Help with picking first apo

[jackp93]

Hi all

 

It’s a bit of a long story but. On the 9th September I’m sitting my 7 of 13 accountancy exams ( I can see light at the end of the tunnel) then on the 12th I am staying with the family at Cambridge for the weekend and whilst I’m that way I was going to go to widescreen centre with the intention of buying an apo as a well done or I’ll pass it next time present to myself. However I would like people’s opinions on what would be the best for me to use for astrophotography. My current set up is

 

Sky watcher star adventurer pro

Nikon D750

Nikon 50mm 1.4

Nikon 20mm 2.8

Nikon 105mm 2.8 macro

Asiair pro

 

 

The telescopes that I have been looking at are

 

Primaluce 72mm £557 https://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/PL-AIRYED72.html

 

Wo zenithstar 73mm £549 https://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/william-optics-zenithstar-73.html

 

Wo Zenithstar 61mm £499 https://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/new-2020-william-optics-zenithstar-61-ii.html

 

Takahashi fs60-q £1089 https://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/takahashi-fs-60q-f10-flourite-doublet-apo-refractor-telescope.html

 

RVO Horizon 72mm £947 https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/rvo-horizon-72-ed-doublet-refractor-full-imaging-package.html  I know this is different company so would be an internet purchase but seemed quite a good package

 

I would prefer to not upgrade the star adventurer for a couple of years yet so ideally the telescope would be suitable for use on this but then when I upgrade to a heq5 still suitable. Also the prices are quite wide I would rather not spend the top end however if it is significantly better and will last me a good number of years I don’t mind stretching to the top of the budget.

 

I also intend to buy a zwo asi120 in the near future as a cheap trial at using dedicated astro before upgrading to a more expensive one and then using the 120 as a guide camera.

 

Hope this makes sense to everyone and thanks in advance.

 

All the best

 

Jack

[vlaiv]

Probably not going to help much as I have yet another contender to be added to the list?

https://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/tecnosky-80480-f6-fpl-53-ed-triplet-apo-refractor-telescope.html

80mm F/6 APO - same scope as TS 80 F/6.

Largest of the bunch, but I think it will still be carried by SA. If HEQ5 is planned - it is very good match (I have that combo - only TS version).

[Kyle Allen]

I use the William Optics Zenithstar 61 on a Star Adventurer mount. I'm still relatively new to imaging but I'm pleased with the results I have got from it so far. I too plan to get an HEQ5 in the future but I want to get the most out of my current set up before upgrading. The Star Adventurer handles the Zenithstar 61 just fine but I'd be a bit nervous about putting anything bigger on it even though the stated payload is 5kg. 

I use the ZWO ASI 120MM as a guide camera with the mini guide scope. I find it necessary to guide otherwise I get star trails due to periodic error.

 

[ebdons]

Yep, the 80/480 from tecnosky is a great scope and not too heavy so might be just right, good also for grab and go as well, try and get it from AS in Germany as they sometimes have it on offer. well built and pretty smooth focuser. I have the old version with 2" focuser but the newer one has the rotatable 2.5" focuser so should be better. but the 2" version can take a fair bit of weight. as this pic of mine shows with FF and QHY10. ton.

[jackp93]

Hi 

 

thanks for the reply’s. I’ll add the 80mm to the list for when I go in the shop to look at as it does look ideal my only concern with it would be the weight as I know eventually I will upgrade my mount but didn’t want to do it quite yet.

 

kyle how do you find the zenithstar, as this is the main one I keep coming back to, however my only concern is that the focal length is quite short so when I compare it on astronomy tools a lot of the objects look quite small in the frame.

Also has anyone had any experience of the Takahashi, as I know it’s the most expensive but I quite like the idea of having the option of 355mm or 600mm in one unit.

all the best 

 

jack 

[Nigeyboy]

Just a thought but it Migjt be worth checking that the Widescreen showroom is open when you plan to visit. Hope they are so you can get your hands on the hardware! 

[jackp93]

I didn’t even give that a thought, fortunately it’s a while off yet so hopefully should all be back to normal by then

[Kyle Allen]

I've only had the Zenithstar 61 since the end of April this year so I've only been able to try it out on some galaxies and globular clusters, which aren't ideal for a widefield scope. Still, I'm pleased with the images I've been able to produce. On the Star Adventurer, a bigger scope would be pushing the limits of the tracking accuracy as well as the payload so you probably wouldn't be able to put the extra resolution of the bigger scope to good use. 

This is what I've managed so far on a couple of galaxies...

 

[jackp93]

Those pictures are really good, how long did they take to do? 
 

 I am very tempted with the zenithstar especially for the money as it wouldn’t break the bank so I could get the asi120 at the same time 

[Kyle Allen]

The first image is just under 2 hours. The second image is about an hour and a half. All 60 second exposures. 

Are you planning to get the matching field flattener as well?

[jackp93]

Yes I did plan to get the flattener at the same time as I did think maybe I could just crop the edges out instead but I don’t think it will work.