Advice on beginner scope

[AndySutton]

Hi all,

Looking for a scope for around the £300 mark that I can learn the sky and also use for Astrophotography. I have a Canon 80D and a Canon 600D I would use for this.

All advice and pointers would be very much appreciated!

Thanks in advance

Andy

[Alan64]

Hi Andy,

This book is oft suggested for those wanting to delve into astrophotography...

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/books/making-every-photon-count-steve-richards.html

If you're keenly interested in taking pictures with a telescope, that book is an ideal primer.

For prime-focus imaging with your cameras, you might need a mount like this, and at a minimum...

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/skywatcher-eq5-pro-synscan-goto.html

...and a telescope like this... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-130p-ds-ota.html

There's a rather long-running thread about using that very telescope for imaging...

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/210593-imaging-with-the-130pds/

A camera's sensor will not tolerate any instability from the mount; not like the eyes will, and do.  The telescope and the camera must be held rigidly, lest the images become blurred.

For the time being, you could go ahead and get that telescope, and place it on this for visual use with eyepieces...

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/skywatcher-eq5-deluxe.html

In future, you can add either a dual-motor drive system to the mount, or a go-to kit...

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/dual-axis-dc-motor-drive-for-eq5.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/enhanced-dual-axis-dc-motor-drives-for-eq-5.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/synscan-pro-goto-version-3-upgrade-kit-for-eq5.html

[happy-kat]

Or for visual use a telescope and for imaging use a camera and lens.

You can look on astrobin for example images taken with camera and camera lens that you may already own.

This mount gives go to or manual.

Az-gti

There are several bundle versions in budget including a telescope.

Take the telescope off and use camera and camera lens and image within the limits of altaz field rotation impact whilst saving a bit more. 

Install the free eq firmware update and run the mount in eq mode with added wedge and counter weight. This might give you plenty to do learn and be quite portable.

Save more and add snazzy small refractor and guide scope.

 

[AndySutton]

Brilliant...

 

Thanks for the advice.. Much appreciated!

[happy-kat]

It is about what fits your situation and aims best, but there is often compromises to be made somewhere.

[AndySutton]

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-150p-ds-eq3-2-eq3-pro-goto.html

 

Would this a be a suitable starter scope? I'll be using a Canon 80D with it?

 

All advice appreciated!

[spillage]

Maybe a 130pds or ed80 would be better on that mount. You will have to consider buying a coma corrector. Maybe even guiding. But then you may be over the weight limit for the mount.

[AndySutton]

Hmmmmmm a coma corrector?

 

[AndySutton]

I have done a lot of reading and at this time feel that I cannot justify the expense required to buy all the kit to get into astrophotography... It is very disappointing but the reality is that it is ahugely expensive hobby!

From my reading it is not just the mount and scope but coma corrector, collimator etc etc

 

So for now I will just have to enjoy all your work instead!