new scope recommendation

[miyone]

Hi all,

I've been wandering around this site for a while, but just decided to join now. In December i decided to get myself a Celestron Astromaster 130EQ. It was great and all, but I wanted to do more. I purchased that mainly because i wanted to learn to navigate manually, which i think is important for any beginner.

Lately i was thinking of going further with this hobby - not now, but perhaps later this year. I am going to get a decent DSLR camera soon, and was hoping i can use it for beginner astrophotography too. So i am looking for a telescope that can (1) mount the dslr and take sky photos, (2) can connect/control to my computer, (3) possibly bit smaller so it's easy to take outside.

Any thoughts? I don't have a budget in mind yet, as I am still looking for the usual range. TIA. This site is wonderful.

[Poita]

Cheapest option, second hand ED80 on a 2nd hand HEQ5 mount, and a flattener, there are some in the classifieds now.

Lets you do the larger DSOs, control from computer, PEC etc. and isn't too large and you could get away for around $1000-$1500 all up.

Add a T-Ring for your camera and you are away.

Then there are guidescopes or OAGs etc. that you can start lusting over and burning money on.

Next option up would be a large Newtonian or SCT or RC on an EQ6 mount, but the size and weight and $$ are starting to get up there.

[traveller]

Spacezebra has a nice package for beginners.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=92453 ED80 is very forgiving on DSLR. Search under pixel size v focal length to get some ideas.
The only thing is her mount is not computerised. Search the forum, there are many discussions re the importance of a good mount. A HEQ5 or an EQ6 is the minimum and there are lots of support for both mounts.
Bo

[miyone]

Thank you for the responses. The 80ED refractor and the mount looks exactly what I wanted. Thanks for the links too. Hopefully there will be available second-hand equipment around Brisbane once i'm ready to purchase. :)