Setting up for Astrophotography

[Richotech]

I am keen to buy a telesope to use with a quality digital camera (designed for astrophotography) using long exposures if needed. I'm thinking approx. 10" SCT or similar type for good balance. I like the new Meade mounts that allow easy visual setup such as GPS, but are they good enough to use for long exposure tracking. Should you use a EQ mount only. Also what would be a good camera (B&W filters or colour) up to around $2000.

Cheers.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Richotech.

You will find imaging though a 10 SCT a very large challenge no matter what mount you use unless you are prepared to spend some serious bucks. My suggestion would be to look for a scope with a focal length of no more than 1000mm to start with. Even this will be challenging. A recommended starting setup for someone new to astrophotography is an ED80 refractor, Canon DSLR, HEQ5 or EQ6, 60 or 70 mm guidescope and guiderings and ToUcam, DMK21 (for autoguiding and Solar System imaging) or similar.

This is a very popular starting kit and will allow you to capture stuff that will blow you away. Apart from the EQ6 (I used a Losmandy) these images were taken with exactly the above mentioned equipment.

[JohnG (John)]

Hi and welcome to IIS

First and foremost, if you plan on getting into Astrophotography, put whatever you can afford into a decent mount, without a good mount, you are, in my humble opinion, heading for frustration.

I don't know your level and experience at this stage so I will say, don't buy an SCT, you will be imaging at focal lengths of well over 2 meters, frustration and disapointment will get you down in the end.

If, as I think, you are just starting out my suggestion would be to buy yourself a decent mount then use something like an SkyWatcher ED80 Pro or similar to get some much needed experience, this combination will track well, give you nice wide field shots at a forgiving focal length.

As for a camera, any of the newer Canon or Nikon DSLR's will give you the necessary skills required before stepping up to a dedicated Astro Camera.

Cheers

[Zuts]

Hi,

There are heaps of threads relating to your question.

Basically the Meade is not suitable for long exposure photography unless you get a wedge. A field derotator would be limiting and quite expensive. Any alt-az mount will exhibit field rotation (star trails) on all but the shortest exposures.

Since you are looking at SCT's a suitable alternative would be an EQ6 mount, Celestron C9.25, Focal reducer, 3rd party crayford focuser to stop mirror shift, 70 or 80 mm guide scope, Second hand modded 350D camera plus t-ring and 2 inch nosepiece, second hand Meade DSI for guide cam, reticle for drift aligning, guide rings, battery for field use, second hand laptop for imaging.

This setup could be used for visual or astro photography and all up is probably around $5500.

Cheers Paul

[montewilson (Monte)]

Follow their advice or we'll never see you again! Seriously, start humble. We lose so many enthusiastic newbies because of overly ambitious equipment chioces.

I have been doing this for almost 20 years and I am yet to take a picture with a scope over 530mm of focal length!

Look for some of my posts to see what can be done at 1/4 of 2000mm.

[Zuts]

Hi,

Basically I agree with Monte and the other posters.

I guess what I was trying to say was that if you do go the SCT route that while it is possible it will cost big bucks given that my list was sort of a minimum starter pack.

Go small with a refractor, what you save you can spend on a nice DOB to whet your visual appetite.

Paul

[Escortitis]

Listen to these guy's!

I'm a newbie, and I jumped in the deep end with what I wanted to be a rival for Siding Springs in the west. I can tell you from my short experience that every minute you spend behind a 'practical' setup now, will equate to an hour less of head scratching frustrations if you continue on and up size you gear at a later date.

I've put some pics up that I've taken with my gear, compare them with some of the pic's taken with these guy's more 'practical' starting setups. There is no comparison, it will take me years of sorting my setup to get it to a point where I even get close to the quality of images you see in some of these threads.

As John said, your mount will be your best asset for imaging, but you don't have to stick the biggest scope it will carry on it first up. And whatever you start with, make sure you get six buckets of patience on the side, you never know how much you'll need!

Cheers,

George