Buying equipment and need some advice(and where to buy)

[Unknowncube]

Hi everyone, I've been interested in astrophotography for a long time but never really did anything about it. When the full lunar eclipse started the other week I took some photos and really enjoyed it and so I decided I wanted to buy proper equipment.

I have two questions though.

First: Is it worth starting cheap to buying more expensive and future proofing? I want to take deep space photos but I'm worried the higher end equipment(Or should I say not bottom tier equipment) may include a much higher complexity to it.

Second: Where can I buy this stuff? I was recommended a ][/B]AT6in imaging newtonian but I can't find ANYTHING on this telescope in Australia. Would buying it from overseas be viable?

Thanks for the help.



Edit: Oh, also just in case it matters this is the gear I was recommended.


Mount: Orion Sirius (AKA Skywatcher HEQ5)
Camera: Canon DSLR (e.g. 450D, 500D, 1000D)
Software: BackyardEOS Premium edition
Telescope: AT6in imaging newtonian
Accessories: T-ring, T-adapter, dovetail, tube rings for 6” newtonian
Coma corrector – Astronomics coma corrector for fast newtonians
Autoguider – Orion magnificent mini autoguider package

[Wavytone]

www.bintel.com.au is the premium reseller in Australia, the guys are very knowledgeable and helpful, and provide excellent support, all which is worth paying a tad for as these guys have to make a living like all of us.

There's also www.andrewscom.com.au

Buying expensive or cheap... my own view is that only a Questar telescope is worth spending big bucks on. Engineered like no other, and built to last a lifetime. Everything else you will replace sooner or later. The items with the shortest life are electronics. Then telescopes, mounts.

A good set of eyepieces should last upwards of 10 years, possibly 20 before you'll have the itch to upgrade them.

Lastly there is also an opposite view to yours... there are some here (self included) who have consciously decided not to plunge a lot of money into this hobby for a few reasons:

a) There are so many people banging away with far better gear than you can possibly afford that bothering to acquire an astrophotography setup has become somewhat pointless IMHO.

b) Think carefully about how often you will really get to use this gear. If you live in Sydney for example, that might be fairly rarely as its a long drive to dark skies and we've had several wet years in a row; some of us haven't pulled a scope out more than a couple of times a year.

If I was looking for a setup, I'd be starting with one of these babies http://telescopes.toptenreviews.com/...ph-review.html or similar. Fast enough, plenty of aperture, and pinpoint star images.

[colls (Michael)]

I would recommend Bintel as Wavytone said.
They are very helpful and if I was going to buy anything else, that is where i would go.

plus, it is not to far for me to drive there.

Good luck for whatever you do.
Michael

[acropolite (Phil)]

I'd recommend keeping an eye on the icetrade section, if you're prepared to wait your dollars will go a lot further. For example there are a couple of HEQ5's for sale as we speak.