Skywatcher 180/2700 maksutov for planetary imaging?

[bluesilver]

Hi,  Just after some advise on what your thoughts are on the Skywatcher 180/2700 maksutov for planetary imaging?

It will me mounted on a Skywatcher AZ/EQ6 mount and all driven from a laptop.

I currently have a Skywatcher 16" Dobsonian with goto and also a Skywatcher Evostar 150ED

I am basically just looking for a good dedicated planetary scope for imaging the planets and have read some good reports on the Skywatcher 180/2700 maksutov but there is not much talk really on them.
 
Are they a good scope for this or would i be better looking at something else?

 I am using the Skywatcher Evostar 150ED for DSO imaging but yet to really try it out as due to cloudy weather for the last 2 months straight here.

 The Dobsoanian is mainly used as a dedicated visual scope and works well so far.

 So all up looking for some advice for a dedicated planetary imaging scope.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.

[johninderby]

I used to have a Skymax180 but have now replaced it with a Classical Cassegrain. The CC has a fixed primary and a crayford focuser and as it doesn’t have a corrector no problems with dewing and quick cooldown.Similar size and weight.

Find the CC will take more magnification than the mak. Wouldn’t go back to the mak now as I just like the CC more. 🙂

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/stellalyra-telescopes/stellalyra-8-f12-m-lrs-classical-cassegrain-telescope-ota.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/offers/offer_stellalyra-8-f12-m-lrs-classical-cassegrain-telescope-ota_171467.html

Edited January 13, 2021 by johninderby

[Sunshine]

I had a 150 Skywatcher Mak, only sold it for an APO but, I have taken some of my fav planetary images through that 150. Putting aside whatever benefits other designs have (all have pro's and cons) from the POV of planetary/Lunar

visual and imaging, my 150 was a crack shot. Now i will say they take a good while to cool, have narrow FOV comparing to other designs and, that 180 will take an eon to reach temperature unless you insulate it.

 

[Owmuchonomy]

Work backwards from the planetary cam you wish to use to ensure you match the scope to that. You may be better with one of the big SCT options.

[chiltonstar]

I find it is a good scope for planetary imaging, but it is only 180 mm or 7 inches. You will find that all the best planetary images are taken with larger SCTs like the C14. Aperture is everything....

Chris

[bluesilver]

Thanks for the replies,  appreciated.

Yes,  forgot to mention the imaging camera i would be using,  apologies for that.

It is the ZWO ASI224MC

A C14 would be great,  but i have heard a lot of mixed review in regards to that scope,  it appears that it is a 50 50 ratio if you get a good one or a bad one.

But always open to advice.

The StellaLyra 8" f/12 M-LRS Classical Cassegrain as mentioned looks to be interesting option also.

 

[johninderby]

Would love the 10” CC but ££££££ 🙀

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/stellalyra-telescopes/stellalyra-10-f12-m-lrc-classical-cassegrain-carbon-truss-telescope-ota.html

Awaiting the GOTO upgrade to my Rowan AZ100 mount. Mine is the TS version of the CC.

Edited January 14, 2021 by johninderby

[bluesilver]

Looks like a nice setup and also interesting looking at the link for the carbon truss setup version.

I don't know if there is much of a differance between brands,  but i see the one you linked to was a StellaLyra version,  I can get GSO version of the same thing for around £770  less.

Now that seams like a lot,  but is the GSO brand a lot cheaper?

The site is not the best to navigate through,

But i just scrolled down and selected  Guan Sheng Optical

Then it was just not far from the top of the page if interested.

http://www.andrewscom.com.au/optical-telescopes

 

Edited January 14, 2021 by bluesilver

[johninderby]

The StellaLyra CC is made by GSO and is better priced than the GSO though in Europe. I’m wondering if the price is correct as it seems suspiciously cheap. 🤔

Edited January 14, 2021 by johninderby

[bluesilver]

Yes, i first thought that also and them thought that GSO might of been a cheaper version of the StellaLyra.

But after emailing them about it,  it is definitely the correct price,  they are one of the better deal places we have here.