NKT
super member
Reged: 09/23/09
Posts: 159
Loc: CT
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I've been doing research about getting back into astronomy and would like to get some opinions.
Everyone who I've talked to says that the mount is the most important piece of a AP setup. My question is, would it be best to start with a smaller refractor/reflector on a CG5/SVP mount or a larger SCT/MAK on a Atlas/CGEM? I realize there's a pretty fair difference in price, but how long could I go with the smaller mount before needing (objectively of course) a larger one?  I've seen a ton of great AP shots taken with 80ED's...
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CGEM800
Orion 80ED
Canon XSi/Meade DSI II
Find fellow amateur astronomers: www.ScopeBuddies.com
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Hrundi
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/06/08
Posts: 1247
Loc: Estonia
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Probably best to start on a big mount with a small scope.
Means you can upgrade scopes later while keeping the mount that's good and you know how to use. And you can also begin with a more forgiving focal length.
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NKT
super member
Reged: 09/23/09
Posts: 159
Loc: CT
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That's kind of my thinking now. Plus, higher quality small scopes are cheaper than larger ones 
So would you start with the CG5/SVP or Atlas/CGEM? Will the CG5 allow me enough growth to last me awhile?
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CGEM800
Orion 80ED
Canon XSi/Meade DSI II
Find fellow amateur astronomers: www.ScopeBuddies.com
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mark Jimenez
sage
Reged: 01/08/07
Posts: 339
Loc: Atlanta GA.
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If I had it to do again, I would go Atlas/cgem with a smaller scope (80-102mm ED). These scopes would serve you well and give you time to decide what your next scope purchase should be based on resolution and FOV that you would like to move to next, and already having the mount will ease the transition. Ive got a ASGT mount, while it does fine with a light load, it has needed a lot of tinkering to get everything to work with a larger scope. Its doing well with 18 lbs on it, but my life would be much easier with a bigger mount.
Just my thoughts....
-Mark
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Celestron ASGT
Astro Tech 8" f4 Newt
QHY8
Meade DSI pro
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DaemonGPF
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 3580
Loc: New Mexico
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Agreed. If I had a chance to start from the beginning again, I would have put MUCH more money into the mount and worried about OTA and camera upgrades later. Even the lower cost mounts have good carrying capacity, but they have quirks and need constant manipulating to get them to play nice. Not to say you can't get great images on them, but they are definitely more work.
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-Josh
http://cleardarksky.com/c/AlbuqNMkey.html
My AP Gallery
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NKT
super member
Reged: 09/23/09
Posts: 159
Loc: CT
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Will a 80ED give me any raw viewing? It's far from a light bucket, so what can I expect to see visually?
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CGEM800
Orion 80ED
Canon XSi/Meade DSI II
Find fellow amateur astronomers: www.ScopeBuddies.com
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RobertED
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/11/03
Posts: 1194
Loc: Johnston, RI
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NKT, I own an Atlas mount...and absolutely love it!! (Mine's a Non-Goto). I have a C-11 and wouldn't go larger than that!! It would be great for a smaller SCT(C8 or C9.25) or a Big Mak!!!!
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NKT
super member
Reged: 09/23/09
Posts: 159
Loc: CT
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Are you guiding?
And it seems they don't have the non-goto Atlas's anymore  I really wish I could just get a mount I could run via computer. Those seem to be a little cheaper also. I can do the go-to with Stellarium.
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CGEM800
Orion 80ED
Canon XSi/Meade DSI II
Find fellow amateur astronomers: www.ScopeBuddies.com
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yock1960
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/22/08
Posts: 980
Loc: SW Ohio, USA
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I don't know if they are actually available, but Woodland Hills Camera still shows the non-goto Atlas:
http://telescopes.net/doc/2500/mftr/Orion/item/24337
Steve
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LXD75 GEM
Orion Starblast 4.5" Imaging Reflector
William Optics Zenithstar 66 SD APO
Meade DSI II OSC
Meade DSI III OSC
Orion Starshoot Autoguider
Televue Powermate 2.5x
Discovery 6" Dobsonian
Nikon Action Extreme 10x50's
Gallery
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NKT
super member
Reged: 09/23/09
Posts: 159
Loc: CT
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How big of a difference is there imaging wise between apochromatic and achromatic refractors? Is CA that big of a deal when imaging DSO's?
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CGEM800
Orion 80ED
Canon XSi/Meade DSI II
Find fellow amateur astronomers: www.ScopeBuddies.com
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DaemonGPF
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 3580
Loc: New Mexico
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It depends on the scope, but yes, especially on the brighter stars. It can make a significant difference.
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-Josh
http://cleardarksky.com/c/AlbuqNMkey.html
My AP Gallery
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NKT
super member
Reged: 09/23/09
Posts: 159
Loc: CT
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So you'd recommend going with a smaller apo over a larger achro?
For example:
Orion 80ED $499
Orion 120mm f/5 achro $319
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CGEM800
Orion 80ED
Canon XSi/Meade DSI II
Find fellow amateur astronomers: www.ScopeBuddies.com
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Hrundi
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/06/08
Posts: 1247
Loc: Estonia
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As far as I know, chromatic aberration also has a nasty effect on focus.
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mark Jimenez
sage
Reged: 01/08/07
Posts: 339
Loc: Atlanta GA.
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NKT, the short answer is yes, the apo is much preffered over the achro. Ive seen a few posts from guys doing some really nice stuff with achro scopes, but its the exception to the rule.
-mark
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Celestron ASGT
Astro Tech 8" f4 Newt
QHY8
Meade DSI pro
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nobbygon
member
Reged: 03/20/09
Posts: 75
Loc: Australia
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I was in this same situation about 5 months ago.
I decided to get a skywatcher EQ6 Pro goto (im pretty sure its called an atlas overseas), and on top of that sits a pretty basic 130mm newt. I use a meade DSI II pro. With this set up I can take pretty good astrophotos of pretty much anything.
Getting a decent mount made everything so much easier/better in terms of imaging quality.
If I were you I would start with a good mount.
Cheers, Angus
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Richard Turner
member
Reged: 01/25/09
Posts: 58
Loc: NC
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I have a Meade LXD75 mount and also a Celestron CGEM mount. The telescope I use for imaging is a Vixen 130mm f/5 reflector. My payload (scope, imgaging camera, guide camera, and finder guidescope) weigh about 14 pounds. For guided imaging, the CGEM produces better results. It has bigger worm gears and worms than does the LXD75. I have been able to get guided shots with the LXD75, but it's hit or miss. The mount requires some tinkering to get it to work just right. Even then it does not always guide accurately.
But for unguided images up to about a minute in length, the LXD75 does reasonably well.
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Richard Barton Turner
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DaemonGPF
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 3580
Loc: New Mexico
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Quote:
So you'd recommend going with a smaller apo over a larger achro?
For example:
Orion 80ED $499
Orion 120mm f/5 achro $319
In a heartbeat.
BTW, I use a 66mm APO right now for my DSO imaging. All of the shots in the gallery link in my signature were done with the AT66ED. I'm no pro, but it made a big improvement in my shots to switch to a small APO over a larger Achro. Just keep in mind aperature isn't as important in imaging as it is in visual observation. It has its place, but that isn't to say you can't accomplish great images with a small aperature scope.
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-Josh
http://cleardarksky.com/c/AlbuqNMkey.html
My AP Gallery
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NKT
super member
Reged: 09/23/09
Posts: 159
Loc: CT
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Thank you all so very much for all the info and feedback! The CGEM it is!
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CGEM800
Orion 80ED
Canon XSi/Meade DSI II
Find fellow amateur astronomers: www.ScopeBuddies.com
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NKT
super member
Reged: 09/23/09
Posts: 159
Loc: CT
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Well, just got finished talking budget with the wife. I don't think the CGEM is going to happen (unless I don't get a scope for it)
Would a C8 on a CG-5A be a decent starter setup? I could do prime unguided with the OTA or even piggyback my DSLR with my 50mm 1.8 for wideviews. That way I can still get decent DSO imaging but also some good planetary and star views. Or, should I go with the C6, letting me piggyback another small OTA?
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CGEM800
Orion 80ED
Canon XSi/Meade DSI II
Find fellow amateur astronomers: www.ScopeBuddies.com
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Hrundi
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/06/08
Posts: 1247
Loc: Estonia
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I'd caution against going with a setup you don't like.
One option, by the way, would be to not get the scope immediately, and instead use the mount for the camera, to do long exposure panoramas. I don't know of how the fixtures for that work though. But I'm no expert on this subject.
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