When I did get the 6RC working on the CEM60 I ran into the focuser issue. If your goal is to go deep and image small DSOs with a big scope, you'll reach it faster/better/cheaper if you start with a small scope and widefield imaging. Part of the solution was a $2500 CEM60 mount, at least that was a good move. Brought my progress as an imager to a screeching halt for months. After a few months I was cranking out some decent images, decided (fool I) I was ready for a 6RC. I, paying attention to people here, started with a 66mm refractor. Nice easy setup and comfortable to reach eyepiece positions. I now mostly use my alt-az mounted 10 inch or 16 inch reflectors (DOB's) or my 127mm ED refractor or 60mm Coronado SolarMax II on an alt-az manual mount for visual work. But I now have a sturdy manual alt-az mount that accomodates my refractors quite well. I still mount refractors and an SCT on an eq mount to dabble with astrophotography. How do I know? I have had all these combinations. Even SCT's on an eq mount can put the eyepiece in awkward to reach positions. Refractors on an eq mount can place the eyepiece so low when pointed high that you may have trouble getting your head low enough unless you have a tall pier extension for the mount. With reflectors you sometimes need to rotate the tube on an eq mount to reach the eyepiece with your eye. Why? an alt-az mount keeps the eyepiece in more comfortably accessed positions than an eq mount. However, IMHO a good alt-az mount is superior to an eq mount for visual. However, I do want to address your comment ".visual astronomy and manual tracking seems more fun with with an eq mount than my twitchy motorized alt az mount." A twitchy mount is bad for visual and photography. I'll leave the astrophotography advice to more knowledgable folks than me. And visual astronomy and manual tracking seems more fun with with an eq mount than my twitchy motorized alt az mount. Well, I mostly want the equatorial mount, and 8" seems good for getting some nice details in planets. It's also difficult to attach a EAF (Electronic Auto Focuser) with the standard focuser. But if you're thinking of adding on a filter-wheel ect then it will require an upgrade. The focuser on them is just ok for a DSLR. At 1370fl and weighting in at 12lb it's much more manageable then a SCT with no coma up to a APS-C sensor. But if you're really bent on larger aperture and going deep, then a 6" RC (Ritchey-Chrétien Telescope) would do the trick. Avoid those, and you'll be starting out optimally. The mount is the most important part of a DSO AP setup, not the scope (or the camera). F5 is good, F4 gets tricky.Īnd, that was the classic wrong question. īang for the buck 8 inch scope for doing DSO AP? A Newtonian. A big scope makes a difficult task much harder. The ideal starter scope is a 51-80mm refractor. So, what 8 inch scope is good for learning DSO AP? None. Or you'll be in a world of hurt, and misunderstand the responses here. You _need_ to distinguish between two things, often confused here.
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