Been researching and reading a little on astrophotography gear and options. Just trying to narrow things down a little so I know how many $1000s I need to save to buy it.
My current plan is to get a motorised (GEM) mount now, probably with "goto", and mount my camera with both wide angle (10-22mm) lens and telephoto zoom (100-400mm) lens. That should do me for a little while, and I'll save then for a wide-field telescope (not sure if that's the correct term). Then that'll do me for a little longer while I save for a bigger scope for planetary/Solar(?) shots.
The mounts I've been looking at are the EQ5 and EQ6 ones, the "wide" scope I've been recommended is something like an ED80, and the bigger scope for planets etc is a little vague to me at the moment but I've been recommended to steer away from a Newtonian and get a Schmidt-Cassegrain or Matsukov. I'm not that worried about the specific bigger telescope at the moment, just want to be in the right ballpark so the mount I get can possibly take it, if that makes sense.
I understand the EQ5 would comfortably do the camera with lenses and the ED80, but not sure about the bigger scopes and whether I'd need to go up to the EQ6 or even something bigger. I don't want to go too small at the moment, but by the same token I don't want to go too excessive.
Here is where you will ask me "What's your budget?", and I'll say "As cheap as possible"
Seriously, I guess the above mounts and scope mentioned give you a rough idea of what I'm expecting. Motorised goto mount I've seen in the order of $1000 for EQ5 and $1900 for EQ6. ED80 scope I'm sure I've seen for $800. I have no idea on the bigger scope down the track.
Can I have your thoughts?
Are there other GEM mounts that are equal in performance but cheaper that you'd recommend?
What about the wide scope?
And what about the bigger one for planets etc?