Off-axis Guider Recommendations needed please

Your recommendations / advice is welcome !

I'm entry level working with a 6" F14 Mak, and a 6" F6 SN.

I've got a used CG5 and it definitely needs to be guided.

Thanks, Jeff.

Jeffrey,
If the Mak-Newt focuses with an external focuser (very likely), you might prefer a guide scope over an off-axis guider (which is really intended more for scopes which focus by moving the primary mirror). Provided you have a sturdy mounting for your guide scope and take up all the slack in the focuser, adapters, etc., it will be much easier to use than an off-axis guider, as it will give bright images with small star images. You also might want to ask whether you really want to use the longer f-ratio Mak for long exposure photography. At that f-ratio, you will be guiding for a very long time to get reasonably bright images on film (if you are using film). If the Mak has a fixed primary mirror, then a guide scope would also be a better bet. Depends on your mount's performance though. If in doubt, spend the extra money on a solid mount; this is by far the most important part of an astrophotography set-up IMO.

Best of luck!
Tim

I'm using the 2" Lumicon on a refractor. If (or when) I decide to do photography with my SCT I'll get the Lumicon SCT version, too. They're really well made and have some nice features. They cost more than some other brands, though.

On the SN check the guider dimensions against the available in-focus travel. Most newts don't really work with OAGs, for this reason.

Consider the 2" or SCT-threaded models (assuming your scopes have that capability) to minimize vignetting.

sf