Comments on: CGEM Review Part 4- Astrophotography http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/cgem-review-part-4-astrophotography/ Capture the Nightlife! Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:42:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: AstroPhotography Tonight http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/cgem-review-part-4-astrophotography/comment-page-1/#comment-2804 AstroPhotography Tonight Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:06:47 +0000 http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/?p=3497#comment-2804 Robert, Welcome back! I'm thinking about getting the mini 50mm guide scope after hearing how well it worked for my good friend Jeff Turner over at www.daltonskygazer.com. He says that there are way more stars to guide on. Good to hear that others are using their CGEM in extremely cold weather. Mine has always worked no matter how cold it got. I've been out many times when it was well below freezing. I haven't heard whether others have changed the lubricants or not. I have not done that myself yet. Thanks, Ray Shore Robert,

Welcome back! I’m thinking about getting the mini 50mm guide scope after hearing how well it worked for my good friend Jeff Turner over at http://www.daltonskygazer.com. He says that there are way more stars to guide on. Good to hear that others are using their CGEM in extremely cold weather. Mine has always worked no matter how cold it got. I’ve been out many times when it was well below freezing. I haven’t heard whether others have changed the lubricants or not. I have not done that myself yet.

Thanks,
Ray Shore

]]> By: Robert Zelonis http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/cgem-review-part-4-astrophotography/comment-page-1/#comment-2802 Robert Zelonis Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:31:04 +0000 http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/?p=3497#comment-2802 I spent this afternoon researching any web site that included the words "Orion Starshoot Astroguider" and ended up on your site again. Ray, your experiences are very encouraging. Now, I must decide between the 80 mm. version or the mini 50 mm. one (an individual mentioned that the mini version gave him more stars to guide on). Your other responders have answered a question I've had: Can the CGEM mount be used during extremely cold weather? Apparently "yes", at least as low as the 14 degrees that someone mentioned. It's been as low as 1.4 degrees F. here in my part of New Hampshire. Did any of your responders and/or you have to change the lubricants in the CGEM mount? I spent this afternoon researching any web site that included the words “Orion Starshoot Astroguider” and ended up on your site again. Ray, your experiences are very encouraging. Now, I must decide between the 80 mm. version or the mini 50 mm. one (an individual mentioned that the mini version gave him more stars to guide on). Your other responders have answered a question I’ve had: Can the CGEM mount be used during extremely cold weather? Apparently “yes”, at least as low as the 14 degrees that someone mentioned. It’s been as low as 1.4 degrees F. here in my part of New Hampshire. Did any of your responders and/or you have to change the lubricants in the CGEM mount?

]]> By: Eric http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/cgem-review-part-4-astrophotography/comment-page-1/#comment-2783 Eric Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:22:11 +0000 http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/?p=3497#comment-2783 wow, ray - that IS a great shot! saved that one! :) wow, ray – that IS a great shot!

saved that one!

:)

]]> By: AstroPhotography Tonight http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/cgem-review-part-4-astrophotography/comment-page-1/#comment-2165 AstroPhotography Tonight Wed, 25 May 2011 22:51:39 +0000 http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/?p=3497#comment-2165 Hello Viv, Thanks for the nice feedback! I still do like my CGEM mount. In fact, the last time I did astrophotography with it, I turned out a photo that I feel is my best work so far: http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Horse3-5-2011.jpg. I've gotten to where it doesn't take long at all to set it up. The goto is amazingly accurate and it works well with the Orion autoguider. I hope to do some more imaging with it soon! Ray Shore Hello Viv,
Thanks for the nice feedback! I still do like my CGEM mount. In fact, the last time I did astrophotography with it, I turned out a photo that I feel is my best work so far: http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Horse3-5-2011.jpg. I’ve gotten to where it doesn’t take long at all to set it up. The goto is amazingly accurate and it works well with the Orion autoguider. I hope to do some more imaging with it soon!

Ray Shore

]]> By: Viv http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/cgem-review-part-4-astrophotography/comment-page-1/#comment-2164 Viv Wed, 25 May 2011 21:02:29 +0000 http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/?p=3497#comment-2164 Hi Ray, I've been doing searches for the CGEM mount & found your reviews - they are brilliant. I'm on a basic Skywatcher EQ5 mount. Have been leaning towards the CGEM purely for the special alignment (as I can't see Polaris). I think your reviews have confirmed that this is the one I need. Also as it's Astrophotography I want to do. Can I ask - how do you find it now ? Thank you, Viv. PS - your pictures are great Hi Ray,

I’ve been doing searches for the CGEM mount & found your reviews – they are brilliant.

I’m on a basic Skywatcher EQ5 mount.

Have been leaning towards the CGEM purely for the special alignment (as I can’t see Polaris). I think your reviews have confirmed that this is the one I need. Also as it’s Astrophotography I want to do.

Can I ask – how do you find it now ?

Thank you,

Viv.

PS – your pictures are great

]]> By: AstroPhotography Tonight http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/cgem-review-part-4-astrophotography/comment-page-1/#comment-1869 AstroPhotography Tonight Tue, 30 Nov 2010 04:28:16 +0000 http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/?p=3497#comment-1869 Hi Rick, No worries, your question is a good one. I did crop and reduce the image size so that it would load fast. The original was probably 4290 x 2856 pixels. I used my Canon XSi Digital SLR for the photo. I hope this helps :-) Regards, Ray Shore Hi Rick,
No worries, your question is a good one. I did crop and reduce the image size so that it would load fast. The original was probably 4290 x 2856 pixels. I used my Canon XSi Digital SLR for the photo. I hope this helps :-)

Regards,
Ray Shore

]]> By: Rick http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/cgem-review-part-4-astrophotography/comment-page-1/#comment-1868 Rick Tue, 30 Nov 2010 04:04:54 +0000 http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/?p=3497#comment-1868 Hi, I have just started studying the subject of astro photography and I may sound like a complete idiot here. In your fantastic shot from 2/2/2010 of M42, is this a full resolution image you have uploaded or has it been cropped and / or compressed? The reason I am asking is that my long term goal is to print portrait size images of object like M42 and similar, and I would like to know what type of hardware you need to do that. Hi,

I have just started studying the subject of astro photography and I may sound like a complete idiot here. In your fantastic shot from 2/2/2010 of M42, is this a full resolution image you have uploaded or has it been cropped and / or compressed?

The reason I am asking is that my long term goal is to print portrait size images of object like M42 and similar, and I would like to know what type of hardware you need to do that.

]]> By: Jeff Turner http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/cgem-review-part-4-astrophotography/comment-page-1/#comment-1609 Jeff Turner Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:45:25 +0000 http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/?p=3497#comment-1609 Ray, Looks like there could be some decent weather coming up. I am looking at two whole nights of imaging now. I hope the winds stay low. The temps are not bad looks to be mid-upper 20's which is like a heatwave.........I will be dealing with moon but not til between 11pm and Midnight. Will be setting up at friends observatory. I plan on doing quite a bit of imaging with the 80mm, and will do some imaging with the DSI III this time throught the edge ota for some comparison shots. The pixel math does not work out well with the Edge OTA unless a focal reducer is used. Regards, Jeff Turner http://www.daltonskygazer.com Ray,

Looks like there could be some decent weather coming up. I am looking at two whole nights of imaging now. I hope the winds stay low. The temps are not bad looks to be mid-upper 20′s which is like a heatwave………I will be dealing with moon but not til between 11pm and Midnight. Will be setting up at friends observatory. I plan on doing quite a bit of imaging with the 80mm, and will do some imaging with the DSI III this time throught the edge ota for some comparison shots. The pixel math does not work out well with the Edge OTA unless a focal reducer is used.

Regards,

Jeff Turner
http://www.daltonskygazer.com

]]> By: Ray Shore http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/cgem-review-part-4-astrophotography/comment-page-1/#comment-1605 Ray Shore Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:46:05 +0000 http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/?p=3497#comment-1605 Jeff, That was one heck of a night out with your CGEM! It seems like there's lots of SNAFU the first couple of times with a new system. My first shot of M42 with my new setup didn't come easy. I didn't get to snap shots of it until it was about to set at 3:00am! But the second time around, I got to start imaging fairly quickly because some things were lined out. I'm with you though, can't wait for a little warmer weather! Thanks, Ray Shore Jeff,

That was one heck of a night out with your CGEM! It seems like there’s lots of SNAFU the first couple of times with a new system. My first shot of M42 with my new setup didn’t come easy. I didn’t get to snap shots of it until it was about to set at 3:00am! But the second time around, I got to start imaging fairly quickly because some things were lined out. I’m with you though, can’t wait for a little warmer weather!

Thanks,
Ray Shore

]]> By: Jeff Turner http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/cgem-review-part-4-astrophotography/comment-page-1/#comment-1602 Jeff Turner Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:29:39 +0000 http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/?p=3497#comment-1602 Ray, That second pick is very nice. The detail is outstanding!! Very sharp focus and great post processing work! I am taking baby steps at post processing right now just getting grasp of it all. Will be working with the Adam Block video to improve my post processing skills. Last night was one tough night but I had a few positves #1 first light of new edge 800 OTA, Autoguided for first time in my life, and used the Xsi DSLR for first time. This was also first night out with the new side by side setup. I learned a lot of lessons. I expected some headaches with the new gear and also with the cold weather. I come out of the session with some lessons. After seeing how things went I can not wait til the warm weather comes where I am able to spend more time direct at the scope. I do wish that Celestron would hurry up and release the focal reducers for the new Edge HD ota's. Keep the pics coming! Ray,

That second pick is very nice. The detail is outstanding!! Very sharp focus and great post processing work! I am taking baby steps at post processing right now just getting grasp of it all. Will be working with the Adam Block video to improve my post processing skills. Last night was one tough night but I had a few positves #1 first light of new edge 800 OTA, Autoguided for first time in my life, and used the Xsi DSLR for first time. This was also first night out with the new side by side setup. I learned a lot of lessons. I expected some headaches with the new gear and also with the cold weather. I come out of the session with some lessons. After seeing how things went I can not wait til the warm weather comes where I am able to spend more time direct at the scope. I do wish that Celestron would hurry up and release the focal reducers for the new Edge HD ota’s. Keep the pics coming!

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