LAR + SCT accessories for NexStar 4 GT?

Hi, folks.

Has anybody used a LAR for ETXs, e.g., from ScopeTronix, on the
NexStar 4 GT? I'd be very curious to hear the results of hanging
SCT accessories off of the 4 GT's rear cell. I'm specifically
interested in the use of R/Cs and hearing about differences in
performance when the scope is used with a good-quality diagonal
as compared to the built-in flip mirror.

Also, in spite of the performance limitations of the mount, I'd
like to hear about successes/failures with manually guiding the
scope for long-exposure 35mm photography. With a piggyback ring
from ScopeTronix, I have the opportunity to experiment with both
wide-field and prime focus photography (the soon-to-be-upgraded
Nashica OTA will mount on the piggyback). Potentially
unreasonable effort aside, is it possible to manually guide such
a scope and produce acceptable results?

I know, I know: silk purse/sow's ear. Still, I'm stubborn.

trane
--
//------------------------------------------------------------
// Trane Francks Tokyo, Japan
// Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.
// http://mp3.com/trane_francks/

Stephen:

1. I use the focal reducer with my C90 and an Ultima35, the views are
very, very good.
2. I can't use a diagonal with the FR and come to focus.
3. I've mounted my C90 on a N80GT mount and with a viewing chair can
use the straight through viewing almost at the zenith.
4. The LAR setup I think is very much worth it, as My C90 with a
lumicon diagonal became a very scope where with the PS diagonal (.96
to 1.25") that came with the scope it did not live up to my
expectations. Before the LAR, visual back, and good diagonal I thought
about selling the scope. But I got rid of my ST80 as the C90 is better
color corrected, gatherw I think more light, and with the FR
(Celestron or Meade) and an Ultima35 you've got a fairly wide field (I
looked in daylight and the scondary shadow really doesn't appear to be
an issue).

I've been thinking about an orion 5" with LAR on the N80GT mount...

Regards,

Jeff Lee

Hi Trane,

My experience with Mak + R/C is of a negative nature. The already flat
field of the Mak
looks to be compromised when a focal reducer/corrector is introduced into
the optical train.(read field curvature becomes very apparent)

Like I said, that's my experience.(Meade 7" Mak & 6.3 FR/C)

Best regards,
Bill

"Trane Francks" wrote in message
...
Hi, folks.

Has anybody used a LAR for ETXs, e.g., from ScopeTronix, on the
NexStar 4 GT? I'd be very curious to hear the results of hanging
SCT accessories off of the 4 GT's rear cell. I'm specifically
interested in the use of R/Cs and hearing about differences in
performance when the scope is used with a good-quality diagonal
as compared to the built-in flip mirror.

Also, in spite of the performance limitations of the mount, I'd
like to hear about successes/failures with manually guiding the
scope for long-exposure 35mm photography. With a piggyback ring
from ScopeTronix, I have the opportunity to experiment with both
wide-field and prime focus photography (the soon-to-be-upgraded
Nashica OTA will mount on the piggyback). Potentially
unreasonable effort aside, is it possible to manually guide such
a scope and produce acceptable results?

I know, I know: silk purse/sow's ear. Still, I'm stubborn.

trane
--
//------------------------------------------------------------
// Trane Francks Tokyo, Japan
// Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.
// http://mp3.com/trane_francks/

On 10/29/03 11:59 +0900, Bill Becker wrote:

Hi Trane,

Hi, Bill.

My experience with Mak + R/C is of a negative nature. The
already flat field of the Mak looks to be compromised when a
focal reducer/corrector is introduced into the optical
train.(read field curvature becomes very apparent)

Very interesting -- food for thought, indeed, that definitely
gives me pause. Hmmmmm.

Thanks for the feedback. Hmmmmm.

trane
--
//------------------------------------------------------------
// Trane Francks Tokyo, Japan
// Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.
// http://mp3.com/trane_francks/