Gone are the film cameras, I have moved into the
digital age. My new camera is a Canon 350D. I chose Canon over Nikon due to the Canon's true raw files. This was not
an easy decision after shooting Nikon for 25 years, but I'm glad now that I changed over. Software used for capture and processing are
Images Plus 2.82, PixInsight SE 1.0 (still freeware and a powerful processing tool!) and Photoshop 6.0. Capture
is handled by DSLR Shutter (also freeware) through a Shoestring Astronomy DSUSB shutter control adapter and the
cameras USB cable. My laptop is an HP dv8000 17" widescreen 1.6Ghz with 1.3 G ram and 128M ATI graphics card.
My mount is the Losmandy GM-8 with Gemini L4 mounted on a
G-11 tripod. I have an ADM dual saddle and Losmandy DUP plates, Parallax 4" rings and Stallarvue R80 rings and Losmandy 125mm
guide rings.
My telescopes are the TeleVue 102 with TRF-3009 0.8x reducer/flattener
and a new Stellarvue SV80S with TRF-2008 0.8x reducer/flattener. The SV80S has the Feather Touch focuser which makes
critical focusing a breeze. I like this focuser so much I plan to add one to the TV 102 someday soon.
Focus is achieved with the Stiletto Series IV 300 lp ronchi grate.
Autoguider is the CCD Labs Q-Guide with PHD guide software.
I also am able to share space in my good friend Nils' new
observatory which has a permanently mounted Losmandy G-11.
Update 10/17/2007
I did add a Feather Touch to the TV102 in July... I picked
up my first Canon L lens from a friend at work, the 70-200 f/4 L. It has amazing image quality. I hope to try it out on the
night sky this fall or winter.
I attended Stellafane in August and was lucky enough
to win one of the big raffle prizes, 4 TeleVue Nagler T6 eyepieces and a nebula filter! Life is good! We
even had great observing weather.
Update 4/47/2008
I have added a new guide scope, the Mini-Borg 50 achromat, it is small and
light and will couple directly to the T-ring thread of the Q-guide camera. Camera and guide scope together are under 1 pound.
Due to the very short 250mm focal length it is possible to solidly mount the scope (no guide rings) and still easily locate
guide stars no matter where the imaging scope is pointed.
Also new is another Canon camera body, a gently owned 400D bought from the same
friend that sold me the 70-200 f/4 L zoom last year. This year one or the other body will get the filter modification
allowing me to capture deeper into the red part of the visible spectrum.
