BenOak

Thanks everyone. The lens is outside of my budget for now so I'll work with the lenses I have but I'm not a big believer in just buying more expensive equipment as a beginner. I need to know how to do it before I spend more money. I know the mount is up to the job and the tracking is fine when aligned properly, there are plenty of shots out there using it that prove that, including with little scopes that I would think are less forgiving than a camera lens. The same for the camera body too. I will work on getting sharper stars and then go from there as I feel that the stars are too large and too numerous in the shots I took. I was just surprised at seeing both the horsehead and flame nebula, without which, I probably wouldn't have kept the image. Although my lenses aren;t expensive ones, they range from 18-300mm so I should have enough to work with, and learn what works and what doesn't.

I felt that the stars don't look round which I thought was an alignment issue. You use 3 star alignment on the Adventurer GTi and so I try to get the star exactly in the centre of the viewfinder but I figured if it's not perfect each time then there will be a slight drift. I do have a spare spotter scope that I am going to fix to the dovetail bar next to my camera which I am hoping will give me a more accurate alignment. As for the exposure and f number, would there be a better option with the lenses I have? Would the 50mm f1.8 give too wide a view? I need to sort out the bias shots. When I was focussing I tried using the live view on the camera and it seemed ok but images themselves didn't so I just eyeballed it with Betelgeuse. Is it possible to tell if the blurriness of the image is due to focus or a slight drift? I will look into that lens as for a scope, the mount takes up to 11lb so I figured a lightweight small scope would be better than a camera lens. I take it that may not be the case? Thats two for two advising on the bias shots. I will look into that next time. Yeah I know. I had that with my original scope, now its with this. A small lottery win will solve all those issues good enough. Just need to find out where you get one of those!

I have finally managed to cobble together enough to start on my astrophotgraphy journey. Below is my first attempt which is horrendous when comparing to what is possible, but for a first go, not all that bad. I have the Star Adventurer GTi mount, with a Nikon D5300 DSLR and the stock 18-135mm lens. I took 35 x 60sec images at F5.6 at 90mm at ISO 1600. I stacked and processed with SIril but didn't take any bias frames so this is just the lights. My main issues in my mind are problems with alignment because its hard to get the aligning stars in the middle of the view finder consistently. I need to take the bias shots. I think my focus is off. I didn't check the frames for any problems prior to stacking so this is all 35 frames. I think the exposure time is too long. My post processing isn't that great. What would your recommendations be, any suggestion, gear tips if anyone has the same stuff etc that I should consider and try next time? My other lenses are a Nikkor prime 50mm and a Sigma 70-300. Next steps once these issues are sorted out will be for a small scope to go on the mount with the camera directly on that. I have a 305mm Dob so unfortunately thats far too heavy for any mount.

I could do. I already have a Nikon d5300 and I've toyed with the idea of putting that on my scope but without an EQ mount or plate it wouldn't give me the photo's I'd want. Maybe I should try that first and then decide whether I want to stay with visual astronomy or go for AP/EAA and then buy accordingly?

I'm moving away from DSO's as those that the 300 are good at seeing are less visible each year where I am. The dob size is good for doubles of course but I doubt you can EQ mount it. I should have got the goto version at the time but considered it an unnecessary expense. Hindsight is a pain. The imaging side is really only a side thought too. I suppose what I'm after is an EQ mounted, potentially goto, scope that will be good for doubles and looking at the planets occasionally, but nowhere as big as the 300 is. That 102 looks good but I was hoping to get something, inlcuding the mount within the sale price of what I have or even as a swap.

As per a few threads I've seen, the UK astronomy scene has been rubbish and with my local sky seemingly getting brighter year on year I think it's time to change what I look for. I currently have the Skyliner 300p flextube as DSO's were more interesting to me but as time has gone on, and due to the weather and glow etc I have moved to double stars and planetery objects. However, getting the 300 out and then searching around takes longer than the time I have most nights (if I get any night of course!) so I am looking at selling or swapping to make things a bit easier. I'm also intersted in looking into some entry level astrophotography so at least if I get a night, I can take some images and print them out and stick them on my windows when its cloudy 🤣 The thing is I'm not sure what I need. I've had larger diameter dobs ever since I started so I have no knowledge at all of what would be the best for double stars, a little planetary viewing, and maybe move to astrophotography. I would like to try something with a goto but I've never had one (I just like the idea of saving a bit more time when there is some clear sky), an EQ mount would be a nice change too. Any suggestions?