[Blueroom (Simon)]

Hello all,

My wife recently purchased a Meade Lx90 8" scope for my birthday. A very very generous gift (and a surpise).

Prior to purchasing, my wife carried out some research among various shops. She knew that my interest would be in imaging. Unfortunately, the shop through which she purchased the scope provided poor basic advice given the main the criteria was imaging. The result being that I have an LX90 with a standard mount AND NOT A SCOPE WITH AN EQUATORIAL MOUNT.

My camera is a DSLR (Cannon 7D).

The question is a) do I sell the scope (3 weeks old), make a loss and buy an equatorial mount and new (probably smaller scope). b) purcahse an equatorial wedge and an optical tube, auto guider, mount ect (another $2k) c) purchase a wedge, autogider and a focal reducer ($1K).

I am new to astro imaging but it is becoming obvious that without very deep pockets, there are many compromises which need to be made.

I would prefer to go with the cheaper option C but I do not know if I will end up with satisfactory results.

Has anyone purchased a similar scope and then upgraded with wedge ect for astro imaging? Are you happy with the results or would you advise that I cut my loses and start afresh building up from the equatorial wedge?

Thank you in advance.