Ap setup

[clearhorizons]

Hi i'm looking at getting into AP. can you give me some comments on the following setup please.

Skywatcher Evostar 80ED DS-Pro OTA and Skywatcher EQ5 PRO Synscan GOTO

I have a Nikon d40 as a camera but am looking at getting a cheap webcam.

Thanks

[ronin]

Fairly nice starting kit. The trouble with AP is there is always something that could be upgraded.

As an example: the ED80 is a doublet not a triplet, so a bit more CA will be present. Many will say look at the HEQ5.

So it depends on what you want, however as said a nice start, the ED80 will give good images and the EQ5 is pretty solid.

For the ED80 you will need a flattener reducer, you could give it a try without one and get some result so not something that halts everything.

The Webcam is for planets and you may need to barlow the image up in size, however 2 planets are around at the moment so wil keep you occupied, and possibly frustrated.

The DSLR is for long exposures (DSO's), look at getting a Release Timer form Amazon for the camera, about £25 made by Shoot.

So yes fine as long as you don't get the idea that you want the EQ5 to work better then a 10 Micron, the ED to be better then a £4000 APO from a prestige maker and the camera to have less noise then a £5000 cooled ccd from Atik.

Nice starting kit but understand it's limitations.

[Naemeth]

Rather than the EQ-5 Synscan, look at getting the HEQ-5 Pro Synscan, that comes up for sale 2nd hand at around the price of a new EQ-5 Synscan and is a more accurate mount.

HTH .