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Old 14-05-2008, 02:26 AM
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Screwdriverone (Chris)
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kellyville Ridge, NSW Australia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Kalan View Post
I'm not looking at photography just yet, but to throw a spanner in the works, if i had the option it would be good. But I guess that avenue would limit the type of scope i can get.

That cube at $365 seams like a bargain. Just had a look at their web site but i couldn't find it. Could i put the promak 150 on cube mount?

Attaching the ED80 to my dob as using it as a guide scope is also attractive. Thanks for all these ideas. Wish had more $$$, id just implement them all.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Starkler View Post
Sorry to have to poo poo your suggestions again Chris, but an alt-az goto isn't really suitable for anything but the most rudimentary of short exposure astrophotography. Think field rotation. Besides Peter hasn't mentioned any desire to do astrophotography or given it as a criteria in selecting a scope.
Thats Ok Geoff, I forget myself sometimes, but I have mentioned the field rotation previously in the thread. Good to know about the cube though, that you cant freewheel it on manual mode. Bugger.

Hi Peter,

Sorry, I overlapped an idea from another thread asking about astrophotography so I got carried away with the idea here. Geoff is good at reigning me in when I get carried away, thankfully.

Resetting the mind, I think for only $599, the Skywatcher Promak 150 and the Pro ED80 are both great value and both come with an aluminium case (Andrews).

If you like the idea of the piggyback ED80 then go this way, but the Promak 150 will probably give brighter images and better magnification. Both seem to give great photos of DSO's and planets from the examples I have seen on My Astro Shop's Website click here for the ED80 photos and here for photos taken with a Promak180 (cant find any for the Promak150 and its only 1 inch difference)

You CANT put the Promak150 on a cube, it exceeds the 5kg payload limit. Sirius Optics sell it here, I agree, a goto mount for only $365 is good value, whack the ED80 on it and portability, quality optics and functionality is great for a combo just a bit more than a Celestron Nexstar 130 SLT with goto ($899)

Buy either a ALT AZ GSO mount for $249 or go with Dannat's idea of a camera tripod for the Mak.

If you do use either for Astrophotography later, you will need a motorised EQ mount for the long exposures and this isnt exactly portable as explained before in the thread.

I keep banging on about the Skywatcher Pro series because their quality optics set them aside from most scopes in this bracket and you mentioned you are used to a 10" dob, so I think a 5 inch reflector is a waste of time for the money.

Chris
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