Telescope Reviews: Newtonian Imaging Setup…Equipment compatibility &

10” Newtonian Imaging Setup…Equipment compatibility & considerations:

After much researching and contemplation, I have pretty much decided on the following setup to give a good all round base, for a wide variety of Astrophotography for a newbie such as myself.

Telescopes:
Skywatcher SW-252 Focal Ratio 4.7
254 x 1200P EQ6 Go-To mount with V3.0 Go-To hand controller
parabolic mirror made from Pyrex glass. diffraction-limited secondary mirror support. 2 focuser. one 2 eyepiece. a 2 -1.25 eyepiece adapter. and a 9x50 finderscope.
----Question.----Can I still move the secondary mirror without messing up the "diffrationilimited support?"

---EON 80MM refractor… guide scope & wide field photography as well.

Mount---is an SW EQ-6 V.30 Goto…There does not seem to be to much negative feedback with this combo, but I am open to considerations. I believe wind can be one with a setup like this?

As for what camera…I don’t know…here are some questions I have after reading through some posts on the subject of Newtonians & imaging.

“Just be aware that most Newtonians won't come to focus with a typical DSLR at prime focus. You'll need to move the mirror up the tube or get a very low profile focuser”.
----Possible solution? What is a typical DSLR…Is there a type of DSLR where this is not a problem. Is a different type of digital camera such as a dedicated chip that may be used…if so how would it’s performance rate compared to the collimated method using a DSLR?

“Depending on your chip size in the camera you may need to put in a larger secondary to fully illuminate the FOV and likely replace the focuser for one that's more precise”.--
---From what I can gather…there seems to be an element of compatibility issues with the types of Digital cameras, type of telescopes, focal Ratios & so forth when attempting astrophotography. What I would like to know, with this comment…Is the recommendation of a larger secondary mirror something one still has to worry about, if I have already implemented the “move the mirror up the tube or get a very low profile focuser” option? OR is this point, soley dependant on the size of the chip in camera?

Q. If I alter the secondary for DSLR prime focus…I take it, this is best left like this & I use a cheap Dob for Observing?

sorry for so many questions...Ive ordered a book but i dont think it will cover everything & many of you make good points.
Cheers
Dave:)Cheers
Dave

Edited by Davekyn (08/29/08 06:34 AM)