Need to take pics of nebula's

[wolfgang]

Ive been looking at telescopes for about a month now. I have some questions. With the Dobsonian type they dont track so I cant take pics?

http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/...iProductID=5151 (http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=5151&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=4&iSubCat=8&iProductID=5151)
This is one of the many that I like. Any suggestions on this would be awesome.

[vet]

there are 'tracking-platforms' for dobs---pricey---whatever you choose---you may look at my posts, or the sky & tel review of the $500 Hardin 10" dob---the ultimate visual 'blow-you-away' aperture is 10"---ya nailed that---the sky & tel reviewer said he was used to 8" and under teles---and could not believe what he had been missing'---a paraphrasal---but accurate---

budget permitting your choice is good, but understand, you're paying an additional $800 for the german equatorial mount---and you may use a dob photo-wise in a vaiety of ways, digital or film---neophytes often lose interest when looking at 'blurs', they expect globular clusters resolved, or jupiter looking like a pioneer sat 'fly-by'---

no matter which way you go, if you lose interest? you'll get most of your $$$ back, either way. i feel the orion overpriced, but worth it, as the hardin---the big deal is 10" being, to a living eye, the 'point of diminshing returns'---and anything less won't grab ya.

ps, if you're a comp-nerd looking to go straight to ccd cameras---that means already advanced, the meade 125etx makes sense---otherwise, i feel you're tracking clean.

[wolfgang]

Then there is this one. http://www.astronomics.com/main/product.as...ATU/variant_id/ (http://www.astronomics.com/main/product.asp/catalog_name/Astronomics/category_name/4BLRQ9M0H3HX9LQ8GH2TQH5QB3/product_id/MSN10ATU/variant_id/)
But they dont specify how much their mount can hold as with the atlas it can hold 40lbs. I see upgrade possiblity with that one. Is there any real benifit from the meade go-to system. I see the atlas dont have the go-to stuff. The more I think about it you would need the go-to system for the Galaxies that are really faint?
One more question for this post with the true track duel axis drive. Sidereal rate is the rotation of the earth? So whatever is in the feld of view stays there?

[wolfgang]

Thanks for your help I have desided on the meade. I am not worried about losing intrest. Its just a point in my life where I can finally buy something worth while. Looks like I can save hours with a goto scope. Hope to have some pics up in may.

[Dave Mitsky]

It may be possible that the 10" Meade SN is too heavy for its mount to be used sucessfully for long exposure astrophotography. I remember that there were complaints about this concerning the orignal version. The 8" may serve you better if visual observing is not your primary goal.

When it comes to astrophotography/imaging, the mount is often more important than the OTA and f/ratio is more important than aperture.

An accurate GoTo telescope is extremely useful for astrophotography.

Dave Mitsky

[wolfgang]

I think they worked it out with the lxd75. I still seen alot of people with drive problems tho. Kinda looks to me either they work really good or really bad. There is a store near me which has one of these telescopes. I am going to look at it b4 I give an arm for it. Any tips on what to do with it in the show room? I will bring my camera setup for sure.

[seeker372011]

wolfgang

i'd recommend strongly that before you buy the Meade LX 75, join the yahoo discussion forum and get a first hand view of what users have to say about this scope and mount

[Gneiss]

RE. The original question.

The mount caught my eye...

It looks remarkably like an HEQ-5 are they one and the same?

If so then a ten inch scope with a long tube is asking a lot. Probably ok for visual - not for imaging! If it is equivelent to an EQ6 then fine... I would certainly investigate that a bit further.

The OTA itself a good choice I think albeit a little fast for my taste.

RE. The Meade SNT...

Check the focuser first!! Also as an owner of the 6" SNT I considered the 10" as a future upgrade. I no longer am... enough said perhaps!