bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Over the past month I've imaged the Moon a few times while testing the Sony FE 200-600mm lens and Sony 1.4x Teleconverter using a Sony A7 III camera.

Enjoy!

bwa

Surface Crescent (840mm,f9)(Bestof46)_Cropped

(Download)

Earth Glow Crescent (840mm,f9)_Cropped

(Download)

Moon (600mm,f6.3)_Focus Stack of 10 subs_Cropped

(Download)

Moon (840mm,f9)(6of61)_Cropped - Lots of haze

(Download)

Moon (840mm,f9,BestOf108x50thSec,ISO100)_AS2_Cropped

(Download)

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

The moon is a fun target, but the atmosphere can give you fits at times. Good job on these.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Well Helllloooo there!
Good to see you Brian!
Beautiful images! Looks to be a great combination of Lens/Camera.

I'm on hold right now. My AVX died for the last time, and I'm going to get a Losmandy to replace it.
Done with Chinese mounts, they just don't get it that their cheap electronics, parts changing mentality, and "we've got your money, tuff tators!" warranty, isn't going to cut it.
So in February I'm going to drive the 27.3 miles to the factory and pick up my next and last mount.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Thanks.

And yes, the atmosphere is that crappy last lens in your configuration. For the past year it has been rotten; last time I had my observatory operational was about six months ago!!

bwa

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Yup, the lens and camera is working out very well. In fact I'll be getting rid of two Canon camera lenses and two scopes that cover much the same focal lengths.

What model of Losmandy are you acquiring?

bwa

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

I'm after the GM811G HD. I can't justify a G11G to myself. I have no aspirations to get huge telescopes. (Or any for that matter)
But I am interested in a 12" extension for it. If for no other reason, it would put me a foot closer to the stars.
I haven't had much trouble with telescope swing on the AVX, just a few times. But I think the extension would be a nice addition. And I don't see me setting a Pier, because I think my location has to many pipes and possible wiring to dig the hole. So staying tripoded is the way to go.

I'm also looking ahead. I have a Grandson showing interest in Astronomy. So my idea is to dump my crap on him one day. And I hope it has a fine fragrance.
And Losmandy is a mere 27.3 miles away. So I hope to drive to the factory and pick one up.
If I'm amazingly lucky, have them show me how it works and set up my Baby Dell so I come home with a working mount. I've been doing homework in Preparation with my mount computer. So it might be simple enough for the receptionist to show me.

I don't think I can afford to gamble on another China made mount. I have been successful with the AVX, but I must take a calculated step now. And Synta Corp has not evolved a single step.
I thought a Sky Watcher EQ6-R Pro was coming home. But discovered some belt issues and a few electronics problems are cropping up.
But the straw that broke the donkey's back was discovering Sky Watcher is Celestron's back door. After a guy on Cloudy Nights asked why his EQ6-R Pro arrived in a Celestron box.

So I'm heading to Burbank, Ca in February. Until then, I'm Jonesin for a mount. Fortunately we've had a bunch of clouds and rain. But there are a weeks worth of clear skies forecast. So when the dog and I go out for our last pee in the yard I look up and see a sky full of bright stars, and an empty AVX tripod.
(I sold the head to a friend in MA for the hardware he needed for his boogered up AVX)

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

The GM811G has a load rating of 50 lb; more than enough for anything I run.

The most reliable mount I've owned was a Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro. It did require regreasing to handle Canadian winters but other than that very solid, no problems. I then bought a Sky-Watcher AZ-EQ6 PRO; probably the worst mount I've owned. Burned up two motor control boards in the first year; one actually started a fire in the mount. Took three months to get it repaired.

After the Sky-Watcher fiasco I moved to Celestron. The AVX and Evolution mounts have been great from day one. The CGEM-DX, I'm sure, was built late Friday. Burned out a motor controller in the first week of operation followed by a bearing seizing up. Celestron finally simply replaced the unit after the second failure but it took six months of screwing around to get an operational mount!! The 2nd unit has performed for two years with no problems.

I moved to Celestron to use their StarSense 'module' and love it for a quick star alignment and accurate GoTo operation. StarSense works on all three of my Celestron mounts. StarSense in combination with PoleMaster gets me up and running in about five minutes.

Clear skies!

bwa

stepping beyond Loc: usa eastcoast

Lovin the detail you pulled on those lunars, I just love shooting the moon and now that I have the screw holes in my lxd55 saddle secured with JBweld and Loctite putty. I'll be able to play around with ole Luna once again. Kudos Brian

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Were the holes stripped or just loose?

bwa

stepping beyond Loc: usa eastcoast

The one on the right had shattered and the inside had just a couple of threads faintly visible , I got Alanna's dad's opinion and he told me that it wouldn't hold an insert. I was going to try that but, he knows more about that kind on stuff than I do since I hadn't tried that before, I just slammed a bunch of Putty and JBWeld and wrapped it with wire and I haven't tried it but , I'm hoping that it'll at least hold a lil refractor and a qhy5llM . I didn't even attempt to screw the screw in I JUST SET IT AND FORGET IT and it's been about 8 days and I put some weight on it after 3 days and it didn't lift up so far so good.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

More than enough for me, too.
But I want the extra stability I think the HD tripod can offer.
I'd read where the LW tripod can be jiggly.
I like the fact the electronics are entirely externally mounted, too.
I simply cannot trust Synta Corp again. So I'm going to stay on this side of the Ocean.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

Very nice photos, thanks for sharing!!