Astrophotography - more questions!

[Moonshine]

I have a new Canon EOS 5d DSLR - unmodded naturally as it is for general photographic duties. I am thinking about getting a 10" LX200R when they hit our shores. I am intending to get into astrophotography - at this stage DSO's hold my interest. Questions: Will the unmodded Canon be ok or will I need to get a CCD camera? Is the GOTO mount that comes with the LX200R going to be OK, or should I get something different eg a Losmandy. If the latter, is the Gemini ok or should I look at something like the AN? Sorry for so many questions!

Don

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

G'day Moonshine.

The long and the short of it is yes the mount of the LX200R will be great but you will need a wedge and for mobile mounts I found the wedge a pita to work with. For permanent setups it might be a different story as you would only have to check it now and then and hopefully not make major adjustments. The goto on the LX200s have a very high reputation for accuracy. My old 8" was spot on every time as long as I was accurate on my initial alignments.

If you are going to be focusing mainly on astrophotography and you want to be mobile I'd suggest the Losmandy and Gemini (for goto and the PE should be better on the Losmandy anyway unless Meade have significantly improved theirs) or AN (which I have). Also an Equatorial mount will be much easier to balance than the meade without buying special weight sets.

Your unmodded canon will be fine for DSOs and if at a later date you want to you can get it modded.