Astrotrac Travelset

Thanks Frank, this is exactly what I want. something that can handle a camera with a good lens and maybe a small apo. Something i can take on holidays and hike out to a dark site with.

I want to do the Milky way shots but id also like it for moon shots, any eclipse that may come along and some wide field deep sky stuff.

Id rather carry this about than a eq3 !

Based on what you want it for its exactly the right bit of kit.
I sold my first gen AT 2 years ago for €700. So I didn't loose much at all,
The reason was to put aside some cash for the new model with lunar/solar tracking option.
The prog PEC option is a great new feature. (plus the new design makes it lighter)
You will get years of use out of it.

20kg?!

I'm impressed but I get the feeling one would not wish to overload the Astrotrac too frequently. I'm guessing the long moment arm is the reason it can take such a significant load for its size and weight.

I saw someone quote 15kg which is impressive enough.

Yeah i was thinking the same,
my camera comes in at 675g (body)
and the lens 490g.
Ballhead is 800g

That leaves plenty of room. Im looking at a small portable refractor to sit on it. TS have recomended one of 2 prisim rails to attach the camera and/or the scope ait the same time. If anyone has any thoughts on this Id very much welcome them.

www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_inf...---Laenge-178mm.html

www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_inf...r---Fotogewinde.html

Im also going to invest in a mini guider and a skywatcher standalone autoguider. I really enjoy getting out into the dark skies when I can, as the street lights around my home make for some less than great skies.

The scope im looking at is :

www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_inf...4mm-field-diam-.html

all in all i dont think this will top 10kg so i should get some great shots with this and its very portable, unlike the 10" scope in the shed, but thats another story!

I think your weakest link there would be the tripod head, the tripod alone is rated UP TO MAX 8kg, so what weight would it start to shake? and on top of that is the tripod head, which you would have to secure all that weight at a precise angle.

I would think that the tripod and head is why the package is so cheap. I would believe that you would probably want to upgrade it to a decent tripod&head and maybe even the wedge soon enough so maybe try factor that into the cheapness of the set...


Graham

Hi,
Don't forget that your tripod have to deal with the load aswell...so if you will have around 10kg payload you would need a decent one.