--- Canopus56 <canopus56@yahoo.com> wrote:
I am projecting through a filter wheel and a flip-mirror onto either a Meade DSI or film camera. In some configurations, the optical train is a little long. It looks like it would be safer for the scope body, the focuser and the projection/astrophoto components to have an extra point of support other than just the focuser itself.
- Canopus56(Kurt)
Kurt: I love the newt but it just isn't a worthy vessel for an optical train that includes flip mirrors and filter wheels. The length of the tube and the heavy mirror at the end gives it a large moment arm which will vibrate forever. The strength of the newt is a fast focal ratio. If you find yourself using a barlow to photograph on a newt, it's time to look at the Schmidt Cassegrain. It's already F/10 and the focal plane moves around to where you need it. With the fixed focal plane of the newt, the mountain has to go to Mohomed. Besides used SC tube assemblies are easy to come by and there is a vast after market of adapters to fit them. Not to mention kindred souls who know how to make them work right. So I suggest you save the newt for fast,widefield primefocus only work, with the filters screwed to the nose of the camera one at a time. Then use the SC for zoomed in long focal length narrow field work. You wouldn't be the first man to own more than one OTA for his GEM. Oh and then you could go for a third OTA consisting of a 80 ED APO for really wide field work. DT __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com