advice?

[Davros]

Hows this sound for some basic imaging gear. Heq5 plus ED80 plus Nikon D40?

[jjjnettie]

Sounds like a great start to me.
That combination will keep you happy for a quite a while.

[Davros]

I knew it would sound good to you JJJ :D:D You were its inspiration. What is the difference between EQ5, Heq5 and EQ5pro? Any other little bits and pieces required.

[jjjnettie]

:ashamed: awww, I'm blushing now.

If you're going to get into wide fields, a nice fast fixed or varifocal lens will come in handy. http://www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au/prod3855.htm
This one is only $200.
A right angle view finder for your camera. Very reasonably priced when bought off the net.

[[1ponders]]

at some point you are going to want to get into guiding so you'll need a nice cheap little refractor and a webcam. But for the moment with good polar alignment you should be able to get a minute or two unguided with a HEQ5.

[Davros]

Interesting. I would like to target DSO's at first. I am on a bit of a galaxy quest.

[Davros]

G'day Paul
Can you point me towards 'an idiots guide to refractor astrophotography' I would like to have a bit of a read on the subject to cement the basics.

[jjjnettie]

I'll pm you a link to a very good book Mick.

[Omaroo]

Hey there Mick - a good starting combination!

Here are a couple from my Nikon D40, just so you know that they are capable cameras for astro. I sometimes prefer my D40 to my Canon, especially for lunar. These two were taken through an ED telescope of around the same class as the ED80 you're proposing. The Eta Carinae shot is a little artefacted due to crunching it down for posting here - it isn't the camera's fault.

Good luck with it!

[Moon]

Mick,
I think you are on the right track. You will learn a lot and you can always upgrade bits and pieces later on.
Since you already have a D40, stick with that and save your money for other stuff.
You will need an IR remote control for the Nikon (ebay) and an illuminated reticle eyepiece in case you don't already have them. A spare battery for the camera (ebay) is also a good idea and a dust blower to keep the camera sensor clean. Deal extreme (http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.18555) has 'em.
James

[Davros]

What are the advantages of a HEQ5 over and EQ5 for this application. There are heaps of EQ5 around with steel legs for around $590 but HEQ5 jumps up to $1000. Bearing in mind i will want to throw a guidescope beside the ED down the track a bit.

[Davros]

The other setup i am contemplating is this one from Sirius optics. Would the mount cut it though?

http://www.sirius-optics.com.au/images/orion_SVPro_24656.gif

SkyView™ Pro 80mm ED EQ Apochromatic Refractor
ED Optics On a Gem of a Mount
Get Orion's premium 80mm ED refractor in a complete equatorial package. The SkyView Pro 80ED combines the best value in high-end refractors today with the stability and precision of our SkyView Pro equatorial mount — for one very attractive price.

Orion has outfitted the SVP 80ED's 2" Crayford-type focuser with a 2" mirror star diagonal. It accommodates 2" or 1.25" eyepieces, and it include's two 1.25" Sirius Plossls plus an 8x40 finder scope.

[Jeff]

Hi Mick,

The HEQ5 has different motors (slightly more powerful, faster slewing, and higher position resolution) compared to the EQ5. The HEQ5 also has a 6-pin ST4 port to connect an autoguider.

The HEQ5Pro also has Goto, allowing easy location of targets.

Hope this helps.
Jeff