Help with equipment

[EvanPyle]

Hello!

Current equipment:
Canon SX40HS
Cheap tripod

Here is the first moon shot I got: http://i.imgur.com/441OBWz.jpg
I found Jupiter! http://i.imgur.com/juH9NYr.jpg
Much better Jupiter. http://i.imgur.com/SgMEprE.jpg
First attempt at timelapse (665 shots, 6sec exp at 640ISO, F/2.7) https://www.dropbox.com/s/6qj9oomd2pa3dur/test1.avi (need to download the avi, embedded viewers suck)



I feel I have reached the limits of what I can do with this equipment and I am looking to upgrade to something a little bit more beefy. I have narrowed the list down to:

Canon 60D/650D/wait for the 70D
Scope
Eq Tracking mount

My budget for the scope and mount will be around the 2-3000 mark. Where I am really coming unstuck is I have no experience with scopes and mounts, I am a very hands on leaner, I have read just about everything I can but I still have no idea what I should be buying. Ideally I know I want a quality EQ tracking mount and a mid range scope, something I can attach a DSLR to.

I am happy with second hand equipment and was thinking maybe I should just buy the mount first and get to learn it with my current SX40HS?

Thanks for the help,
Evan.

[astronobob]

Hi Even, & welcome to IIS

Great thing about the forums is the wealth of info supplied over the yrs by members : ) Nice camera by the way, but it is Not an SLR, basically meaning that you cannot detach the lens to addapt the camera to any scope, as I'm sure you know ! Deciding on an SLR will always be a personal choice, do some reading on the forums to get some ideas, all those cameras you have mentioned are being used in astro-photography here !
You can attach almost every Dslr to almost every type of scope one way or another, might be different with the Very Top End Gear, I mean 10's of thousands of $$$ : ) By the way, your time lapse look good, very smooth result, just need the appropriate gear to get more light in !
Most people new to astro, go for the good old Heq5 mount and a skywatch ED 80 refractor scope, they are a great combination for several basic reasons, eg,
A) good enough quality for very pleasing results, & have a good deal of potential to further ones experience into the next level of this hobby !
B) About the Simplest to use & Learn the how to's ?
C) Plenty of members have used the set-up, so no shortage of advise Ect !
But by all means you may choose differently as I know Not what type of astro imaging you would like to pursue ? There are two main fields of Astro at this Level, 1) Deepsky: Eg, Star clusters, Nebulea & the brighter Galaxy's which the mentioned Skywatcher ED80 can start you off, if this is the area you are wanting to try, & I add, that deepsky is probably the most practical for an entry level ?
2) Planetary: a different kettle of fish, in a few regards.
A, needing appropriate magnification from a scope, the ED80 would not be as practical as say A reflector scope with a longer focal length & A bigger appeture to catch the light quicker for planetary imaging!
B) Need faster exposure times, many frames per second & preverably 100's if not 1000's of them ! Just to mention a few : )

Anyway, Hope this kind-of helps for a start ! Hope I havent sounded too lame, but I feel that these basics are needed for any who are 1st timers, I say this as I have noted this is your very 1st post : )

I'm sure you will have other responses/reply's to your questions and hope you find some worthy advice !
All the best !

[EvanPyle]

Thanks for the reply bob.

I'm going to buy the mount first probably a CG-5GT, Heq5 or a NEQ6. Not sure if the NEQ6 is worth the extra money? So many options!

I'm not sure what to do about a scope.

The sky lapse was a very last moment decision, I set up the camera and a script (CHDK) and just let it run for a few hours, it gets a bit blurry at the end, not sure if it was dew or something else.

[ZeroID]

Hi Evan, :welcome: to IIS. plenty of advice to be had here. Bob has given a good summary of the options. I went down the path of the EQ6 as a long term decision as I wanted to go DSO pix and needed carrying capability and stability but the EQ is quite capable of the job as long as you dont overload it. Same goes for the EQ6 for that matter. General rule is around 75% of the stated manufacturers load. The biggest issue with the EQ6 is that it is a heavy beast on it's own to lug around even if you break it down to tripod, head and weights. If you can find either one second hand on here it might be the best way. There have been several complete kits posted recently and you could get best value for your $$.

[astronobob]

Cheers Brent, nice addition also !

Hi Evan, Here is a nice article might be worth the squizz.
Link : http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=63,260,0,0,1,0

Also I suggest, if possible, try attending an Astro Meeting, or better still, get along to an Astro Dark Sky Camp. Plenty of Rigs to suss out, people to share their knowlege Ect, Well worth the effort, at least once, then you'll be hooked, Lol .
I see your in Shepparton, Vic ? The 1st Astro Club that comes to mind is the Snake Vally Astro Assoc, just the other side of Ballarat, Approx 2-3hr Drive at a guess ? Not an uncommon distance with in the Astro Community : ) Camp there for a night or two, or three ?
Link : http://ballaratman.wix.com/svaa

Another comes to mind is East of you near Bright, I think the Dark Sky Meet is at Mnt Beauty ? I'll try and obtain a link for it also ?

There may be others and could pay to start another thread "Search for Astro meets near Shepparton" ? ? or similar, never know :thumbsup:

[astronobob]

Here is the local group based in Bright, but it's pretty small. maybe too far from Shep.
http://brightastronomy.webs.com/



Another club @ Albury/Wodonga might be more convenient - Petra (spacezebra) is on IIS:
http://www.asaw.org.au/



Maybe even Bendigo or Benalla, not that far a hop:
http://www.bdas.net/
http://astronomybenalla.org.au/index.htm



Not sure if Shep has a group, can't find one. It's certainly a big enough place ?
All the best

[spacezebra]

Hi Evan

Apologies for the delay in posting, US Trip and uni exams..

The ASAW site is undergoing a massive update - however more than happy for you to PM me and we can chat. As Bob said Astronomy Benalla/Bendigo/Ballarat are all great clubs, to get involved with.

Cheers Petra d.

[baggywrinkle]

I have the Canon 650D, I also had it modified so that it is Ha sensitive.

I use this with a Skywatcher ED80 mounted on an HEQ5 goto mount which if I wish could be made to auto track.

The ED80 is a relatively fast (F7) wide field scope and is used by many for astrophotography work. For the price you cannot beat the optics, however you might want something bigger, but bigger tends to mean smaller FOV.

You can mount the camera at prime focus or piggyback it and use the normal camera lenses.

I chose the 650D based on price v performance PLUS it has live view and a screen that can be folded out and looked at when on the 'scope. This means that you are not having to do yoga moves when trying to view at high angles..

There is also a lot of sw available for the Canon range, particularly Backyard EOS.

No doubt that others on this site and on other forums like Stargazer would offer good and sage advice.