Best New Telescope to buy

[Dean Martin 69]

Right,

i have about £500 for a new telescope, used for visually as well as maybe some astrophotography, i already have an HEQ5 Pro mount and an ED80, so would need something not too heavy, i was thinking about a 200 PDS, but by the thime you put your camera, guide scope on not sure if the mount would have it.

Any thoughts on which telescope to go for??

[thehand]

I've been looking at the HEQ5 and similar mounts for an OO VX8 I just ordered.  FWIW it's 1.8kg lighter than the Skywatcher.  I would like to know if anyone has had good luck imaging in this sized tripod with an 8" newt.

[happy-kat]

If you already have an ED80 isn't that imaging sorted

[Dean Martin 69]

yea, but its not any good for visual, planetary

[LeeB]

An 00 8 on an heq 5 is spot on for visual, imaging will be fine if kept out of wind. The oo 's are alot lighter than the sw otas and you can normally go up a size on a mount because of it.  

For fast setup visual i use a 10"oo on a vixen gp2 and its a joy to use.