looking to get into photography

[andrew2008]

Have decided that further down line would like to start dabbling in photography. Complete noob on imaging at the moment so any ideas appreciated. Just looking at some options for scopes. Using a 10" SW dob atm.

Looking currently at getting an EQ6 pro and putting my 10" ota on it.

or

Starting with a new scope. Looking at the likes of Celestron C8 SGT or saxon M20325 with EQ5. or are refractors better/easier to start?

or

what are my other options? wouldnt mind something more portable than my 10" so this is another consideration.

[Ian Robinson]

Stick with the 10" , and put it on as solid and high quality an equatorial as you can afford, yoiu'll not regret it.

[rmcpb]

Good advice from Ian!

[BC]

And the EQ6 Pro is still $1,495 at http://www.telescopeshop.com.au/ in WA. They deliver for $80 to anywhere in Australia. The smaller HEQ5 is in fact $300 more at $1,800 and the much smaller EQ5 goto is $1,400. It's pretty weird pricing but I bought one and the advert's still running. The EQ6 Pro in the eastern states is now $2,400.:shrug:

Bruce

[Ian Robinson]

Old stock maybe - a good bye while it lasts .

[zumka]

I just bought my EQ6PRO from http://www.telescopeshop.com.au/ I was told by a salesmen that Skywatcher prices will go up by 20% after the new year.
Otherwise they sound like a bunch of people who know what they are talking about.
:thumbsup:

[andrew2008]

Last i looked at telescopeshop.com.au they weren't that price. Have sent them an email to confirm. Wont be able to pass it up if still correct.


After doing some more research yesterday found this site. http://www.astropix.com/HTML/I_ASTROP/TOC_AP.HTM Found it very useful so far. Got me thinking an 80 or 100 ED refractor on a solid mound for imaging be a good idea then also use the mount just for observing with current tube. Found a lot of images ive seen and really liked done with this sort of system and seems maybe an easier way to learn. Thought something like this:
http://www.sirius-optics.com.au/images/orion_sirius_24665.gif
Sirius™ 80 ED EQ-G GoTo Apochromatic Refractor


What advantages are there going with the 10" inch, other than aperture, for imaging?

[bmitchell82]

Andrew, you are doing what im going to do. Mount the 10" ontop of a eq6 or something that has a load capacity of 20kg + slip a small fast refractor on the side to guide with and a sensitive mono guide cam and your away. to start off imaging with something cheap, you can go the cannon eos 350D, and get it modded, or there are a heap of decent CCD's out there.

Remember that although the ED 80 is quite good for a starter scope 8cm Vs 25.4 cm the light grab is just so much more, this means that you lower your capture times or increase your faint fuzzy capabilitys. and unless your looking at the 100 - 120 mm apo refractors and the like, the 10 is a good cost effective option.

Just make sure its collminated perfectly for your astro photos hence invest in some good stuff like Cats eye collmination (there are others just look for the threads in the forum):thumbsup: