Omegon 66/400 APO on the iOptron SkyGuider Pro
What would it be like to have greater illumination and a large image field for creating full-screen images of objects like the Andromeda Galaxy? This, and a lot more, can be achieved usingOmegon 66/400mm apochromatsand theiOptron SkyGuider Pro. A lightweight astrophotography set for every trip.
This apochromatic refractor produces an especially colour-true and high-contrast image – just right for more discerning observers!
Naturalists and amateur astronomers who attach special importance to the purity of colour reproductions are very well-served by the Omegon ED 66 APO. Even at approx. 100 times magnification, annoying color aberrations no longer occur. The double-lens ED objective satisfies the most exacting requirements
Areas of application
The Omegon 66 is a very fine, compact device for discriminating observers of the natural world. You can see the finer points in the plumage of birds, or observe animals at a distance and marvel over the details that are revealed.
The small, compact device delivers excellent performance in the domain of stargazing as well. Simply panning the sky with the device is a pleasure. But details on the moon and planets are also clearly visible with this device.
Included in the scope of delivery are a 360° rotatable Cray focuser with 1:10 reduction and an aluminium transport case.
The SkyGuider Pro is a very lightweight mount that allows you to track a camera with interchangeable lenses or a small telescope to the rotation of the sky. This allows longer exposure times. This way you can take fascinating wide-angle shots of the night sky.
The SkyGuider Pro is the big brother of the very popular iOptron Mount SkyTracker Pro. The SkyGuider Pro lets you use cameras with heavy lenses weighing up to five kilograms. This is made possible by the SkyGuider Pro's thicker right ascension axis, larger worm gears and a counterweight that allows you to balance the camera.
Instead of the counterweight, you can also mount a second camera so that you can shoot a section of the sky with two different focal lengths. This second camera can weigh up to three kilograms.
Optionally, you can use the Go2Nova hand controller and even track automatically via the ST-4 input.
The SkyGuider Pro has a built-in Li-polymer battery. You can recharge it via USB.
For the mount to track your camera correctly with the rotation of the sky, the axis of rotation of the SkyGuider Pro must match the axis of rotation of the earth. To do this, simply take aim at Polaris, which marks pretty much exactly the position of the axis of rotation in the sky. The SkyGuider Pro has a small telescope built into its axis for alignment. This so-called polarscope has an engraving with which you can aim at the pole star. The engraving itself is illuminated. This makes correct alignment very easy.
Most of the time you will probably use the standard speed at which the camera keeps the stars in view. However, it is also possible to select the speed of the Sun or the Moon. A very interesting option for the speed allows you to photograph stars as well as the landscape or buildings in the foreground. To do this, select half the star speed. This way, the stars remain in focus without the foreground objects becoming blurred.
You can also reverse the direction of rotation for all four possible speed settings, so that the SkyGuider Pro also works in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. This is important because, after all, the SkyGuider Pro is also a very good travel mount!
Our expert comment:
An overview of high-quality Omegon telescopes for astrophotography can be found in the Buyer's Guide: new Omegon telescopes for astrophotography
The instrument absolutely amazed us during testing. The optics gave an image virtually free of chromatic aberration. Even the finest details in a pine cone could be seen.
At 20X magnification, the 66 ED apo showed good sharpness across the entire field of view (used in conjunction with an Omegon LE 18mm eyepiece). The telescope can be mounted onto any camera tripod (1/4" thread) and used for nature-watching.
We also found the mechanics to be excellent: the telescope comes with a high-quality 1:10 Crayford focuser. The focuser allows precise focusing even at high magnifications. With 6cm of focus travel, the near point is quite close. This means that the Omegon 66 ED can be described as universal telescope that is also useful for nature watching.
Our tip for sky watchers:
2 inch eyepieces can be used in combination with a SC star diagonal.
Our tip for nature watchers:
The instrument also makes a very good spotting scope! We recommend this eyepiece with a erecting prism for seeing an upright image.
Our tip for photographers:
The telescope can be turned into a telephoto lens with high edge-definition. To do this you will need the following products: SC adapter for 2" star diagonal, field flattener for refractors and a camera-specific T-2 ring.
Tip: The telescope has a SC thread under the eyepiece holder. You get better aperture illumination using this SC thread than at 1.25 inches. We therefore recommend this camera adapter.
(Anderl Rodoschegg)
