Scopes Generic equipment discussions · Justjoans · ... · 5 · 218 · 0

Justjoans 0.00
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What scopes do you recommend for planet photography as well as deep space objects? One that can do nicely with both would be ideal. It also needs to be an easily portable setup to get to dark sky areas.

We have Canon EOS Rebel T6 and Canon EOS Rebel T7i that we’d like to attach (at separate times) to the scope to photograph (no special lenses for them at this point...though we do have the Arsenal).

We are just starting out but have set aside $3000 to purchase what we can (that’s not the best budget, we know).

The research I’ve done leans toward recommending APO refractor scopes on EQ motorized mounts, but it looks like these are mostly pictures of DSO so I’m wondering if they do well for planet photography as well.

Also what post production software do you recommend?

Thanks in advance for your help.
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TareqPhoto 2.94
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Newtonian or EQ dobsonian
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gnomus 0.00
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Hi

I'm not sure that there is 'one scope to rule them all'.  The classic scope for planetary and lunar work is the SCT.  The choice of focal length will depend to some extent on your seeing, but you are usually talking about long-ish focal lengths of 2m plus.  Have a look at the work of Damian Peach, for example http://www.damianpeach.com/.  For planetary/lunar it will be much easier if the scope is motorized, but the mount can be of the EQ or AltAz type.

For DSOs, you really are much better off with an EQ mount.  (I'd say it was essential - although some folks do do non-EQ DSO imaging.)  I would not recommend that a beginner DSO imager start with a long focal length SCT scope.  You are more likely to have success with a short focal length refractor.   The Skywatcher ED-80, for example, is an excellent, and inexpensive, beginner DSO imager scope.

$3000 is not a bad budget.  But be aware that AP will very quickly eat up any money you have, and still be hungry for more.

I'd suggest that you decide whether or not you want to start off with planetary or DSO imaging.  If you are at all interested in DSO imaging - take a good chunk of your budget and get the best mount you can with it.  HEQ5 or (better yet) an EQ6.

However, at your stage, I'd strongly recommend getting a book like 'Making Every Photon Count' -  https://www.firstlightoptics.com/books/making-every-photon-count-steve-richards.html  - Steve Richards is a good chap and he is able to go through all this stuff in more depth than is possible on a forum.  You'll probably save yourself money if you buy his book and read it thoroughly before you start spending the big bucks on gear.

Software is a source of continuing .... debate.  PixInsight is popular and useful for many tasks.  But good old Phostoshop is probably still the mainstay.  I use both (and would not want to be without PS).

Good luck
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TareqPhoto 2.94
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As scopes, again Newtonian is better suited you for both with EQ mount ofcourse.

Processing software is varying, for DSO PixInsight is likely the jewel one, but for planetary i know that Autostakkert and Registax are the main common ones, with the help of additional software such as winjupod [de-rotation] and PIPP.
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Justjoans 0.00
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Thank you all so much! ❤️
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Starminer68 2.41
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I concur with Abdulla- Newtonian and EQ mount is the best for the beginning . You may shoot both DSO and planets.
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