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Star Adventurer and Redcat 51

William Optics Redcat 51 Canon EOS 600D / Rebel T3i / Kiss X5 Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Buying Advice
TrommelTodd TuckerLeo Marchadier
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Trommel avatar
Trommel avatar
Hi there!
At the moment I use my Canon 600d, my Star Adventurer and some lenses with lower focal lengths.
​​​Now I want to upgrade my kit and saw some of your posts here.
One telescope that I saw was the Redcat 51.
Is it a good one for the Star Adventurer or is it too heavy or is the focal length too long for it?
CS Tom
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Albut avatar
Albut avatar
I used redcat 51 with asi183mc pro, asiair etc mounted on az-gti, so the star adventurer should be ok. I’ve not used the200mm canon so can’t comment on that. I find the red at 51 a great lens and I’ve used it when I owned an olympus omd em1 miii and it’s good. However my skywatcher Evostar ed72 with flattner is every bit as good.
Leo Marchadier avatar
Leo Marchadier avatar
Redcat 51 is light weight like 1,5kg so it's okay for star adventurer.
​​​However I recommend to stay under 120sec exposure but you can make your own test.
300sec exposure will be provide star trail I think.

You can also check my old pictures on my profile with redcat51 533mc taken with skywatcher AZ-GTI mount

Clear sky ✌️
Max avatar
Max avatar
I am using the star adventurer GTI with a redcat 51. Depending on your alignment you might be able to take frames with 3 minutes exposure without guiding. However, I usually stick to 60-90 seconds exposures
Trommel avatar
Trommel avatar
Okay, really good to know.
I asked the same question on another website and the people there were a bit sceptical that this combination would work fine without AutoGuiding.
But you all did it without AutoGuiding, too?
If so:
Does the Redcat 51 really worth considering the Canon 200mm f2.8?
I know, it's a photo lens but you get it used for about 350€ and the Recat 51 used for 700€
What are your thoughts about it?
Leo Marchadier avatar
Leo Marchadier avatar
I've use a canon 70-200 L F4 before Redcat51.
Redcat51 is definitely worth ! Star are much better with flat corner and quality little bit higher for Redcat51.

For autoguiding, star adventurer can juste guide on RA axis so I don't know if it worth.

Without guiding in past with star adventurer I have like 75% of good frame without star trail at 120sec exposure at 200mm focal with canon 1300D and 70-200 L F4
You need to accurate polar alignement, leveling tripod, and perfect balancing for better track
John Kroon avatar
John Kroon avatar
I regularly take 300s exposures and the stars are pinpoint round all the way to the corners. I have exceeded the manufacturer's weight limit recommendations. I have the autoflat on there by deep sky dad, a filter wheel with filters (36mm), ASI294MM-Pro, off-axis guider by ZWO, guide camera, the redcat 51 of course, and a ZWO focuser. Guides great if you dial in the balancing and polar alignment. It is really an impressive mount.
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Trommel avatar
Trommel avatar
So you all would agree buying the RedCat 51 instead of a 200mm photo lense from Canon for my Star Adventurer and my Canon 600d (without AutoGuiding)
Unfortunately my Canon isn't astromodified but except of H Aplha light that shouldn't make a difference, right?

But anyway, if there are others with this setup, I'm very interested in your experiences! smile
Todd Tucker avatar
Todd Tucker avatar
You can also extend your exposure times by better polar alignments.  When I got my ASIAir mini, I would PA my 2i manually and then see how far I was off with my mini.  I was surprised how far off the manual alignment was.
TiffsAndAstro avatar
TiffsAndAstro avatar
Hi there!
At the moment I use my Canon 600d, my Star Adventurer and some lenses with lower focal lengths.
​​​Now I want to upgrade my kit and saw some of your posts here.
One telescope that I saw was the Redcat 51.
Is it a good one for the Star Adventurer or is it too heavy or is the focal length too long for it?
CS Tom


I'm using 600d and swgti with a sw 72ed. Scope is around 2kg and swgti payload is supposed to be the full 5kg so you should be fine.
I have a guide scope and cam, usb hub and more wires than the somme in ww1 and it seems ok.
TiffsAndAstro avatar
TiffsAndAstro avatar
Okay, really good to know.
I asked the same question on another website and the people there were a bit sceptical that this combination would work fine without AutoGuiding.
But you all did it without AutoGuiding, too?
If so:
Does the Redcat 51 really worth considering the Canon 200mm f2.8?
I know, it's a photo lens but you get it used for about 350€ and the Recat 51 used for 700€
What are your thoughts about it?


before I got my scope I was doing 3min exposures unguided with no star trails at 200mm camera lens (320mm effective fl cos crop factor)
I only do 60 or 120 sec guided subs now cos I'm a bit more aware of light pollution and don't have a filter.
Trommel avatar
Trommel avatar
So you all would agree buying the RedCat 51 instead of a 200mm photo lense from Canon for my Star Adventurer and my Canon 600d (without AutoGuiding)Unfortunately my Canon isn't astromodified but except of H Aplha light that shouldn't make a difference, right? But anyway, if there are others with this setup, I'm very interested in your experiences! smile
Claudio Boicu avatar
Claudio Boicu avatar
So you all would agree buying the RedCat 51 instead of a 200mm photo lense from Canon for my Star Adventurer and my Canon 600d (without AutoGuiding)Unfortunately my Canon isn't astromodified but except of H Aplha light that shouldn't make a difference, right? But anyway, if there are others with this setup, I'm very interested in your experiences!

I have the star adventurer and the redcat 51, and it has been my go to travel kit. I don't use autoguiding and I just have a Nikon d5300 on the back with a wireless intervelometor, and it works like a dream. corner to corner flat image, the redcat is money well spend in my opinion. I usually stick to 60 sec frames because my polar alignment is never great and I get good results with it. where is an image taken with that exact setup I described. one is the heart and soul nebula which I posted on my account an one is from the pillars of creation, and a little bit of the lagoon nebula (looks like that because I can't shoot if from my backyard and the one time I hade the chance to shoot it, it was near the full moon :/ ) same exact setup. difference is I modified my Nikon for more prominent h alpha features, but there is plenty targets that don't need that. Andromeda galaxy, pleiades etc. (everything Broadband)

https://astrob.in/0m7ovk/B/

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Alex90 Alex90 avatar
Alex90 Alex90 avatar
Hi there!
At the moment I use my Canon 600d, my Star Adventurer and some lenses with lower focal lengths.
​​​Now I want to upgrade my kit and saw some of your posts here.
One telescope that I saw was the Redcat 51.
Is it a good one for the Star Adventurer or is it too heavy or is the focal length too long for it?
CS Tom

привет! Ну для искателя он конечно тяжеловат будет
Trommel avatar
Trommel avatar
Wow! Very impressive, Claudio!
So I think it will definitely be the RedCat 51.
It's amazing what you can get even without AutoGuiding or long exposure of 2 or 3 minutes smile
Modifying my camera is probably my next step, but I'm not sure if I should upgrade my current one or if I should sell it and buy a modified one. It seems cheaper this way smile
Or are there any cheap astro-cameras?
Todd Tucker avatar
Todd Tucker avatar
I love my ZWO ASI533 MC pro.  I bought a used modified Canon 6D for $700 and my 533 for $799.  There is no comparison between the two.  My 533 takes such sharp images, it is incredible.  Some people shy away from it because it has a WxH ratio of 1:1, but that does not bother me.
Markus Selbach avatar
Markus Selbach avatar
Together with autoguiding it works like a charm. Used it a lot with NINA and 5-6 min subs and didn‘t loose any because of trailing. So it‘s definitly a recommendation.
Btw.: the redcat has incredibly good focus stability over night.
Trommel avatar
Trommel avatar
One last question:
What's actually the difference between the RedCat and the RedCat V2?
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Alex90 Alex90 avatar
Alex90 Alex90 avatar
Markus Selbach:
Together with autoguiding it works like a charm. Used it a lot with NINA and 5-6 min subs and didn‘t loose any because of trailing. So it‘s definitly a recommendation.
Btw.: the redcat has incredibly good focus stability over night.

*** Да согласен, Redcat один раз сфокусировал, зажал фокусер блендой и снимай сколько влезет  ***
Ethan Sweet avatar
Ethan Sweet avatar
So you all would agree buying the RedCat 51 instead of a 200mm photo lense from Canon for my Star Adventurer and my Canon 600d (without AutoGuiding)Unfortunately my Canon isn't astromodified but except of H Aplha light that shouldn't make a difference, right? But anyway, if there are others with this setup, I'm very interested in your experiences!

Just to throw a wrench in things. The Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 II is an excellent lens. I decided to go with it over the Redcat 51 due to the cost difference, and that I can use it for daytime photography.
I use it at f/4 to reduce star bloat and get sharp stars corner to corner on my Canon 70D which is also unmodified. 

All my photos posted on here are using a Star Adventurer GTi, Canon 70D, and the 200mm lens in a bortle 6 area. They're not IOTD material but I'm very happy with what I've been able to get with this setup.

People rave over the Redcat and for good reason. And if you have it in the budget you can't go wrong with it. But don't count the Canon 200mm out!
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Leo Marchadier avatar
Leo Marchadier avatar
The focuser ring and the lock are better on V2
Trommel avatar
Trommel avatar
But nothing that really impacts the picture?
laup1234 avatar
laup1234 avatar
bonjour
j'ai personnellement utilisé un Sony A7S avec une red cat 51 sur une star adventurer sans problème.
poses de 30s à 3200iso.
le poids de l'ensemble n'est pas un problème.
bon ciel
Paul
Michael Jarvis avatar
Michael Jarvis avatar
I used redcat 51 with asi183mc pro, asiair etc mounted on az-gti, so the star adventurer should be ok.

Agree with Albut.  I have used a RedCat 51 w/ASI183 MC Pro and guide scope on an Ioptron SkyGuider Pro with no problems
Todd Tucker avatar
Todd Tucker avatar
Ethan Sweet:
So you all would agree buying the RedCat 51 instead of a 200mm photo lense from Canon for my Star Adventurer and my Canon 600d (without AutoGuiding)Unfortunately my Canon isn't astromodified but except of H Aplha light that shouldn't make a difference, right? But anyway, if there are others with this setup, I'm very interested in your experiences!

Just to throw a wrench in things. The Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 II is an excellent lens. I decided to go with it over the Redcat 51 due to the cost difference, and that I can use it for daytime photography.
I use it at f/4 to reduce star bloat and get sharp stars corner to corner on my Canon 70D which is also unmodified. 

All my photos posted on here are using a Star Adventurer GTi, Canon 70D, and the 200mm lens in a bortle 6 area. They're not IOTD material but I'm very happy with what I've been able to get with this setup.

People rave over the Redcat and for good reason. And if you have it in the budget you can't go wrong with it. But don't count the Canon 200mm out!

I am not seeing a big cost difference between the two.   I agree that you can get more use out of your Canon lens if you want to use it for other types of photography.  But from the prices I have found, the Canon EF lens runs about $800 and the Redcat51 runs $900 brand new, or $800 refurbished at Highpoint.  I got mine refurbished and Williams guarantees it as if it were new.   I guess my deciding factor would be if I were going to always use a DSLR or upgrade to a dedicated astro camera in the future.  For the former, the Canon lens makes sense, mounting a Canon camera to the Canon lens, but for an astro camera, I would go with the Redcat.  For the Canon lens to connect to the astro camera, by the time you get the compatibilty connections ($100) and ring mount for the lens ($80), you would have been better off just getting the Redcat 51 to begin with.
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