Telescopes for Astrophotography

[arad85]

Not wishing to hijack this thread, but I've found it really useful too. I too would like to start my astronomy journey with a setup that allows for some astrophotography too, although my photographic interest is primarily (though not exclusively) in photographing galaxies as opposed to planets.

I'm slightly confused because after visiting a specialist astronomy retailer and explaining my requirement I was advised with my budget (max. £1100) to invest in a Celestron Nexstar 6SE, power pack, barlow lens and zoom lens. It all sounded okay until I discovered after some online delving that the first thing I needed was an equatorial mount, not an altazimuth mount! This rather made me doubtful of everything I was told...

I already have a decent digital SLR (Canon EOS) and I'm wondering what I should buy. Taking the advice in this thread I'm thinking of an EQ5 mount but I'm struggling with what scope (and extras) within budget. I'd really welcome some suggestions.

By the way, I've already ordered the book suggested (Making Every Photon Count) and eagerly await it's arrival

With your budget (and if you are serious about astrophotography) I'd go with an EQ6 and a cheap 80mm ED refractor. It may sound weird spending £900 of your budget on the mount, but for astrophotography, the mount is key.... If you need to spend less on the mount, drop back to a HEQ5, not the EQ5....

BTW, I started with a Nexstar 6SE and it is definitely NOT suitable for proper deep space photography (high f ratio, alt/az mount which isn't sturdy)...

PS. I'm based in West Wiltshire, and from your forum name I'm guessing you are fairly local to me. If you want more info or want to meet up to discuss, drop me a PM...

[Natasha]

Hi, have just taken the first steps to observing and imaging myself. Really didn't want to go mad and spend an absolute fortune at this stage. From looking on the net and discussing with others the minimum workable systems I came up are the following two.

Bresser Messier 127R on eq mount and with additional motor drives

or

Skywatcher 200p on EQ5 with motor drives.

The dealer advised me that the bresser would be the best scope if imaging was all I wanted to do but for a good alrounder then go with the 200p.

As I wanted to observe as well went with the 200p, observing wise I have not been disapointed. Can't comment on imaging yet, surfice to say it isn't as easy as it looks:eek:

I think that the mount will be changed eventually, however, it is a huge jump in price to get either an HEQ5 or EQ6 when starting out.

Scott

Hi Scott One of the telescopes I'm looking into buying is the Skywatcher 200p one, what do you think of it as a first telescope and do you use it for observing galaxies and planets? After seeing some photos of galaxies, probably going to look into a telescope that's good for observing and photographing galaxies

[Scott Tilley]

Hi Natasha, I'm really impressed with it so far. I use it for both galaxies and planets. Can't comment on the imaging yet but for the price they are being sold for at the moment I don't think you can go wrong. I had mine with the EQ5 mount and bought the optional motors but if you've got a bit more cash you can upgrade to the HEQ5. Hopefully if we get some decent sky's I'll post some images soon.

Scott

[Natasha]

Hi Natasha, I'm really impressed with it so far. I use it for both galaxies and planets. Can't comment on the imaging yet but for the price they are being sold for at the moment I don't think you can go wrong. I had mine with the EQ5 mount and bought the optional motors but if you've got a bit more cash you can upgrade to the HEQ5. Hopefully if we get some decent sky's I'll post some images soon.

Scott

Hi Scott That's cool you use it for galaxies and planets. If I buy the 200p telescope, I'd use it for photographing galaxies and planets. Does the finderscope help you find galaxies and planets? Sorry for asking a stupid question, still learning about telescopes and how they work lol. I'll look out for your photos

[Scott Tilley]

Hi Natasha, yep, you need to line your finder up with the main scope. The finder gives you a wide field of view and when you get to know the constellations you can star hop from one to the other. By using a monthly star chart such as in Sky at night or PC software you can use the stars to enable you to locate where galaxy's should be (some can be hard to see!) Then use a low power eyepiece to look at the same spot and bingo, with a bit of look you should see it.

Don't expect stunning full colour images (they only come when you use a camera to image them!).

Scott

[Scott Tilley]

Natasha, this was shot with my canon 50d attached directly to the scope with a T-Ring. I have not processed it at all, but not bad for a first attempt.

And a very quick attempt at Orion nebula. Just a snap shot again with the 50d attached direct to the scope one shot, no darks just a 30 second exposure at ISO 200.

Scott.

[Astro_Baby]

Personally I'd think an HEQ5 wouldnt be big enough to image with the SW200 tube. I'd be inclined to suggest the EQ6 on the basis that all the imagers always suggest you need the scope to be using only 50% of the mounts weight handling capability.

I have a SW200 on the HEQ5 and with the Moonlite focuser, heavy EP, my latest finder which is comparable to a small guidescope plus the scope tube being flocked the whole arrangement is close to the limit of what the HEQ5 can bear.

With that said theres quite a few people on here who do image with the SW200/HEQ5 combination.

Natasha - I'd super suggest you read Steves book 'Making every photon count' as it will give you a solid intro to imaging. As an ex profesional photographer believe me astro-imaging is not much like conventional photography. Its a massive learning curve and tends to be quite pricey - when I restarted the hobby I kind of imagined with digital cams it would all be much easier than 20 years ago, it is to a point, but its still a black art in many ways and possibly even more expensive than years ago.

I'd not jump to a decision on scopes until you have gathered more info and perhaps seen some of the potential pitfalls.

I dont even bother trying imaging and just do visual. Imaging needs a lot of kit and just the scope and its support gear is more than enough to cope with for portability. If I tried imaging I'd never have enough time to lug the stuff about and set-up.

YOu dont say if your working from a fixed location or having to transport stuff. The HEQ5/200 combo is a good bit of kit with almost endless possibilities but it is heavy, bulky and, for a complete beginner, quite complex in many ways. Thats not a downer but be prepared just with the scope to have a pretty steep learning curve to all of this.

If your anywehere near Surrey or Sussex you'd be welcome to come out with me and my partner and my 200/HEQ5 (assuming we EVER get a clear sky) so you can see what its like.

[Natasha]

Natasha, this was shot with my canon 50d attached directly to the scope with a T-Ring. I have not processed it at all, but not bad for a first attempt.

And a very quick attempt at Orion nebula. Just a snap shot again with the 50d attached direct to the scope one shot, no darks just a 30 second exposure at ISO 200.

Scott.

Hi Scott Thank you for posting photos, they're nice close up photos, that's cool you can photograph Orion nebula with the 200P one . I probably sound sad saying this lol but I got a book today on Astronomy (Nightwatch by Terence Dickinson), from the photos in the book, Orion nebula is one of the galaxies I'd like to photograph the most . The 200P looks like a good scope for photographing galaxies.

[Natasha]

Personally I'd think an HEQ5 wouldnt be big enough to image with the SW200 tube. I'd be inclined to suggest the EQ6 on the basis that all the imagers always suggest you need the scope to be using only 50% of the mounts weight handling capability.

I have a SW200 on the HEQ5 and with the Moonlite focuser, heavy EP, my latest finder which is comparable to a small guidescope plus the scope tube being flocked the whole arrangement is close to the limit of what the HEQ5 can bear.

With that said theres quite a few people on here who do image with the SW200/HEQ5 combination.

Natasha - I'd super suggest you read Steves book 'Making every photon count' as it will give you a solid intro to imaging. As an ex profesional photographer believe me astro-imaging is not much like conventional photography. Its a massive learning curve and tends to be quite pricey - when I restarted the hobby I kind of imagined with digital cams it would all be much easier than 20 years ago, it is to a point, but its still a black art in many ways and possibly even more expensive than years ago.

I'd not jump to a decision on scopes until you have gathered more info and perhaps seen some of the potential pitfalls.

I dont even bother trying imaging and just do visual. Imaging needs a lot of kit and just the scope and its support gear is more than enough to cope with for portability. If I tried imaging I'd never have enough time to lug the stuff about and set-up.

YOu dont say if your working from a fixed location or having to transport stuff. The HEQ5/200 combo is a good bit of kit with almost endless possibilities but it is heavy, bulky and, for a complete beginner, quite complex in many ways. Thats not a downer but be prepared just with the scope to have a pretty steep learning curve to all of this.

If your anywehere near Surrey or Sussex you'd be welcome to come out with me and my partner and my 200/HEQ5 (assuming we EVER get a clear sky) so you can see what its like.

Hi Thank you very much for your advice and tips, I really appreciate it, going to look into buying Steve's book Making Every Photon count, it sounds like a good book for beginners in Astrophotography . Astro-imaging sounds different to other types of photography, I've been doing photography for 2 years (photographing animals and landscapes is my main hobby) but I've always been interested in Astronomy (galaxies and planets), so I'd like to combine the two (photography and astronomy), sorry for waffling lol . If I go into Astronomy and Astrophotography, I'd be taking photos from my back garden, going to learn about the night sky first (before I buy my first telescope).

[Wiltshiresaint]

Having read through the thread a few times (!) I've a mind to buy myself a SkyWatcher Evostar- ED 80 DSPRO. It would seem to be a great scope for capturing Deep Sky Objects, and one well suited for a beginner in astrophotography.

My issue is the mount. I can just about stretch to a SkyWatcher 854 EQ6 Pro SkyScan GOTO Mount. Everything points to me buying the best mount I can, particularly since I'd rather buy one just once and if I get a larger scope I'll still be fine. However, am I really 'overcooking the egg' with the EQ6? Would an EQ5 Pro be just as good and almost as 'future proof'?

[Beyond_Vision]

I would try to stretch the budget to an EQ6 as it will give you room for expansion. Having said that I'm using a 7.5kg 4" APO triplet and a Williams Optics 66SD on a HEQ5 type mount with no problem at all. Sometime in the future I would like to use an 8-10" scope which would really require an EQ6. I now wish I had spent the extras couple of hundred pounds.

Regards

Kevin

[Astro_Baby]

I'd agree - get the biggest mount you can afford because the biggest most powerful mount is onley ever just barely good enough and no one ever complains that their mount is too rigid.

I had to settle for the HEQ5 on grounds of portability and its a solid enough bit of kit but if I were operating from a fixed base I'd upscale for sure.

Natasha, if your operating from home then the Sky-Watcher 200 would be no worries in setting up. Its just I have seen so many people get fed up lugging them around cos its a heavy old bit of kit.

Most people dont factor in the fact that you wont be lugging a tube and a mount around. You'll be lugging the tube, the mount, 10-15kg of weights, a power supply, a box full of leads, a case full of eyepieces plus all the other stuff like torches, hairdryers etc etc etc. It can all get a bit much

[liam the liam]

Hello earthlings

I aim to do the same thing as natasha here

but I am already experienced with telescopes. For my next telescope, (for astrophotography) i have chosen the celestron advanced vx 6" schmidt-cassegrain telescope. but i have a few questions about it. i will be using a canon dslr camera. i am planning to also by an autoguider along with the telescope. but i don't really understand this whole adapter business. is there an adapter that will let me zoom in and out on objects, so they take up the camera frame? with a schmidt-cassegrain telescope, will i have to use a barlow lense like on my old newtonian? what is the best kind of adapter for astrophotography? i want to image large nebulae and small galaxies. so what's the adapter for the job?