[Mountain_Wanderer]

G'day all.

I'm in the middle of looking for my first telescope and am considering getting a 10 inch newtonian dobsonian. Later I plan on upgrading to an eq mount for astrophotography and I'm trying to work out the following:

- Is a 10 inch newtonian tube good enough for astrophotography or would I likely be needing another scope such as a larger newtonian or something like a refractor? I hear 12 inch newtonians can't really be supported on eq mounts so I guess a refractor would be the choice? How much better is a refractor compared to a 10 inch newtonian or is the 10 inch OK and likely to achieve great astrophotos for a long time? Is the 10 inch newtonian considered a beginners astrophotography scope or can it be used for a lot of stuff up to advanced level photography?

- What type of mount would I need for a 10 inch newtonian? I hear the HEQ6 is inadequate?

- If I want to be covered for astrophotography for ever, what type of mount would I need? Would a HEQ6 mount be enough or is there bigger/larger mounts which I'd need? Is is safe to think that if I mount can support a 10 inch newtonian then it can support any scope (refractor and/or other)?

I ask all this because I have the choice of either buying the 10 inch dobsonian solid tube, therefore covering me for future astrophotography, or I can just get the 10 inch collapsible dob. The collapsible is much easier to transport around, however If I knew that the solid tube version was worth getting because it would be excellent for future astrophotography then I think I'd get that. However, if the 10 inch solid tube doesn't seem good enough for photography then I might as well just get the 10 inch collapsible dob and then later on buy a completely new scope and mount specifically for astrophotography - despite all the additional cost involved.

Whatya recon?

Jowel