???upgrading???

[bigbox]

So after some long diliberation i've decided it's time to take the next step in this fabulous hobby. I want to get a little more into AP...

So with this in mind the 1st thing i need is a stable mount.

Now would i be ok with eq5 synscan or go the whole hog and get the Heq5? ( Neq6 is well out of range before someone mentions it lol...)

finally do i go for a different scope, something in the ED refractor range but nothing to big...

All advice greatly appreciated....

Regards Ady

[nmoushon]

You can get very good images with your 150p. So if I were you I would rather put the money towards an HEQ5. If you can afford the HEQ5 then I would go with that over the EG5.

[Pete Presland]

depends whether its just planets witha webcam, which your current set up is capable of already.if its deep sky stuff then i would go for a heq5 and be prepared to spend even more than that, its very addictive!

[Capricorn]

For the solid base you would be best off with the HEQ5, it is said repeatidly that this is considered the starting mount for AP many times. As to the scope, the 150P is still a long focal length scope, up at 1200mm as I read from the FLO site.

The other aspect is that having spoken to, met and been to events all the astrophotographers use apo refractors, or equally specialised scopes such as RC or Mak-Newtonians. If a "standard" reflector delivered the results they wouldn't pay the higher cost.

[Rustmonkey]

I have the same scope as you and it's fine for webcam planetary and visual work but I found it wanting when it came to DSOs. I have just upgraded to the HEQ5 pro goto and ED100 DS pro....what a difference. Don't get me wrong, I will keep my 150 for visual but if you are gonna try AP then the mount is definitely gonna have to be upgraded. I think the 150 will give you good results on the HEQ5. Certainly enough to get you up and running. If then at a later date you want more, then you can always upgrade to a decent Frac which unfortunately don't come cheap.

the best analogy I can give is when I was big into photography......I had what was at the time a £1200 Canon and some expensive glass. It doesn't matter how expensive the camera is if you have a £50 lens...you'll get £50 images. If you want great images then you need good glass. The HEQ5 really is a quality starting point and will grow with your hobby. So glad I bit the bullet and went for it. I opted for goto but you could get away with the none goto version and EQMod it which would save you money.

[swag72]

I would agree about a mount upgrade, the HEQ5 is a good starting point. But a couple of things spring to mind based on my own experience. It is much happier with less weight on it. I have a small scope on mine now and it guides like a dream, not dropping a sub for hours on end. Partly due to the lack of weight on the mount, but also the short focal length of 500mm is very favourable for guiding.

So, I would say that if you want DSO's, and HEQ5 and a small refractor (ED80) would fit the bill for AP.

[bigbox]

Firstly,"Thanks guys for the advice so far".

Would, just for arguments sake say an ED80 be any good for planetary AP or should i stick with the 150p for planets & get an ED 80-120mm for dso's?

Regards Ady

[Velvet]

def mount upgrade, i had the EQ5 but the weight was starting to get a little high with everything on. I went for the NEQ6 as from previous experience you always need more.

The NEQ 6 is a much better animal than the EQ5. No experience with HEQ5 but can recommend NEQ6

Velvet

[nmoushon]

An ED80 will not be any good at planetary AP. Only has 500mm FL--its not enough for imaging. Not sure on the ED120 (as I dont do planetary AP) but I doubt its FL would be very god as well. Only has 900mm FL i think. Where as the 150p is at 1200mm I think someone said. Thats a 33% increase in FL and that means your image would be 33% larger also. The ED80 and 120 are great for DSOs but not planets. If you want to do a fix of both planetary and DSO then the 150p is the way to go.

Might be beating a dead horse here but HEQ5 is really what you will need. It will cost a little bit more but you wont have as many problems and you wont throw away as many subs.