Decisions.... decisions

AdrianF (Adrian) · #1 22-07-2008, 02:46 PM

In about a week or so I will be in the position to buy a refractor telescope and a HEQ5Pro SynScan mount , budget around $2500

.

The mount is about $1100 about $1100 to buy a scope and $300 to buy a camera. The question is which one?

.

I would like to get into astrophotography.

I have thought about the Skywatcher ED80 Pro at $799, I understand it is the beesknees from info I have been given, but I would like a bigger aperature 100mm-127mm or more. Is there another scope anyone would recommend for the $1100? If I get the ED80 I should be able to afford a Canon 350D (pre-loved) but my budget wont allow for a camera yet if I go and buy a bigger more expensive scope. Or would you forgo the camera and buy a better scope for $1400?

As anyone here used the [FONT='Arial','sans-serif']ASTROMASTER PV-152 at $1140 (6" aperature) are they worth it? Its at http://www.astro-optical.com.au/view...name&x=34&y=11 they will sell it without the mount.

AdrianF

sheeny (Al) · #2 22-07-2008, 03:13 PM

What sort of astrophotography do you want to do, Adrian?

I guess with say an ED80, a HEQ5 and a 350D you could do:

Fixed tripod widefields (assuming you have lenses with the 350D)
Short exposure unguided images
Long exposure widefield images (guided through the ED80)

For lunar / planetary stuff, a larger/longer FL scope and a webcam is probably better.

For long exposure DSOs you'll need to guide - which you won't have the gear for initially but you can build up to that.

Just my 2c... I don't know if it helps your decision, but before you buy is the time to decide what sort of astrophotography you want to do so you buy the right gear to help to develop into it.

Al.

AdrianF (Adrian) · #3 22-07-2008, 03:54 PM

I want to do it all.
No really I would like to photgraph nebula and galaxies. I will eventually get guide scopes etc as my budget will allow, I have a laptop I had a modified webcam until I tried to see how aerodynamic it was and dropped it down some stairs.

Adrianf

AlexN · #4 22-07-2008, 04:15 PM

how interested are you in visual astronomy? If you enjoy it, i would say spend everything you have now on mount and scope. Then save for a 350d and a guide scope.. That way when you get all the gear together you'll have a much better scope to image with. Something like an orion eon or sky watcher equinox or the like in a 100 mm aperture

dannat (Daniel) · #5 22-07-2008, 05:31 PM

why don't you buy starkler's vixen 115 & heq5 in the classifieds, i think it would be way ahead of an ed80 - it you would be making a big saving on new gear

Bassnut (Fred) · #6 22-07-2008, 05:37 PM

The exposure time without guiding for galaxies will be difficult (well, and nebs).

You have $1100 for a scope, Id say go the ED80 for $899 which leaves $200 odd for a ST80 guide scope ($219) and snaffle a webby from somewhere for a guide cam. Some mounting gear then required, but you have a useable imaging rig.

I think you would soon tire of visual with 100mm or less, and without guiding you are heading for frustration. The diff between 80 and 100mm is mute for starter imaging.

AlexN · #7 22-07-2008, 06:53 PM

Im going to back up Dannat's idea... go here, buy it

its a bit above budget, but the included scope is worth the total cost, and you're basically getting a HEQ5 pro thrown in for free.. Not to mention the scope is superior to the ED80

AdrianF (Adrian) · #8 25-07-2008, 02:50 PM

Well the funds have arrived

for my new scope but still no closer to deciding which one to buy

. I have tried getting more info on the Astromaster PV-152 from the dealer but as yet they havent answered my email so I might have to go the direct approach and call them.

Adrian

AlexN · #9 25-07-2008, 03:08 PM

make sure to keep watching the forums. Great scopes and mounts pop up all the time. Your initial thoughts of an ed80 and heq5 pro should leave enough spare change for a good pre loved 350d. I picked one up recently with a lens and 2 batteries for 325.

dannat (Daniel) · #10 25-07-2008, 04:09 PM

the astromaster seems ok - petzval designs usually give a nice flat field but some color at higher magnifications will probably occur. there are a couple of filters to help with false color, baader make a semi-apo filter & WO make a minus violet for their petzval scopes. for photography though nearly all use ED scopes, & the ad does not suggest it it

toyos · #11 25-07-2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianF

Well the funds have arrived

for my new scope but still no closer to deciding which one to buy

. I have tried getting more info on the Astromaster PV-152 from the dealer but as yet they havent answered my email so I might have to go the direct approach and call them.

Adrian

I've had this for sale for a while for $630

I got it directly from China.

Unfortunately someone just placed a deposit on it.

Maverick · #12 25-07-2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianF

In about a week or so I will be in the position to buy a refractor telescope and a HEQ5Pro SynScan mount , budget around $2500

.

The mount is about $1100 about $1100 to buy a scope and $300 to buy a camera. The question is which one?

.

I would like to get into astrophotography.

I have thought about the Skywatcher ED80 Pro at $799, I understand it is the beesknees from info I have been given, but I would like a bigger aperature 100mm-127mm or more. Is there another scope anyone would recommend for the $1100? If I get the ED80 I should be able to afford a Canon 350D (pre-loved) but my budget wont allow for a camera yet if I go and buy a bigger more expensive scope. Or would you forgo the camera and buy a better scope for $1400?

As anyone here used the [FONT='Arial','sans-serif']ASTROMASTER PV-152 at $1140 (6" aperature) are they worth it? Its at http://www.astro-optical.com.au/view...name&x=34&y=11 they will sell it without the mount.

AdrianF

Hi Adrian
How about this from Andrews Communications

PROED100 ED Apochromatic refractor 100mm x 900mm (inclusions as per OTA below) with HEQ5PRO SynScan Go-To white coloured equatorial mount/tripod, V3.0 flashprogrammable hand controllerand aluminium carry case! You save A$1300 off Sydney competitor's price!$2099.00
and $400 to spare for camera

Good luck

AlexN · #13 25-07-2008, 06:53 PM

Maverick provides an excellent option... get yourself a 350D/400D with the extra $400 and you're off... then go into saving mode for a guide scope and guide camera..

AdrianF (Adrian) · #14 25-07-2008, 07:02 PM

Maybe someone here can explain what effect does focal length have on photography/visual with a scope.
One dealer is telling me that a short focal length is better for photography and a longer focal is better for visual.
Can someone please explain for an inexperienced person?

Adrian

ozstockman (Mike) · #15 25-07-2008, 08:05 PM

Andrian,
don't forget that you will also need a guide scope and a guide camera plus some mounting solution to mount both scopes on your mount at the same time. Without autoguiding you won't be able to do long exposure astrophotography.

Mike

AdrianF (Adrian) · #16 25-07-2008, 08:10 PM

Yes I understand this I am trying to build up to it. I dont expect to pick up a scope on monday and start taking pix that night. My budget wont allow me to buy everything at once, just a bit at a time. I have already committed to a HEQ5Pro with v3 Synscan controller just need something to mount on it has I dont think my 10" Dob will fit.

Adrian

AlexN · #17 25-07-2008, 08:27 PM

Adrian. the 10" wont go onto a HEQ5 nicely... it will probably be fine for visual, but wouldnt be stable enough for photography.

As for the comments on long vs short focal length....
A shorter focal length will give you a wider field of view, an longer will give you narrow field of view.

Both are fine for astrophotography, but this all depends on your mounts alignment, tracking and stability.. A long focal length will require more stablility, because it takes less movement at long focal lengths to cause star distortions and blur. tracking/alignment errors at shorter lengths will be more forgiving than with long.. for example... a few weeks ago, I took a few photos of M20/M8 with a camera/lens, however I had perhaps the roughest polar allignment ever... I basically set my latitude, and pointed the mount in the general area of the scp, then started taking photos... I took one through my 6" refractor (1200mm focal lenght) and got nothing but star trails through a 1minute exposure. I then piggybacked the camera and a 200mm lens (very short focal lenght for astrophotography) With the shorter focal lenght but the same shocking alignment i was able to take 1 minute exposures with very minimal star trails...

For your first shots I think something around 500 ~ 700mm focal length will be the best trade off between good image scale of nebs/galaxies vs hair pulling tracking problems.

AdrianF (Adrian) · #18 25-07-2008, 08:33 PM

Thanks for that. The comment about the Dob and the HEQ5 mount was a little tongue in cheek as I have already figured that the weight of the dob is too heavy for the HEQ5.

Adrian

Screwdriverone (Chris) · #19 25-07-2008, 09:16 PM

Hi Adrian,

Here is my go;

1 X Pro ED80 from StarOptics (Andrews is $100 more?) for $599
1 X EQ6 Pro Synscan for $1499 from Andrews

Subtotal is $2099 which leaves $400 for a 350D etc.

This way, the extra payload capacity of the EQ6 Pro will allow you to mount your 10" dob tube and use the ED80 as a guide or imaging scope depending on which tube you are using for photography.

Oh, if you want a super cheap guide scope, Andrews second hand/used specials page has a 70mmX900mm NEW Skywatcher OTA for $49!!! would this work AlexN? Then Adrian could use the ED80 as the imager, the 70mm as the guider and leave the dob on its cradle. OR when the Dob is the imager, use the ED80 is the guider and so on.

This works for me? apart from the extra tube bits to mount it all, it sort of works within budget?

I am sure Andrews will match or beat the ED80 Pro Star Optics price, just not sure why Lee has it more expensive to start with.

Anyhoo, thats my idea.

Chris

AlexN · #20 25-07-2008, 09:35 PM

that 70mm tube for $49 would work fine for guiding.. I've been considering snapping it up for just that..

Then yes, Adrian could use the 70mm + ED80 as guidescope / imagescope setup.

The EQ6 for 1499 from andrews brings forth another option Adrian....

$1499 for an EQ6
$70 for rings for the 10"
$139 for a low profile focuser for the 10" (to achieve focus with a DSLR)
$50 for the 70mm guide scope
$100 for a webcam to autoguide
$139 for a GPUSB to go from lappy to mounts guide port
$50 for 70mm rings..
$2047 Total.. Leaving enough for a 350D!

Mount the 10" with the 70mm piggy backed on top of it. wack in the dslr, set up auto guiding with a webcam through the 70mm and there you have yourself a very nice imaging rig, including autoguiding...

Thats actually a very good option now that I think about it...[EDIT: I should say.. Now that Chris and I think about it...

]