Rethinking my setup

[txcwboy]

I have a 8" Celstar SCT. I always wanted to be more active in astrophotography . I see a lot of guys using smaller scopes. And they are more $$$ too :) Is there a nice refractor that I could get if I sold/traded my 8" SCT that I wouldnt have to shell out any or much cash ? Or maybe just a $300 to 400 one I could get good results from ?

Thanks

Dave

[timeasterday]

In that price range a 66mm refractor from Astro-Tech or William Optics would be a nice wide-field scope. But that's just the scope, no mount, adapters, etc. For a cheap tracking setup you are looking at more money.

[txcwboy]

Maybe I can sell my scope and use the 300 to 400 to get a complete setup ?

Dave

[Adrena1in]

It depends how much you get for your scope I suppose. If you want "good" results, then you don't have to get an Apochromatic refractor, (but if you can afford to it would be worthwhile). Does your SCT not already have a mount?

Thing is, a decent APO might be anything from $400 to $2000, but you really want to also be spending a decent load on the mount itself...no point having a fantastic telescope if the mount isn't going to track the stars accurately.

I took the budget option and got two Achromats for around $600, but spent nearer $800 on the mount alone.

[Celestron]

Maybe I can sell my scope and use the 300 to 400 to get a complete setup ?

Dave

Sorry txcwboy :( , but a complete setup with a good scope will definitly cost you more than that . Basically it depends what type you want and how your going to use it . Money wise ...., well your going to have to dish out more than that for a decent mount and scope .

[txcwboy]

Yes it has a fork mount and it does track just not a GO TO . I saw a 102mm or 120mm with a manual tracking mount for 1200ish. I like to look at the moon and show others Jupiter and Saturn. Freaks people out :) But I would like to take some nebula pics with my Canon 350. How about some names to go with and some names of stuff to stay away from ? Im thinking less than 1500 :)

Dave

[R Hardman]

Yes it has a fork mount and it does track just not a GO TO . I saw a 102mm or 120mm with a manual tracking mount for 1200ish. I like to look at the moon and show others Jupiter and Saturn. Freaks people out :) But I would like to take some nebula pics with my Canon 350. How about some names to go with and some names of stuff to stay away from ? Im thinking less than 1500 :)

Dave

How about just buying a GOTO mount and re-mount your SCT on?

[txcwboy]

i would only have 400 to spend on mount then.

[ebann]

A small refractor doesn't need a very robust mount. The CG-4 is more than capable to handle them. That's what I got... a CG-4 with TeleVue Ranger.