Astrophotography - Orion

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kennedym

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Hi guys,

I am interested in AP, I am keen on either the 8" or 10" Orion f/3.9 Newtonian Astrograph Reflector Telescopes with an Orion Atlas EQ-G Computerized GoTo Telescope Mount. I am leaning more toward the 10", just so that I can have a good visual experience as well.
Anyone have experience with these devices, and where I can buy them, I can find the OTA but not able to find the Atlas mount here in South Africa. Maybe there's an alternative mount?
OTA: https://www.telescope.com/Orion-8-f39-Newtonian-Astrograph-Reflector-Telescope/p/101450.uts
Mount: https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Ori...zed-GoTo-Telescope-Mount/rc/2160/p/116277.uts
 
Hi there

I am in Johannesburg. Thanks for the link, i will definitely sign up.
 
kennedym said:
Hi guys,

I am interested in AP, I am keen on either the 8" or 10" Orion f/3.9 Newtonian Astrograph Reflector Telescopes with an Orion Atlas EQ-G Computerized GoTo Telescope Mount. I am leaning more toward the 10", just so that I can have a good visual experience as well.
Anyone have experience with these devices, and where I can buy them, I can find the OTA but not able to find the Atlas mount here in South Africa. Maybe there's an alternative mount?
OTA: https://www.telescope.com/Orion-8-f39-Newtonian-Astrograph-Reflector-Telescope/p/101450.uts
Mount: https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Ori...zed-GoTo-Telescope-Mount/rc/2160/p/116277.uts
Click to expand...

The scope is at a good price compared to a local pricing at R10810
http://telescopeshop.co.za/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_2&products_id=667

Orion Mounts not easy to find locally, and local prices on EQ mounts are just stupid .:sick:
http://telescopeshop.co.za/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6_17&sort=4a&page=3

If you want to play around with some Astrophotography without a telescope , there are alternatives that wont break the bank, and are easy to mount on a decent tripod.
I.E. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1452448-REG/sky_watcher_s20512_star_adventurer_pro_pack.html
Quite a few videos on YouTube as well with some very impressive images take with it.
 
Nanfeishen said:
The scope is at a good price compared to a local pricing at R10810
http://telescopeshop.co.za/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_2&products_id=667
Click to expand...
I saw that telescope shop has both the 8" and 10" of the Orion OTA I am keen on, the pricing is good. I am kind of leaning toward the 10" but will probably end up with the 8" just from a convenience/handling point of view, but the 10" would be fantastic for visual use as well.

Nanfeishen said:
Orion Mounts not easy to find locally, and local prices on EQ mounts are just stupid .:sick:
http://telescopeshop.co.za/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6_17&sort=4a&page=3
Click to expand...
Yeah a little bit too expensive. For example, you can get the Orion Atlas which takes about 40lbs of weight, costs around $1300 which is around R20k and it's complete with goto. I chatted to the Orion guys about how to get one here in South Africa, they say I should have a chat with the guys at the Planetarium, think i will chat with them and see what they can do.
There is this option as well, the Skywatcher EQ6 German Mount . Looks decent?

Nanfeishen said:
If you want to play around with some Astrophotography without a telescope , there are alternatives that wont break the bank, and are easy to mount on a decent tripod.
I.E. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1452448-REG/sky_watcher_s20512_star_adventurer_pro_pack.html
Quite a few videos on YouTube as well with some very impressive images take with it.
Click to expand...
Will check this out, first time I heard of it, thanks for pointing it out.
 
FYI, the reviews on the shop selling the Skywatcher EQ6 that i saw werent good, google them and reviews .
When spending that sort of money always err on the side of caution.
 
The other place to look is Eridanus Optics:
https://eridanusoptics.com/

But also read around. For astrophotography, I'd recommend a slightly smaller telescope actually, bigger ones may seem better but they're also heavier and more of a hassle. If you're getting a GOTO mount then you can take longer exposures so the extra couple of inches doesn't make as much of a difference. 8" is plenty for visual viewing. You'll get more from taking an 8" to a darker environment (camping site, small town) as opposed to upgrading to a 10".

Just my 2c.
 
Nanfeishen said:
FYI, the reviews on the shop selling the Skywatcher EQ6 that i saw werent good, google them and reviews .
When spending that sort of money always err on the side of caution.
Click to expand...

Thanks, i checked their review out and yikes, seems like a bit of a lucky packet experience. I have purchased from them before, I got my Orion 6" and couple accessories from them. I wouldn't call it a 5 star experience, but looking retrospectively now and having had no issues, i cant complain. I am thinking though that I will attend the Scopex, should meet more alternatives there. The guys at the planetarium are quite good and objective, will feedback here once i hear back from them.
 
newby_investor said:
The other place to look is Eridanus Optics:
https://eridanusoptics.com/

But also read around. For astrophotography, I'd recommend a slightly smaller telescope actually, bigger ones may seem better but they're also heavier and more of a hassle. If you're getting a GOTO mount then you can take longer exposures so the extra couple of inches doesn't make as much of a difference. 8" is plenty for visual viewing. You'll get more from taking an 8" to a darker environment (camping site, small town) as opposed to upgrading to a 10".

Just my 2c.
Click to expand...
Thanks for mentioning eridanusoptics, I totally forgot about them, will check them out.
What you are saying is in my mind and will be part of my decision process, the 8" looks like something I would use more than the 10" to be honest, the 10" does seem like overkill. I think I have a little bit of aperture fever :giggle:
Goto is definitely a must for me, I have been using a dobsonian non goto mount, it has thought me why I want a goto and why I should invest in a really good mount.
 
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kennedym said:
Thanks for mentioning eridanusoptics, I totally forgot about them, will check them out.
What you are saying is in my mind and will be part of my decision process, the 8" looks like something I would use more than the 10" to be honest, the 10" does seem like overkill. I think I have a little bit of aperture fever :giggle:
Goto is definitely a must for me, I have been using a dobsonian non goto mount, it has thought me why I want a goto and why I should invest in a really good mount.
Click to expand...
If you're going to do photography, an EQ mount is also pretty important. Dobsonians are great for normal viewing but the fields will rotate over time. But you're probably already aware of that.
 
I've been doing astrophotography for a while now. I am no where near where i want to be but have just invested in a CEM60 mount and am also looking at an astrograph newt. Problem is that there arent any 10" available in the country.

I already have an 8" SCT and know its light gathering power which is why i want to go up and make use of the CEM60s' weight capacity.


I would suggest looking for a mount first then choose your OTA. With a decent mount you can put on almost any OTA and not worry about tracking or guiding.

Just a noob astrophotographers opinion.

Good luck with your buy and clear skies.
 
SG-Atlantis said:
I've been doing astrophotography for a while now. I am no where near where i want to be but have just invested in a CEM60 mount and am also looking at an astrograph newt. Problem is that there arent any 10" available in the country.

I already have an 8" SCT and know its light gathering power which is why i want to go up and make use of the CEM60s' weight capacity.


I would suggest looking for a mount first then choose your OTA. With a decent mount you can put on almost any OTA and not worry about tracking or guiding.

Just a noob astrophotographers opinion.

Good luck with your buy and clear skies.
Click to expand...
Mount first, everything else afterwards, including scope and camera/cc'd

Here's my travel plus permanent mounts: Astrotrac TT320x-ag and Celestron CGEM.
Suggest going with short f/l tube to get you into AP slowly...80mm refractor would be perfect.
Stay away from long f/l initially which will test your skills and setup accuracy to the limits.

FB_IMG_1515610600442.jpgIMG_20190806_063605.jpg
 
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I've seen some argue that the best OTAs for astrophotography are in fact 6" apochromatic refractors, pointing out that the lower levels of chromatic aberration and lack of obstruction that you'd get with a Newtonian or Schmidt-Cassegrain result in better images. I think there's something to it.

My personal feeling is that there's no wrong way to do it. The police are not going to show up if you do something different, as long as you're enjoying yourself.
 
Thanks for the wise words guys, the info about mounts makes perfect sense . The experience I have definitely supports it and got me thinking about it very carefully.
 
RedViking said:
/came here for photos

/leaves disappointed
Click to expand...
Here's a couple of pictures for you:

703917

Taken about an hour ago from southern-suburban Cape Town. Granted, they're not great as pictures go, but not bad for a first attempt I reckon ;-) have been a visual observer for many years but this is the first time I've tried attaching my camera.
 
For the mount, go with a Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro, the best mount in that price range hands down.
The 8 & 10" astrographs are decent, but collimation on every setup will test you. Remember you normally just buy the tube without rings, focusers etc.
If you are just starting out then rather go with a small triplet refractor of around 80mm. If you want bigger a C8 or 8" Edge HD is fantastic, but you will need a focal reducer.. not 100% needed but recommended.
You will then need a guidescope, guide camera, main imaging camera + portable power (if you want to take it somewhere) then maybe eyepieces if you actually want to look through it (do people still do that! lol)

Mount £1000
Scope £500-£1000
Guidescope + Guidecam + Rings etc £300
Main camera £300 - £1200 (unless you have a digital camera at first)
Power / attachments, cables, field flattener etc £300
Vat, customs R....

You can order all of it online at First Light Optics in the UK, they will ship it that day if in stock and it will arrive at your door in 2 days. DHL will phone you and give you the quote from customs / vat etc. I wouldn't bother with shops in South Africa, they never have stock and are so over priced its madness. If you want to shop in Germany then Teleskop-Service are great. Or the US, Optcorp. I recommend First Light Optics, I've brought from them many times.

If you would like a very decent scope that has wifi and very easy to use I am selling one of mine, a Celestron Nexstar Evolution 8.

I wholeheartedly recommend hookers and cocaine, as they are cheaper in the long run!
 
What would be decent price for this telescope? second hand, 7 year old. And is this good enough for beginner?
 
surface said:
What would be decent price for this telescope? second hand, 7 year old. And is this good enough for beginner?
Click to expand...
This is a decent scope, a beginner will have a bit of a learning curve but if you put the time in, it should be relatively good.

Secondhand telescopes aren't really traded enough to be able to give a good secondhand value to it. There's also nothing to wear out, so a 1-year-old and 7-year-old telescope aren't really different.

I'd make the seller an offer of around 8k if it were me.
 
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