Guide scope + Camera + Pc

[cunning tulip]

I currently have a SWSA GTI and a dslr with a 300mm lens and I really want to get into guiding what's the best option for me? I also have a raspberry pi 4 laying around

[true hound]

you can get a qhy5l II m for 75 bucks and a cheap svbony 30mm guide scope

shouldnt be more than $150 @

[deep grove]

If I could make a suggestion, having recently started guiding, AliExpress have 30/120 guidescopes readily available for cheap if you're happy waiting a couple weeks and for a guide camera, just go with whichever is cheapest and available within reason (120-MM, SV305, QHY5l II, PlayerOne Ceres), shouldn't come to more than £100 / $120
I'll let someone who knows more on the software side help there.

[true hound]

hes in us so everything is cheaper

(used)

and them qhy5l iim are asi120mm mini but they dont look like an asi120mm mini

so no one wants them

so the people selling them sell them for incredbiyl low prices

can probably push the price down even lower

[deep grove]

All of the cameras I mentioned have the same sensor so would perform identically, it's just a matter of what is cheaper at any given time.

[deep grove]

Still always worth comparing pricing to get the best possible deal, no?

[true hound]

cheaper than 75? no way

[deep grove]

As in camera or guide scope?
Camera is definitely better off locally sourced, I can't find anything below $75.
Guide scopes are easily below $75 though, I got mine for roughly 25-30.

[true hound]

ye cam 75

[deep grove]

Definitely better off going local with the camera, but still would consider it with the scope and potentially any mounting solution for said scope.

[true hound]

svbony ones are usally pretty good

[cunning tulip]

i found an svbony 30mm and then a zwo planetary camera for about 210 all together, which is about what i was planning on spending. Plus i can use the planetary cam on my newt

thanks for the advice though my bad i didnt look at this

havent ordered them yet so if you guys have any other ideas im open to look thru

[true hound]

https://astromart.com/classifieds/astromart-classifieds/ccd-cameras-astro/show/qhy5l-ii-mono-560723

buy used

save 60 bucks

[cunning tulip]

I've got a TON of amazon gift cards so i was planning to just buy there cause i dont rlly have a use for them 🤷

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09VYCJG84/?coliid=IXOIB7XUWF7PA&colid=ZO4UMAKY6SKW&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

[true hound]

if they dont expire no reason to spedn them on things u can get used easily

[cunning tulip]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0781WDZ1Y/?coliid=I3KX6MJTUAKM8Q&colid=ZO4UMAKY6SKW&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

[true hound]

but if thats waht u go with its solid

[cunning tulip]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088D37YMZ/?coliid=I38UKLAFKS7SAX&colid=ZO4UMAKY6SKW&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

[true hound]

dont get color for guiding

[cunning tulip]

those are the threer that I think i've decided on.

[cunning tulip]

I want it ideally for guiding + planetary

i dont want it to be single use ideally.

[true hound]

its gonna be sub par for guiding

[cunning tulip]

it just needs to be on one star right?

[true hound]

try something on aliexpress

lemme see

i found something for 200 bucks

120mc is kinda mid for guiding and planetary

[true hound]

multi is better

[cunning tulip]

https://www.amazon.com/ZWO-ASI120MM-MINI-Monochrome-Astronomy-Camera/dp/B07FM9DXYC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Q4USG5PC9WTJ&keywords=zwo+120+mini&qid=1688193218&sprefix=zwo+120+min%2Caps%2C65&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0

[true hound]

helps with seeing i think

[cunning tulip]

this was the second option btw

[true hound]

thats good but mono

[cunning tulip]

think so?

[cunning tulip]

yes i know thats why i chose color.

[true hound]

lemme find something

what state r u in

[cunning tulip]

sure

east coast

i dont rlly wanna say my state if u dont mind

[true hound]

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805437108983.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.11.7ccd7b71EAp2wV&algo_pvid=daa84553-794b-4eaf-b9f0-705336d16e91&algo_exp_id=daa84553-794b-4eaf-b9f0-705336d16e91-6&pdp_npi=3%40dis!USD!195.56!185.78!!!!!%40211bf55216881932830097542d080d!12000033783584255!sea!US!3426617706&curPageLogUid=qcsGI1WNpDkP

[cunning tulip]

that would be better?

[true hound]

a lot better

almost double the resolution for planetary

whats the planetary setup gonna be

[cunning tulip]

i have a 1000mm f8 newt on my SWSA gti

[true hound]

thats not too heavy?

[cunning tulip]

dont think so, it's roughly 7lbs? payload is 11 for it

ill have to double check the weight

[true hound]

depending on how long it is the extra distance from the center of rotation can cause issues

probably works for the occasional planets but dont store ti like that

[cunning tulip]

dont store it?

wdym store it lol

[true hound]

take it apart

[cunning tulip]

ohhh

[true hound]

get a barlow too

that imaging scale gives you like 20 pixels of jupiter

[cunning tulip]

oh damn

[true hound]

maybe 40

lemme find mine

its a simi;ar scale

this is with no drizzle

[cunning tulip]

ah i see

damn

[true hound]

this was a very very crude shot

so with the slightest more effort you can get a ton better result

[cunning tulip]

gotcha

i need the guiding camera ideally to be a planetary camera and my guide scope, and i want it to be fairly cheap since im still a student thats why i leaned towards that zwo 120mc

[true hound]

0 planning went into this

cheap gonna give cheap results

unless aliexpress

aliexpress give more for less

[cunning tulip]

LOL

i ideally dont wanna order off aliexpress

[true hound]

then settle for mid camera

[cunning tulip]

i'd like to have that return policy in case i dont want it

[true hound]

true

[cunning tulip]

• i dont get money flowing in like crazy every week sadly

[true hound]

selling a non zwo cam isnt easy either

[cunning tulip]

exactly.

[true hound]

u want me to check cloudy nights for ya

[cunning tulip]

isnt that for weather?

or is that a forum

sorry im dumb

i mixed it up

[true hound]

forum and classifieds

[cunning tulip]

you can but i prob will just buy new 🤷

[true hound]

mr moneyt man

[cunning tulip]

210 for a scope and camera isnt htat bad imo *

[true hound]

not bad at all

but its bad

for guiding and planetary

like cant even fill ur monitor

its 720p

[cunning tulip]

https://www.amazon.com/SVBONY-Telescope-Astronomy-Observation-Photography/dp/B07VRM6JN7/ref=sr_1_15?crid=2QKJ2IJLCRYKN&keywords=zwo+guide+camera&qid=1688194609&sprefix=zwo+guide+camer%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-15&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0 would smth like this be better?

[true hound]

max of like 15 fps cause usb 2

[cunning tulip]

Okay got it

remember it'll also be for guiding so it doesnt have to be crazy

but ill look around ill send u smth if i think it looks good

[true hound]

pls aliexpress

or the camera i linked on cloudy nights

i can get u in contact with tghe dude if u dont have an account

[cunning tulip]

can you send me the link to that post?

[true hound]

shoot i swore i sent it

[true hound]

you need to make a cloudy nights account and get it verified by a moderator to see

https://www.cloudynights.com/classifieds/item/341019-zwo-462mc-like-new-lunarplanetary-images-shown/

[cunning tulip]

sure ill do that might as well im already invested in this hobby lmfao

[true hound]

ye

def so do

doso

i boiught half my stuff there

[cunning tulip]

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/622999-zwo-asi120mc-s-usb30-colour/ ^this is that 120mc it's not bad at all

im not sure why you said it was so bad

it looks pretty good to me

[true hound]

it works

[cunning tulip]

i prob will just got for it, it's only like 160

[true hound]

you will neeed more magnifications to match the 290 in resolution

color for guiding is also suboptimal

whatever floats your boat