There is no substitute for Aperture.

[Eyeball]

Gentlemen, I'm after a telescope and seek advice. Astrophotography is the name of the game. I don't profess to know a lot about telescopes and astronomy, however, have done enough now to justify purchasing a telescope that can meet my requirements. However, 70-80% just pure stargazing, with about 20% photography.

I understand that Dobsonian mounts aren't favourable for this task, and read somewhere Cassegrain telescopes on EQ mounts are better? I'm not a serious astrophotographer, nor astronomer, I'm not going to drop serious coin on something at this point in time.

Notwithstanding this, I was after something in the ballpark of about 500 bucks that would allow me to see the planets and some deep sky objects. I expect a lot for my 500 bucks though... 8" Saxon Dobs are on sale at the moment, but aren't great for photography so I hear?

It would be great to read some suggestions on what you'd think would suffice. In return I promise not to make any jokes about wanting to see Uranus, or similar remarks. Okay, not promise, but will do my best.

:thanx:

[cometcatcher]

Astrophotography for $500... I hope you already have a camera!

With $500 you could get an 8" dob and take pics of planets and the Moon afocal by pointing the camera down the eyepiece.

You could also make a barn door tracker or take tripod photos of the milky way. But that's about it.

Decent EQ mounts with dual axis drives start at $600 for a little one and go up from there. Not including the scope so your options are limited.

Deep sky astrophotography is not cheap.

[traveller]

Im afraid Kevin is right jack. You need a budget of $1500 if you want some form of deep sky AP work. For that price you can get an ED 80 refractor, EQ5 mount and a DSLR (all second hand prices).
I'd suggest you get a 8" dob and familiarize yourself with the sky first. Then do some projection and afocal work. Next try webcam and stacking of planetary images (Registax is free).
In the meantime, save like mad :)
Bo

[Rigel003]

Welcome to IIS! I'd go the 8" dob. Check out the 8" GSO dob at Andrews communications if you haven't already. It'll give you great views of the planets and deep sky and help you (force you to) learn your way around the sky. You'll get great photos of the moon, especially if you have a digital SLR, and maybe your deep sky photography can start with camera on tripod until you feel you're ready to spend on a driven mount.

[alistairsam]

How about these?
I think you could use webcams or planetary cams on these mounts, and they track as well.
I believe they are dual, alt/az as well as equatorial.
http://www.australiatelescopes.com.au/ioptron-refractor-cube-smartstar-a-r80-goto-telescope-altazimuth-equatorial-gps-dual-mount.html#
sure it would not compare to an 8" Dob, but its portable, goto and could, i'm guessing here, be used for simple planetary photography as well as some widefield DSO viewing in dark skies.
do compare prices at different places though.
or fit an RA motor on an eq mount, again for simple planetary work

http://www.bintel.com.au/Astrophotography/CCD-cameras/StarShoot-Solar-System-br-Colour-Imager-IV/789/productview.aspx

[loki78]

I think for a budget of $500 you can't afford to be too picky or expect too much as you say.

Since you want stargaze and do AP, you need to cater for both, but on that budget, tricky. I would definitely suggest what has been said, and since you want 80% stargazing and only 20% AP, then cater more for the stargazing, which is an 8" Dob. Will give you fantastic views. You can then take quite decent afocal shots of the planets and the moon which will start you off with your AP as well.

[Eyeball]

I do believe I'll put the AP ambitions on hold indefinitely and stick with the 8" Dobsonian idea. Whilst it would be interesting to learn the intricacies of astrophotography, I think just pure stargazing will be a bit less of a money sink. Can't go buying shiny new things when I've got a house to build :P

Actually I could get some "deep cloud" photography at the moment, haven't seen a clear sky in weeks out here lol.

Thank you for your input gentlemen, it was much appreciated. I'm going to find a reason to drive to Melbourne this week and procure said Dobsonian. Standby for my next post asking what to do when you've been looking at the sun with your telescope for too long!

[Screwdriverone]

Hi Jack,

Welcome to IIS, firstly, I would like to point out that the opening line of "Gentlemen....." does not address the numerous knowledgeable ladies on this forum, who should not be left out of this topic, as they are just as experienced in this sort of thing....

There, having righted the world again, on to the topic, for $500 you would not get too much in the way of an EQ mounted rig that could do much (if any) reasonable astrophotography, so if it is 80% visual you are after, then your choice of a sub $500 dobsonian is a good one.

Once you decide to dabble in AP, then you could quite easily adapt the tube of the dob and mount it on say a second hand HEQ5 Pro for example and then use a DSLR to take some tracked shots of 30 seconds or more.

From there on up, it is a never ending purchase plan of guidescopes, guidecam, better CCD, better mount, filters, dew heaters etc etc which will seriously dent your wallet and sometimes your relationships....so good luck with that when you get to that stage.

In the meantime, with the budget you have, keep an eye out on Ice Trade here for some bargains and enjoy your first scope, if its a dobsonian of 8", you most certainly will.

Cheers

Chris