[DobDobDob (Ron)]

Last night a relative visited and gave me a Canon 300D camera with an extra lens in a nice carrying case. It seems that the word has gone around amongst my clan that I was back into astronomy and they are all looking for things I might need to help my hobby along. One relative brought over a folding chair (not much good) but the thought was there.

So last night I was up and read the entire manual on the camera from cover to cover and learnt a lot. Over the next few days I will start taking terrestrial photos and get used to the camera. I realise it's not the latest, I see they have a 350D and also 400D and I would assume they are feature rich, however the camera I was given looks as if it will be a good starter camera.

Now here is the problem, I don't have a telescope yet. I have been waiting to go to a few observing nights at dark sites with different clubs so I could look through as many different scopes as possible. I do have 20x80 triplet binoculars and a very sturdy mount and over the last month have only used them twice, the weather as we all know in Sydney has been a shocker.

Firstly, is this camera good enough for me to start astrophotography? Second, what telescope or type of scope would be a good union between telescope and camera. Which mount would suit both the telescope and camera. Has anyone out there actually got a camera like this or similar, that they have actually taken astronomical photographs with and if possible could they show me a few examples so that I could see the type of image possible?

Seeing I have a couple of months before I purchase a telescope, I have the luxury of time to do a lot of reading on the subject, so which are the best links, sites, software, books, resources for learning the A-B-C's of astrophotography in a tutorial style?

Finally, nothing substitutes for experience, so can you all please give me your best tip for astrophotography, doesn't matter if it sounds quirky, it just might save me hours of frustration doping it the hard way.

Thanks in advance.