common question... which one to "start" with?

[flyingwillie]

Hello you all !
I'm from Belgium, 43, 3 big kids and I decided to stop working for a while which lets me now with plenty of time to get back to my favourite passions.

I spent monthes in reading all over the net to figure out what would be the best choice for me to start with planet as wel as DSO observation with some try at astrophotoraphy.

I've had different scopes and my last one is a 114/900 Konus which I didn't use really often due to different factors. First of all, I find it a cheap instrument, absolutely not stable, with poor optics. There is almost nothing to be see in it as even breathing close to it makes the images go out of field. It's also not very easy to align, mount is very very skinny with bad brakes and clutches. All in all, a real crap, even for the beginner that I am. It really came to disgust me from going out and just "try"... But astronomy is something that I really do love and I just don't want to give up.

So now that I have a little more time (but less money of course...) I'm saving in the hope of getting me a more serious instrument in the future, something versatile enough to get me going for a couple of years, if not my one and only scope for the rest of my life.

My son is a professionnal cameraman and photographer. He is very interested in my project and this would also help keeping a close relationship bewteen us, which I find a very positive thing.

Here are my questions :

I first took a close look to those small SCT (meade etx70, then 80, then 90, then 125) to come to the point thta this wouldn't do on the long run (remember that I don't plan on spending money in a "set" of scopes). I came across the Nexstar 5, then 6 which seemed to me more adapted to my needs, but still... after some reflexion over the photographic possibilities, It appeared to me that they would quickly limiting me to short pause photo's of the bigest planets, that they were not exactly purposed to accept many kinds of mounts, etc...

I now wonder if the C8 might be the best buck for the money to start with. It seems more "serious" and versatile stuff and still affordable for someone who's got time to spare some money for a while and wants something just decent enough to keep enjoyment of observation and photography for a long time...

May aim is beeing capable of making good observation of both planets and DSO's as wel as beginning to learn the process of photography them. Of course I'm not expecting Hubble like pictures, I know... I just want something that is not a toy and that I can really work and learn with.

I first want to thank you all here for all the valuable information I already got by surfing through this forum, and also thank you for your welcome and attention. I wish you all the best !

ps: I'm french talking so I already apologize for any misunderstanding that could be caused by my poor knowledge of english.

Thank you ! :-)

[AlbertP]

Your English is excellent! Welcome to the forum! No doubt you will receive a LOT of advice from experienced star-gazers!

[satcomsta]

Welcome and good look in your search for the adequate scope! Clear skies.

[Star Rider]

[QUOTE=

So now that I have a little more time (but less money of course...) I'm saving in the hope of getting me a more serious instrument in the future, something versatile enough to get me going for a couple of years, if not my one and only scope for the rest of my life.

My son is a professionnal cameraman and photographer. He is very interested in my project and this would also help keeping a close relationship bewteen us, which I find a very positive thing.


I now wonder if the C8 might be the best buck for the money to start with. It seems more "serious" and versatile stuff and still affordable for someone who's got time to spare some money for a while and wants something just decent enough to keep enjoyment of observation and photography for a long time...

May aim is beeing capable of making good observation of both planets and DSO's as wel as beginning to learn the process of photography them. Of course I'm not expecting Hubble like pictures, I know... I just want something that is not a toy and that I can really work and learn with.

I first want to thank you all here for all the valuable information I already got by surfing through this forum, and also thank you for your welcome and attention. I wish you all the best !

QUOTE]

I suffered through the "cheap scope" blues as well. I saved my $$$ and made the jump to one of these Celestron CGEM 800 Telescope - 11097 - OPT Telescopes . I'm so happy with it. I can take 2-1/2 to 3 minute A/P shots with it. I have had to down load the firmware updates, train the PEC on the mount with the Celestron PEC Tool, add a polar scope, etc... But the mount is very good, I can align it in 10 minuets and be ready to go. I have seen some amazing DSO objects and great views of the planets. If this set up is in your budget, it's a good way to go and will serve you well for many years.

Clear Skies,
Bob

[flyingwillie]

Thank you Bob ! I look the 'OPT' link toroughly. Very nice instrument indeed. Worth to have a closer look to it event if it's beyond my present budget. I think the best to do is go on learning even with my crap material to get a more accurate idea of my needs while saving my $$ little by little. Ther is sooo much I still have to begin to understand (mounts, eyepieces, camera's,etc...). And so much fun beeing in that "learning process"...
Have a nice one ! clear skies !

[Star Rider]

Okay, have a look at this set up Celestron Advanced Series 8" SCT Telescope - 11026-XLT - Free Shipping - OPT Telescopes . It's the same scope, but on a smaller mount. It would be a great starting point and may fit in your budget better. You could also do some A/P with it and learn the sky at the same time.

Clear Skies,
Bob

[flyingwillie]

Hi Bob !
Ok, that fits the bill better for me indeed :-)) THX!
In between I completely disassembled my 114/900Konus and after a torough cleaning, de-greasing and re-greasing with High standard grease, cleaning of the primary and of all elements of the EP it's smoother than before :-)
I made an amazing observation of the moon here which was at its perigee 2 days ago. But still very instable due to the mount...anyway it's better than before.
I think I am going to go for the one you advise me. That seems to be a good serious tool to begin with... and upgradable which is quite interesting.
Thank you very much for your wise tips. I can see more clearly now.
I wish you the best to happen, take good care and have a nice one !
fred