What type of scope recommended for astrophotography (DSO)?

[odge]

Hi all,

I am really interested in astrophotography - especially DSO's (galaxies, nebulae etc) and am wondering what sort of telescope people would recommend. I have a Pentax DS*ist camera and a Barska Digi-Eyepiece (I haven't been able to source a Toucam webcam here in NZ).

All advice gratefully received.

Thanks

Jo

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi Jo.

Welcome to IIS! The most important question is, what's your budget? To do deepspace astrophotography (especially to do it well) can cost a fair amount of money.

Given that you've already got the Pentax DSLR, I'd recommend an EQ6 with an ED80 to start out. You can use your pentax at prime focus and take wide field images of deepspace objects.

I'm not sure that the digi-eyepiece will be of any help, and a ToUcam is good for planets but not DSO's. You can get a ToUcam off ebay quite cheap - don't restrict yourself to local suppliers for items like a ToUcam.

You will need to spend at least AU$2.5k to get a basic kit up and running. That's not to mention the software you'll need for processing, such as Photoshop. There are some free alternatives so it helps to shop around and try some out.

Keep asking questions!

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by iceman

Hi Jo.
Given that you've already got the Pentax DSLR, I'd recommend an EQ6 with an ED80 to start out.

I totally agree!

Originally Posted by iceman

and a ToUcam is good for planets but not DSO's.

WHAT!!!!! How did I get all my DSO's then???
Hmmm, I better not tell my Toucam it can't do it, it might go out on strike!

Originally Posted by iceman

You will need to spend at least AU$2.5k to get a basic kit up and running. That's not to mention the software you'll need for processing, such as Photoshop.

Yep.

[iceman (Mike)]

I knew you'd say something Ken He's already got a DSLR, that's why I wouldn't recommend using a ToUcam for DSO's.

[odge]

Thanks Mike & Ken,

The budget is very much limited ($0 at this point, but ultimately thinking next step to be around $1000 NZD).

I've had a look at the ED80 telescopes, but we don't seem to have very many available in NZ. Would a Skywatcher 102AZ Short (Focal length 510mm) be a reasonable substitute for someone who is very new to all this?

I've got Adobe Photoshop, Registax, Deep Sky Stacker, so I hopefully won't have much expense in the software line.

Thanks Jo.

PS... I'm not a He... I'm a She
510mm
*6x30 Finderscope
*Aluminium tripod
*AZ Mount
* Suitable for Land use & Astronomy

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Hi Jo.

You probably wouldn't enjoy imaging through the 102 very much as you would get quite bad blue halos around the bright stars. If you can get an ED80 then you will be on a winner. With the ED80, your 102 for a guidescope and an EQ6 or HEQ5 for a mount (try to find a ToUcam for autoguiding) and you will be up and away.

Oh plus a few little accessories like an illuminated reticle to use for guiding if you don't get a ToUcam and a camera T adapter to attach to the Orion.

Welcome to the bottomless pit

[MortonH]

You can do some nice wide-field DSO photography without a telescope at all. Just use a telephoto lens on your DSLR. You still need an EQ mount, of course.

Morton

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Very true Morton. In our enthusiasm we sometimes forget the simplest ways.

[odge]

The only thing I've got already from that list is the T adapter. I have an el cheapo red dot finder scope - is that an Illuminated reticle???

I feel like I need to go to university to get a degree to understand all the jargon I'm sure I'll get the hang of it in time...

What is the advantage of having a refractor type telescope over a newtonian or a cassegrain for DSO photography?

Jo

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi Jo.

The red-dot finder is not an illuminated reticle. The reticle is an eyepiece effectively, but it's got a set of crosshairs built into it which are illuminated red. So it's much more magnification than your 1x red dot finder. You can use it for:
a) drift aligning
b) manual guiding
That's it.

Both are important when it comes to astrophotography, so it's important piece of kit to own. They're about $90 from Bintel, but remember to turn them off! I just found mine is flat again after forgetting to turn it off. The $90 unit now owes me $24 in batteries! It's becoming expensive to own!

The only advantage of the small refractor is that is has a shorter focal length, making it a wider field of view (less magnification) meaning that accurate polar aligning and guiding isn't as critical as when you're working at longer focal lengths (more magnification).

You'll find that most people who do astrophotography wtih an SCT also use a focal reducer to reduce their focal length, for the same reason.

[Garyh]

Hi Jo,.....Welcome..
I had a short tube 102mm some years back and I wouldn`t recommend it for your DSLR..like mentioned you will have blue halos around bright stars which is very unattractive..
Better of with a ED80...you should be able to get one secondhand here in the trader section if you are quick....and save a few dollars even if its in Ozz...
A HEQ5 would be a good mount for your budjet and you should be able to get short unguided shots for maybe a min or so with good alignment..
Later you could get that guidescope and all the extra goodies that go with it.

I was going to get a ED80 myself some time back but a TV genesis came along........
Also the Ed would be a very versatile scope for the moon, DS and a look at the planets as well as a spotting scope in the daytime.
Cheers...

[Ingo]

Where can I buy the EQ-6's? Are the Orion EQ-G's similar in "greatness?"

Also, i'm looking at this scope as a cheaper alternative to the ED80

http://www.telescope.com/shopping/pr...roductID=92209

"Semi-Apo"

Any reason why I shouldn't get it?

[nightsky]

Originally Posted by Ingo

Where can I buy the EQ-6's? Are the Orion EQ-G's similar in "greatness?"

Also, i'm looking at this scope as a cheaper alternative to the ED80

http://www.telescope.com/shopping/pr...roductID=92209

"Semi-Apo"

Any reason why I shouldn't get it?

G'Day,
IMHO I think you would be better off buying a ED80 in OZ,when you factor in the exchange rate and also If anything goes wrong you'll have to send it back to the states plus add on the postage both ways. Bintel has one for $599 https://secure.attl.com.au/bintelshop/Stock/7290X.jpg as does Myastroshop $569 https://secure.attl.com.au/bintelshop/Stock/7290X.jpg, plus you get a finder scope.
Cheers
Arthur
P.S. Just noticed this "We ship to addresses in the U.S. and Canada only.

[iceman (Mike)]

Ingo lives in the US, Arthur

The Orion EQ-G is the same as the EQ6.

[Ingo]

Originally Posted by nightsky

G'Day,
IMHO I think you would be better off buying a ED80 in OZ,when you factor in the exchange rate and also If anything goes wrong you'll have to send it back to the states plus add on the postage both ways. Bintel has one for $599 https://secure.attl.com.au/bintelshop/Stock/7290X.jpg as does Myastroshop $569 https://secure.attl.com.au/bintelshop/Stock/7290X.jpg, plus you get a finder scope.
Cheers
Arthur
P.S. Just noticed this "We ship to addresses in the U.S. and Canada only.

Yes I do live in the US, so I need to know if anybody has anything against the Semi-APO scope?

Originally Posted by iceman

Ingo lives in the US, Arthur

The Orion EQ-G is the same as the EQ6.

Thanks for the clarification

[Garyh]

Originally Posted by Ingo

Yes I do live in the US, so I need to know if anybody has anything against the Semi-APO scope?



Thanks for the clarification

Same scope as the older willam optics zenithstar 80 semi-Apo (clone)
You will need a anti-violet filter as there will be a little false color showing in your images...but should be a nice little scope otherwise..
cheers...

[nightsky]

Originally Posted by iceman

Ingo lives in the US, Arthur

The Orion EQ-G is the same as the EQ6.

G'Day Mike,
What can I say duhh!!
Cheers
Arthur