Budget DSO scope?

[iceman]

Hi all

Planetary imaging will always my #1 love, but I wouldn't mind dabbling in some DSO work from time to time.

I've already got the EQ6 and the Canon 350D, and probably most software I'll need.

I don't want to spend a lot of money, I don't want to get a guidescope or guidecamera or anything like that at this stage.

My EQ6 is probably worn at the edges thanks to driving a 12" newt on it, so I only want something with a very short focal length for widefield DSO imaging (I prefer widefield over long focal length, at the moment).

I just missed out on getting the C6 that csb was selling the other day, so I'm thinking something like that, and in the past I was thinking an ED80 would be best.

I prefer newts, but it would need to be short focal length and cheap. The ED80 is a known performer, but I'd need a focal reducer as well.

Any other suggestions? With my requirements should I even bother? Is it just going to be more frustrating given that I'm trying to do it on the cheap (no guiding etc)?

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Bassnut]

Mike, being the perfectionist your are, I think you would quickly get frustrated with no guiding, your no beginner, you must guide. An ST80 and webby for guiding wouldnt cost much.

Fred

[allan gould]

I agree with Fred that you will need to guide an ed80, but that said if your eq6 has low PE then since it also has PEC then you may get 2min with a focal reducer or even more for DSOs.

[netwolf]

If you want to stay on the Newtonian band waggon, there is that little beauty
https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=7379.

But I think for similar price the WO 66 Semi Apo or Apo refractors maybe better.

Regards
Fahim

[ballaratdragons]

Mike, not guiding was driving me ga-ga! Thanks to Lauries assistance with Guiding and Darrens setting it up for me I haven't looked back!

It is so damn frustrating without. Although some like Scott hand guide and get amazing results!

As far as scopes go, yep the ED80's are magic, but even with a focal reducer they won't give you the widefield you are looking for.

You could just buy a camera lens and use the camera on the EQ6 for widefields. :thumbsup:

[Zuts]

Another option may be the Meade 5000 series ED 80. Thats only a bit more expensive than the Orion/Skywatcher ED 80's but is F6 and not F 7.5.

just a thought

[ballaratdragons]

I wonder if one of these would help you Mike. Good price and f5. And it's an Astrograph.

When I rang Bintel to ask about getting one I was told by them not to buy it coz it is very similiar to my ED80 but f5, so I wouldn't benefit too much from it.

On a side note: Damn nice of Bintel to do that. They talked me out of buying something rather than just flogging product :thumbsup:

Oh, the link: https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=7379

[iceman]

Fahim and Ken posted the same link, must be a good scope :P

At 750mm FL (and f/5) it looks pretty good, and I do like newtonians. I wonder if you can use a focal reducer though?

The suggestion of a long focal length lens with just the camera isn't a bad idea either, but a good quality lens in the 200-300mm range is over $1000, or even more. If I could get to roughly the same focal length using a focal reducer in an ED80 or newt, then it might produce good images for lesser cost? Although with all the bits and pieces (focal reducer, adapters etc) it might turn out the same.

The benefit of piggy back is that I can guide through the main scope and piggyback the camera on top. Although I wouldn't use the 12" for that, it's just too big so i'm still looking at needing another scope to guide through.

[ballaratdragons]

Even an El-Cheapo fast achro refractor will make a fine guidescope. I use a 'Bert-made' 100mm Achro for guiding. So long as it can see stars, it will guide. Quality of stars don't matter. :thumbsup:

And you already have the Toucam for guiding.

[Kal]

If you are looking at a reflector you could also consider the meade schmidt-newtonian. The 8" F/4 will have a focal length of 810mm. Here (http://www.petesastrophotography.com/index.html) is a gallery of someone who uses that OTA with film, and your 350D will have a smaller image plane than the 35mm film.

If it was me I'd go an ultrafast apo refractor, theres so many on the market now at decent prices. The WO-66 with a 0.8 focal reducer/flattener has a focal length of just 12 inches! You could probaby fit it in your finderscope bracket! :whistle: :lol:

[netwolf]

There is also the Borg ED77 that is just so darn light weight and has many options to chop and change. There is also the option to upgrade the Cell to a 100mm. There is also the WO 80mm Doublet and Triplets.

Regards
Fahim

[ving]

how about a GSO 8" f4 newt? and use a st80 or something similar to guide...

[rmcpb]

I know the GS mirrors at f5 and f6 are great value for money but at f4 are they up to what Mike wants? At those focal lengths I would imagine for photography you would want a good mirror.

[ballaratdragons]

These 2 would make a nice DSO imaging combo at low prices.

Imaging Scope - The Meade LXD Astrograph $399 from Bintel
Guidescope - Skywatcher 102 x 500 AZ3 OTA $349.00

You aleady have the mount and Toucam for guiding.

[ving]

isnt that what eric uses? or does he use the f5?
anyhow, either way its cheap and erics pics are pretty darn good :)