ZWO Off Axis Guider

This is my first OAG so I'm no expert. I got this thing to work but it was not easy. The good thing is that it is quite thin, which was important to achieve correct spacing of the focal plane to the reducer/corrector. The most vexing issues have to do with the stalk that holds the prism and guider mount. Sliding the camera mount up and down for fine focus is difficult because the mount binds on the stalk. The viewing hole is quite small diameter which limits the field and brightness. The main camera and scope cannot be freely rotated if using threaded adapters, which makes rotational adjustment dependent on shimming. If using barrel/nosepiece adapters you will not have to worry about that. Overall, it works, is relatively inexpensive, and seems strong and durable. Another plus is that ZWO is very good to deal with.

My previous guiding setup had a separate guidescope, but I could never manage to get round stars. I had great guiding numbers but terrible stars. Whether it be differential flexure, focuser movement, or whatever, it wasn't working. The ZWO OAG fixed all this on the first night. I was able to get everything attached right away, and it only took a little fiddling to get the optical train completely set up. I see no issues with the prism wobbling; I'm not sure what's happening with other people. There are two set screws and two alan screws. I have all of them tight and there is absolutely no movement anywhere. I'm getting the same guiding numbers as the guidescope, but now my stars are perfectly round regardless of exposure time. No more differential flexure! I can now take ~1 hour exposures with round stars at 1800mm focal length, which is completely overkill and completely awesome. The only negative is the field of view is limited, and I wouldn't expect a sensor much bigger than the ASI 120/290 to be beneficial because the outer edges will be too vignetted. I haven't had a problem with finding guide stars using an ASI 290mm, but having a high sensitivity camera definitely is a must. Overall, I highly recommend this guider because it solved all my guiding issues!

First off, of course there are no instructions in the box. You need to go to ZWO’s website to hunt those down. Using all ZWO products in my image train, you’d think that this would actually work easily. It doesn’t. The pillar that holds the mirror looks like it came out of some Chinese garage and was made with hammer and anvil. Extremely low quality and bad fit. Also extremely difficult to adjust focus. If I were to do it over again, I would avoid this at all costs. I’ve gone back to a regular guide scope and much better guiding results.

The product is not bad. I like how it is compatible with all other zwo products straight out of the box. Focus was easy during the day and would not recommend trying focus for the first time out at night, it was very frustrating. I would give this product 5 stars if the connection between the camera and/or filterwheel was threaded. I do not like having my $2,000+ camera and filterwheel hanging off the back of this thing held in with three screws only.

Very bad. If not for one fatal flaw it would be fine. The prism pickoff shaft is wobbly no matter how much you tighten it. They need to update the design to that it does not wobble, otherwise this is no good.

Very good, tiny bit tough to get the focusing down but once it's dialed in, it's perfect.