Hi All,

my current problem is trying to find a combination that will allow me to get my LX90 (8") down to F5/F6 with a DSI IIIc  and still keep the #1209 focuser in place. I've not found a possible combination (focal reduction + flattening) that achieves this and will still enable the scope to point to high elevation angles without the DSI fouling on the mount. With the DSIc and F3.3 reducer, I used to align with a 9mm x-hair eypiece first, then mount the camera (making sure the max elevation was set with a good margin...). This seems to by only option (aside from leaving the focusser out) left apart from using a 1.25" reducer, but can't find any in this format specifically with a SCT field flattening capability. It's a shame meade don't add 10mm or so to the tine depth...

Any advice gratefully received...

Jon

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8" Mead LX-90 + DSI III
Isle of Wight

This should do the trick:

http://www.ziplink.net/users/lester/FLR.html

Chuck

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Chuck Reese
CDIP Certified: Nebula, Galaxy, Solar System, Stars & Clusters Imager
CDIP Mentor: Nebulae & Solar System Categories
For information on the Certified DSI Imager Program, see:
http://autostarsuite.net/forums/1427/ShowForum.aspx

Looks like just what I need, I'll drop him a line and find out more...

Just shows that Google cannot find everything!

Thanks,

Jon

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8" Mead LX-90 + DSI III
Isle of Wight

Have exchanged a few emails with Ted, very helpful indeed and the 6.3 FLR would have done just I want, if it wasn't for the restriction caused by the SCT fitting on the LX90. These guys are very helpful and get 10/10 in my books for responsiveness and understanding of the problem, thanks.

So, leaves me a bit stuck for options. I'm going to have good look at the clearances in the electric focuser and see if there is some way of incorporating the Baader Planetarium Alan Gee unit into a 2"-T-thread adaptor so the back focus length can be taken up in the focuser assembly.

Watch this space...

Jon

PS A possible, though no doubt retrograde, step would be to fit the now discontinued #1206 mirror focuser instead of the #1209? Does anyone have an opinion on how well they work in practice on the LX90. This leaves the rear of scope free to fit DSI etc. Thanks...

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8" Mead LX-90 + DSI III
Isle of Wight

www.focuser.com

Get a Moonlight Focuser for the SCT.  I just got one and it's TERRIFIC!  The Meade Focal Reducers thread right INSIDE the focuser which helps a lot.

This is the single best upgrade I have ever put on my scope.

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10" Meade Lx200-R
Mitty Evolution Wedge
Canon Digital Rebel DSLR
AT-80 guider
SBIG ST402-ME Imager
Meade DSI-c for guiding
San Diego Skys
California Taxes
$5.00/Gallon Gas

Thanks for the suggestion... I suspect I'd still have problems with the available length between the rear cell SCT fitting and the mount. As I said above, the 6.3 FLR is perfect, except the cell aperture is limited by the SCT fitting on the rear of the LX90 (circa 90mm max. to the back of the DSI), so can't locate the FLR/DSI right up to the end of the focuser.

I've chased up a few more options too, including the Astrophysics CCDT67, but the length restriction is the killer with the 1209 using up 60mm or so of the available length. Plus it's only a reducer, not a corrector.

So, have cut my losses for now, and have managed to find a second hand 1206 focuser (these are like gold dust since Meade stopped making them, UK suppliers are saying they can't be imported because they are not compliant with EU "lead free" legislation). So the solution I've opted for removes the 1209 from the optical path and uses a Baader Alan Gee II, (which will use circa 50mm of the available length including DSI), so there's plenty of margin, and use the 1206 for remote fine focus. I've also worked out a way to incoporate the Alan Gee unit into the 1209, but need to find a machinist to make up the necessary components, and also need to verify whether the tolerances required are realistic... but will wait and see how effective the 1206 proves before doing anything on this project.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread...

Jon.

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8" Mead LX-90 + DSI III
Isle of Wight