What to get?

[Carlz (Carly)]

Hey everyone
I am ready to go out and purchase my first astrophotography scope, however i thought id ask for some advice on here first and others opinions on what i should get.
The Scope i had in mind is the Skywatcher BD ED100. However i was hoping that someone who owns a ED100 could tell me what they think of it? Are there any particular differences between the ED100 and the ED120?

The Mount im planning on getting if the EQ6 pro. Should i stick with this (as it has auto guiding, and if in the future i want to upgrade the scope, i know it can hold plenty of weight), or go for the EQ5?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated I'm hoping to get it asap so i can get used to it before IISAC

Carly

[Poita (Peter)]

Everyone has told me to go for the eq6 if you ever want to get into photography, and it gives you far more options as to scopes you may want to get for the future.

I can't help you with the ED100, what is your main interest, DSO, planets, photography, the block of flats next door...

[Carlz (Carly)]

Yes that is what i was thinking...so i could have a better variety of options with it.
My photography will be mainly DSO and planets.

[Poita (Peter)]

Annoyingly it also appears that a good DSO camera is lousy for planetary and vice versa.

Still though, get the EQ6, and maybe a cheap toucam or similar and start with the planets, there is so much to learn that I'm sure that would keep one busy for about 12 months.

[Carlz (Carly)]

yeh i have definitely decided on the ed6 mount... just still not sure on the actual scope...

[Poita (Peter)]

As far as the scopes go, the main difference between the ED100 @ 900mm and the ED120 @ 900mm focal length is that the ED120 will gather more light with its extra 20mm of aperture.
So *if* you have really good seeing without atmospherics getting in the way, you could use higher magnifications for the planets, and Deep Sky objects should be a bit brighter in the 120 vas the 100.

Otherwise to my (limited) knowledge they are effectively the same. Same focal length the 120 just lets in more light.

If I had the money, I'd go for the 120.

[Gem (Grant)]

A 120mm will give you 44% more light gathering than a 100mm. This is more critical for visual use than for imaging. When imaging, if you have a good mount and good tracking you can image for longer and hence gather more light onto the image. If you are looking with your eyes, you don't have that luxury.
If I were you, go for the 120 if your budget allows. Otherwise, the 100mm will do fine for imaging but may be a tad disappointing for visual use.

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

Size is absolutely important. Mostly the size of your wallet.
An f9 scope is going to more difficult to work with than say and f5 or f6.
Not that excellent results can't be obtained - it just takes longer and your guiding has to be all the more accurate.
If you are NOT constrained by a budget, then either a Televue NP101 or Takahashi FSQ 85 or FSQ106 (all around $4k) will give you a lifetime of imaging happiness.

So will a suitably reduced 8-10" SCT or Newt.

In fact, the Newt is probably the best option. Imaging Newts (at around f4) are now available from a couple of suppliers. They are inexpensive compared to refractors or SCTs and quite easy to handle.
An ordinary Newt at around f5 will do just as well and double as a planetary instrument, though you would want to add a coma reducer.
This site's head honcho "Iceman" is probably one of the top Newtonian imagers in the world. Seek his opinion!

If you want to stick to a refractor (they are quite sexy) and are on a budget, virtually any quality 80-110mm APO will produce excellent results when combined with a field flattener.
My sweet-spot would be a Sharpstar (Astro-Tech) 106 / f6.5.
At around $1800 with a flattener and or reducer, I can't think of a sub-$2000 scope that comes close to this instruments quality. It really is astounding.

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

I have the SW BD 100mm APO- it's a sweet scope but the focuser could do with being a bit firmer -it tends to slip with my heavy DSLR in it. A focus upgrade would make this a great scope. Having said that- I hardly use mine as for DSO's I use my 80mm Meade.
I was thinking of parting with it actually -less than a year old with a metal case.......
The other thing is it's quite long so you can get into some yoga positions reaching the eye piece! (on an EQ mount)
Graham