Astrophotography and imaging equipment

[Stoj]

Hi everyone,

Im new to this forum.

I just ordered a Meade LX90 8" ACF W/UHTC. Im new to astrophotography and imaging.
I was wondering if anyone could please give me advice on what equipment I should buy for astrophotography and imaging.
I have a Canon 600D DSLR.
Do I first invest in buying eyepieces, or Wedge and adapter for the LX90, or adapters for the DSLR.
I have no idea were to start in regards to equipment to use with the scope. Please advice thank you.

[loki78]

You can start as is doing afocal stuff, which is at its simplest, putting your camera with a lens on, up to the eyepiece and snapping away. You would be surprised at just how well some lunar shots work out this way. You can also get adaptors to hold the camera in place in front of the eyepiece.

Other than this to use your DSLR with your scope you'll need a T-ring for your type of camera, in your case a canon, and a T adaptor.

I imagine you will need a wedge as well but i will let someone else address that as I have no experience in using one.

[Poita]

Grab a T-ring and a Nosepiece for your DSLR and you can remove the Star-Diagonal and slide the DSLR in its place and start getting pictures of the moon.

The moon is bright enough that you can use fast enough shutter speeds to not need a wedge.

[Poita]

Actually, I think exactly what you need just showed up in the classifieds.
Grab them before they are gone.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=92552

[DavidN]

Hey Everyone :D

I'm also new to Astrophotography and I was seeking your guidance about Computer hardware and software that I would need.

PC or Mac?

Min specs?

Software?

Any guidance you can give will be much appreciated.

Thanks,
David

[Poita]

To get started you can use just about any PC or Mac really.

If you want to avoid USB - Serial headaches, then you can get a PC that has true serial ports on it, though they are a bit more difficult to find.

Let us know what camera, scope etc. you have and it will be easier to make recommendations.

[DavidN]

Thanks Peter,

I am still researching scopes, cameras, etc.
My aim is for pretty pictures of wide field, deep space and planets.
I wanted to try to find a setup that works well together.

My short list atm is:

Takahashi TOA130NFB or Tak TOA130NS or Tak FSQ106EDX
SBIG STX or FLI ProLine 16803 w/CentreLine CFW or FLI ProLine 11002m-0 w/CentreLine CFW or SBIG STT with FW & A/G
FLI Atlas Focuser or Optec 2" Temperature Control Focuser Kit
Possibly STi Planet Cam & AutoGuider or Starlight Xpress Lodestar Autoguider with an Orion 80mm short tube
Paramount MX or EQ6 Goto Mount (I don't have a permanent observatory and have access to a dark site about 20mins drive away)

· The SkyX Pro + Camera addon + Tpoint addon
· Maxim DL
· Registax or Deepsky Stacker
· Photoshop

Any feedback on these choices would be welcome.
Kind regards,

David :)

[loki78]

I would suggest then David that based on your short list, you have access to a rather ample budget haha.

Quite a few things on that list that would be very desirable to many of the more senior members on this forum no doubt!

[JimHan]

Hi i'm new to this forum and have a few questions about astrophotography?

Firstly, I have a Celestron astromaster 130eq md (5")

I am wanting to get into astrophotography but I don't really want to spend hundreds of dollars at this stage. What would be the best kit out for my scope, which will get pretty good quality shots?

I would love to shoot some deep space shots aswell if possible in my budget?

Also, does anyone have experience with the Philips Toucam? I've heard some good reviews about it saying that the toucam is the best in that price range?

Cheers