#Which rig should I get?

96 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

main flicker
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1st rig is:
TS optics 60/360 https://www.astroshop.eu/telescopes/ts-optics-apochromatic-refractor-ap-60-360-ed-tsmpt60-ota/p,79714
ZWO asi 183MC https://www.astroshop.eu/astronomical-cameras/zwo-camera-asi-183-mc-color/p,56536
EQ3 https://www.astroshop.eu/equatorial-without-goto/skywatcher-mount-eq3-2/p,16080
Onstep goto https://www.ebay.com/itm/296307271457
Total cost: 1400€

2nd rig is:
GSO 200/800 https://www.tecnosky.eu/index.php/gso-newton-200-800-f-4.html
Canon 700d https://www.canon.it/for_home/product_finder/cameras/digital_slr/eos_700d/
HEQ 5 https://www.astroshop.eu/equatorial-with-goto/skywatcher-mount-heq-5-pro-synscan-goto/p,4071
Total cost: 1800€

I already own the canon 700d. I really can't pick between the two, as the first rig would be great for AP, but it wouldn't be much of use for visual. I already own a 114/900 newtonian on a Lego tracker. Could I use it with the astrocam for planetary and lucky imaging? (it would be 0.55" per pixel). Please let me know your thoughts and other solutions you would recommend.

TS Optics Apochromatic refractor AP 60/360 ED TSMPT60 OTA

This compact ED refractor is one of the most versatile telescopes we know. The multi-coated lens offers a sharp and high-contrast image. The ED element corrects chromatic aberra...

ZWO Camera ASI 183 MC Color

ASI183 has much potential, and each feature means a new posibility! This camera is suitable for a wide range of astronomical application.The ASI 183 camera series is the most se...

Skywatcher Mount EQ3-2

The EQ3-2 mount:This mount is a further development of the EQ-3 mount designed in white. It provides a stable base for most medium-sized optics and is ideal for exploring the ni...

eBay
V4 EQ3D Pro Onstep EQ3D Equatorial Mount V4 GOTO Upgrade Kit Biaxia...

V4 EQ3D Pro Main function - 1 x V4 EQ3D Pro Kit. - Biaxial GOTO. - Biaxial AB encoder. - Declination motor interface. - GOTO automatic star finding. General function Customized extension function.

Gso Newton 200/800 f/4

Tubo ottico GSO 200mm F4 Newton Ota con focheggiatore Crayford da 50.8mm

humble vortex
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Don't get the 183, it's way too old and uncooled it will be a mess to calibrate

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Second rig makes more sense but you also need a coma corrector and guiding for that fl

main flicker
humble vortex
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Without the asiair?

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Also have you checked for second hand mounts? To me buying an heq5 brand new makes little sense now

main flicker
main flicker
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The second hand market is basically non-existent here. it's full of people that try to scam you

humble vortex
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Have you considered a chinese harmonic drive mount? Mine was 1200$ with practically identical stats as the am5

humble vortex
main flicker
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hmmm

main flicker
humble vortex
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the guys I bought it from have some new mounts for around 1400 taxes included

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I tend to not do too much publicity to them since not everyone is ok with buying like that but there are ton of people happy with their mounts

main flicker
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Got it. It all seems a bit out of budget though. i'd still need an OTA and coma corrector. Considering that the Heq-5 is sold together with other gear valued at 900€, the mount is pratically sold for 900.

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could an Eq-5 with onstep hold the load?

humble vortex
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I wouldn't use it with the 8"

main flicker
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ok

humble vortex
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have you considered the quattro 150? similar price and inlcudes a corrector/reducer

main flicker
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Yeah, but I haven't found any convenient bundle. buying everything sepaetly would cost me 200€ more

humble vortex
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like mount and telescope bundle?

main flicker
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yeh

humble vortex
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are there bundles with the gso?

main flicker
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yep, I'll send it

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It's in italian though, so good luck with that

humble vortex
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il mio nickname non ti dice niente? lol

main flicker
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pensavo fosse in inglese, lmao

humble vortex
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cerco di tenere tutto in inglese per far capire anche agli altri

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there's this one on astroshop

main flicker
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oh okay

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didn't see it

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it's still 100 more

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i'll look into it and let you know

humble vortex
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eq5 onstep and the quattro would save you a bit I think, I'm still on the side of harmonics but I get that the budget is what it is

main flicker
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@humble vortex just found such a deal lmao

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humble vortex
quiet nova
main flicker
main flicker
humble vortex
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probably, you should be able to do more if you can connect the canon to nina or asiair

main flicker
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ohh can you?

quiet nova
humble vortex
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should be plug and play, I think

quiet nova
finite gulch
main flicker
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No way

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Would it work without guiding?

finite gulch
# main flicker Really???

Yeah as long as you take care and tune backlash out. Also try to balance as perfectly as possible as that is very important with big telescopes.

main flicker
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Ok got it

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I'll also search on forums to see if any people did this exact thing

finite gulch
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I used an 8 inch sct for over a year without guiding and I could get up to 180s exposures though only around 60-90s reliably. I usually did a 3 star alignment and then an electronic polar alignment and that was enough

main flicker
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Ok

finite gulch
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The weight of the setup was about 11kg. But the big problem was wind

main flicker
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I fear that it could become a veil

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finite gulch
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Since it's a large tube on a small mount any wind would be quite difficult to overcome

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A pier should help though or even a more substantial tripod

main flicker
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I could buy the heq5 tripod

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Is it a good idea?

finite gulch
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I think it's the same one as the eq5 so probably not. Basically what I did was I would decide on a target and then move the setup to the opposite side of the garden so the fence would help from one side at least

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But honestly even in strong winds 30s were quite achievable

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blazing pebble
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With the newtonian you will also need a bahtinov and maybe a collimator.

humble vortex
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Collimator yes, I don't see a point in getting a bahtinov mask when you can use nina to determine the star size

stuck prairie
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@main flicker Do you have a setup now?

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civic trellis
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if you get the newt, expect to do a ton of upgrades/mods

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every beginner should start with a refractor, ideally a petzval

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and pair that petzval (easier on your mount if you choose something like 250-400mm FL), with an AM3, or Skywatcher GTI, or even SA2i

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and top it off with an ASIair Mini (your 700D is perfectly compatible with ASIair Mini)

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that

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is my recommendation

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perfectly portable, perfectly powerful

stuck prairie
# main flicker Right now yes. It's neither of the rigs i've mentioned though. It's an old newt ...

I think the mount you get should be priority #1. You'll want something you can continue to use for a long time, with different optics possibly. I'd save up for something that can handle 10kg at least for visual, it'll hold a modest rig for astrophotography as well. Then you can figure out which scope to get afterwards, and eventually a dedicated astro camera. This type of mount will be portable, sort of like a step between a star tracker and a EQ6/GEM45.

main flicker
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I want to upgrade my mount in the future for sure. I want to get an asiair and guiding. I'll have to wait some time though, because my savings aren't enough for now

stuck prairie
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You can buy a mini pc for less than the cost of an asiair, and run nina/phd2/etc on it. It's what I do, and control it all via remote desktop.

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It doesn't have the power connections like an asiair though, somewhat of a downside.

zealous girder
main flicker
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Would a Raspberry work?

main flicker
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@humble vortex I saw you are on the wall of fame! Congrats👏👏👏

humble vortex
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100% undeserved lol

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humble vortex
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not good enough to be HOF worthy Imo

main flicker
humble vortex
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Most of them lol

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Compared to mine at least

main flicker
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Yeah but I don't know what hof is

humble vortex
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Hall of fame?

main flicker
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Ohhh yeah

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I didn't think about it lmao