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In this Discussion
- christhepuma November 2011
- djbozz December 2011
- karl November 2011
- RayGil December 2011
Newbee signing in
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Hi all, I am a keen amature photographer who has recently had the urge to look skyward, I have been taking photos of the moon and some constellations with my Sony alpha DSLR camera, tripod & manual focus zoom lens, Im now looking to expand my views with a telescope, im on a bit of a budget (£180 ish) what is a good starter scope for astrophotography, is a reflector better than a refractor, I know I need an EQ motor mount for longer exposures, thats a must, im just lost in the sea of telescopes that are available for the money I have, Ive been looking at a CELESTRON AstroMaster 130EQ-MD Reflector Telescope with Motor Drive, heres the specs:
Reflector design
Aperture: 130 mm
Focal length: 650 mm
Focal ratio: 5
Eyepiece 1: 20 mm, 32.5x magnification
Eyepiece 2: 10 mm, 65x magnification
Mount: CG-3 Equatorial
Motor drive included
Multi-coated optics
Weight: 10.89 kg,
or I have found this refractor, Sky-Watcher Evostar 90 (EQ2) Telescope
Mirror Diameter 90 mm
Focal Length 900 mm
F/ratio F/10
Optical Coatings Multi-Coated Objective Lens
Focuser 31.7mm (1.25”) Rack-and-Pinion Focuser
Star Diagonal 31.7mm (1.25") Star Diagonal
Mount Type EQ2 Equatorial Mount
Mounting Interface Tube rings and Dovetail bar
Highest Useful Magnification 180x
Lowest Useful Magnification 18x
Limiting Steller Magnitude 12.5
Resoving Power 1.3
Finderscope Yes
Finderscope type 6x30 Finderscope
Eyepiece supplied Yes
Eyepiece Barrel Size 31.7mm (1.25inch)
Eyepiece Focal Length 10mm, 25mm
Magnifications with Eyepieces x36, x90
Alignment Procedure Hand control, Slow motion controls
This one I would need a Motor for,
Which of these would be a good starting point??
Sorry for the long first post, but I do not want to waste my precious money:)
Thanks Neil
heres a couple of recent pics of Jupiter & 3-4 moons
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm101/djbozz1/Astronomy/JUPITER006.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm101/djbozz1/Astronomy/JUPITER004.jpg -
Oh! & thank you for the great very helpfull website ;)
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Hi djbozz
I had a celestron astromaster 130md sold it within 2 weeks the tripod is very good but the motor drive is a joke because it has soft plastic gears and strip very quick (mine within 2 days)most people on this forum go for sky-watcher make.
I like the8" dobsonians very easy to use but take up a bit of room.
if funds allow go for a 150 size or more because like people say bigger is better.
regards karl -
SW Explorer 130p fits into your budget:
http://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-130p.html
As Karl says size does matter and if you can save a bit then the 150p or 150pl will be better. -
I like to use my short tube refractor for Imaging, it's easier, prime focus, lighter for balance and performs very nicely, but I also have a Skywatcher 200p for visual astronomy, that gives better views!
http://www.raygilchrist.co.uk/equipment.html
Ray
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Your just winding me up Ray because you know im saving for a skywatcher 200p lol
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:-))
For photography I do use the refactor 120mm - but the 200p gives better visual views! Just a fact :-))
Ray
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Thanks guys, does this mean you would recomend a refractor over a reflector for photography?
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Well I would, I find it easier being portable, but if I had a fixed observatory the bigger scope would be better! But I have to travel to my dark sky site for photography ;-)
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Im saving a bit harder now as ive seen these telescopes in my local shop, http://astronomia.co.uk/index.php/telescopes/sky-watcher-telescopes/refractor-telescopes/sky-watcher-startravel-102-synscan-az-goto-telescope.html
or these
http://astronomia.co.uk/index.php/telescopes/sky-watcher-telescopes/reflector-telescopes/sky-watcher-explorer-130p-synscan-az-goto-telescope.html
they both have the Synscan GOTO system & both just over £300, now to decide reflector or refractor, any advise or product knowledge appreciated thanks.
Neil:) -
Neil.
Both scope are very good, and have both got good reviews, I have the 120mm refractor which is nice, age old problem - refractor or reflector :-)) -
Or if can stretch that far maybe one of these,
http://astronomia.co.uk/index.php/telescopes/sky-watcher-telescopes/catadioptric-telescopes/sky-watcher-skymax-127-synscasn-az-goto-telescope.html
would this be better still?:)
