Enthusiasm Going Up - Cashflow Going Down!

[compassrose]

Hi everyone

Can you help me please. As a relative beginner I am massively enjoying myself with my current visual set-up and now want to try DSO imaging as an adjunct rather than a specialism and using as much as possible of my current equipment. While I can maybe throw a little more cash at this hobby, much more will need me to sell my body for medical or other purposes and I'm not too optimistic about that!

Anyway this is what I have at the moment: Celestron cpc800 (no wedge) with piggy back mount, standard eyepiece set, f6.3 reducer, canon 1100d/Rebel t3 (unmodded) 18-55mm IS lens, T adaptor etc, laptop and capture/stacking software.

I know my current set-up is compromised for imaging but am otherwise happy with the scope so should I, for example, splash the cash on a wedge and accept a bit of dismantling when switching between visual/imaging or should I buy an EQ mount and put the DSLR on that with maybe also a longer lens? I suppose the latter would give me a set-up for each discipline.

I feel like I'm at a crossroads and with currently limited available funds (circa £300 - £400) want to take the most sensible route bearing in mind my present set-up.

I'd be very grateful and pleased to have anyone's views on what to do and any recommendations on what equipment/manufacturer/model and ballpark cost might be required?

Cheers

David

[Carbon Brush]

Lots of choices.

Do you use the Canon for daytime photos?

The thinking behind this question is that red filter removal really does boost the Ha sensitivity. So improving your imaging.

But this means either modding your 1100D and compromising daytime use, or buying a used modded 1100/1000D or similar.

As for an EQ mount. The budget would stretch only to an EQ5 type of size. Probably used, depends on the type of drive. Really an HEQ5 or EQ6 would be a better step forward for photography using the scope.

Just a few thoughts, but no definite answers.

[Luke]

Hi David,

I've not used a wedge. Hopefully someone can advise on that?

It can be done for less and everyone has their own idea on what the least is that you should spend, but for me you can get a very capable setup for about £1500-2000 if you already have the camera and laptop: HEQ5 mount, fast ED 80mm-ish refractor, ST-80 guide scope, guide camera such as QHY5, dew heating system, some way to mount the two scopes together (e.g. dual mount bar/rings), possibly a few other bits and bobs, but I think those are the main expenses.

Have you tried/considered webcam imaging? (planets, double stars, moon, possibly clusters I guess though I am not sure). For me your current gear should work well with webcam imaging and might give you a taste for imaging before splashing out?

I would recommend reading the book "Making Every Photon Count" before buying DSO imaging kit, for a good understanding of what's involved and the various kit options!

Hope that helps.

Luke

[springbok]

I have been going through the same thought process.

I bought a Celestron 8SE GOTO (alt / az mount) back in February purely for visual observing. It is fantastic for visual, and a bit of Moon / Planets via webcams, but not for DSO. For DSO as you know you need to go down the EQ mount or wedge.

I have decided for imaging DSO I am going with a seperate rig. I have got a 1100D with some nice Canon L glass, so intend using that for DSO to begin with and see how I get on.

For the imaging rig I have bought :

Mount = Celestron CG5

Guiding = WOZ70ZS + Meade DSI

Camera = Canon 1100D with 24-70 or 70-200, 100-400 L glass lenses.

All willl be dual mounted.

For me having the camera equipment and lenses already, it made sense to go down this route. A "proper" CCD setup can wait until the piggybank is filled up again :-)

HTH

Grahame.

[sologuitarist61]

Personally I would not go down the route of modding your DSLR, that is more for the real enthusiasts who want to get every bit of detail and colour from an image. Just use it asit is and you will still get some great shots, yet not have ruined your camera for every day use. At least wait and see how you get on before taking this drastic step at a cost of £200.

You then have a couple of choices. The first is to just piggyback the camera and a lens onto the scope and taken a few wide field images or if you have some longer focal lengths then so much the better.

The second is to purchase a T ring for your Canon (£15 quid or so) and attach the camera direct to the scope at prime focus - and there you go, you can take what images you want for a grand outlay of just £15; most scopes a T rinf adapter in the focuser anyway. Most of the software you can get off the 'net for imaging is free, so no cost there either.

See this link if you want to see what can be done with an unmodded Canon http://stargazerslounge.com/gallery/album/426-deep-sky/page__sortby__idate

[carastro]

You will be able to do imaging of the planets and Moon with a webcam and your current set up. You'll need a wedge if you want to do DS imaging, but most people I know have abandoned a wedge and bought an equatorial mount which they find much easier. You won't get new with your budget but you might get 2nd hand, though FLO sell brand a new

CG5 GT mount for £550.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/celestron-mounts/celestron-cg-5-gt-goto.html

This is a nice mount and will suit an ED80 well, though it won't be good enough for a really heavy set up. I used a CG5 GT for quite a long while. Whatever you buy though, make sure it has an autoguiding port.

You can certainly use your DSLR for imaging but you will over time realise that you'll get better results by modifying it.

Hope this helps.

Carole

[sologuitarist61]

Have to agree with Carole, the CG5 GT is a great mount and I got mine virtually brand new in unopened original boxes from Telescope Outlet (a part of Astronaomia) for a £100 less than the price quoted above, as supposedly it was ex-display stock. Always worth keeping a eye on there web site as they have some good stuff.

[sologuitarist61]

You will be able to do imaging of the planets and Moon with a webcam and your current set up. You'll need a wedge if you want to do DS imaging, but most people I know have abandoned a wedge and bought an equatorial mount which they find much easier. You won't get new with your budget but you might get 2nd hand, though FLO sell brand a new

CG5 GT mount for £550.

http://www.firstligh...-5-gt-goto.html

This is a nice mount and will suit an ED80 well, though it won't be good enough for a really heavy set up. I used a CG5 GT for quite a long while. Whatever you buy though, make sure it has an autoguiding port.

You can certainly use your DSLR for imaging but you will over time realise that you'll get better results by modifying it.

Hope this helps.

Carole

Just had a peep at your web site Carole, some lovely images on there - very good indeed :smiley: . Must have a go myself sometime when the rain has stopped enough that I can actually get something to put on it!!

[ollypenrice]

I wasted a lot of money and a lot of time on a wedge for an LX200 and got nowhere with it, as Carole said of her friends. Quite a few of our guests tell the same tale, but some people do get them to work.

Olly

[carastro]

Thank you for your nice comments Richard.

I hope this thread was of some help to the original poster, David.

Carole

[compassrose]

Thanks everyone!!

Really great to know that there are others here always ready to help the newbies avoid most of the pitfalls. I was originally thinking of essentially designating the CPC as a visual scope (for which I think its great) and with webcam/DSLR capability for planetary/lunar use but encouraged by your comments I'll now also see how far I can push it with perhaps up to 30 sec exposures as my experience improves. I'll also get a driven EQ mount as suggested, and also be on the lookout for a secondhand ED80 with the option of putting the DSLR on it in as a very modest rig that I can use at home as well as take away in the motorhome. All fairly basic but should allow me to see where my main interests lie.

Do you think I will be able to use my existing eyepieces on the ED80 with a 1.25 to 2" adaptor?

Now to try and find that refractor!

Hopefully I should be up and running by the time the skies are darker and this lousy weather ends

David

[carastro]

Glad we could help David. The ED80 is an excellent scope I have one as do lots of other imagers. I got the skywatcher version which comes with a good finderscope and also has a 2" to 1.25" adapter and nice mounting rings onto which you can mount your guidescope, or use your finder as a guidescope if you wish.

By the way there is a 2nd hand (fairly new) HEQ5 on sale on UKAstrobuysell for £550. Some-one will snap that up very quickly.

http://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=58298

Good luck.

Carole

[kirkster501]

Thanks everyone!!

Really great to know that there are others here always ready to help the newbies avoid most of the pitfalls. I was originally thinking of essentially designating the CPC as a visual scope (for which I think its great) and with webcam/DSLR capability for planetary/lunar use but encouraged by your comments I'll now also see how far I can push it with perhaps up to 30 sec exposures as my experience improves. I'll also get a driven EQ mount as suggested, and also be on the lookout for a secondhand ED80 with the option of putting the DSLR on it in as a very modest rig that I can use at home as well as take away in the motorhome. All fairly basic but should allow me to see where my main interests lie.

Do you think I will be able to use my existing eyepieces on the ED80 with a 1.25 to 2" adaptor?

Now to try and find that refractor!

Hopefully I should be up and running by the time the skies are darker and this lousy weather ends

David

This is exactly as I am going to do....

I have the setup in my sig - a CPC1100 and lots of TV EP's. I ove the CPC - its great!!! I never bought the CPC for AP, only visual. I am thinking of buying a ED80 and a HEQ6 or something like that. For now, when the blasted weather improves, I want to play with my SPC900 for a bit on the CPC.

I also have the Caravan bug as well !

Steve

[pel]

David ,

You can achieve brilliant images from a budget set-up. I have great hopes from my setup when I can consistently find the DSO's.

Have a look at -

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/140123-budget-dso-showcase/page__st__80__hl__+quatermass%20+budget#entry1414534

You don't need to spend a fortune, until you get hooked I guess.

Perry.