Jacob Heppell:
Hope this helps and makes some sense.
Nicely presented. Part of the reason I got rid of the reducer was because I spent a couple of nights until 3 am trying to diagnose and correct the tilt, and it seemed like a random search process. Its particularly awful using a standard tilt corrector given that you end up removing the camera assembly in order to be able to reach the tilt adjustment screws and then refocusing for each adjustment attempt. F2.8 would be a real blast if I could make it work, and I gave it up reluctantly after spending hundreds of dollars on tilt adjusters and software and scores of hours outside after bedtime.
I was not familiar with ASTAP but it looks interesting. Learning software is not my idea of recreational time and so I've always been very resistant to complicated programs that don't even have a user manual (Lookin' at you PixInsight!). I've mostly used DSS then ported over to AstroArt to set the histogram and star reduce, then do everything else in Adobe Lightroom Classic
I concur with the statement with the fast scope + reducer causing all sort of issues. I have been using the Starizona CC/Reducer, and while it speeds up my 6" orion, it also magnifies any collimation and tilt errors.
I recently bought Sharpstar CC from Agena astro, which only reduces 0.95X, which is basically nothing, but my image no longer suffers from extreme tilt.
I still have a tilt though and it's due to the compression ring connection.
Unfortunately, getting a threaded tilt is like trying to find an albino crocodile at the North Pole. A futile attempt if you ask me. And I did look around and anything close to a good focuser with little to no information if it's even compatible with a 150mm (6") or a 203mm (8") is not totally clear with them.
I tried messaging someone at Farpoint Astro, since their focusers look decent, but I can clearly see they are also compression ring style connectors.
It seems like telescope companies still haven't caught up with math and physics or they just want to throw a fast scope together and call it an "astrograph", but the parts they use may pass for visual observing, but doesn't work with cameras which catches the smallest optical error such as tilt.
Not to mention their weight capacity. I just can't use my mono camera setup on my 6" newtonian, that's for sure. I just recently purchased a supposedly heavier duty linear bearing focuser, but I'm almost feel like sending it back, because just plugging in the 12V cable made the focuser move in, while the tension screw is already at max.
Same thing was going on with my RC 6" and its linear bearing Crayford. I replaced it with a rack and pinion focuser with threaded end (special order from Aliexpress) and all my tilt problems and poor focusing issues was gone immediately.
I tried to find the same focuser for the Newtonian, but none available, even though it would be only a slight modification to make the focuser fit inside the focuser hole (trust me I already tried that with the RC focuser) and Voila! Rack and pinion focuser- definitely heavy duty - non slipping- threaded end.
I just don't know when this extremely futuristic design /idea of mine ever reaches TPO/GSO/Orion/Skywatcher ! (insert heavy sarcasm).
I know Sharpstar had an idea about this, since their rather expensive Newtonian that comes with its own flattener uses rack&pinion focuser and threaded connections.
