First scope for visual & AP

[andy77]

Hi guys

Been asking a few questions on here recently, but here's another ???

my daughter (8 years old) and i are looking to buy our 1st scope, been very busy over the last few months with the bino's but now feel its time for a scope.

Im very much into my photography so were looking at a scope for visual aswell as AP. Thanks to my very kind parents they've offered to buy us a scope for for xmas

with a budget of £750 so my question is to you guys as what to go for?? Ive looked at a few and narrowed it down to these.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-200p-eq5.html

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-150p-eq3-2.html

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-150p-ds-eq-5-pro-goto.html

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-150p-ds-eq3-2-eq3-pro-goto.html

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-200p-eq5-goto.html

Any advice welcomed

Please help us

Andy & Abigail

[andy77]

Anyone?

[Capricorn]

The problem is the mention of visual and astrophotography.

Seen it said that for visual you want the biggest scope you can on the smallest mount that can handle it.

For AP you want the biggest mount and a small high accuracy scope you can get.

For visual tracking is relatively unimportant, it drifts a bit so what !

For AP it MUST track accurately, no alternative.

For good AP you get a guide camera and guide scope and attach to a laptop.

For AP you get a good photo processing package, theose images you see are processed, easily I suspect 2 days and quite easily 2 weeks. What you take is not what you see. Even with palnets you get Jupiter or you get Jupiters moons, you do not get Jupiter AND it's moons.

The 200P on the EQ5 is a nice visual set up, note the complete absense of AP in that statement.

Of the scope you list the 150P is probably the best for AP, simply it is smaller and a mount will handle it better.

Avoid the EQ3-2 too lightweight for either in my opinion.

You really need goto, it is either goto or spend what would be imaging time finding some faint object.

Good AP setup to start out:

EQ6/HEQ5 with goto, APO triplet, Guide scope, Guide Camera, DSLR/ccd. laptop.

The visual side is easy big scope(200P), EQ5, dual motors (better if goto), few extra eyepieces.

The requirement for both is the problem. You can do one and dabble in the other, but for both it is more difficult.

[66mikeg]

My advice would be to pay a visit to a local club and see what the AP brigade are using. If you still have any ambitions for AP other than planets/lunar or a piggyback DSLR take note of the kit which the AP aficionados have invested in, yes it is possible to use lower spec equipment ( see Quatermass's site) but the investment here is in time and dedication. Start with visual and less demanding AP and £750 is a reasonable budget the 200p eq5 goto would seem reasonable and leave you with a few quid for a cheshire collimator.

[Ryan-y]

Have you thought about second hand? Equipment is usually very well looked after and if you ever want to get rid of it you probably won't lose much. If you're patient you could get a s/h heq5 for around £500 and a 200p for £140-£180. I totally agree concentrate on observing to start with but the heq5 will be a lot less frustrating when you do start to dabble in ap.