Quote:
Originally Posted by thegableguy
$2k would get you something quite nice brand new, like a HEQ5 + ED80 package,but if you're on a budget then go check out the IIS classifieds. There's actually a HEQ5 for sale for $800 and a 6" reflector for $500 right now. I got my NEQ6, ED80 and 8" reflector with a bunch of accessories (rings, dovetails, finders etc) for exactly $2k. You should be able to pick up a decent second hand imaging rig for around $12-1300 if you're a little savvy.
Yep, a great way to start is getting a mount and putting a DSLR on top. That's how I started in April. It's a pretty steep learning curve, quite intimidating at first, but you learn the basics pretty quickly.
Though you can save money getting a manual mount and putting a simple RA drive on it, I strongly urge you to save the extra couple hundred and get a proper go-to.
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Thanks for the advice (specifically part names... that will help with the search). I believe I actually got my Dob off these forums (going back about 4 or so years now)... would love to still have it but funds were non existent at the time and I got what I paid for it... might keep an eye on another for visual astronomy and then get a second rig for DSLR (which sounds like the way many do it anyway).
Janette... I figured that $2000 would be a reasonable starting price... if I have any left over after that, so be it... but if I can save that much then I will be covered for a decent set up.
I will indeed keep an eye on the IIS classifieds... I still keep my eye on the famililar auction site and also Gumtree... sometimes people just want to be rid of things and don't mind how much they get (if you're really lucky you can pick things up free).
I will take the advice from this post (again thanks everyone for your help... it can be quite overwhelming with part numbers/types and minor variations in between.)
and will start putting together a basic set up and saving for my "promateur" kit
