I'm looking to buy my first scope soon and would like to know if I'm on the right track. I'm interested in getting into some Astrotophotography,
and am keen on looking at pretty much everything from the moon to deep space. I'd love to end up taking pictures of the Sun, but one step at a time hey.
Anyway I was looking at the Celestron Nexstar 4SE. The reason this one has stood out is because of it's ability to hook up the laptop, and attach the camera straight to the scope etc.
Is this a good idea or would you guys recommend something else? I haven't owned a scope before, so am I getting in too deep or will I be able to manage it? It's fairly expensive, but I'd rather pay now for something good than go through a few scopes before buying something like this anyway.
What's your budget? Do you plan to do both visual observing and some astrophotography with the same scope? How dark are your skies? Do you plan to travel to darker skies?
What's your budget? Do you plan to do both visual observing and some astrophotography with the same scope? How dark are your skies? Do you plan to travel to darker skies?
Cheers,
John B
Hi John,
I'd like to spend less than $1500 preferably. I would definitely like to do visual observing as well. It would be good to be able to do this from the same scope, but am open to getting separate ones. I'm in the middle of Adelaide, however I go camping a lot of weekends, and that's when I plan to use it the most. I'm happy to do a few hours travelling out of Adelaide on a normal weekend.
Hi Andrew - looks like you're in the same place as me. I also looked at the nexstar 4SE but it is on an az-alt mount which i understand is no good for photography (is astrotography the same as astrophotography?). Plus it's a small aperture and it's a slow scope. The feedback that I've been given is to get a good and sturdy equatorial mount (HEQ5 or EQ5) which will set you back in the range of $1000 with goto and that'll leave you $500 for a scope but no guidescope (prices seem to be around $400 for autoguidescope or perhaps less if you can modify a webcam). In any case, I'm still sitting on the fence since the numbers add up.. need a battery pack for the mount, eyepieces, star diagonals etc etc.. For me, I'm considering an HEQ-5, I got a 50mm F1.4 lens for my camera to take wide field images and I'm looking at a 65mm quad telescope with built in field flattener for around $650-700. Then I'd need to get the eyepieces etc if I want to use it for visual or a T-adapter for photography.
Thanks Matt, Yeah sorry I meant Astrophotography. I blame the computer for correcting me :p ... I haven't done all too much research so am not sure what a different aperture, lenses and eye pieces will do. I need to do a bit of reading i think
I'm not an astrophotographer, but I wouldn't think the Celestron is the best option for this. You could get a used equatorial mount like the HEQ5 Pro or CG-5 for around $800. Both can be controlled via a laptop.
Many people here use an ED80 scope for photos. You can get a used one for around $500 (Skywatcher, Saxon, etc).
I think a bit of reading is a very good idea. The kind of scope that is good for observing visually is usually quite different to one that is good for astrophotography. And the budgets are quite different as well. It is possible to do imaging with simple equipment as Rob_K's efforts with a DSLR and tasco 4.5" newtonian show. Bear in mind that you will need an EQ mount so that the scope rotates with the sky and that you will need to guide the scope. Rob does this by hand, but most imaging folk use a second scope, second camera and all mounted on an HEQ5 or higher.
Having said all that, I don't do any imaging, but I've seen what it takes. My main point is that it will be worth doing quite a bit of research if that is the path you want to take. The scope that you're looking at is perhaps not the ideal choice for that path (and possibly not for visual observing either)
What might be the most beneficial bit of research is to go to an ASSA or other club night and have a look at and through some gear and talk to some of the people about their experiences.
Hi Andrew. My first scope was a 76mm reflector on an alt-az mount. Even though it was small aperture, i had some great fun with it, finding clusters and bright deep space objects. It kept me happy for a little while but soon outgrew it wanting to see more.
I got some real bargains by buying second hand after doing some brief research on what scopes were ok to get.
You are welcome to come over and take a view through both the 102 achro refractor and the 8" Newt reflector. Both are on EQ mounts. The EQ3 has a tracking motor which can let you see first hand what it is all about.
My mounts are not capable at connecting to a PC, but that does not bother me (at this stage) yet as just learning polar alignment and basic widefield imaging and observing keeps me busy for now.
Send me a PM if you wish to have a look.
I think a bit of reading is a very good idea. The kind of scope that is good for observing visually is usually quite different to one that is good for astrophotography. And the budgets are quite different as well. It is possible to do imaging with simple equipment as Rob_K's efforts with a DSLR and tasco 4.5" newtonian show. Bear in mind that you will need an EQ mount so that the scope rotates with the sky and that you will need to guide the scope. Rob does this by hand, but most imaging folk use a second scope, second camera and all mounted on an HEQ5 or higher.
Having said all that, I don't do any imaging, but I've seen what it takes. My main point is that it will be worth doing quite a bit of research if that is the path you want to take. The scope that you're looking at is perhaps not the ideal choice for that path (and possibly not for visual observing either)
What might be the most beneficial bit of research is to go to an ASSA or other club night and have a look at and through some gear and talk to some of the people about their experiences.
Hi Andrew,
Paddy has given you sound advice. Equipment suited for imaging is very different to equipment suited to visual observing. Whilst $1,500 might sound a reasonable budget, it isn't enough to get you something really suited to both pursuits. It will certainly get you a scope and eyepieces that would be good for visual (8" to 10" collapsible dob), but that same scope wouldn't be any good for imaging. Similarly, it would get you something 1/2 decent for introductory imaging, like an 80mm to 100 mm refractor on a cheap EQ mount but IMO that scope is very limited for visual astronomy. The 4" Celestron SCT you are considering isn't really much good for either.
Thanks Steve, I'd love to come have a look. I'll contact you once I'm home and not typing on my phone.
Thanks too John. I'll definately take the advice on board. Considering my budget I might go for a scope to just look through for now. Once I'm familiar with the sky and can find my wsy around, I'll start working towards something to do imaging with.
As a starting telescope for visual astronomy it's very hard to do better than something like these 8 inch or 10 inch collapsible tube dobsonians. They give you enough aperture to see things and give aesthetically nice views of the planets, moon and showpiece DSO's and aren't too difficult to store and transport. Add a couple of better quality eyepieces than the supplied plossls and you're good to go with change from your $1,500. You might want to shop around for the best deal pricewise. I just used these links to show you the scopes I was recommending. I can tell you that Steve at My Astro Shop will give you excellent service, and he may be the cheapest.
Hi Andrew,
Whilst all of the above advise is good and sound, there is one factor not mentioned that may support your thoughts of the SE4 suiting your dual pursuits.
And that is, although it is on an Alt/Az mount, it does have a built in wedge, which converts it to Equatorial.
Additionally, it has a built in flip mirror which allows switching between eyepiece and camera.
However, 4 inches is a little small for most people when it comes to observing pleasure.
And f/13 is generally not well regarded by astro-photographers.
I just wanted to make sure you have all the facts before you discount it completely.
This is the problem with the SE4. It sits in no man's land. At 4" aperture its really a toy telescope for visual astronomy; and at F13 it's way to slow for a beginning imager with a non premium mount.
In Andrew's situation I believe it would be an excercise in total frustration and a waste of his money.
I'm looking to buy my first scope soon and would like to know if I'm on the right track. I'm interested in getting into some Astrotophotography,
and am keen on looking at pretty much everything from the moon to deep space. I'd love to end up taking pictures of the Sun, but one step at a time hey.
Anyway I was looking at the Celestron Nexstar 4SE. The reason this one has stood out is because of it's ability to hook up the laptop, and attach the camera straight to the scope etc.
Is this a good idea or would you guys recommend something else? I haven't owned a scope before, so am I getting in too deep or will I be able to manage it? It's fairly expensive, but I'd rather pay now for something good than go through a few scopes before buying something like this anyway.
Any input is greatly appreciated ,
Andrew
Andrew, to give you some idea the following are using an NEQ6 pro with a 10” Skywatcher reflector
This rig is large and not that portable as the OTA and mount would not fit well in a family sedan. Although the mount in the boot and OTA on the back seat would work.
They are in the following order
Moon, prime focus with a Canon 550d
Moon, x2 barlow with the Canon
Saturn, x5 Teleview and webcam
I wouldn't recommend a 4SE for anything other than casual stargazing.
The mount (and other 'SE' mounts) are 'alt-az' or up-down, round and round mounts and not suited for astrophotography without a wedge.
Furthermore the 4-6" Celestrons (in my experience) are nothing to write home about optically and their small aperture and largish central obstruction (CO) give somewhat flat views with little contrast and poor definition.
IMHO, an 8" Newtonian on something like an HEQ5 or CGEM would cover both visual and AP almost perfectly.
This rig should come-in, at or, under budget (various coma-correctors and focal reducers aside) and give you a great start.
A short focal-length 80-100mm refractor would do just as well for wide-field but be less capable for Lunar/Planetary/DSOs and be a lttle more expensive.
Last edited by Waxing_Gibbous; 01-10-2012 at 11:58 PM.
Thanks guys, Peter those pictures are awesome. I think I'll try and get myself a 10" dob and then start putting some cash away for something that will be specifically for imaging. That way I'll be able to have two scopes set up and the mrs wont get as bored
Thanks, again for the info. I'll hopefully have something by the end of the month
You could also stick something like a C8 on a HEQ5Pro, second hand you can come in under budget, still be really portable and stick an ED80 or a 60mm on there at some point as a widefield scope for DSO photography, or as a guidescope for the C8.
Later on for photography you could use a cheap DSLR ($200) body for widefield, and a 2nd hand DMK21 for planetary (about $250).
,
