Camera Labs

Hi folks,

Not sure how long this one has been out but I noticed a number of ads in this month's Sky & Telescope for Celestron CGE PRO EdgeHD Series Computerized Telescopes. The micro-site is here - definitely dribble time if you like that sort of thing. My favourite feature would have to be "Fastar" which allows you to couple a DSLR onto the front of the scope for a spot of prime focus goodness. Anyone fancy a 356mm (14") diameter objective at f/2 or, in camera lens terms, a 712mm f/2? The ultimate white lens for any DSLR owner - the one illustrated is a D700.

Of course the DSLR isn't the nicest thing to have blocking the optical path even on a 14" 'scope but for more conventional focal ratios the camera is mounted at the rear in the usual way.

Am I tempted? Well, yes. But I'd have to emigrate the way the weather has been here in the UK.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

With the camera on the back end that'll be 3910mm f/11, matching focal reducer not available yet.

I'm sure this thing will be in "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" territory, so... how much is it?

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Make sure you are sitting down with a stiff drink within reach before you check out this page for the recommended UK price including the mount. Gulp.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

I have a mug of very milky decaf tea next to me, does that count?

I'll put that on the "if I win the lottery" list. Which might take some time as I don't do the lottery regularly!

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

The waiting list will be long on this one. It's been the talk on cloudynights forums for quite awhile. This is not the first time Celestron has put the "faststar" technology into their scope.

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Canon T2i (550D)- Tamron 17-50 F2.8 Non-VC, Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM, Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4.5-F5.6
http://www.astronomyphotography.com

............................

I'd better go for the lottery to get this toy

Thanks for sharing Bob

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Soon.....

I was offered one of these on long-term loan in return for a bunch of pretty deep-sky pictures taken with it to prove its performance - unfortunately I don't have the room for another setup at home and had to decline the offer
Greg

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Nexstar 11 GPS, 2 x Sky 90, M25C, MaximDL, Photshop CS3, Noel Carboni's Photoshop actions, 7 foot Pulsar fibreglass dome, Canon 40D, 100mm macro lens, 28-200mm zoom lens, 17-55mm f#2.8 zoom lens, 100-400mm zoom lens, 1.4x converter, 2x converter.
http://www.newforestobservatory.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12801949@N02/

13000 pounds...I'd rather get the monster sigma, at least that one has autofocus

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

I do think the only real difference between childhood and adulthood is the toys get far more expensive....

Well said.

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

popo if you win the lotery sent one to holland i dont have many luck with winning stuff

Nice toy!
Nice price too!
Is the camera included ?

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Radu
Canon PowerShot S100
Canon 50D , SIGMA 10-20 f3.5 ,Canon EF 24-105 L IS USM, Canon EF 100/2.8 macro Canon EF 50/1.4 ,Canon EF 85 f1.8,Canon EF-S17-85 4-5.6 Old Tamron 28-300 inherited from my Canon Rebel G film camera
Canon580EXII
http://www.errre.net

For that price, Im almost sure yes...

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Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies