcsec/pixel so not at the maximum resolution of 0.6, but with dithering and drizzling I could compensate for this loss in quality, double the quality and return to 0.6, and have the best of both world in one setup : wide field of view and a big resolution for small DSOs... The best setup in term of quality would be going mono because with color cameras we have a loss in detail, and the 294MM have an even bigger sensor with really small pixels (same size as the 183), so if I want even better images, the next step would be here for me...
There is a lot to understand with sampling, but you can calculate yours with Stellarium, or by using this other web calculator astronomy.tools/calculators/ccd_suitability , or the other site I already shared.
Have fun with your scope, and clear skies !
This is a really great point. Correct sampling size is not talked about or understood by most astrophotographers and you synopsis is fantastic. Thanks for sharing!
@@Mareluner I'm glad it was useful for you, I'm still learning all of this, but it's what I understood
so stupid question. I am planning on using this with a full frame mirrorless camera, though it is running at 47MP so I am guessing the pixel size is still rather small(?). I'm thinking EdgeHD makes more sense for full frame cameras? (at least if they have less pixels than mine)
@@tosvus Hello, you have to check the pixel size of your camera :)
I bought my Edge 800 cuz of your vids. Still buying things for it before 1st use. Got a generator ordered yesterday.......gotta have my latte out there lol. All I need now is the main camera. Leaning towards ZWO..your vids are always full of God info, thanks for all the work you put in.
Thanks man, I appreciate that! Hope you'll have a good time with the HD!
Thanks for the “Hi Martyn” Wido, I feel quite honored!!
Enjoyed your review and like you I’m happy so far with my 8 Edge HD. I bought the Nexstar evolution 8 EdgeHD system which came with the single arm Alt/Az mount. Out of the box, my system is great for visual observation and with just a low cost 2x Barlow and planetary camera it does a great job for planetary imaging. Yes, I’d also buy this scope again! Clear skies!
Hi Martyn, I'm glad you're OK with me mentioning you in the beginning 😉. I should've asked you how to pronounce your name, is it Martin...or Marteen?
@@AstroForumSpace it’s a less common English spelling and it’s just pronounced “Mar Tin”. Several times I was in Amsterdam some people there thought I was Dutch and twice in about 2O or more trade show visits to RAI, I found that my name tag had been “corrected” by the convention staff to “MARTJN” 😂😂😂.
Excellent you have definitely cleared my cobwebs in my mind on which one to go for. Appreciate it if you could take us through the final setup you have for DSO and planetary astrophotography. I also would request you to have a complete series on the selection of hardware for photography to processing and post-processing steps. That would be a great help for a newbie like me.
Great review. I have the regular non-Edge SCT8 and I agree this is a very versatile scope. You need to give the Hyperstar a try at some point, going to F/2 makes the scope a massive light bucket (about 12 times the light gathering ability of F/7) and has been a game changer for me.
Thanks Charles, I'll talk to miss Astroforum about the hyperstar :-)
Do you really need one if it's on an equatorial mount of this quality? I'm new to the game, so maybe I'm missing something, but isn't a Hyperstar more useful on something like and Alt-Azimuth mount?
@@timwilde4200 hyperstar turns the SCT in a fast widefield scope. The reason why people use it on altaz is that even a 10s EAA captures matches the snr of a 250s capture at f/10.
@@physmc1 Yeah, I'm slowly getting to that point with all the reading I'm doing. I had always assumed telescopes were monster magnifiers to see what they do, so it's somewhat surprising to find that something like the Hyperstar 'reduces' the Celestron to the level of a decent telephoto lens for a fullframe camera - albeit one with a fairly fast aperture. Am I reading that correctly f2 x 200mm = 400mm? I'm curious though, given that I come from a photography background - wouldn't you get similar results mounting something like a Nikon D850 and a good quality 400mm on an equatorial mount for a telescope, even if the slower speed of the lense required a longer exposure?
Great review. I've had my Edge HD 8 for a little over a year now and love it. I got it specifically for Galaxy season and it's delivering.
Great to hear that, clear skies!
Awesome, hope this channel enables you to get the hyper star soon.
Great - having 6 months experience on this scope is valuable for would be purchasers. Nice to see subscribers climbing. Stunning images and nicely shot and edited.
thanks for the review! clear skies!
Thanks Wido this scope is on my possible list good to hear your thoughts on this.
Thanks for this. I've been on the fence whether the 8 is worth it, or 9.25 would be better. I guess 9.25 still might be better, but 8 certainly sounds like a great and absolutely valid option, esp. from price-performance perspective. Clear skies!
Hi Chris, yes, definitely. Main consideration for me was the price difference. The 9.25 will give you a better resolution as it has a bigger aperture. Clear skies.
Hyperstar is awesome, love it. But there are several issues that might influence your decision: 1. Installing and uninstalling takes additional time. 2. Filters. If you live in a light polluted area you will need narrowband filters. They are produced only by Baader, expensive and really hard to find nowadays. 3. No way to add a filter wheel. You will need additional accessories to store filters and change them quickly. 4. Probably will need to think about different camera to avoid over/under-sampling. But once you get around these issues - there's nothing better than ~f/2.
Thanks for the extra info on the hyperstar!
Hey! Great vid on the edge hd my friend! As you well know, us amateur astronomers and astro imagers often struggle with knowing what 'scope and equip' to buy so vids like this are always welcome! Thank You! Wes, Liverpool, UK.l
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you Wido, and say hello to miss Astroforum also.
I'll do :-)
Excellent review! I have the non-Edge 9.25" Celestron SCT and the Hyperstar adapter. You need to get the Hyperstar ASAP. It's AMAZING.
By chance I stumbled upon your fine channel, I really enjoy your thoughts as I am going to purchase this exact scope & mount! My only problem is a back order of both. Subscribed!
Thank you for your review. I’ve had mine for going on four years.
Nice! Great to hear the Edge HD can survive that long.
What a versatile scope the SCT is. Could you use the HyperStar and 0.7x focal reducer together? That'd be like a 270mm f/1.3 scope which is pretty crazy.
I have a standard C8 as part of a NexStar Evolution package. Had been thinking about getting a wedge for DSO which I think I will. Bigger question is should look at upgrading to the edge HD, or keep it cheap and just get the Celestron.67 reducer/corrector. I very much doubt the HyperStar is in my future either way.
No, the reducer is on the back and the hyperstar goes in front of the telescope
@@AstroForumSpace of course! 390mm f/1.9 will have to do then I guess 🙂
Love your reviews. I've had my eye on one of these for several months but no matter where I look they are backordered and I'm hesitant to order one without knowing when it might arrive.
Hi Michael, yes, the lead time is terrible at the moment. Let's hope we an return to normal lead times this year...
Nice Telescope. I have the Nexstar 8 and Nexstar 5. Celestron makes good Telescopes. I have owned telescopes from a 17.5 dob to a 70mm and the 8 inch SCT is my favorite. Thanks for the video.
Everybody says the 9.25" Celestron is a really good performer. I heard that the 9.25" Edge is twice the price of the standard model though. That's a lot of money! I haven't tried it yet, but I also heard that DSO astrophotography is more difficult with an SCT, so I'm doubtful the Edge would be a good match for me. I use an FC-100 for DSO astrophotography, and I have a lot of fun with that. I'd really be interested in a standard Celestron 9.25" for visual observing though.
Hi Wido, thanks for the video. I found that OAG is even better option for guiding the Celestron Edge 8"HD vs. separate guide scope. I see you use a surprisingly low FL guide scope. Can you all comment what type of guiding works for you or recommended for this specific telescope? Thx in advance.
Finally! Only 1 year.
The following item(s) arrived in stock!
Item Quantity In Stock
CEL-91030-XLT Celestron EdgeHD 8 OTA - 8 f/10 Aplanatic SCT OTA - CGE Dovetail - 91030-XLT 1.
Unbelievable, hope you'll enjoy the scope!
I’m loving it. I also received my hyperstar. You would love it!!!
Fantastic review. Well done. Thank you for the live planetary videos.
Thanks for the review Wido. Absolutely gorgeous pictures. Quick question. I joined your live chat moon shots the other day and noticed you paned around the moon. Was this done digitally or slewing the scope, if so didn't it effect your tracking? Thanks again for the vid.
Thanks Perry! I'm remotely connected to my scope, so the scope actually slews in real time. I've made a video on how to setup eqmod here: ua-cam.com/video/C4wGuV_ctKM/v-deo.html eqmod had a lunar tracking speed, it's a tiny bit different from siderial tracking rates and helps to keep the moon centered. Clear skies!
Just curious from a photographer's point of view. Firstly, when it comes to the balance of a wide field telescope as against the narrower view of the Edge, can't you simply use the Edge to take a series of images that can be cropped & stitched together in a program like Photoshop to give you that wider field of view? On stock C8s without the Edge's corrections, it would also help eliminate some of the issues on the fringes of the image? Or is the downside that, with each image potentially needing hours of exposure, it could take numerous nights to render the desired results via such a path?
Creating mosaics can be done, but you need to be very patient. Multi-hour or sometimes multi-night sessions are needed for one tile. Add to that the horrible weather conditions in winter and short nights is summer, plus post-processing challenges of sticking pictures together, and you know why many folks choose different focal length telescopes depending on the target vs creating mosaics. This is not your average snap and move on hobby.
@@AstroForumSpace No worries. I was simply curious because of the seeming commitment one way or the other to the various types of telescopes. Kind of clever how they've made the SCT more multipurpose through features such as the HyperStar. I do a LOT of mosaics photographically, generally with panoramas, so that's why I was curious on the point. I'm on the verge of retirement and am looking to get into astrophotography as an extension of my interest in photography. I used to own a basic reflector years ago, but other than that I'm on a huge leaning curve at the moment trying to figure out what to buy. I'm leaning very much towards a setup similar to yours. I was originally going to buy the stock combination of the 8" Edge with the AVX mount, but I read here and there that the AVX isn't the steadiest for very long exposures, which is why I was leaning towards spending the little extra for the ZWO ASI1600mm Pro.
Great video, do you ever use this telescope for viewing? I'm curious to hear what kind of nebula structures/galaxies and colors you can see with this one.
Great video! If you were to buy a new Astrophotography dedicated camera today (May 2023) which one would it be. I'm thinking about getting this scope but only have a ASI2600 camera right now. I presently have a WO 120mm (780mm focal length) but I want more focal length for the galaxy season. Thanks
Hi there. If you're going to use the Edge HD primarily for galaxies, keep in mind that most galaxies are pretty small so you don't need a camera with a huge resolution. In fact, a camera like the newer asi533MM or MC Pro could do a nice job already. ASI2600MM/MC is great too ofc. I have some articles and a comparison table on my website, perhaps useful: astroforumspace.com/zwo-cameras-comparison-table/
@@AstroForumSpace Thank you
Awesome! Great review!
Thanks Ray, clear skies!
I’m considering buying one but, how user friendly is it for new beginners?
Wido, my Edge HD 8 finally came off back order! It arrived today and of course the weather is supposed to be on and off rain this week. I have a question for you. if you are using an auto focuser, how do you set your mirror clutches? I would imagine that tightening them up while an auto focuser is trying to make minor adjustments would not work very well
I do have my mirror clutches fixed/tightened when making small adjustments. I'm not using an auto focuser.
7:50 why was venus blue?
Atmospheric turbulence in the morning
Wido, after having used the Edge for some time now, for someone just getting started, would you recommend sticking with the 8” Edge, or going with a 9.25” non-Edge? Just an opinion, no pressure. 😃
I’m into visual observation AND EAA. I know there are other types/options, but I really like the versatility and being able to get a reducer/corrector and have two focal ratios available (or 3 with Hyperstar, but my wife would probably kill me, too .. and then bury the scope with me! 😳😃)
But, I’m recently retired, and she did say I needed a hobby. 🤷♂️
Hi there! For visual use, a bigger aperture is always better because you cannot add exposure time to your eyes :-)! You need a big bucket to collect these photons from space. The C9.25 will probably give you a better view compared to an 8" and you can definitely do some casual EEA with it. If you're going down the rabbit hole of dedicated long-exposure astrophotography (like I did) you also want a flat field and a high-quality reducer/hyperstar. That's where the Edge HD comes in. I see that Agena Astro has a couple of those C9.25's available at "reasonable" price :-): bit.ly/3qxaWLH Clear skies!
@@AstroForumSpace awesome, and I’ll check back with Agena. Appreciate the timely response and good advice!
“Clear skies” to you as well, sir! (That’s the first time I’ve used “clear skies” .. yep, I’m THAT new! 👍😃)
Skies are almost never clear where I'm from, but that's another story for another time :-)
Great video.
Would a EQ5 pro mount be able to carry this telescope?
Yes, it would. For deepsky I would recommend an eq6r Pro because of the accuracy in guiding.
@@AstroForumSpace I use a permanent concrete pier mount and only use the head of the EQ5 pro. Its rock solid, but I wondering if the motor units are strong enough to handle it.
I currently use a 6" Classic Cassegrain without any problems(approx 7.5kg)
Great update. I've one on order hopefully arriving soon! Aside from the barlow/reducer/hyperstar are there any other accessories / tools for collimation you'd recommend to get ? Thanks.
Not really, if you'll have all those add-ons you'd be able to range in focal length from 400mm to 6000mm (with a 3* Barlow). That should get you enough flexibility to photograph almost any target. Clear skies!
Hi there - haven't seen videos of you using this scope since this video. Do you still use it or does it no longer fit your needs? any further thoughts on the usefulness of this scope within your stable of scopes? thanks.
Well check again, lol. I'm using the edge hd all the time, you can find lots of videos on my channel.
Great video thanks! I have this scope and I think I have to study it more since we are in galaxy season😃. But I just got the Orion 8" astrograph that I really need to try, so after trying it I will get back to the 8"edge again😁. Thanks for the info.. God bless.
Hey... What do you use to mount the guide camera to the edge HD? I've struggled to find anything so far but your setup looks great!
Hi Steve, I use a simple finder shoe: bit.ly/3eA5tKj
@@AstroForumSpace thanks!
Dear Wido, why did you put the EDGE HD on a EQ6 Pro ? Is the AVX Mounting to weak for the Teleskope + Equipment ? Thanks, Michael
The AVX can carry the edge HD too, but the EQ6r Pro is more accurate in tracking the stars. That's very useful as the focal length is 2000mm. At that magnification you need sub-arc second accuracy in tracking to take sharp long exposure pictures.
I get mine by the end of May!
Have fun!
Nice video, thanks for sharing. A question...do you get a lot of vignetting with the sensor of that camera and that scope?...
Thanks! Nope, no significant vignetting with the ASI1600MM Pro. You may get vignetting when using newer models that have an APS-C format like the ASI2600MM Pro.
Really nice and informative video. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
How does it compare to a, say, F/4 Imaging Newtonian? I am thinking of getting one but can’t decide between a fast Newtonian and the edge and.
I made this video some time ago about different types of telescopes: ua-cam.com/video/HdH_4iqkzHk/v-deo.html
great video. i just bought an Edge 8. and 2600MM with zwo 2 inch EWF and optolong 3nm 2inches SHO and LRGB filters. I also have 0.7x reducer. and 174mm mini guidecamera.
need some help for guiding setup. i need clarifications for the following:
1) which OAG is better suited zwo OAG-L or Celestron OAG?
2) would the new camera 2600MC DUO work well for Edge 8?
Pls advise.
No problems with collimation ? No need for an upgrade 9.25 ?
No problem to collimate. The 9.25? Yes please, but the money....
Great review... I like the "...so I didn't buy the Hyperstar YET" (mentioned twice! Mrs Astroforum watch this space) Was the 8" also a budget issue (as compared to a 9.25")?
Yes, definitely. In Europe there's about a 1000 euro difference between the two.
@@AstroForumSpace You can do alot with that! Question is, is the extra 1.25" worth it?
Nice review! Thank you! :)
I see that you are shooting from the city too, would this telescope be a good choice for a Dslr ? Haven't got an astro cam yet ... and 0 narrow band filters either ...
Glad it was helpful!
Please suggest some first eyepieces for a Newbie ?
Hi there, as an astrophotographer, I would recommend buying a nice T2 ring for $20,- to connect your DSLR to your telescope.
Thanks for your videos, are amazing! Help me please: How often do you have to collimate it? Is it difficult to do it? Please can you say the maintenance you have done and how often since I want that telescope but I have been told that it requires a lot of maintenance and adjustments. Thanks!
Hi there, my edge HD was well collimated when it arrived, I didn't need to change it. I've have used the telescope for almost a year and collimation is still good.
God I just need some cash now and I'm buying one of these bad boys! Great video and I'm really finding these informative videos help. Thank you
Thanks for the kind words!
Hi Wido, congrats for your information in general. I have a questions for you about SCT 8 HD. Please, what kind of focuser do you have for this OTA? Did you have issues guiding with your guiding scope or you hace OAG system? Thanks in advance.
I recently bought the 8" edge. The scope itself seems to be very well made. However what on earth were they thinking when they designed the eyepiece end. The star diagonal is ok but the tightening thumb screws are just junk. People pay an awful lot of money on eyepieces and other various bits and bobs to attach to the scope. Only to have it scratch dent and damage it when you wind the screws in. If I'd of realised it was like this, I'd of reconsidered my options
Can I ask you a favor? I’m planning on getting the Edge 8. I have an AZ eq5. My question is if you can measure the vixen spacing that slides into the mount. Not sure if I will need to buy a vixen mount. Or a attachment . What comes with the scope. My mount takes vixen. My mount is like the HEQ5
Hi Anthony, to the best of my knowledge, the C8 will fit all vixen style mounts. Cheers.
@@AstroForumSpace thank you sir. Just got the L extreme. Game changer for my heavy light polluted area. I was getting very disappointed with my results. New hope!
@@anthonygraham6449 Great! Yes, narrowband filters are game changers in heavy light polluted areas. Clear skies!
Man I could only dream of having that scope
Yes, it's a money pit. I'm very happy with that telescope.
Would the edge 8 in be to heavy for a heq5 pro mount using a DSLR and guide set up?
I always found it on the limit or really a little over. The slightest hint of a breeze and my tracking was all over the place. Also you really need to go with an OAG. I run it now on a GEM 45 with a Celestron OAG and it is very solid.
For planets it's fine, for deepsky I would buy a sturdier mount.
@@AstroForumSpace thanks mate probably have to look at a 6 in or similar due to finances. Got a zwo 224mc the asiair plus, and mount just not sure what brand. Celestron, Meade or similar?
You guys have so much more experience than I so value your feedback
What focal length do you have for the guide scope and which model? Which guide scope camera?
Okay, later in the video you said you use a 162mm guiding scope. I thought that might be too small? Thanks
With modern small pixel sized guidecams you don't need the big guidescopes anymore. That's my opinion anyway, clear skies!
Can you put two 0.7 Barlow in series? Will it mess up the image? To what extent?
If you want a short focal length you better buy a refractor telescope.
@@AstroForumSpace I want a medium to long focal length but I want like f/5 or below
How often do you need to collimate?
I'm not sure, it has been one year since I've bought the telescope and I still have round stars in my FoV. Probably good to check the collimation though, thanks for reminding me 😉. Clear skies.
how do you focus on edge8 with such focuser?
Don't know what you mean. The Edge HD has a focusser and mirror lock, so you'll be able to focus.
@@AstroForumSpace I mean how to focus precisely with 2000mm focus length? Are you use Bahtinov mask?
How do you keep from being oversampled with the barlow?
When I add a barlow to my 8" Edge HD and ASI 462mc i get all kinds of blurring and what i'd call a washed out halo. No amount of focusing, exposure time or gamma has fixed it.
Hi Bobby, with that combination you're indeed oversampling your pixels a great deal, with a 2x barlow you'd be at 0.15" per pixel, and without it at 0.3". I don't know where you live, but good astronomical seeing is usually around 1" per pixel - in the Netherlands, they are often 1.5" per pixel or worse. Do you use this setup for planetary?...you could try capturing planets with that setup, or also deep-sky? For deep-sky, my setup has a reducer to get down to 1400mm instead of the native 2000MM FL, and I'm using an asi1600mm pro which takes met to 0.55" per pixel - and I still experience some oversampling with that setup. I do that on purpose to magnify some of the awesome small galaxies like M51. People usually recommend a deep sky setup that is around 1" per pixel to avoid under/oversampling. Hope this info helps, let me know. Clear skies!
Thank you, this was really helpful!!!!!!!!!!
Glad it was helpful!
Wido, can you help me get mine off of back order :-)? I'm plugging along with a 6se on a EQ6R-Pro mount that finally came in off back order. I am sooooo jealous!
Hi there, I'm working for any of the astro shops so unfortunately I cannot help. Did you contact the shop directly?
@@AstroForumSpace Wido, I'm just playin' around. I've been waiting for it since January. With COVID there is just nothing I can do about it but dream and be patient. I LOVE your channel, I have picked up a lot of good stuff. Dale in Boise, Idaho. At least I know what it will look like when I can assemble it. P.S. spring rain showed up today and so did my L-Enhance filter. Some times, no matter what you do, you can't win!
Hi Wido, I very much enjoy your videos and as of this Friday I am the proud owner of the C8 Edge HD! I hope to be able to use my little ZWO 120 mm guide scope, despite advice elsewhere that I would need a longer FL guide scope for such a large FL main scope. You expressed surprise that your little « guider » still works on your HD, are you still getting good results with it?
Hi Arthur, I hope you'll have a good time with that telescope, I sure did! If you have any questions, feel free to ask them. Yes, I still use the 120MC and 50mm guidescope. It is ofcourse on the low end of what is recommended, but with the .7 reducer it is doing the job it needs to do. I even won an NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day with that guidescope and camera setup, I can't believe it :-). Clear skies!
@@AstroForumSpace Thank you for your reply and encouragement, and congratulations on that APOD award! The Pacman nebula was among the first DSOs that I was able to capture with my 76 mm refractor and (more or less successfully) process using Startools. You are showing us all what is possible and that is definitely inspiring!
hi, which guide scope do you use with the celestro c8 edge hd?
I'm still using a small 50/165mm guidescope with an asi120mc. I should upgrade but I'm getting good results.
@@AstroForumSpace Hi, thanks, I tried the off axis guider with an asi120mm mini but I'm not happy with it, I thought I'd try a 70/400 mm.
Sounds like a good idea Luca. I see many edge hd owners with a secondary guidescope.
So many questions unanswered it's hard for a newbie to find the right choices and all the different accessories that are available and all the terms like coma abberation bortle class etc if your new to it all then it's hard to understand anything been doing research on all sorts of astro related for like 2months and the info is getting too much
Steve, perhaps useful, my blogs on how to get started: astroforumspace.com/category/getting_started_astrophotography/
@@AstroForumSpace dat is gemakkelijk gezegd hoor als je er al even mee bezig bent natuurlijk want de meesten raden om met een dobson te beginnen voor het visuele deel en de nacht hemel te verkennen en dan over te schakelen naar fotografie ook omdat dat goedkoper is en veelzijdiger althans dat heb ik me laten wijsmaken
My Edge8 has arrived. How did you attach the auto-guiding scope to the top of the Edge8?
What hardware did you need to buy? Thanks
Google base/vixen plate for your SCT - they are not expensive.
@@AstroForumSpace I found some but the spacing between screws are too small. Who makes the base/vixen base that you have? Thanks
Hey there. Quick question. So would this scope fit on a HEQ-5 mount? I am disabled so I am limited on how much weight I can move around. The HEQ-5 is likely the biggest I can go with a mount, unless I move somewhere where I can have a permanent mount. Also, when imaging the planets, how large of a print can you make with this scope? And last question, would this scope be able to image the Heart and Soul nebula?
the HEQ5 would be able to carry a C8, especially for moon and planetary imaging you should be fine. For deep-sky astrophotography you may want to revert to a smaller APO refractor telescope to catch the heart and soul nebula. about 300 to 500mm focal length is enough to catch the heart and soul. Planets are very tiny objects in the night sky. Don't expect any poster worthy prints. See my community tab where I posted some of my latest planetary pictures so you'll know what to expect. Clear skies, good luck!
Hey, thank you so much for responding! So, my setup for the Heart and Soul nebula, will be a Star Adventurer 2i pro, a 75-300 lense, and a Canon T3i (modded). I am hopeful that I will be able to get both nebulae in my field of view.
As for the planets, I could accept an 8x10, but I prefer a 10x13. And I want them to be clear, no pixelation. If my camera won't give me an 8x10 or a 10x13, could you please tell me what would give me that image size? Thank you for your time and advice.
Amazing The difference. Even i could see, right away
I paid around 2000 for my 9.25 Edge HD, OTA, its now over 3000$, OMG what happen.
Inflation, COVID-19, gasoline prices... Take your pick.
😮😢 eu queria!
Are you dutch like me? I can hear it by the accent!
Ja hoor, helemaal Nederlands, haha.
Geniaal!
Thanks you just cost me a fortune 🤣
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
😆 tx.
I now have now just built a full EDGE HD8 Rig, hopefully the British skies will clear soon 😐Thanks again for doing these excellent videos 👍🏻
A telescope so heavy it needs a $2500 tripod to hold it. Think about that.
The telescope is pretty lightweight as compared to other types with the same aperture...