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Astro Accessories

I will only recommend items that I have either used myself (marked with an asterisk) or ones (no asterisk) which I have good reason to believe will work well.  If you click on the link in the highlighted name it will take you directly to the supplier.  Some links are affiliate links which means that I can earn a small commission which helps defray the cost of this web site. ​  If you have questions on these or other products email me at curtismmail-astro@yahoo.com. 
 
Focal Reducers
    * Mallincam MFR5 II:  2 piece with 4 optical elements total.  One piece is 0.8X and the other 0.5X and each can be                                              used separately or together.  Add optional spacers between the elements or behind to get                                                different focal ratios.  I can not get below ~f/4 without noticeable vignetting.
    * Celestron f/6.3:  Focal reducer and field flattener for an SCT with a 0.63X reduction.
       Meade f/6.3: Focal reducer and field flattener for an SCT with a 0.63X reduction.
       SVBONY f/5:  1.25" x 0.5 focal reducer.  Inexpensive but should work fine for the beginner.


Mini-PC
  *Beelink Mini PC : Models and features are continuously upgraded.  I use their now discontinued U57 model
    MeLe Quieter Mini PC : A full line of fanless mini-pcs

Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Compact & Lightweight Batteries Ideal for EAA:
     Talentcell 3Ah    - 3Ah at 12V (3amps ) and at 5V (2amps)
     Talentcell 6Ah    - 6Ah at 12V (3amps) and 11Ah at 5V (2amps)
  * Talentcell 8.3Ah - 8.3Ah at 12V (6amps),  14.5Ah at 9V (1amp) & 26.4Ah at 5V (2amps)
  * Jackery - Line of Solar generators from 160Wh (13.9Ah) to 1000Wh (83.5Ah)
​  * Jackery Solar Saga - 100W Solar Panel
  * Bluetti AC50S - 500Wh solar generator
     BattleBorn - 100Ah LiFePO4 battery with w/2000 Discharge Cycles & built in BMS
     Celestron Power Tank Lithium - 84.4 Wh, 12V / 3Amps, LiFePO4 w/2000 Discharge Cycles
     Celestron Power Tank Lithium Pro - 158.7 WH, 12V /5Amps, LiFePO4 w/2000 Discharge Cycles
     Celestron Power Tank Lithium LT - 73.3 WH, 12V regulated, LiNMC

WiFI
    * GL- MT300N-V2 Travel Router:  2.4G (300Mbps), less than 2" square and less than 2 ounces                    
    * GL-AR750S-Ext Travel Router:  External antennae, 2.4G (300Mbps) and 5G (433Mbps)

Filters
    * Astronomik UHC:  Excellent light pollution filter.  Available at most astronomy retailers.  My favorite.
       Baader 2" UV-IR: Reduce star bloat & violet halos.  Sharp Cutoff below 400nm & above 690nm (lets 656nm H-                                             alpha through).
     * Baader 1.25" UV-IR: Reduce star bloat & violet halos.  Sharp Cutoff below 400nm & above 690nm (lets 656nm                                                  H- alpha through).
​

Power Cables, Couplers & Meters
     * 5.5mm x 2.1mm -  1ft  ,   2ft  , 3ft ,  6ft  male to male power cables    
     * 5.5mm x 2.1mm  - male to male coupler
​
     * 5.5mm x 2.1mm to 5.5mm x 2.5mm coupler
     * 150A Watt Meter - measures DC

USB Hubs
   * StarTech:  Multi-port powered USB hubs.  Robust industrial design with rack mount although I attach mine with                              velcro.  Accepts 7-24VDC input.  Mine have never failed me.
         
*4 port USB2 powered hub                                     
           4 port USB3 powered hub


Video & USB Cables
    * Infinte Cables:  I really like these 75ohm RG59 videocables.  Low loss, highly flexible in cold weather, gold                            platted, strain relieved connectors.  Come with BNC connector at both ends or RCA connector on one end.
    * Zengineering:  Custom cables for Mallincam cameras, including video/power, camera control or all-in-one.
    *WEme:  32ft USB 3.0 active extension cable.  I use this to extend the computer connection to my MyT 32 ft away
    *IoGear: 39ft USB 2.0 extension cable with built in amplifier.  Can daisy chain 3 for 107ft total length.  Amazon.

Video Capture Device
    * Pinnacle Dazzle:  This has always worked for me without fail.  Mid-price range.  Larger footprint.
     * Mallincam MCV-E1:  Most expensive one that I have seen or used.  Has VDVE control. 
       Mallincam MCV-1:  More expensive than Dazzle, but smaller footprint.
       Rev. Imager USB Capture: Least expensive one I have found known to work. 
       DVR: DVR with a 2.7" LCD and the ability to save videos and photos on the supplied 16 gigabyte SD card. 
       Other:  There are many versions of USB video capture devices available on Amazon and Ebay but these  can be a        crap shoot as to whether or not it will work with you setup.  If you go this route, check the forums for  advice.      

Video Capture & Camera Control Software
    * Miloslick MC Control:  Controls camera settings for all Mallincam cameras except the Micro and Super.  Capture                                                   images, stack, histogram, real-time dark frame subtraction, etc..  Will provide image                                                             display and capture for other cameras, but will not control them. 
     *Stephane's MC Control: Free.  Designed to work with many Mallincam cameras.  Provides many of the same but                                                      not all the features of Miloslick.  Will also display and capture images of other cameras.                                                      I used this exclusively for a year before purchasing Miloslick. An excellent program.
    *SharpCap:  Free.  Does not control analog cameras, but will provide image display, capture, stacking, histogram,                               etc.  Will control USB cameras along with everything else.
  
Camera Control Software
    * Miloslick MC Control:  See above.
    * Stephane's Micro Control:  Free.  Mimics the camera buttons in software.
    * Stephane's MC Control: Free. See above
       Mallincam Micro Control:  Jim Meadows free SW is probably the best SW for controlling the Micro & Super.

C-Mount Adapters
    * Mallincam:  Threaded for filters.  Came with my cameras.  Available in 1.25" and 2".
       SVBONY:       Inexpensive but works!  Threaded for filters, internal threading for baffling.  1.25.  
    
RS232-USB Adapters
  * TrippLite Keyspan:  The model 19HS always works for me.  I use it to connect the camera control cable to a PC                                                  and also to connect the mount control cable to a PC.
​Books
   * The New CCD Astronomy by Ron Wodaski:  this book remains the bible for astrophotography despite being               last published in 2002.  It explains all the key concepts necessary to understand how to get great images.
   * The Deep Sky Imaging Primer by Charles Bracken:  Packed with all the information you need to understand            how digital cameras work, noise sources, choosing the right equipment and post processing techniques
   * Getting Started: Long Exposure Astrophotography by Allan Hall:  This book covers everything you need to              get started taking astro images
   * Astrophotography by Thierry Legault:  Well know as an astrophotographer, Thierry shares his insights into              what it takes to be a successful astrophotographer

© 2021 Curtis V. Macchioni
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  • Home
  • My Images
    • EAA
    • Astrophotography
  • Equipment
    • Power Equipment Recommendations
    • Astro Equipment Recommendations
    • Power Needs Estimates
    • My Equipment
    • Links to Camera Manuals & Software
    • CCD & CMOS Sensor Specs
  • EAA Support
    • My EAA Journey
    • Why EAA?
    • EAA for Beginners Series
    • Analog Camera Setup: No Computer
    • Analog Camera Setup: Computer
    • Video Tutorials
    • Field Rotation
    • Searching for Early Video Cameras
  • Blog
  • Links & Downloads
    • Videos: Tips & Equipment Reviews
    • Downloadable Presentations
    • Links to EAA Sites & Books
    • Manuals
  • Telescopes for EAA
  • Mounts for EAA
  • Cameras for EAA