|
Go for a 12" Dob and forget about AP for now. If you got the financial commitment spend the extra 200bugs and go for the max.
AP is totally different, trust me. I started with a 6" EQ mounted scope and was amazed by what can be seen with it, more so when I went under truely dark skies. But then I wanted to take pictures of what I saw and started with getting a DSLR (and a decent lens=2k) then of course I needed a better tracking mount (NEQ6PRO=2k) then I needed a guide scope and a guide camera (ED80+OSSAG+rails and stuff=2k) then I wanted to shoot from true dark skies so I needed a battery to support the laptop and the mount and a bigger car and an emergency tent (for when it starts to rain before you can pack up) and a laser to align the gear and a big toolbox to store all the cables, cams, adaptors, tools, masks etc.=never ending story. And once you get a decent image and compare it to the ones in the glossy papers-you want more=cooled CCDīs, RCīs, Paramountīs, you name it.
After I took a deep breath and reminded myself that I actually just wanted to take pictures of what I saw (without spending hours reading books about photoshop and twice the time using that knowledge) I came to realise that a 6" newton and a DSLR is really all I need for AP. But I really want, for the hours that pass whilst automated exposures, is a huge dob to roam the sky and be amazed. My next call is either a 16" lightbridge with my current eypieces or a 12" GSO with Naglers.
My two cents for what its worth.
Cheers
|