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Astrophoto equipment


Gal

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Hello,

After one year of visual observing with my GSO Newtonian telescope I have decided to start with astrophotography. I have 200 mm Newtonian OTA with focal length of 1000mm on NEQ6 mount so I think that should be enough for photography but would like to know what other parts would you recommend to me. I was thinking about buying DSLR camera EOS 1100D or 1200D (they are around 350-400€). But don't know if I should rather get a CDD camera instead if there is a good one in this price range. Would also like to ask what guiding scope should I use and what guiding camera should I use. Note that I would like that the whole equipment wouldn't cost more than 1000€. 

Thanks for the answers.

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If you get a DSLR then you will need a remote timer for your camera, they were about £25 from Amazon so around 30€.

Guide scope, the least expensive is something like the ST80, camera I have no real idea.

To guide needs a laptop in the system I believe, software will be free somewhere.

Tube rings to mount the guide scope on and a dovetail.

Look also at Off Axis Guiders, but suspect little difference in cost - likely more, however you may not then need the rings or dovetail.

You may also need a coma corrector for the 200P as it is f/5.

Worst case is that getting a DSLR to the focal plane may be a problem. If so then you will have to move the main mirror up the tube which may cause vignetting or get change the focuser.

I would half guess that with 1000mm focal length a ccd chip may be too small for some targets, M42 (soon to be available for imaging) would need sensor of around 18mm to squeeze it in, or a reducer is purchased.

All the little bits add up.

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If you are interested in imaging DSO's you will do well to get hold of the book 'Making Every Photon Count' from the book section of the FLO website - It is an imagers bible and will benefit from being read through twice before spending a penny ............. or a euro even!

DSO imaging, oddly enough will benefit from a short focal length refractor for a couple of reasons. Firstly many nebula's are really quite big. Secondly, the shorter the focal length the easier the mount will find guiding. Have a look at a focal length calculator such as this one http://www.12dstring.me.uk/fovcalc.php where you can get a good idea of different scope and camera combo's.

For a guiding scope, many use an ST80 or the finder scope is also very popular. Don't forget you will need a separate camera for guiding as well.

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I know that refractors are better for DSO imaging but I don't have one and I hope that my Newtonian can also handle some photography. I'm also aware that I need another camera for guiding, but still is there any good CCD in my price range around 400€ that would do better than previously mentioned DSLRs?

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The QHY5 II makes quite a good guide scope to pair with the ST 80. You will need an extension tube to reach focus, but fortunately the rubbish barlow that comes with the ST80 is about the right length, just take the lens out.

As you will need a laptop for guiding you might as well use it for everything else, Astrophotographer's Tool (APT) can control the camera and talk to PHD which will handle the guiding, EQMOD can control the mount (With an EQDir cable) and Cartes du Ciel can locate the object you wish to photograph and move the telescope. APT is the only software that costs money (£11.50) and that only if you buy the full version.

But as Sara has said a short-ish FL APO refractor is the easiest way to go for DSOs

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