[AstroJason (Jason)]

Thanks for the detailed responses guys, very helpful and much appreciated.

Here I was thinking the mount was pretty much sorted yet it is starting to be the one thing which could undo my plans. I may really have to rethink this and go the HEQ5 Pro mount and drop down to an 8” scope for a few years. Maybe that is the smarter move for now considering my current situation.

But all things considered regarding weight, I’m still going to be faced with a similar problem with an 8” scope and the HEQ5 Pro mount. I mean they obviously aren’t as heavy as a 10” scope and a NEQ6Pro. I would probably still have to carry the mount and counter weights separately on the HEQ5 up and down stairs. (I think this is me trying to talk myself into getting a larger scope).

Peter, I have actually spoken to Casstony about that OTA but I’m not sure I’m just ready yet to purchase. Also there are risks involved in shipping it to Sydney from Melbourne which will cost between a further $100-$200. But thanks for the heads up on it anyway. Your point about you noticing a significant difference between an 8” to a 10” both at the eye piece and with photography does reaffirm my thinking in going the 10” plus the fact that you make a very good point here… the scope is 1 trip up/down stairs regardless of size. Should I just get a 12” then?

But yes I understand where you’re coming from; astrophotography is going to be time consuming and requires a lot of patients and skill. Processing… I have a lot to learn here.

Gav, the limiting factor of load capacity on the HEQ5 Pro is exactly what is leading me towards the NEQ6Pro. Once I add my 60D, a Guidescope and a Autoguider to the mix I would like the mount to be more than capable of carrying the entire load. I want to do DSO imaging more than planetary, hence why I am leaning away from SCT.

Regarding the scope though, you guys have me thinking that while a SCT might not exactly be the best OTA for imaging DSO it may be the best solution for my situation because it’s the most compact. And as Peter has suggested, it will take me a while to get my skills up to speed to push the scope to its limits.

And yes Gav, I know “aperture fever” will take hold! It’s already beginning to take hold and I don’t have a scope yet! Those 16” Meade Lightbridges that Bintel are selling at $1999 make my head twitch each time I look at them!! But I agree and know from my past experience in this hobby that getting something too heavy and cumbersome does put you off from using it and everything just ends up sitting there gathering dust. I don’t want that to happen this time around!

One last question, what are peoples thoughts on the GSO Astrographs? They have the focuser at the back (unlike the newts). Should I still consider them? Anyone have first hand experience with them?