Thinking of buying 200pds

[JOC]

Something like my 8" Dob on it's Goto Mount is also worth considering - it depends on what you ultimately want from your astro-photography.  If you just want some zoomed in pictures of the moon and maybe the planets, and some of the larger DSO nebulas which could be taken with a cheap video cam or even still taken with a standard DSLR and let the stacking software sort out the best images then it is my understanding that what I have could be used for this - I do intend to get to grips with trying this and its one reason I got what I did - I have already taken what I consider to be some cracking shots of the moon with just some single exposures using my DSLR (well they have impressed me!).  What I have can be purchased new from FLO for <£780 and is capable of keeping an object in the view-finder for a good half hour or so depending on EP.

If you want to get into hours of exposures, processing and the exceptional results that the imagers get with their specialist equipment then you might need to consider one of their all singling, all dancing mounts to do so, but for a few simple record shots what I have will produce pleasing results and I believe on SGL there are some more than passable shots of things like the M42 nebula taken with it.  It just depends on what you think you might want to do with concept of a camera one day.  I would say that if you want to 'take a picture' what I have (see signature) might serve well, if you want to make scientifically accurate image then you need what the imagers use.

[Penance]

So i guess the NEQ6 is the way to go, hmm might need to rethink as that is a fair amount of cash.

@JOC I have considered the dobsonian route as the saving are massive and it seems to be the quickest way to start viewing. Can a dob be converted to EQ at a later time?

At the moment i dont think i can say what i will eventually want to achieve with AP. Also i dont want to buy something then be disappointed very quickly if it cant do the basics.

 

[JOC]

2 minutes ago, Penance said:

Can a dob be converted to EQ at a later time?

You'd have to check with those more experienced than me.  I think some can, but I doubt mine could due to its truss tubes which I think would interfere with where these mounting rings on the other mounts seem to need to go.

[DaveS]

While you're thinking things through, grab a copy of "Making Every Photon Count" and read it a couple of times. Then you can decide if you want to go the full-on imaging route, and what you will need if you do.

I think some Dobs can be taken off their bases and mounted in rings on an eq mount but as I went directly to an equatorial I have no experience of that.

[Penance]

Thanks again.

It is a bit of a minefield isnt it. Im mulling over whether to buy cheaper with intention of upgrade at a later date, or go the whole hog and dont mention how much it cost...

 

Book ordered

[TareqPhoto]

I was in a tight or completely out of budget around February and March, but i got budget not that much great but was more than enough, and since February i was reading about AP because i am very new, and all advised or recommended or suggested me to get the mount first, and i didn't know what to get, but after a lot of reading i went with SW AZ-EQ6, it is pricey but it is not the best mount out there and it is not the cheapest either, and i can hold that 200PDS without problems and most small to medium scopes, i looked at AVX and EQ5 end even EQ6 only HEQ6/EQ6 PRo and EQ6-R, but luckily i saw AZ-EQ6 and i didn't think twice.

Good luck in your choice!

[Penance]

A few people have mentioned the 130p.

What are the advantages of a 130 over a 200 and vice versa?

[laser_jock99]

If at all considering AP then tne mount is everything. An inadequate will cause you to struggle especially if looking to up grade to larger scopes (and I consider the 8" Newtonian as almost a large scope these days). Maybe lookout for a second hand EQ6 (I've bought two of E-bay in the past for as little as £200). Even the old EQ6 mounts can be upgraded to GOTO & belt drive if you like.

A 200pds would make a great visual scope and show you a lot of things. For AP it would be slightly trickier (but not impossible) for a beginer compared to say the bog standard ED80 that many starters begin with.

Spend the bulk of your money on the mount though- scopes can be upgraded as you progress.

[alacant]

21 hours ago, Penance said:

Can a dob be converted to EQ at a later time

Hi. Yes. This one comes with tube rings and has that in mind. Ask them for the f5 version. HTH.

[iapa]

4 hours ago, alacant said:

Hi. Yes. This one comes with tube rings and has that in mind. Ask them for the f5 version. HTH.

err, would it be more proper to say that a Dobsonian mounted OTA can be attached to an EQ mount otherwise there is an implication that a Dobsonian mount can be 'converted' to and EQ mount with a couple of rings. 

LOL

see my sig

[alacant]

15 minutes ago, iapa said:

a Dobsonian mount can be 'converted' to and EQ mount

Yep. Just add an equatorial platform. Most/many Dobsonian tubes cannot have rings attached. HTH.

[Penance]

Thanks all, Toying around with OTA ideas although still tempted with the 200.

In the meanwhile i'll be looking for a decent mount.