Help on a first 'proper' scope :)

[Andromeda1983]

Hi everyone

I'm a total beginner except for small scopes and have a budget of upto £400 for my current spend in a new one.

Andromeda, Saturn etc is kinda the viewing I want to have although I know for the price I can spend it won't be fab. I would eventually like to take pix too, I currently have a Nikon.

Please could anyone advise me on a scope that would enable me to do this please as I've looked on so many sites and a few shops and now feel even more confused! Best advice I had so far was to get a reflector.

Thanks in advance

[rowan46]

Its a tough call getting a scope big enough  for visual small and fast enough for imaging and under £400 at this sort of price you are talking compromise with a capital c. If you go for the best visual scope you should look at the http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians.html but no imaging.

if you want basic imaging maybe

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-130p-ds-ota.html

on an eq5

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/skywatcher-eq5-deluxe.html

you will still need to spend extra for motors if you go down the second route and you will want a coma corrector but the second scope at least moves you towards imaging it will not however be nearly as good as a 200p at visual. and its not the best imaging solution it is however the cheapest

welcome to sgl by the way hope that helps

[Naemeth]

I'd spend a little more than your current budget and get this:

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-250px-dobsonian.html

Learn your way around the skies, enjoy what visual astronomy has to offer. Then, think about setting up an imaging rig (HEQ-5 Pro Synscan, Skywatcher ED80, Powertank etc.) - imaging is not cheap, and for a decent start you're looking at £1,000.

Before starting Astrophotography, I suggest you read this book:

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/books/making-every-photon-count-steve-richards.html

[Schorhr]

I'd also reccomend a dobsonian for visual.

A telescope for both visual and photography will always be a compromise somewhere...

Many buy a telescope for visual and a smaller for photography.

Also most underestimate the difficulty of astro photography, as it's not simply "point and shoot", but requires precise tracking, guiding, adequate camera with a removable/removed IR filter, stacking many many images... :-)

Imaging will work in smaller scopes well, but faint galaxies and nebulae are only visible in large aperture telescopes with your eyes.

[Naemeth]

Oh, and I see you're in East Anglia. Could you get to Seething and meet up with the Norwich Astronomical Society? It would be good to get a feel for the kit .

[Andromeda1983]

Hi

Yes I was thinking of popping over to seething to check it out

Be good to see everyone and what they all use, also if anyone there selling old scopes for an upgrade would be useful

Thank u