Mattyboy1658 6 Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Hi All, Seems like a really good site here with users from the UK which is nice. I've been interested in the stars and the night sky for some time however have never really taken the plunge to get a scope ect. I started to build my own scope a few months back on the cheap but I've decided to purchase a decent refractor for deep sky imaging instead because I'm rather eager to get out, I already have a gem goto mount. Can anyone give recommendations on a good quality refractor? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Matt 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Maxrayne 203 Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Welcome Matt I would say that depends on your budget and what your mount can take https://www.firstlightoptics.com/esprit-professional-refractors/skywatcher-esprit-ed-80-pro-triplet.html Would love to get this scope myself after seeing the review for it on AstroBackYard. Sadly I'm still at the ST102 stage. One day.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites
mark81 1,004 Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 16 minutes ago, Maxrayne said: Welcome Matt I would say that depends on your budget and what your mount can take https://www.firstlightoptics.com/esprit-professional-refractors/skywatcher-esprit-ed-80-pro-triplet.html Would love to get this scope myself after seeing the review for it on AstroBackYard. Sadly I'm still at the ST102 stage. One day.... Nothing wrong with the st102. I'm still on the st80...which I really do enjoy for it's super fast setup and widefield views. I saw the esprit on Astrobackyard too.. but after months of thought, I don't think AP is for me. Having and ed scope is the goal I suppose, but as long as astronomy can be done, it's all good. Also, welcome Matt 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Mattyboy1658 6 Posted December 1, 2018 Author Share Posted December 1, 2018 Thanks guys for the nice welcome, I'd be looking to spend around 300-500 ish on the second hand market, I'd prefer an ed or an apochomat but as long as the scope can produce nice sharp images. I was looking at a used Williams optics zenithstar 71 and also a ts optics ed80 but don't really know what their capabilities are in terms of astrophotography, I could tell you plenty about photography lenses but not quite up to par with telescopes. I have found you can get scopes way cheaper on the American used market but unfortunately the shipping costs are rather high. I did have a Meade etx70 which bought broken and repaired and sold on to fund a better scope. The mount I have is the Meade lxd55 gem with 497 autostar controller . 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Floater 3,135 Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Welcome. I cannot help with anything AP related but others can/will and I hope you have fun with your quest. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Maxrayne 203 Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 31 minutes ago, mark81 said: Nothing wrong with the st102. I'm still on the st80...which I really do enjoy for it's super fast setup and widefield views. I saw the esprit on Astrobackyard too.. but after months of thought, I don't think AP is for me. Having and ed scope is the goal I suppose, but as long as astronomy can be done, it's all good. Also, welcome Matt True enough on the ST80. I have it mounted on the SynScan Alt-AZ GoTo mount at my home. Was previously using it on an SW SA and captured my first Horsehead with it Now have the ST102 on the SA at the kids house, but have yet to get out with it (Dirty Diana playing havoc with the weather!) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
ukuleledaveey 73 Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Hello and welcome, yep fabulous people here, so friendly and extremely helpful and encouraging. Im a total noobie so i can offer no imput,but a very warm hello and pray for these clouds to dissapear from here in herts. Beat wishes Dave 1 Link to post Share on other sites
barkis 5,571 Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 (edited) Welcome to SGL Matt. Good luck with putting your first Imaging system together. Whilst a decent quality scope is essential, you need to focus on a good quality mount. The mount should ideally be robust enough to cope with future telescope upgrades that follow your initial rig. You then insure against having to spend more money. Best to plan ahead. Imaging is a desirable activity but it can also be expensive, so budget your spending in line with your ambition. Any help you might need, is available from the many experts on the forums here. They will welcome any questions you have. Best Wishes Ron. Edited December 2, 2018 by barkis 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Mattyboy1658 6 Posted December 1, 2018 Author Share Posted December 1, 2018 20 minutes ago, ukuleledaveey said: Hello and welcome, yep fabulous people here, so friendly and extremely helpful and encouraging. Im a total noobie so i can offer no imput,but a very warm hello and pray for these clouds to dissapear from here in herts. Beat wishes Dave Thanks Dave, Tell me about it the weather has been absolutely terrible recently I'm hoping it clears soon Hoping to get down to Galloway forest park at some point soon to have a little play around with the scope when I get it. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
ukuleledaveey 73 Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 28 minutes ago, Mattyboy1658 said: Thanks Dave, Tell me about it the weather has been absolutely terrible recently I'm hoping it clears soon Hoping to get down to Galloway forest park at some point soon to have a little play around with the scope when I get it. Im off to suffolk on monday for 4 nights staying in a kog cabin taking my dob with me,i bought my first eyepice last week havent had a chance to use it yet lol. Good luck wuth your purchase ajd look forward to seeing you aroumd on the forum. Best wishes from me 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Demonperformer 3,669 Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 Hi, Matt, and welcome to SGL. If you are aiming to image DSOs, I would suggest your first purchase should be this book. It will save you time, money and heartache in the long run. Enjoy the journey. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
PeterCPC 2,978 Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 Hello Matt and welcome. Peter 1 Link to post Share on other sites
sloz1664 1,381 Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 Hi Matt, and a very warm welcome to the Lounge As Demonperformer has pointed out. Get "the book" Steve 1 Link to post Share on other sites
rwilkey 1,326 Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 Hi Matt, a very warm welcome from me too down in the deep south! 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Mattyboy1658 6 Posted December 2, 2018 Author Share Posted December 2, 2018 37 minutes ago, rwilkey said: Hi Matt, a very warm welcome from me too down in the deep south! Link to post Share on other sites
Mattyboy1658 6 Posted December 2, 2018 Author Share Posted December 2, 2018 Hi Guys, Thanks all for the warm welcome, I bought a book some time ago on astrophotography by Thierry Legault , I've not read the one you have mentioned however I guess I'll purchase and have a good read at it. Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Lloyd 2,149 Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 Hi Matt, welcome. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
artem 262 Posted December 20, 2018 Share Posted December 20, 2018 Hi Matt,, welcome to SGL.. REgards Martin 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Caldwell-14 3 Posted December 20, 2018 Share Posted December 20, 2018 Hello and welcome. I have just joined again after a few years away. You will find this to be a really friendly and useful place to learn and meet some nice folks. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Pete Presland 11,318 Posted December 26, 2018 Share Posted December 26, 2018 Hi welcome to SGL from Pete in Bedfordshire 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Mattyboy1658 6 Posted December 27, 2018 Author Share Posted December 27, 2018 On 26/12/2018 at 17:01, Pete Presland said: Hi welcome to SGL from Pete in Bedfordshire Hi Pete, Thanks for you're warm welcome, everyone has been nice here and very good for advice. Looking forward to getting a clear night, so far been cloudy up here. Matt. Link to post Share on other sites
Datadave 14 Posted December 29, 2018 Share Posted December 29, 2018 Hello Matt, Welcome to SGL You will get a lot of good advice here Link to post Share on other sites
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