Help buying first Astrophotog Telescope with budget of $1-1.5K

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

They're both SW so the quality shouldn't be any different.

The 10" is more of a challenge, and that's what you wanted

[mtfreestyler (Matt)]

Well you're not wrong there. I did ask for it

I was thinking the Quattro would be a better build due to its cost compared to the Black Diamond range or does telescopes not really work like that?

[raymo]

I've been using metal Newts for over 50 yrs, and never felt any need to get a CF one. Get the SW metal 200mm f/5 for a lot less money, less coma than the f/4, slightly heavier. Optically similar. Mine does everything I ask of it. The only benefit of CF is lighter weight, and it
holds focus a little better. Focus should be checked from time to time during an imaging run anyway, so you're not gaining much. For me , the only significant benefit would be if your mount is working near it's
payload limit.
raymo

[doppler (Rick)]

You won't have as much problems with dew with a CF tubed scope compared with the steel tube.

Rick

[raymo]

Forgot that.
raymo

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Originally Posted by mtfreestyler

Well you're not wrong there. I did ask for it

I was thinking the Quattro would be a better build due to its cost compared to the Black Diamond range or does telescopes not really work like that?

black diamond are Skywatcher's 'premium' versions. quattro refers to their carbon fibre imaging scopes - as in f"4" (quattro) - dont think the metallic versions come in f4.

my understanding is they are the same good quality except for using carbon fibre tubing (and being f4 rather than f5) but happy to stand corrected.

cheers

[mtfreestyler (Matt)]

Alright. I just bought the SW 8" F5 plus t ring and collimator and hopefully it is here by tomorrow for the weekend

Already looking forward to setting it all up and seeing what I can do

First pic will be of M42

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Nice one Matt get M42 while you can

[mtfreestyler (Matt)]

You're right Dunk. I just checked Stellarium and looks like I won't have much time to get it this year.

There is always another one to get though

[raymo]

Regarding your question about the relationship between price and quality.
In the case of this particular scope, it is just that CF is a lot dearer than
steel.
raymo

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Originally Posted by mtfreestyler

You're right Dunk. I just checked Stellarium and looks like I won't have much time to get it this year.

There is always another one to get though

Still worth a go though if nothing else than practice as it's naked eye/finder scope visible, and would be well suited to your FOV.

It will of course be back later in the year and there are bigger fish to fry as we head into winter

[mtfreestyler (Matt)]

Dunk, as I just got the scope about an hour ago I will definitely be doing it

Already planned some time down the Mornington Peninsula to get a little bit darker skies. Will post my results. Also have a lot of youtube videos to go through to figure out pixinsight