Advice on proposed equipment choices please

[Spookyer (Brett)]

Hi all

I am planning the acquisition of some equipment for visual observing that I expect to lead into AP once I get the hang of handling scopes, finding things in the sky and learning a bit more about astronomy in general. With that in mind what I buy now needs to serve me with AP later when I plan to image deep sky objects like nebula.

Happy to receive advice on these items

From my research I am leaning towards a refractor like a William Optics FLT132 with a WO 2" Diagonal dielectric.
For a mount I was thinking an NEQ6 pro.
As for eyepieces I am open to suggestions as to what brand, size, range etc that would suit this setup.

Later I would add camera adaptors, t ring, guide package like the Orion starshoot and WO field flattener/reducer IV, filters, to get into serious AP using my Nikon D4.

I realise a big Dob would get me more bang for buck initially for visuals but it doesn't get me anywhere in the direction of AP which is where I want to go.

Welcome all constructive input.

Cheers

[el_draco (Rom)]

I have a WO FLT 132. Very nice scope and a good way in to AP. Get a feather touch focuser and micro-touch it.

As for mount, there are lots available, depends on whether you are happy to fiddle. I have a G11 G2 and its a great mount and you can get them cheap as chips atm... but that will change, Can be very precise but needs a fair whack of fiddling. Heavy, excellent carrying capacity, highly customisable. The step up to G2 from G1 is a work in progress and a lot of people are impatient, (read: snarky), but... that's life.

I have also recently bought a PME 2 and, surprise, surprise, huge learning curve, fiddling etc etc. The more complex the gear, the more you fiddle.

Good luck

Rom

[acropolite (Phil)]

+ 1 for the WO choice although rather than the NEQ6 consider the Az-EQ6, it's a later design, a fraction lighter for the same capacity and much more flexible.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Usually for AP the advice is spend the money on the mount. But given the visual requirement, a decent aperture refractor on a EQ6 (and the alt-az option on the Az-EQ6 would be very handy for visual) is probably the way to to go.
Just be aware a biggish refractor is a fairly heavy beast.

Malcolm