· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar General Astronomy >> Beginners Forum Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 dkb194 journeyman Reged: 10/13/12 Future Astrophotography which Celestron SCT?       #5473824 - 10/16/12 07:06 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I am interested in a Celestron C8 SGT. I have read that for AP a flourite refractor is much better but my AP may be the future and I can always upgrade if fully addicted. Cost diff aside should I go C8 on EQ or CPC 800 on altaz with AP in the future in mind. As far as that goes if I ignore AP should I just go 8SE. Please limit your recommendations to these three models. Edited by dkb194 (10/16/12 07:20 PM) Post Extras:       rico10 member Reged: 08/29/12 Loc: Northern Canada Re: Astrophotography [Re: dkb194]       #5473861 - 10/16/12 07:21 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hard to say, the Nexstar 8se is a superb scope optically, the alt-az mount is shared with the 6se. Good for grab and go work, plus more than enough for solar system video/photo work. I own a CPC11, on a wedge, and it works fine, so I suspect the 8" would too. If you buy the 8se you can always upgrade to an EQ mount, but an 8se weighs in at around 12lbs, a 120mm ED or APO is at least 20lbs (less with carbon fibre). The 8se will work on a CG5, but it would be hard pressed to handle a 20lb refractor. My suggestion: buy the 8se, enjoy the outstanding views, if AP is in the future then upgrade. That said if it was not for solar work I wouldn't even bother owning a refractor, the optical benefits of increased aperture out way the gains of loosing a central obstruction. Not to mention the cost of a decent refractor nowadays. Post Extras:       dkb194 journeyman Reged: 10/13/12 Re: Astrophotography [Re: rico10]       #5473874 - 10/16/12 07:23 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks. Is Altaz choppy vs EQ smooth? Post Extras:       rico10 member Reged: 08/29/12 Loc: Northern Canada Re: Astrophotography [Re: dkb194]       #5473958 - 10/16/12 08:10 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I wouldn't say that at all. But there is less vibration and more accuracy with an EQ mount due to the fact that it only has to move around one axis for tracking. But in my opinion since i've added a wedge to my alt-az CPC, it compares favourably with my scopes on a CGEM EQ. In fact it's far cheaper to add a wedge, than an EQ, you may want to consider this as a possibility as well. A CPC8 on a wedge would be a main scope for years. In fact a scope of this size you could, and many do, use it for a lifetime. One other point, for DSO AP work, you would need to add an auto-guider, if you take photos on the way up to the zenith and then wait until it crosses and comes back down to restart, wedges and alt-az mounts are closing the gap on EQ mounts. This I can attest to in comparison between my CPC alt-az and my CGEM eq mount. Post Extras:       Paco_Grande scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 07/14/12 Loc: Napa Whine Country Re: Astrophotography [Re: rico10]       #5474011 - 10/16/12 08:48 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   10" dob, for sure. Post Extras:       korborh professor emeritus Reged: 01/29/11 Re: Astrophotography [Re: Paco_Grande]       #5474064 - 10/16/12 09:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Its a myth that refractor is better for AP. The refractor will be certainly easier to get results, but once you know the technique with SCT, they are great for imaging. Post Extras:       *skyguy* Pooh-Bah Reged: 12/31/08 Loc: Western New York Re: Future Astrophotography which Celestron SCT? [Re: dkb194]       #5474247 - 10/16/12 11:55 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The visual performance for all three models will ... of course ... be the same. So for visual only ... go with the 8SE. It will be difficult to get good imaging results using the C8 SGT. The weight of a C8 and its long focal length will compromise the imaging capabilities of the CG-5 mount. The best of the three for imaging will be the CPC 800 on a wedge ... and unfortunately its also the most expensive. I've used a fork mounted ... with wedge ... SCT scope for imaging for the past 11 years. I get great results. In many ways, a fork-mounted scope can be easier for a beginner to use for AP. However, you will find many who would advocate for a GEM. Post Extras:       A. Viegas sage Reged: 03/05/12 Loc: New York City/ CT Re: Future Astrophotography which Celestron SCT? [Re: dkb194]       #5474555 - 10/17/12 07:14 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I disagree with the recommendation to get the 8SE, that combination offers limited potential for future evolution to doing some AP. If you however get the C8 on the CG5-AGST mount you will be able to easily image unguided up to close to a minute with some focal reduction. Then if you add an autoguider you will be able to easily go 3-10 minutes, depending on your focal length. If however you get the 8SE, you will be limited to just 10-20 seconds of exposure time and you will invariably become frustrated. The CG5 mount + Scope combination is not that much heavier than the 8SE, so I do not see much of a difference on that score. I have a CPC1100 running alt-az with a piggy back refractor. The weight of the entire setup is probably 100lbs. I use this setup as my visual rig. I used to have a C8 on an old wedge fork mount, I deforked it and that telescope now rides on a CG5-AGST and I am easily able to get 5 minute exposures at F4/F5. The majority of your AP work with a C8 will be at F6 or lower so again if you harbor any future hopes of getting into AP then definately go the GEM route. Oh by the way, the $$ you save going this route over the CPC800 + wedge, you will be able to afford a nice ED or small APO refractor, which could also ride on the CG5-AGST... easy choice imho... Al Post Extras:       Maverick199 Postmaster Reged: 02/27/11 Loc: India Re: Future Astrophotography which Celestron SCT? [Re: A. Viegas]       #5474569 - 10/17/12 07:24 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Agree with Al. Even with focal reducer in place, getting close to 1 minute would require some accurate polar alignment and this on a CG-5. On an Alt/Az mount, as mentioned by Al, even 30 secs would take some doing, though I don't know much about a wedge fork mounted etc., A Refractor is definitely the preferred scope and easier on the learning curve with respect to AP than the 8se or 6se, especially if you get a good 80mm doublet ED or a triplet. This is not to say the Nexstar 8se can't do AP, it can but requires some good guiding efforts and I have seen some extraordinary images at the Nexstar forums to profess this fact. But an EQ mount even with an SCT would be the preferred mode to take beginning steps in AP. Post Extras:       dkb194 journeyman Reged: 10/13/12 Re: Future Astrophotography which Celestron SCT? [Re: Maverick199]       #5476106 - 10/17/12 11:41 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Haseeb and Al. I agree and now have another wrinkle. With the AP becoming more important I had someone recommend I go to a Skywalker Refractor BK80ED OTAW with an EQ3 vs C8 SGT with CG-5. This groups opinions will be the way I go. Post Extras:       shrevestan professor emeritus Reged: 04/19/12 Loc: Shreveport, LA Re: Future Astrophotography which Celestron SCT? [Re: dkb194]       #5476307 - 10/18/12 03:28 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   If you think you will primarily go the AP route, I'd recommend the 80ED with the EQ3. I image with a C11, BUT I do so primarily with a hyperstar and a field reducer. I also use it for visual, so I thought it was the best compromise. What do you want to shoot? The field of view is pretty narrow on the SCTs so you'd be limited to planets, planetary nebulae and star clusters. For the bigger nebulae like Orion you'd need a focal reducer. The 80 would be great for wider field images but would not work as well for the smaller objects. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 17 registered and 41 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  Dave Mitsky, panhard, WaterMaster  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 583 Jump to *Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Celestial Events*General Astronomy* -----   Beginners Forum   General Observing and Astronomy   Outreach   Light Pollution*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy*Astrophotography and Sketching* -----   Beginning and Intermediate Imaging   Film Astrophotography   DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing   CCD Imaging & Processing   Solar System Imaging & Processing   Sketching   Astro Imaging/Sketching Contest *Observing* -----   NEO   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy*Telescope Specific Forums* -----   Celestron NexStar    NexStar GPS / CPC Telescopes   Questar Forum   Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS    Meade ETX*Speciality Forums* -----   Arizona Science and Astronomy Expo   NEAF (Northeast Astronomy Forum) and NEAIC (Northeast Astro Imaging Conference)   AstroArt   Astronomy Clubs and Star Parties   Astronomy Software & Computers   AstroWebsites   Science! Astronomy & Space Exploration, and Others   Space Rocks   Stellar Media*Swap and Shop* -----   Shop and Swap Audio Components*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements*International Year of Astronomy 2009 - Forums are now closed.* -----   IYA Archive Info CN Forums Home

Cloudy Nights LLC Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics