NexImage (Usage and Limitations)

Let me preface this by stating simply that my knowledge of photography doesn't go much further than Polaroids, or simple digital cameras. I have very little to no understanding of
F stops, focal ratios or any of those smart, cool things that I read about on some of the Astrophotography sites online. This said I am sure I would be having much more fun with this CCD camera if I did understand photography itself a little better. Out of the the box this seems like a neat little device. It fits 1.25" my focuser and is threaded to accept 1.25" filters. My first experience in using this product was a little confusing because the software it came with isn't the most user friendly for a complete novice. It comes with one capture program called AmCap and a stacking program called Registax. Now from what I have read in other blogs and forums these are NOT very popular programs and many people have had considerable difficulty with them. The idea is that AmCap will capture images and save the video stream as an .AVI. Then Registax will break down the .AVI into individual frames, remove blurred frames, and stack the remaining frames based around a focal point chosen by the user. Now in my case I do not have multiple scopes, just my DS-2114. It is very hard for me to bring an object into view of the camera just using the computer screen alone. What I first try to do is get a good wide angle view through a lens, remove that lens and insert the CCD. Sometimes this works immediately, other times it doesn't. For example I was able to bring Saturn into view the other evening on my first try. However by the time I had the camera focused to the point that I wanted to start capturing Saturn had already moved on me, I had bumped the scope several times, and needless to say although it may have been operator error, I was never able to find Saturn again on screen. Now I could have removed the CCD and started over, but by this time I was cold, frustrated, and ended up calling it a night. I guess my point is that the NexImage CCD is a decent Lunar, Planetary imaging device. It's just more complicated that they make it sound on the advertisements. Also, if you are going to purchase ths product, make sure to by the cheap plastic focal reducer. I didn't have the forsight to do so and realized the need for it while trying to capture the lunar eclipse a few weeks ago. The camera itself will only fit about half the moon in the field of view. What this little plastic piece does from what I can deduct is set the camera further back from the scope having the effect of making larger objects fit in the FOV. If I had it to do over again I would spend the extra cash and try the Meade DSI2. Although quite a bit more expensive than the NexImage I believe it is a far superior product just on the basis that it is a Meade product, which I love. It also has adjustable shutter speed for longer exposures which the NexImage does NOT (without modifications). The NexImage even when pointed at a reletively bright object such as Sirius, or M45 shows only a dark screen. Regardless of the adjustments I have made I can not image a single star in the sky, any DSOs, or pretty much anything but Luner and Planetary objects. I don't recomend this product for anyone with any ambition of Astrophotography unless the Moon is all you are interested in. For an extra hunderd dollers or so you would do much better and have a much more enjoyable time with the DSI2. Sorry Celestron.

First observations-A breif overview of the DS-2114

I got my Meade DS-2114ATS-TC at the local Sam's Club. Price on the box is $298.99, although I see now they are down to $148.99 online. This particular model came with 2 eyepieces..both Meade 4000 Series Super Plossl. One is a 26mm and the other is a 9.7mm. These were both great for me to start with, but with no Barlow lens included I can tell you for sure that you WILL NOT be seeing any views of planets the size of the ones pictured on the box. I must also mention that I had the previous version of this scope and this newer version is vastly improved. Better, sturdier tripod...way better and fully adjustable red dot finder, better color and a new version of the Autostar Controller and software. My first scope met its unfortunate demise about a week after I had gotten it. After an hour or so of being out in the cold the teeth of the focuser (made of what seems to be a cheap metal/plastic mix) started snapping off during focusing. Although I had ordered this scope from Shop-Optics online the nice people at my local Sam's Club allowed me to trade it in for the newer model that they stocked. The new version of the scope still has the poorly made focuser so I am leery of being out when it is colder than 20 degrees. The auto align feature works very well, providing that you know which way is really north. I recommend using the Google Earth satellite view to see your viewing site and figure out where true north is for you. I also recommend memorizing a few of the brightest guide stars like Orion's eastern shoulder...Betelgeuse, and his western foot Rigel. The stars of Gemini are pretty easily recognizable as well. By using these as a starting point it is very easy to do the One Star, Two Star or even the Three Star AutoStar alignment. Once aligned the sky is really the limit. Now mind you in the beginning it was not quite as easy I make it sound. I had read somewhere that the Drive on the scope needs to be periodically trained. I have trained my drives two or three times now (I do this in the daytime and it seems much easier) on both the Alt and the Az and I have adjusted my red dot finder so that it is on the money. Since doing these things it really has seemed much easier to align the scope, so maybe what I read was correct. OK, so the point I am trying to make is that out of the box, once the drives are trained you can see some pretty cool, all-be-it small, things. With the original two lenses I was able to see Saturn rings and all, M42 the Great Orion Nebula very easily, Mars as a pretty small but definitely red planet, cluster galaxies, M45 the Pleiades, and VERY cool views of the Moon. My only real complaint with this set is that it does not come with a Barlow lens which is a lens that doubles or triples the magnification, thus making the viewed object appear larger in your eye. If you get this scope I suggest purchasing an eyepiece kit with a Barlow 2X if not a 3X. I'm not going to skip ahead too far just yet, but know that I now have this scope connected to my laptop and am able to control it via Meade's Astrological platform and some assorted drivers. I can also monitor it on the laptop screen and capture pictures with the Celestron Color CCD Camera, but haven't fully mastered that yet. So, if you have this scope or are thinking of purchasing it my honest opinion is that it is a great starter scope with lots of learning potential for amature astronomy and lunar and planetary astrophotography. Tomorrow if I have time I'll give the review on the eyepiece and filter kit I recently purchased and start touching base on connecting this scope to a computer.

My first post.

Hey all, thanks for checking out my blog. I am finding that with a little information even a department store telescope can be very informative and enjoyable. I received my Meade Ds-2114ATS-TC and the Celestron Color CCD Imager for Christmas 07'. Out of the box I was able to have limited viewing success. Just enough that it really sparked my interest in this hobby. I also found that there is a lot of good information out there pertaining to this model, but not really in a centralized location. This is where I hope to be of some assistance. As I go along with my learning on this scope I am going link to all the useful information I come across. I am only going to provide information on products that I actualy own(for now the DS-2114ATS-TC)...so sorry to all you other model owners looking for answers. Try Weasners.com. DS-2114 owners or prospective owners, this is just for you. We will see if we can achieve capturing the tantilizing images they show on the box.