Sky-Watcher Classic 200P Dobsonian gear

[a6400]

Hi,

I'm planning to buy the Sky-Watcher Classic 200P, this will be my first telescope, and I would need some advice

on to what additional parts should i buy.

My camera is Sony A6400, i would like to record videos of the Moon and other planets with high magnification.

I suppose I would need Barlow x2 ?

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/barlow-eyepieces/astro-essentials-125-2x-barlow-with-t-thread.html

Do i need to buy any eye pieces ? What eye pieces would be best for recording planets ?

How do i mount my camera ?

For collimation are these 2 things good ?:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/stellalyra-premium-cheshire-collimating-eyepiece.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/rigel-aline-collimation-cap.html

Also how do i record Sun, do you need some kind of filters ? , and will i be able to spot dark spots easily with this scope ?

Thank you!

[Louis D]

I'm assuming it's a Dob.  As such, there is no automated tracking.  If you really want to get into solar system imaging, I'd recommend buying or building an equatorial mount for it.  There are lots of plans for them out there on the web if you're handy.

Those collimating tools will work fine.  The cheshire is more universal in that it can be used for aligning pretty much everything.  The Alilne is handy to keep the focuser hole plugged and to do a quick check of the primary alignment each time you take it out to observe.  The secondary generally stays put once set, so the cheshire will get used less.

With that Barlow, all you need is a T-ring to mount your camera since that Barlow has a T-thread on top.  I would err toward the lower profile versions to avoid running out of back focus.

You didn't say if you have any eyepieces beyond the beginner 25mm and 10mm eyepieces that come with it.  The 25mm is considered decent, but the 10mm is universally panned.  I'd probably budget for 8mm and 12mm or 15mm BST Starguider eyepieces for medium to medium high powers.

Since you have a 2" focuser, I'd recommend a 35mm Aero ED eyepiece (if you can locate one in stock) to maximize your field of view for finding and centering objects and viewing large open clusters like the Pleiades.

[Louis D]

As far as non-telescope related items, I'd recommend downloading Stellarium and learn how to use it to know what is up each night as well as when and where to look.

[a6400]

I prefer Sky Safari on Mac, thanks for the tip though 🙂.

[popeye85]

Great scope!

I highly recommend getting a telrad. It will help you no end with locating targets.  As for eyepieces I know that the bst range are a good value first upgrade-just remember that good quality eyepieces are as important and as the scope itself so always get the best you can afford!

Personally I'm old school when it comes to finding targets so I'm going to recommend getting a star atlas rather than a app😁😁

Oh, and a planisphere is always useful!

Good luck!

[M40]

Hello a6400 and welcome to the site 👍 

To fit your camera to the telescope you need two things, the first is an adapter that fits your camera and the second is a 1.25" T2 thread nosepiece. I "think" the adapter for your camera is this one.... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/borg-sony-e-adaptor.html but you will need to check. The nosepiece is this one.... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/diagonals/baader-nosepiece-125-t2.html. I recommend you drop FLO an email to check though.

The nosepiece fits into the standard telescope 1.25" eyepiece socket. This combined with a Barlow gets you off and running taking pictures and I would definitely spend a few pennies on some form of camera remote like a cost effective intervalometer. One thing you will need to think about with a 200P is storage, it's quite big. +1 for the planisphere and some form of red dot/telrad/rigel finder. Enjoy

 

[Cosmic Geoff]

I think you will find it difficult to take images of the planets with a manual Dob - you really need a tracking mount, or a GoTo mount.  If your camera does not have 'live view' you will find it even more difficult.

[Pixies]

1 hour ago, M40 said:

Hello a6400 and welcome to the site 👍 

To fit your camera to the telescope you need two things, the first is an adapter that fits your camera and the second is a 1.25" T2 thread nosepiece. I "think" the adapter for your camera is this one.... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/borg-sony-e-adaptor.html but you will need to check. The nosepiece is this one.... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/diagonals/baader-nosepiece-125-t2.html. I recommend you drop FLO an email to check though.

The nosepiece fits into the standard telescope 1.25" eyepiece socket. This combined with a Barlow gets you off and running taking pictures and I would definitely spend a few pennies on some form of camera remote like a cost effective intervalometer. One thing you will need to think about with a 200P is storage, it's quite big. +1 for the planisphere and some form of red dot/telrad/rigel finder. Enjoy

 

I believe the Skywatcher's eyepiece adapter already has a T2 thread, so the camera can attach directly with more inward focus.

See this vid from around 2:30: 

 

[M40]

That's a good video Pixies and well worth a look 👍

[a6400]

Thanks everyone.

Someone mentioned i would need a "go to" for planets.

What other scope with go to would you recommend ? I don't want to spend more than 1k £ for whole setup.

 

[popeye85]

If you are aiming from planets rather than DSO then try looking at refractors. I agree that you get more bang for your buck with dobs but the sharpness with a refractor is fantastic for planets. 

[a6400]

But refractor with go to will be much more than 1k right ?

[Spile]

I have the same telescope and would suggest hanging fire before spending additional funds on upgrades. Well apart from a copy of turn Left at Orion that is. Thrash the living daylights out of the existing eyepieces and finder in order to determine what (if any) upgrade strategy is right for you. There are some (hopefully useful) tips on my blog below.

Edited June 1, 2021 by Spile

[Kon]

I have the 200P. It is an excellent telescope for visual especially DSOs. Planetary has also been excellent so far but for photography not really. Yes I have taken photos of DSOs but I am limited to 0.5s exposures before star trailing but I am content with that since I just want to show them to my family in the morning; not even close to what you see in AP. For planets again I have taken crappy photos but it satisfied my curiosity and I made a record. Never say never, I have seen some nice photos from DOBs but you might need an equatorial platform for tracking. If your primary interest is AP, then you should not consider the 200P. If you are after an excellent visual telescope go for it. I think others have given you excellent advice on what might be better for AP.

[a6400]

I don't want to use it for DSO AP, i want to use it for visual + VIDEO recording of planets, so then i can process them on a computer.

I know that taking long exposures on Dobsonian is a bad idea.

[Louis D]

2 hours ago, a6400 said:

I don't want to use it for DSO AP, i want to use it for visual + VIDEO recording of planets, so then i can process them on a computer.

I know that taking long exposures on Dobsonian is a bad idea.

Without tracking, you'll be having to keep pushing the scope, letting it settle, and then allowing the planet image to drift across the imager.  Doable, but you'll tire of the process fairly quickly.  An equatorial platform will allow tracking for up to an hour before resetting it.

[a6400]

9 minutes ago, Louis D said:

Without tracking, you'll be having to keep pushing the scope, letting it settle, and then allowing the planet image to drift across the imager.  Doable, but you'll tire of the process fairly quickly.  An equatorial platform will allow tracking for up to an hour before resetting it.

I understand that, but i can't spend more than 1k £ on my setup right now. 🙁

[Soligor Rob]

14 hours ago, Spile said:

I have the same telescope and would suggest hanging fire before spending additional funds on upgrades. Well apart from a copy of turn Left at Orion that is. Thrash the living daylights out of the existing eyepieces and finder in order to determine what (if any) upgrade strategy is right for you. There are some (hopefully useful) tips on my blog below.

I also have the 200p and really enjoyed reading your blog, excellent thanks.

[amaury]

7 hours ago, Louis D said:

Without tracking, you'll be having to keep pushing the scope, letting it settle, and then allowing the planet image to drift across the imager.  Doable, but you'll tire of the process fairly quickly.  An equatorial platform will allow tracking for up to an hour before resetting it.

I have the same telescope, and as Louis D said, it is doable to record planets with a dob, but it's not by any means the right tool for the job. 

[PeterStudz]

7 hours ago, a6400 said:

I understand that, but i can't spend more than 1k £ on my setup right now. 🙁

I’m no expert here but if you don’t wish to spent a fortune (and as a beginner I think that’s wise) why not buy a dob with the possibility of upgrading to an EQ mount at a later date?

If you decide to go that route I’d suggest that the Bresser Messier 8" Dobsonian Bresser Messier 6" Planetary Dobsonian represent better value. Unlike the Skywatcher they come with a solar filter, and they come with tube rings which you’d need for an EQ. 

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/bresser-messier-6-inch-planetary-dobsonian.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bresser-telescopes/bresser-messier-8-dobsonian-telescope.html

 

[M40]

Like many others, I started off with the 200P Dob. I managed some cracking "lucky" shots of the moon, didn't try with the planets so can't comment there. What you will realise is just how fast stuff moves once you get the more powerful eyepiece into play but you soon learn how to allow your subject to drift into view, take the lucky snap and then realign the dob. Alternatively, have you looked at the 200P on the eq5 for £700? You could always upgrade to a goto later. It has some good reviews that may be worth a look. Enjoy.

[a6400]

8 hours ago, PeterStudz said:

I’m no expert here but if you don’t wish to spent a fortune (and as a beginner I think that’s wise) why not buy a dob with the possibility of upgrading to an EQ mount at a later date?

If you decide to go that route I’d suggest that the Bresser Messier 8" Dobsonian Bresser Messier 6" Planetary Dobsonian represent better value. Unlike the Skywatcher they come with a solar filter, and they come with tube rings which you’d need for an EQ. 

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/bresser-messier-6-inch-planetary-dobsonian.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bresser-telescopes/bresser-messier-8-dobsonian-telescope.html

 

I think this sounds like a good idea.

I would like to connect my Sony A6400 camera to this scope, so i came up with this kind of setup:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bresser-telescopes/bresser-messier-8-dobsonian-telescope.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/barlow-eyepieces/tv_pmt_2.5x_1.25in.html (2.5x / 1.25" option ?) [or should i go for Barlow 2x ?]

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces/bst-starguider-60-8mm-ed-eyepiece.html (This will give me high magnification right ? )

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/stellalyra-premium-cheshire-collimating-eyepiece.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/ae_t-ring_nex.html (Sony E mount)

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astro-essentials/astro-essentials-1-25-inch-t-mount-camera-nosepiece-adapter.html (From what i understand i won't need this if i go with the Barlow x2 ? )

Also do you connect camera straight to Barlow/Powermate or Eye piece ? No idea how it works.

Thanks everyone!

 

Edited June 2, 2021 by a6400