Imaging Scope help needed

[tnorthy92]

Hello stargazers. Looking a little advice on a fast scope for imaging galaxies and nebula with a DSLR. Preferably about £500, including field flattener/reducer. (not including mount or rings if not supplied)

To be mounted on EQ3 Pro or EQ5 Pro, not decided which to get yet, not guided.

I ask as there's this: First Light Optics - Skywatcher Evostar 80ED DS-Pro Outfit

and this First Light Optics - William Optics Zenithstar ZS70 2012

Can't find any fast newtonian with ~500mm focal length.

Any help appreciated

[ollypenrice]

If you are not guiding your focal length needs to be short and your F ratio fast. This will only give you a small number of galaxies at a decent scale. M31, M33, M101. Given your choice of mounts and your decision not to guide I think I'd set off in search of a Canon EF200L lens. This will give a roundly better result than a scope at 500mm undermounted and unguided. You won't be short of nebulae. Some EF200L images;

http://ollypenrice.smugmug.com/Photography/Widefield-images-including/CONE-ROSETTE-HARGB/1178011112_8HpnY-X3.jpg

http://ollypenrice.smugmug.com/Photography/Widefield-images-including/HaCrop/1178028992_Dzdtx-X3.jpg

http://ollypenrice.smugmug.com/Photography/Widefield-images-including/HA-COMPARATOR/1182344610_T6hNK-X3.jpg

http://ollypenrice.smugmug.com/Photography/Widefield-images-including/i-LRwg8jw/0/X3/ANTARES-REGION-X3.jpg

http://ollypenrice.smugmug.com/Photography/Widefield-images-including/i-Dgsmjnx/0/X3/M45-AT-200MM-sharper-sscrop-X3.jpg

They go for less than £500 routinely.

Olly