Setup for imaging help

[hairymunky]

Been thinking of getting a new 'scope for doing some imaging with

my TouCam III. I've done some before with my LightBridge, and got

some good results of the moon, but now I want to try some more

imaging...

I've looked at a couple of scopes (under £400 - as the wife will

kill me if I spend anymore on gadgets )

Skywatcher Startraver-120 (EQ3-2) (short refractor)

Skywatcher Evostar-120 (on a EQ5 mount)

Celestron Omni XLT 120 (CG-4 mount)

As for what I want to image... everything!! I want to try planetary imaging,

as well as deep-space imaging, but before I jump in can anybody give me

a few pointers as to which would be the best "beginner" scope for imaging.

Or even another scope/setup that I've not thought of..???

Any advice very much apreciated...

G

[Stormwatch]

You'll need something with drive motors, but you'll also need another camera as I believe the Toucam you have won't take pictures of deep sky objects.

[hairymunky]

The boss wife tells me its either a new scope or a digital SLR, I was thinking

I'd be better getting the scope first (as well as the motor drives), then waiting off

for a DSLR, and using the spc900 toucam that I've already got, to practice imaging.

Just don't want to dive in and buy the first thing I see, and end up with something

that's not really suited for the task (as I'm prone to doing )

[StarMan1701]

The Orion/Skywatcher 80ED is almost legendary in imaging circles, and is a fine visual performer too. Telescope House have a couple on their website's 'clearance' page which are close to your budget:

http://www.telescopehouse.co.uk/page.aspx?theLang=001lngdef&pointerID=F8777B48E0F84FB29E8E0CCCA07DC98B

Hope this helps.

Lee.

[hairymunky]

Cheers

Just been looking at a Celestron Nexstar 5, which the wife thinks looks

quite "cute" ?!?!