SkyWatcher Star Explorer 102/1300 Maksutov

[Randomguy]

Hi
I'm thinking of buying this telescope and I'm just wondering if anyone has and feedback for it.

http://www.opticscentral.com.au/skywatcher-star-explorer-102-1300-azgt-telescope.html#.WAG0oRk7bqA

Also would I be able to use it for Astrophotography.

Thanks
:thumbsup:

[Wavytone]

Photography - moon, yes, anything else no. It's f-ratio is far too slow to do Astro photography and it's too small to do much with planets.

I used to have it's bigger brother - 180mm f/15 mak.

[Randomguy]

Would you recommend any telescope for astrophotography around $1000
Thanks

[dannat]

ed80 is prob a safe bet, or a 130mm f5 newtonian

[Randomguy]

Would an ED100 be worth looking at?

[Wavytone]

You really need to sort out what you want to do, and why, before buying hardware - there's a very good chance you will find what you bought is unsuitable then sell it to buy the right gear. Some even make this mistake 2-3 times.

Start with a scope that is ideally around f/5 (reflector) or less than f/7 (refractor). The question of aperture, focal length and the mount to put it on is determined by how deep your pocket is. At the low end there is this sweet little ED APO:
http://www.apm-telescopes.de/en/telescopes/refracting-telescopes-ota/apochromates/ts-50-mm-f-66-ed-apo-refractor-telescope.html

which could be mated to a cheap little mount that tracks the sky such as this:
http://www.ioptron.com/product-p/3500tt.htm

The only snag with that is that scope really is SMALL - most observers have bigger finderscopes. Even some eyepieces have larger aperture.

Do do anything significantly beyond what that combination is capable of means spending the best part of at least $3k and more likely $5k.