Help buying first Astrophotog Telescope with budget of $1-1.5K

[sil (Steve)]

Originally Posted by killswitch

If you already have zoom lenses for your 7D or 5D like a 70-200mm, you can start off with that. Lots of beautiful stuff in widefield.

I couldn't agree more. The OP is like many taking the plunge, they want a quality setup that will do work for all targets, on a budget that is unrealistic. The gear is irrelevant to some degree. Having a DSLR is meaningless. You can already photograph all the targets listed with what you have. Try finding out just how much effort is involved, its not like pointing your camera at your cat and pressing a button.

[mtfreestyler (Matt)]

Ok so I have loaded the ED80 and the Star71 into Stellarium and have been comparing the 2 against all the well known nebulae to see what would suit better.

The ED80's 600mm looks like a great focal length and I'd like to be around there but if I get a Barlow could I use that on the Star71 to make it a 700mm scope?

What else would you shoot at a FOV around 6 degrees?

I think having the 7D with a crop sensor will help as well to get different effective focal lengths

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Originally Posted by mtfreestyler

Ok so I have loaded the ED80 and the Star71 into Stellarium and have been comparing the 2 against all the well known nebulae to see what would suit better.

The ED80's 600mm looks like a great focal length and I'd like to be around there but if I get a Barlow could I use that on the Star71 to make it a 700mm scope?

What else would you shoot at a FOV around 6 degrees?

I think having the 7D with a crop sensor will help as well to get different effective focal lengths

possibly you could, although I am not sure it is worth the effort.
focal ratio goes out to f 9.8, how good is the barlow glass you're putting in there ...? other potential issues adaptors? vignetting?
how are you guiding? OAG? standard camera lenses are quite capable of superb widefield already particularly when on a GEM.

eg done with an 85mm lens (mosaic)
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...d.php?t=130260


I wouldn't worry re the ED80 it is plenty good enough; here is the most recent ED80 pic on the forum (DJScotty) - taken in narrowband http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/a...e.php?a=176998

for the purpose of showing an 8" newt here is one of the same object - taken with dslr
http://s1172.photobucket.com/user/jt...ml?sort=3&o=70


I would take on acropolite's recommendations - but then again if it were me i'd get a 8"newt and put the money into a proper astro camera


cheers

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

This is why I raised the importance of choosing carefully - there are so many targets out there and regardless of what anyone says, one scope will not do it all...which is why we often have more than one

[mtfreestyler (Matt)]

As beautiful as the WO Star71 is I am coming around to what you guys are saying and looking at others.

I am now thinking about this Vixen 800mm F4
http://www.myastroshop.com.au/produc...sp?id=MAS-066G

Would this be a good choice for $1600?

I will most likely be getting more scopes eventually but as for taking the first plunge I would like it to be a good one and preferably in the deep end because I like steep learning curves

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Originally Posted by mtfreestyler

As beautiful as the WO Star71 is I am coming around to what you guys are saying and looking at others.

I am now thinking about this Vixen 800mm F4
http://www.myastroshop.com.au/produc...sp?id=MAS-066G

Would this be a good choice for $1600?

I will most likely be getting more scopes eventually but as for taking the first plunge I would like it to be a good one and preferably in the deep end because I like steep learning curves

Hi Matt,

Very very nice telescope, magnificent optics, optimised construction/build quality, the focusers are the only questionable element point as far as i am aware (in addition to the price). you will also 100% require a coma corrector at f4 so you need to take that into account with regard to the $$.

The baader mpcc (coma corrector) is about $320 new i think - i don't know about the vixen CC.

In comparison you could get a Skywatcher 8" f4 quattro carbon fibre for $999 from andrews communication or the 10" carbon fibre version for $1300 (both will need a coma corrector).

Or you could also get a SW black diamond (non carbon fibre) 8" for about $500-$600 then spend more on a high res motorised focuser such as the moonlite:
focuser ~$300
hi res stepper motor ~$250
mini hand controller $320
total focuser setup ~$870
http://focuser.com/products.php
SW scope $600 + MPCC $320 + focuser setup ~ total $1790

Anyway mate there are a few more options for about the same price i must admit i do prefer your vixen idea over the Star 71, yes its an awesome little scope but it will limit the targets a little when you have only one scope - plus your camera lens would give very wide fields of view also.

don't underestimate a really good focuser they make imaging that much easier and they are worth the money - even on a scope half the price of the focuser.

Rusty

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

71mm refractor + barlow + deep sky = disaster. You really don't want to image deep sky (especially with a DSLR) at F10. Go the Vixen 8" F4. I believe the Vixen is very solid and doesn't require as frequent collimation as the cheaper versions. Or a Bintel/GSO/Skywatcher F4 or F5 Newt if you want to do it cheaper and have money left over for accessories, as Rusty mentioned.

I'm having a blast with my Bintel 8" F4 for deep sky. My 100mm F9 refractor has been retired to Sun, Moon and planets, where it is more suited.

[mtfreestyler (Matt)]

I'm pretty sure I'll be going with the Vixen. It just makes more sense really since it has a better FL and Aperture.
It's just that the WO refractor looks so good but if it is not functional then it's a waste of money.

the 1-1.5k was the budget just for the scope so accessories can be budgeted for later.

Is there a good place to buy Vixen's because I have only really found the one on astroshop for $1625 and if I can get it a little cheaper somewhere why not

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Originally Posted by mtfreestyler

I'm pretty sure I'll be going with the Vixen. It just makes more sense really since it has a better FL and Aperture.
It's just that the WO refractor looks so good but if it is not functional then it's a waste of money.

Get both. You could always use the Star71 as a guidescope for the Vixen.

It would be easier to start with the little refractor. It would be a lot more forgiving than the reflector. But I think you would crave better image scale pretty quickly.

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

I'm sure the Star71 is a perfectly nice scope and not a waste of money but it really depends on what you want to image. The short focal length would be good a wide field, very large objects, those that are multiples in a single FOV, and star fields.

At 800mm your usable FOV would be determined by how good your coma corrector is...but at a max of about 2.5 degrees it gives a very different view compared to 6 degrees, and f/4 is nice and fast

However, I'm struggling to see what the Vixen offers for the price over the the GSO/SW imaging newts...this is interesting for me as I'm looking for something to give me more focal length than my Zenithstar

[killswitch (Edison)]

You could get an ED80 + GSO 8" f/4 for the same price as the Vixen. The learning curve will be the same regardless of brand.

ED80 gets my vote. Though I prefer refractors as they are small and light, doesnt need collimation and cools down fairly quickly.

[aarong (Aaron)]

I find this website useful for playing around with FOV's for different scope and camera options: http://www.12dstring.me.uk/fov.htm

Warning: It just makes me want to buy more gear

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

The FOV of the WO71 is about the same as my shorty ED80 with focal reducer (takes the FL down to about 350mm at F4.4). Except for a hand full of objects and the rare large comet, it's too wide. I even crave more FL than what my 8" F4 gives me. Most galaxies are still small.

Anyway Matt wants us to throw him in the deep end. Hey Matt, there's still the nice big 10 inch over at the deep end. Can we experiment on you? I'm curious if a keen newbie could take on a 10". How badly could it possibly end?

[mtfreestyler (Matt)]

Ok so I took some advice and went a bit cheaper.

I am now looking at the Skywatcher F4 200mm from Astro Pete's

It is only $750 for the carbon fibre version which is much cheaper than a lot of other sites

I will be getting a coma corrector and a T ring also

I might need a good finder scope for it now so I will have to look for that. Maybe one that is illuminated?

I will get the focuser some time down the track.

Anything else I am missing that I should look into?

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

You'll need collimating tools too

[mtfreestyler (Matt)]

I did see a laser collimator so I will try to get one of them too

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

nice decision Matt you won't be disappointed.

make sure its a barlowed laser collimator if you are going with a laser.
I always recommend Bob's Knobs, replacement screws for the secondary mirror - worth their weight in gold! (you may have to buy direct).

[mtfreestyler (Matt)]

Just called Peter at Astro Pete's and he gave me the bad news that the scope is out of stock and the next bunch to come in will be around $1200 and in late March. Since I'm now so keen on getting one now I have a dilemma again.

Are the cheaper metal reflectors worth it or do they cause most people to want to upgrade in a short period of time?

Or should I just go straight for the Vixen and skip all the upgrading from inferior telescopes (Contacted Astroshop about the Vixen and that is a 2-3 week lead time)

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Andrews have the SW CF 10" for $1299 that may be of interest to you.

[mtfreestyler (Matt)]

Hmmmm it does. I only really worry about the quality though.

It will be nice and quick I'm sure