Telescope for astro

[Adir]

Hello, i wanna go astrophotography (DSO) and just wanna know what you guys think about this telescope that i want to buy as my first for imaging.

The ideea is the telescope to be small so i can put it in a backpack and travel with it easily.

If you know any other portable telescope (better than this one)  i'll be happy to know.

http://www.365astronomy.com/Lacerta-80-500-f-6.25-ED-APO-OTA-with-Linear-Power-Focuser-in-Alu-Case.html

Clear skies !

[ronin]

Looks pretty good. It is ED so some CA will be present on bright bits, possibly when a bright star is in the frame.

But FPL-53 and f/6.5 so good glass and not too fast, so you may well not see any even in images.

DSO's etc are generally too dim to produce it.

May need a flattener with a DSLR but that can come later, expect edges and corners to show curvature.

Manages not to say if the focuser is Crayford or R+P, R+P would be better.

It is 2 speed so that is good.

Bit puzzled by the focuser descriptions, they say Octo but that means 8 and refers I guess to the number of bearings.

As it looks a match to the Levenhuk 80mm scope which says Crayford I guess this is the same.

The reality is that it will be from a factory in China, guess UO, seen mention on the CN site.

They do however get good reviews.

Levenhuk are in Germany (I think) and their price is 700€, may work out a bit less and they may ship to Romania easier.

Could therefore be worth looking at the TS site to see if they have a version  - guessing they will.

[baggywrinkle]

For DSO work you will need a mount too. That mount has to be driven and for travel you will want light weight. You need to check the all up wieght of the OTA with a camera attached. This will dictate which mount you could use.

Hvae a look at the iOptron rnage of smaller mounts. If the OTA and camera is <5Kg then the Smart EQ25 should be OK.

[Adir]

This is the hardest part right now as i dont really know the weight of the scope. Ioptron looks like a good solution for portability.Right now i have a nikon d7000 not heavy at all but if it will be too heavy, i'm gonna buy a ccd cam.

[baggywrinkle]

A ccd cam (web cam) will then require a PC....

[Adir]

Okay, i finally decided and the setup will be :

Telescope: http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Refractor-Telescopes/Refractor-Optical-Tube-Assemblies/Orion-ED80T-CF-Triplet-Apochromatic-Refractor-Telescope/pc/1/c/10/sc/346/p/101422.uts

It's so lightweight, only 2.5 kg and it matters alot !

Mount: http://www.astroshop.eu/equatorial-with-goto/ioptron-mount-smarteq-portable-goto-gem/p,44868#tab_bar_1_select

So based on my calculations i'm gonna have the setup in April   (feels like ages)

Thanks Ronin for infos and baggy for the mount.

Clear skies !

[ronin]

Nice scope and mount.

I will say that the SmartEQ is probably smaller then you think. I went to look at one and was abit surprised by the actual small size. However the people that have one do not complain about it so it must work as specified. It just looks small. :grin:

I wanted to put a 3.5Kg scope on it and still cannot make up my mind about it. :rolleyes:

Be interested when it arrives at you initial thoughts as you open the boxes.

[rowan46]

I am not sure the mount is big enough for that scope altair the european distributers recommend a 60mm scope. remember you are going to have to add a camera  its going to have to be guided as well as apparently the mount is not very good for long exposures of longer focal lengths unless its guided. I would suggest an off axis guider to keep the weight down. The mount was designed as a goto for smaller scopes and dual use as a wide angle imaging mount and you are asking a lot to expect great imaging with a scope that size on that mount. I am not saying its not doable as I have seen images on cloudy nights. Those however were taken by experienced imagers and all have  complained of loss of subs in even the gentlest winds. As i  said doable but very hard. good luck with it. I look forward to seeing your results as I am looking at a similar setup for myself but must confess I am not convinced by the smart eq The zeq25 has a better reputation but of course its heavier.

[baggywrinkle]

It just about took my SW 80ED and a canon 650D, it is far happier with my new AA Starwave 70ED.

[Adir]

Okay so i've changed my mind ! How about this setup:

telescope: http://www.astroshop.eu/william-optics-apochromatic-refractor-ap-81-535-gtf81-ota/p,43894

mount: http://www.astroshop.eu/equatorial-with-goto/bresser-mount-messier-exos-2-eq-goto/p,44730#tab_bar_1_select

Anyone having experience with this mount or similar? 

Cheers!