Using a Astroscope as a prime lens

Padman400

Padman400

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Just joined and was wondering does any one use a Astroscope like the Skywatcher & Celestron 80ED as a prime lens attached to there camera.

I have read that the glass is very good even as good as the large prime lens at a fraction of the cost, BUT it has to be manual focus. They are also meant to be great with teleconverters IQ wise.

Interested in your opinions if you use one, as thinking of going down that route, as no way can I afford a 600mm big white.
 
The problem is you are at F7.5 fixed. No ability to control the aperture and it will need to be very bright to use it (or you'll have to ramp up ISO/slow the shutter down). You'll also need to use it on a tripod of some description (it is impossible to hand hold).

If manual focus, fixed aperture and slow speed work for you, it will be fine assuming an APS-C sized sensor (I used to have an 80ED I used for astronomy and can't remember if it vignettes).
 
I am currently using a Skywatcher 80ED 600mm as a prime lens almost always with a 1.4x tc attached. I am still amazed at the quality of the glass considering the low cost (less than £300). Of course a good tripod and head is needed to get the best out of it IMHO.
The attached samples are all taken at 840mm (so 1344mm FOV on my 7D) to give you an idea of IQ. All these shots are also heavy crops and with the exception of the goldfinch are taken from around 150 feet.

red6a.jpg


oc1-1.jpg


gold3.jpg


oc2.jpg


littleegret1.jpg
 
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BTW here is a pic of my set-up. The actual scopes weights a little less than the Canon 300/2.8 IS that I had.

skywatcher80EDv1a.jpg
 
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Nice one Roy, always helps to explain things with example photos and bonus photos of the actual kit.


Roy, forgot to ask, I thought you would need an erecting prism, or is the image right way up and not mirrored by default?
 
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