Equipment selection

[pike]

Hi All

I am hoping to start on the path towards astrophotography, have trawled through the posts on this site and am totally amazed.

I don't really have any experience in the field apart from pointing my DSLR at the sky with my tripod and taking some happy snaps. I want more.

So my question is:
Forgetting price
If I were to choose between the different types of telescopes (same apeture) what would be best for photography? I will be starting out just using my eyeballs and learning a few things, but will eventually want to strap my DSLR to the thing.

Any advice is appreciated.

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

hi pike,

unfortunately it isn't that simple and the answer wouldn't be beneficial in deciding what you 'should' get. different scopes provide different solutions for different targets there are strengths and weaknesses for all scopes. and you simply wouldn't get a refractor that has the same aperture as a newtonian for example (but you may get the same focal length).

in short a rough guide would be something like:

wide field (short focal length) = refractor

mid focal length = newtonian

longer focal length (galaxies and close ups) = Ritchey chretien / Schmidt cassegrains.

there are others in between and overlap. generally people either start off with a refractor or Newtonian. it is harder to guide/polar align at longer focal lengths - so it makes sense to start with a refractor or Newtonian (unless you are after planets then you'd probably get a large newt). the usual recommendation is something like a ED80 refractor or an 8" Newtonian.

cheers

russ

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

Hi Pike,

I will second Russell's recommendations.

If money is not an issue, then a small triplet with a built-in field flattener and solid focuser would be most hassle free and relatively easy to use, perhaps something like this one: http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/...d-sensors.html

But let's not forget a good tracking mount - essential part of anyone's astro-rig. You can take quality wide-field space images without a telescope, just with a DSLR attached to a good mount, but to my knowledge you cannot take quality space photos (perhaps with the exception of a few planets and the moon) without accurate tracking, no matter how good your telescope is.

[Geoff45 (Geoff)]

I started small and worked up. My route was 4" APO on a losmandy g8, which got me a lot of experience guiding, finding, focussing, processing. Followed up with an Astro-Physics AP900-- very relaxing, guiding so good it was boring, followed by a 12.5" CDK on the AP900. Camera went from a Canon 350d to a QSI540 to an FLI Proline 16803. So I guess what I'm recommending here is start small, gain experience and let the experience guide your next step.
Geoff

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

Originally Posted by ghsmith45

I started small and worked up. My route was 4" APO on a losmandy g8, which got me a lot of experience guiding, finding, focussing, processing. Followed up with an Astro-Physics AP900-- very relaxing, guiding so good it was boring, followed by a 12.5" CDK on the AP900. Camera went from a Canon 350d to a QSI540 to an FLI Proline 16803. So I guess what I'm recommending here is start small, gain experience and let the experience guide your next step.
Geoff

Now I know what's coming next...I particularly like the idea of 'boring guiding'...can't wait for Christmas!