|
Hi Mark,
I'm also playing at the shallow end of the AP pool, perhaps a few months along from where you are now. I started with a Dob and struggled to take decent photos of anything beyond planets, so I bought an NEQ6 and ED80 (and 0.85 flattener) which I used a DSLR with. I've been shooting unguided and have managed a couple of decent shots with 90 second subs.
After 3-4 months of that I started hungering for more focal length, so I've recently picked up an elderly second hand 8" f/5 reflector. First light was a success, even unguided; the far larger aperture allows shorter subs and my polar alignment was good enough for 45-second subs.
I haven't had any chance to use it since as I've taken it completely apart to clean & collimate it and Sydney's weather has been hideous.
Guiding is the next step. I'm a bit intimidated by it all actually but there's only so much one can do without it.
But yeah as Colin said below I think you're on the right track with your current plans. Let me know what you decide, look forward to seeing the results!
|