new member needs advice re scope/400d compatability

[drwho63]

hi all,
just got a 400d for xmas, i'm a brit expat living in tenerife, the skys are fantastic, starting to have a little success with the moon and star trails etc, all my experiments come from on-line searching or a dslr magazine.
here in the canaries we have a very limited choice of scopes, mainly cheap an nasty spotting scopes for the tourist trade.
i'm going back to the uk shortly and have been considering a 80 - 102 mm ED,
what would i need if it will work to connect my 400d to a scope like this, or should i go for a different scope.
any help would be very much appreciated,
cheers,
steve.:)

[dannat]

you wil need a T-ring that fits your camera brand (canon)- can get from just about all telescope shops (or order online). I think most people start imaging wth an 80 ED. You will need to get an Equatorial mount that tracks acroos the sky at the rate that stars etc move across the sky - can cost more than the 80mm ED as you need a sturdy one to track accurately, the minimum you could get away with is an EQ3, but most use an EQ5/6 - with or without a computer hand controller. There are a c ouple of models that fit onto a camera tripod, can't remember the brands though

[dannat]

a bulb release is also a cheap add-on , lets you take longer pics than the stnadard 30secs.
you might want to take pics on the timer starting too, to avoid any shake etc.
Also read thru the camera/photo thread - there is heaps of advice there.

[acropolite]

You can add to that list a focal reducer/field flattenner. WO make one that works nicely with the ED80 as per this thread (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=22955).