Some time ago I got myself an used G11 Mount. The new gear had a very bad first day, as I hit one of the drives with the counterweight accidentally. I am glad nothing serious happened.
The season starts and I master mainly my patience. My new setup will take a lot of time to be completed and I have to wait till May until I get all the necessary equipment.

So for the upcoming year my Imaging setup will consist of Takahashi FS102 w/ flattener, G11 mount and QSI 583 WSG camera.
This cam has a set of advantages for me:

• small pixel dimensions (5.4)
• not so small chip
• good resolution
• integrated 1,25″ filter wheel and the off axis guider

What was my reasons for such decision? Why didn’t I get myself a SBIG?
First of all, the value for price rate is very good and I get the expected resolution.
I wanted the camera with a good imaging resolution , medium-sized chip and the construction that allows for use of 1′25″ filters. ST2000XM is not one of my favourites, mainly because of the low resolution. Having a couple of years of digital imaging and graphics experience behind me I wouldn’t be satisfied with such small resolution. On the other hand SBIG cameras are out of my range currently.

I have considered a couple of cameras, but usually the integration of 1.25″ filters was not possible, the same about OAG. Guiding with the second scope wouldn’t be funny for me. QSI at least theoretically meets my requirements. Hope it will prove itself in practice as well.

Another advantage is that, contrary to SBIG cameras, guider is located before, not behind the filters which makes narrowband imaging and guiding much more efficient and reliable. I am going to guide via Lodestar camera. Unfortunately I’ll have to wait for both cams until may.

Regarding the other accessories – I am struggling to pass my robofocus through the custom office.
It’s a bit funny – I wanted to get my self a JMI from teleskop-express.de, but the turnover time for the order was about 8-10 months (!) – that didn’t make me pleased and I got myself the Robofocus.
So what’s missing is a heating system and … an observatory. The plans are made to have it ready by the end of may, right when my cameras come. I’ll write more on this in the upcoming posts.