This one or that one?

[Mekon]

Hi all, I want to learn to take great photographs of Nebulae, planets and other beautiful things out there. I want to by a Celestron (http://Celestron) and was thinking one of these two:

C8 SGT (XLT) http://www.celestron.com/c3/product.php?CatID=11&ProdID=60

CPC http://www.celestron.com/c3/product.php?CatID=9&ProdID=33

I have read that the equatorial mount on the C8 would be better for the pics but one reviewer said that beginners like me would find it hard to set up.
Is the 8 too big for what I need ?
Any reccomendations om a CCD? What else do I need to start taking pics?
Should I need the extra eyepieces on offer or the power supply?
A lot of Questions I kow , buit this is a big spend for me and I want to get it right :)
Thanks in anticipation
Mekon

[renormalised]

Ok...the C8 SGT would be the better scope in this case simply because it had the EQ mount. You'll be able to track objects for far longer and with greater accuracy with this mount than the alt-az mount of the other scope. Plus you'll avoid field rotation in your pics. However, that mount on the C8 SGT is going to be too light for astropiccies. You'll be OK visually observing objects with that mount, but it won't handle the weight of all the accessories and other bits and pieces hanging off the scope when you start to take pics. Upgrade to at least a Losmandy G8 mount if you want to start taking pics, preferably go for a G11. Then you'll have a good sturdy mount. In lieu of a G11 or G8, you could go a EQ6 Pro.

As far as setting up goes, the good mounts will be fairly heavy, but they have to be to handle the payloads they carry. However, setting them up only requires that you can read the instruction manual and have some idea of how to use a few allen keys and such. If you can do that, you'll have no problem. The only difficult part, for beginners, is to polar align the scope. What I would suggest is you join your local astronomy club and get as much tips off the members as you can. They'll teach you how to polar align your scope and with practice you'll become good at it:D

Now, for imaging equipment...start off simple. Yeah, you can jump straight into using CCD's if you like but you'll find that rather onerous. You'll be better off starting with a good modded DSLR. However, if you want to get a CCD camera, start off with something easier to use like a DBK/DMK, Celestron NexImage or even a GStar EX (either mono or colour). Once you've become reasonably proficient at using these cameras, you can try to move onto the more expensive CCD cameras like a QHY8, Orion Starshoot and such. Once you get good at it, then go onto the SBIG's, QSI's anf FLI cameras. By then, you'll be good enough to justify their cost of purchase.

There's a lot of other stuff you need too, but I'll leave that to someone else to fill you in on that:D Don't want to hog the topic:D

[Mekon]

Thanks Carl

[bmitchell82]

if you want to learn how to take astrophotos you have a few options, frankly in my opinion don't go down the SCT path if you are beginning as the learning curve is huge and unless your a obsessive tinkerer will annoy the hell out of you.!

Start with a low weight wide field setup maybe a EQ5pro/6pro, a 80mm ED refractor and a small guide scope (i made my guide scope from a DSE 114mm newt). Mount it either Side by Side, or piggy back with piggy back being the easiest to balance. Having a DSLR is a good start and cheap, though getting something like a QHY8 OSC (one shot colour) i think would be great as they are cooled and darks frames arnt so much of a issue with them.

I don't want to scare you but if your looking to get into astrophotography it isn't cheap, it is addictive and hence will make it more expensive :). IMHO set aside at least 3k if starting from scratch and be prepared for all the little cables,leads, odd bits your going to need.!

have a look at most of the pictures in the DSO image part of this forum, and also have a look what a eq6pro/10"dob/modded 40d can do on my web page. I have been at it for a year now and im just starting to see some good results so persist and be patient as you learn more things you will get better.!