AstroPhotography upgrade browsing/shopping list

[astrodam]

Hi,

I have been dabbling in AP with my current setup for a little while but I am now craving longer exposure times to get even more out of DSO imaging.  Currently I can get between 30sec and one minute depending on how well I've polar aligned. 

I'm about 6 to 9 months away from pulling the trigger but I'm currently browsing the sort of gear that will give me longer exposures.

To begin I'm looking at:

SW HEQ5 Pro Synscan

SW Star travel 80 for guidescope

SW  Synguider autoguider

and a 17Ah power tank

I am planning to use my current Newtonian and DSLR until I can upgrade again as I'm not going to have a massive budget. Currently this is at about £1200.  I want a setup that will keep me going and happy for a good few years.

I'm sure I will need other accessories and was wondering if anyone has a similar setup or can advise what else/alternatives I'd need.

Many thanks

[swag72]

A good package - Here's a couple of my thoughts.

You may want to factor a reducer / flattener into that, as it will speed up the scope and improve your corners (I assume that you use the DSLR in your sig?). Buy second hand, will save you a pretty penny. Also, do you have a laptop you could use instead of the synguider? These get mixed reviews.  A simple guide camera, such as the QHY5 and a laptop will do very well for getting decent long subs.

[steppenwolf]

The SW 150P will certainly get you into DSO imaging with the rest of the equipment that you have put on your list. However, Newtonians suffer from coma so a coma corrector will be required to improve star shapes at the periphery of the field of view.

I agree with Sara about the SynGuider, I have reviewed one and they do work but a standard guide camera would be a better less fraught choice.

[lensman57]

Hi,

I agree with all the previous comments . I myself am considering a 150 PDS to give me a little more reach for galaxy imaging @ F5. The only comment I would add about the SynGuider is that it has a place if one needs to travel to a dark site and the laptop is not a viable option. It is self contained so it won't drain resources, otherwise a guide camera with 50mm guide scope makes better sense.

A.G

[astrodam]

Thank for the comments :-)

Would I be correct in saying that I would need to modify the focuser to accept a coma corrector and still achieve focus due to how close the sensor has to be to the secondary mirror?

I will research the guide camera some more. I do have a laptop but thought the synguider would be better as it is all in one and I would not have a laptop to die on me just when I get going. Would the power tank also run a laptop as well as the mount?

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