Which AP lens to get?

[Datalord]

Ok, so that escalated quickly: 

 

Since I'm dead set on making a setup which works, I'm now looking at what I should get in place of the 6" tube. I want to use the Celestron Evo mount, because I think the starsense and the wifi is so nice to work with. Which means I need something that can fit on the mount.

Other requirements: Needs to work with the Canon 6D. Budget: £300-£900.

Things I looked at:

http://www.astroshop.eu/omegon-apochromatic-refractor-ap-102-714-ed-triplet-ota/p,14652#tab_bar_1_select (not a well known brand?)

http://www.astroshop.eu/william-optics-apochromatic-refractor-ap-71-418-zenithstar-71-ed-ota/p,43873#tab_bar_1_select (A bit low in FL. Would prefer 600mm+)

http://www.astroshop.eu/explore-scientific-apochromatic-refractor-ap-102-714-ed-alu-essential-ota/p,44837#tab_bar_1_select 

http://www.astroshop.eu/skywatcher-apochromatic-refractor-ap-80-600-evostar-ed-ota/p,15056#tab_bar_1_select (seems like a favorite in here)

http://www.astroshop.eu/ts-optics-apochromatic-refractor-ap-102-714-ed-ota/p,51026

http://www.astroshop.eu/explore-scientific-telescope-ac-127-825-ar/p,49862#tab_bar_1_select

 

Input by people with experience with this equipment is most welcomed.

 

[dannybgoode]

What are you wanting to photograph?  I'm just getting an AP set up going and I'm just going to use a camera lens. OK - I'm lucky that I have a good one already but for your budget you could get some nice Canon L series glass which will work well for Wide field / DSO's etc and then you can use it during the day as well.  Win / win.

For reference I'm going to give the Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L Mk II a whirl.  As good an optics as you'll find on most reasonably priced scopes.  I also have the very basic Canon 50mm prime.  Meant to give ok results as well and that is cheap as chips!!

Then just mount your camera straight on the Evo.

[Datalord]

I have the 24-105 f4 L for the daytime and can't see myself using a 200mm. Besides, that 70-200f2.8 is £1700 and will still only give me 200mm FL. I do appreciate the 1500mm of the SCT, so I'm very apprehensive of going down below 600mm. I'd like to do DSO of most of the Messier catalog, which includes some quite small ones as well.

[dannybgoode]

My lens was just by way of example.

Your 24-105 would be just fine I think for most of DSO's - I'd give that a go and see what results you get before spending a ton of cash on a fancy scope.  As I say I've seen excellent results even from the Canon 50mm EF II.

Have a look on Flickr and on here to see the results people get with just a camera / lens combo - its convinced me that I'm best trying this route first.

[Datalord]

While Danny gave good advice, does anyone have comments on the list of refractors? 

[Uranium235]

The evo 6 is alt/az yes? Unfortunately, that limits your choice quite a lot since long exposure photography will be out of the question due to rotation - so all of the scopes you listed I would deem as unsuitable for that mount (unless you are purely doing planetary or solar). If you want to mount a telescope of any reasonable size and focal length, its probably better that you look at getting an EQ mount first.

However, if you have a very fast lens with a decent enough focal length you could get a reasonable image with fairly short exposures (ie: no longer than 30s). A good choice is the Samyang 135mm f2 prime, I've had mine a few weeks and I'm pretty chuffed with it. Just read the reviews (there are plenty of them on the net) and for the price, its almost irresistable.

[Datalord]

I have a wedge and can comfortably take 60s exposures even with my failing PA skills.

So, the Samyang is another camera lens suggestion. Anyone with experience with one of the refractors I posted? 

[rigradio]

I use AT65EDQ ~ TS65 APO
Plug & Play refractor

 

[Datalord]

10 minutes ago, rigradio said:

I use AT65EDQ ~ TS65 APO
Plug & Play refractor

 

Yeah, that one does sound pretty cool. How are the results? 

[hjw]

16 hours ago, Datalord said:

Ok, so that escalated quickly: 

 

Since I'm dead set on making a setup which works, I'm now looking at what I should get in place of the 6" tube. I want to use the Celestron Evo mount, because I think the starsense and the wifi is so nice to work with. Which means I need something that can fit on the mount.

Other requirements: Needs to work with the Canon 6D. Budget: £300-£900.

Things I looked at:

http://www.astroshop.eu/omegon-apochromatic-refractor-ap-102-714-ed-triplet-ota/p,14652#tab_bar_1_select (not a well known brand?)

http://www.astroshop.eu/william-optics-apochromatic-refractor-ap-71-418-zenithstar-71-ed-ota/p,43873#tab_bar_1_select (A bit low in FL. Would prefer 600mm+)

http://www.astroshop.eu/explore-scientific-apochromatic-refractor-ap-102-714-ed-alu-essential-ota/p,44837#tab_bar_1_select 

http://www.astroshop.eu/skywatcher-apochromatic-refractor-ap-80-600-evostar-ed-ota/p,15056#tab_bar_1_select (seems like a favorite in here)

http://www.astroshop.eu/ts-optics-apochromatic-refractor-ap-102-714-ed-ota/p,51026

http://www.astroshop.eu/explore-scientific-telescope-ac-127-825-ar/p,49862#tab_bar_1_select

 

Input by people with experience with this equipment is most welcomed.

 

 

I am afraid non of these telescopes will give you much pleasure. Not that I have a full frame camera , but I found this old thread. The limiting factor is the 2-inch focuser. You would need a 3" one. I'll swap my Pentax if you want...

 

 

 

[xtreemchaos]

save yourself a load of money and grab some super takumar vintage lenses, thay will beat a lot of these modern lenses, and there cheap as chips. goodluck and clear skys, charl.

[Knight of Clear Skies]

1 hour ago, xtreemchaos said:

save yourself a load of money and grab some super takumar vintage lenses, thay will beat a lot of these modern lenses, and there cheap as chips. goodluck and clear skys, charl.

Not a good idea I'm afraid. I've heard that putting an M42 lens on a full frame camera can result in the mirror hitting the lens, as they can protrude further into the body.

 

[Gina]

You don't want the mirror in a DSLR for astro imaging anyway - best removed.

[xtreemchaos]

heres a link to what m42 lens work with a 6D. https://dustinabbott.net/2013/02/the-new-canon-eos-6d-and-classic-m42-lens/

[dannybgoode]

Some adapters work fine with FF, some don't. A 2" focuser will work on some scope/FF camera combos. That thread discusses FF cameras with specific scope/field flattener combos. 

Further, even where some vignetting occurs, unless what you what is at the edges of a frame you'd crop the vignette out in any event. 

As mentioned earlier I'll going to try the 70-200mm at first and also attaching the 5D my 150P and if I get results that I think could be improved on then I'll get a frac I think and my choice would be the SW 80mm ED.