Interest in astro imaging

[Unknownjenkins]

So ive decided to dip my feet into AP but im not sure where to start. Currently have an 8in Dob. Im looking for entry level stuff nothing too fancy but something that will get the job done as i dont know for sure if AP is my thing. i dont mind buying another scope but i have no clue which would be good for entry level. As for what i would like to try and capture would be planets and star clusters and maybe MAYBE DSO (not requiered) so far i was recommended https://explorescientificusa.com/col...ejb1fyvtaYGUSE and https://www.highpointscientific.com/...FePe9XvwZURqTM. ALSO i have no camera of any sorts. mWouls anyone have any other suggestions or know of a so called "perfect" entry level setup?

[CamelHat]

Unless you get a camera star tracker you will need a tracking mount. That is a major investment so you may want to think about how bad you want this hobby. If it is real bad, spend a few thousand on a mount because that is by far the weakest link in the chain. Otherwise try the AVX or ZEQ25. The AVX has an option to get a Newt packaged for $100 if you are willing to make concessions. The good news, an AVX keeps its value pretty well so you can always sell it with only a few $100 loss. If you are not sure get a star tracker but really it's a relatively expensive solution when you compare it with the much more powerful AVX.

[Micke187]

First of you will need a good mount a equatorial mount. There is a saying " put your money where your mount is" its becouse that is the most important part in AP a mount with motors so you can track the objects with precision. A good mount to start with is a skywatcher heq5.
And for the scope i would suggest a 70-100 mm refractor doublet or triplet . Its best to start of with shorter focal lenght in the beginning so maybe 400-500mm focal lenght would be a good place to start. . And camera you can start with a cheap dslr canon brand is the most preferable choice.
You will notice quick that AP will set a big hole in your wallet.
Then there is guiding if you want to go for much longer exposures but that is something you can start with later on when you get a little more comfortable with your gear.

[ozeclipse]

I agree with the advice already provided. Don't waste money on cheap mounts if you want to do tracked prime focus astrophotography. To do astrophotography through telescopes, you need a mount with the best precision, lowest periodic error you can afford. However, there are lots of ways to approach this, many different types of astrophotography, and you have not indicated your interests.

A reasonably good DSLR and a solid tripod will let you do a lot of astrophotography without a mounting at all. Most of the images in my astrophotography galleries are nightscapes, panoramas, or star trails shot without any tracking. A small tracker (eg Polarie, SkyWatcher Star adventurer and similar) and DSLR or a cheaper mount, will allow you to do lots of wide field and short telephoto astrophotography. But if you want to do prime focus astrophotography at longer focal lengths, then definitely invest in a quality mounting solid enough to support the OTA you choose.

Joe

[BABOafrica]

So ive decided to dip my feet into AP but im not sure where to start. Currently have an 8in Dob. Im looking for entry level stuff nothing too fancy but something that will get the job done as i dont know for sure if AP is my thing. i dont mind buying another scope but i have no clue which would be good for entry level. As for what i would like to try and capture would be planets and star clusters and maybe MAYBE DSO (not requiered) so far i was recommended https://explorescientificusa.com/col...ejb1fyvtaYGUSE and https://www.highpointscientific.com/...FePe9XvwZURqTM. ALSO i have no camera of any sorts. mWouls anyone have any other suggestions or know of a so called "perfect" entry level setup?

It is a little late in the season for planets. Mars is fading in the night sky. Jupiter and Saturn do not appear in the night sky, but they will come around again in the Spring.

So that leaves nightscapes, star clusters (the simplest of the DSOs to capture) and lunar shots -- and also solar, of course, but that's a speciality which requires expensive filters.

You said: "nothing too fancy"... As someone suggested above, think about the "nightscapes" option. No big investment in astronomy equipment required. You would just need a good tripod, a good DSLR and lots of time out under dark skies.

You could use the DSLR later for more of the fancy stuff if you decide you like this hobby.

Once you have dipped your feet into that pool, you can start thinking about getting an equatorial mount, short-tube refractor, guide camera, etc -- which will cost you something in the range of $1000-1500 MINIMUM, and probably more depending on various factors and the accessories needed.

Joe