Best catadioptric telescopes according to redditors
We found 127 Reddit comments discussing the best catadioptric telescopes. We ranked the 35 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 127 Reddit comments discussing the best catadioptric telescopes. We ranked the 35 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
If you would like to see a comparison of an image taken with a camera 10x the price, here is a comparison of an image I took of the moon with the same telescope and a 7D Mark II
There are a few things that could have been done differently to achieve a better image on the left, however, I was looking to capture the image using the same techniques. Additionally, the main method to achieve a better image with the 7D Mark II requires third party software that isn't free so I wanted to get just a comparison with an out of box 7D Mark II.
I should also note that the ASI120MC is made for photography like this, the 7D Mark II is not. For deep space photography, the DSLR would win 9 times out of 10. Just mainly a comparison to show that the most expensive camera is not always the best tool for the job.
Equipment:
Acquisition
Processing
Thanks for looking!
If you feel like looking at some of my other images or following me on social media, here is a shameless plug to my Instagram
Like $500 for a smallish one, good for planets and stars.
They said elsewhere the total cost they put into it is actually about $400
Edit: and it was that low because they got this telescope for $250. Its a great picture with a very misleading title.
https://www.amazon.com/Meade-Instruments-Coma-Free-Telescope-0810-90-03/dp/B002AK4N74
And adds a link to basically a $2k telescope he/she bought for $250 with no indication how
Grabbing "meade-8inch-lx90-acf-computerized-telescope" from his URL, this is what I find https://www.amazon.com/Meade-Instruments-0810-90-03-Coma-Free-Telescope/dp/B002AK4N74
This saddens me greatly. I'm sitting here with my 5" mirror telescope and continuously fantasize about moving to a larger scope, drooling over telescope youtube videos especially. $2700 USD would have bought an amazing telescope and now I see some guy flush all that money down the toilet. :(
$2700 just imagine for a moment. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ARDYPQ/ref=twister_B016RNBSGS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
What Hubble is up to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnnJg0jqr8A
Celestron First Scope (or Cometron if you want to stretch the budget).
It is not going to be an amazing scope, but it was my first and I was able to see that Saturn had rings with it (rather than that Saturn was an oval shape). M31 and M13 as well as other deep sky targets will not look amazing, but will be visible in it.
I think they strike the right balance between not being complete shite so as to turn any interest they have into annoyance and disinterest, but also it not being the end of the world if they use it once and never use it again.
Hello Cavanus,
it really depends on what you want to see and what you are expecting :-)
Binoculars can be a great way to start into visual astronomy, but of course they limit you to larger nebulae, a few star clusters and galaxies.
If you consider the binocular route, choose something under 10x magnification, everything else is difficult to hold steady and thus tiresome. Also, higher mag binoculars are typically heavy and show a smaller field.
What kind of traveling do you mean?
For a car, even a 8" or 10" dobsonian is no problem, though your budget would limit you to a (used) 6".
For a backpack, a small refractor or Maskutov on camera tripod may be the limit, though for short trips a short 5" (127mm Mak, Heritage 130p) can be a nice choice.
For galaxies and such, get as much apperture as you can afford and transport. This could be a Heritage 130p or a 80mm short tube refractor. The latter is not ideal for planets, though.
For planets, a longer FH refractor or a Maksutov can be a very nice choice. I just aquired a 90mm Mak a few weeks ago, and despite it's limitations, it is a neat backpackable telescope.
I can fit a map, 10x50 binoculars, the 90mm Mak and my Canon camera into a backpack with ease (leaving room for a bottle, long shirt, eyepieces...) while carying the tripod or strapping it to my backpack.
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-10022-TableTop-Maksutov-Cassegrain-Telescope/dp/B002JO06PO/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1406551863&sr=8-2&keywords=maksutov
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-52268-C90-Mak-Spotting/dp/B0038QYRDO/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1406551863&sr=8-3&keywords=maksutov
Though you should really consider buying them at a telesope store.
I don't think the Heritage 130p is available in the USA, too bad. Though if you can carry a full-tube 130/650, that's a good compromise between aperture, size and cost. Even with cheap Plössl eyepieces it shows a lot.
For spiral structures of galaxies, 8" would be necessary. I can vaguely see the connection of the M51 Galaxy cores in 5" though, if I observe at a truly dark location. So it really depends on what you expect, too.
http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/196278-what-can-i-expect-to-see/
If you just want to see a few "faint fuzzies" and the moon, plus a tiny planet if they are currently to be seen, you could get a short refractor such as the 70/400 or so, but they are not suited for higher magnification (but very affordable, personally I would favor a 76/300 firstscope or Heritage 76p in that price region though).
Consider getting cheap binoculars anyway, even if you decide on getting a telescope. It can help yourself with orientation and finding objects, especially if you have a telescope that shows only a small field of view (Such as a Maksutov with 1.25" eyepieces).
Also the Book "turn left at orion" can help a lot and prevents frustration. I was never someone who would buy a lot of books, but when it comes to astronomy, maps and such are necessary.
Amazon and Celestron's Website. It's $599 with free shipping.
Okay, I'll bite. What's your budget?
If you were looking at LX200's, then I'm guessing a budget of a couple grand. This model is what I used to use for astronomy labs:
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-Computerized-Telescope-Tube-Tripod/dp/B0009XH79U
Buy a telrad finder, and throw the stock finder in the garbage, and you'll have a nice rig to view faint fuzzies and planets with.
Telescope <3 I hope to be able to afford it, or a similar one, in a couple of years.
Amazon has that scope on sale for only $25! Awesome deal.
Well, the traditional starter is a 50-mm refractor...what most people think of as a telescope. The optics are usually fine, but the mounts are horrible. I still remember battling mine. And the one my wife bought at the thrift store has confounded my kids. Tradition!
Another option would be a Newtonian telescope, which uses a mirror instead of a lens. They don't look like a "normal" telescope. However, they work just as well...and the mounts are a lot easier to use. The tabletop versions are portable and are intended for kids...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FM4A108/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UQ6E4Y/
That's what I would have gotten myself way back when.
Check out /r/telescopes for recommendations. They love answering questions.
You don't need a large & expensive telescope to see the rings of Saturn, Jupiter's great red spot, and details on the Moon (it's possible with something like this), but to get better views of planets and other things like dim galaxies, nebulas, globular clusters, etc. bigger is better (an 8-inch Dobsonian is the most popular suggestion).
Edit: Also, here's a guide showing what you can expect to see through different sized scopes.
Holy Batman this is an amazing response!
The 4 year old has used a telescope before, he's just absolutely fascinated by space right now. If it was just him, I'd definitely be getting the £50 type scopes. Due to my interest, I really don't believe any model I get will be a waste of money.
I had the Heritage in mind, but had never looked at that Skyliner 150p, which has lead me to the 200p....I'm sure you know the feeling!
Already purchased Turn Left at Orion, definitely want a moon filter/scope as well as a planetary one.
Finder scope is essential from what I've read.
I think I'm settled on either the Heritage 130p or the Skyliner 150p. Is there any justifiable reason to even consider the 200p? I'm fairly certain I'll go in the middle for the 150p, but always welcome opinions!
Yet this Orion StarMax and this Orion SkyQuest keep appearing in my research. It will be between those 4 for sure, if you have any specific advice on those along with any accessories I need I would be eternally grateful.
Just to throw a spanner in the works - for purely planetary usage it could be worth looking at a maksutov. They typically have a longer focal length, which makes them excellent for planets but their f-ratio makes them less suitable for DSOs. They're also more compact which makes storage and transport simpler.
http://www.amazon.com/10022-StarMax-TableTop-Maksutov-Cassegrain-Telescope/dp/B002JO06PO or http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Watcher-S11750-Sky-Watcher-Virtuoso/dp/B00CIVV34Q could both be worth a look.
I don't know if it's improved lately or not, but Tasco used to not have the greatest reputation. This sort of small refractor in particular is generally considered very poor.
I don't own one personably, but I've read generally favorable reviews of the Celestron Firstscope. It's less expensive, likely to be better quality, and much more portable. It's probably a good idea to also pick up the accessory kit for that.
Whatever you end up getting, it's probably not worth spending too much on unless you know you'll really like using a telescope. A cheap beginner scope will give you an idea of whether or not you like telescopes, and if you do, what sort of things in particular you like. Then you'll be ready to buy a better, more specialized scope.
Hi - I can get this with StarSense and Wifi options for just at $3200. Am I going to notice significant difference between a 8" diffraction limited Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope vs a 9.25" or 11"? Thoughts please?
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https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-StarBright-Schmidt-Cassegrain-2350mm-Telescope/dp/B000ARFND2/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=CPC%2B925%2BGPS%2B(XLT)%2BComputerized%2BTelescope&qid=1564818140&s=electronics&sr=1-3&th=1
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TQM8P9M/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
Dobsonian scopes are so popular because the mounts are so cheap to make, and a good (non-dob) mount can cost you more than the scope itself. This one has a bit of extras attached, like what appears to be some sort of goto add on, but it's far from the most expensive scope you'll ever see.
The key to telescopes is aperture. This one looks like a 12"? it could be an 8" (that's the diameter of the mirror inside). This 12" dobsonian with goto is $1,780. 1,179 if you want to manually move it while still having a computer tell you where to point. And only $629 if you want to skip the electronics all together. Now switch to a refracting telescope (what most people imagine when they think of telescopes). This 5" televue (less than half the aperture than the dobsonians, so see less deep space stuff) without any eyepieces, mounts, finder scopes, etc is $7,295. It's still not the most expensive amateur telescope out there, but you get the point. For the exact same price, you can get an 18" dobsonian telescope with a mount.
My first "serious" telescope was an Orion XT8. Just a scope that sits on a wooden box (aka, a dobsonian mount). It came with two eye pieces, a red dot finder, and a higher quality focuser. It costs $349. Later on, I upgraded to a Nexstar 8. They're the same size, will more or less see the same things, but the price jumps to $1,200, and this is still a fairly low end scope if you really want to get into astronomy.
Happy Zambambo!
What a wonderful thing to do on your birthday. This would be great to take camping next weekend.
Vouched. My setup is an 8" reflector (~$300 for the OTA, new) with a Canon 450D ($600 new, bought for $300 used) and a CG-5 ($650 new, bought used for $500) for the mount.
Really, with the size of OTA (~25 lbs) I have, I should have gotten an Atlas, but it was a bit out of my budget and the CG-5 can carry it, albeit with some strain. If I had gotten the Atlas, it would have easily cost as much as the other components combined.
If you want to get it all as one package, and with your space constraints in mind, I recommend this guy:
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-S-GT-Advanced-Computerized-Telescope/dp/B00013D2MY
You'll have to budget a bit more for the camera at that later date, but I'd say it'll be worth it.
Oh wow. Thank you so much for putting in your time to write this. Honestly the criteria & budget (and this whole idea) is set by my wife. I have a solar system book and went over it with my daughter one day, and she seemed to be very into it so my wife wants to get something to encourage her to explore into her love for science.
I was going to get this one because it was recommended by a website I browsed earlier, but my wife said she wants to get the one with tripod.
I own one, and I like it a lot. The biggest advantage that it has is that it is very portable. And since it is so inexpensive, you don't need to worry about it getting broken or lost. It is of course not going to give Hubble-like views. You'll be able to identify Jupiter and Saturn, but its strength is on things like open star clusters. It has a f/4 mirror, so it has a very wide field of view. I can still picture in my mind the awesome view of the Pleiades in close proximity to Venus last year. I suppose it is important to keep in mind that the Firstscope is not my only telescope (I have an 8" dob). Also it can be a challenge to align things to what you want to look at, so it will probably be best to get the finder option (or build one yourself from some PVC pipe and dental floss). Also, you can get it cheaper on Amazon. Overall, I think this is a much better first purchase for someone compared to binoculars, since you can place it on a table, and get steady views (heresy, I know). I'm probably the only person in the world to make degree circles for the Firstscope. Just keep in mind that this isn't a high performance instrument. It has a spherical mirror, and if you want to attempt to collimate it, you have to do it with secondary mirror only.
As others have stated your goals are not entirely compatible with each other. That said, I understand you want something suitable for visual astronomy with the ability to later upgrade to doing astrophotography. I believe the Celestron CGEM II 8" EdgeHD SCT best suits those requirements. The mount has ASPA so you don't need a clear view of Polaris, the OTA will provide great views of pretty much anything in the sky, and with a Planetary Camera you'll be able to get some beautiful pictures of Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter. A focal reducer will help you to shoot DSOs, although if you really get into non-plaentary AP you'll almost certainly wind up buying another dedicated telescope for it that you'll be able to use on this mount. Just let me know if you have any questions!
There are some ~ $500 options that might be good for a photographer that already has a camera.
You can do /r/landscapeastro with a basic tripod and a wide angle lens. The Rokinon 14mm and the Rokinon 24mm are great lenses for Milky Way (widefield) astrophotography. With the camera locked down on a tripod you can do long exposures up to 30 seconds or so. You can shoot multiple exposures and stack them to reduce noise and bring out details. The lenses I linked to are fast and wide and have aspherical elements that makes them good for astrophotography.
The trick with shooting individual objects with a telephoto lens is that as the stars "move" across the sky during the night that motion is magnified in the viewfinder, so you have to shoot 1 or 2 second exposures so that the motion doesn't cause the stars to trail.
If you want to shoot with a telephoto lens you need a tracking mount. The motorized mount slowly moves the camera at the same rate as the sky, keeping the subject still in the viewfinder. This allows for longer exposures and better results.
There are some interesting low cost tracking mounts for cameras with lenses up to 300mm. I haven't used these (ended up getting a bigger mount) but I've seen some good results posted on the forums.
/r/astrophotography and /r/landscapeastro
SkyWatcher S20510 Star Adventurer Astro Package
Vixen Optics 35505 Polarie Star Tracker
iOptron SkyTracker Pro Camera Mount with Polar Scope, Mount Only
I was looking at this type of light duty tracking mount and what I didn't like is that you can't go "up" size-wise from there.
The next step up is a medium duty tracking mount like the
Celestron Advanced VX Mount
What I like about getting into a mount like this is that it can handle a decent size (and quality) telescope if you want to add that later. It uses the German Equatorial Mount (GEM) design that all top-of-the-line mounts use. So you're getting into a better class of mount that has tighter mechanical tolerances. You can use it with wide or telephoto lenses on your camera for now, and with a nice telescope later.
I recently bought a big ol' Atlas EQ-G tracking mount. It's $1500 new but I found a used one for $700. It didn't come with a tripod so I got a used Meade Field Tripod ($150) and an adapter plate ($120) so it was about $1,000 for that particular mount setup. I plan to use that with my Canon 400mm telephoto lens and expect to get decent pictures of Andromeda galaxy, Orion nebula and other deep sky objects (DSO). I need to tap some threads in the tripod and DIY a spreader and I'll be good to go. I guess my point is I got a heavy duty mount that will work with my existing gear and with a good sized telescope in the future. Worked for me, ymmv.
Check the classifieds at Cloudy Night forums for used equipment.
https://www.cloudynights.com/
Good luck!
The problem is that there are no scopes available on the market that would fit all of your points!
However, now that you've seen the examples, you can look for them on craigslist. Keep in mind, that the listed telescopes is just a tip of the iceberg, but it's a start and we can help you refine your choice from there.
Or, you can get a mount and a smaller scope for AP separately -- it is not that aperture-dependent, all you need is a sturdy enough mount and you can do AP with just a camera, or a smaller, but higher quality telescope. Many of the astrophotographers I know go with a combination choice: a nice big 10-12" dobsonian for visual observations and 80-100mm (semi)APO refractor or 127-200mm newtonian on computerized EQ mount for astrophotography. Typically it will end up better and cheaper than having a one huge scope for everything.
In the end, imagine a triangle with Aperture (visual), AP and Budget on each of the vertices. You can only have at most two at the same time.
>either with an iPhone or with a Nikon DLSR
The iPhone could get some decent pics of bright objects like the planets and the moon, to post on social media perhaps. The Nikon SLR can do a lot more, fainter objects: star clusters, nebula, galaxies (though only brighter ones with telescopes in your price range). If you have an SLR, use it.
>I'm not so interested in a computerized base that assists in finding celestial bodies (although that's not a hard pass)...
I know the sticky beginner's "what scope to buy" post doesn't recommend a computerized tracking mount (so called "GoTo" mount). But that post isn't talking about astrophotography (not usually a beginner's topic). For photography of anything but the moon and planets, an electronic tracking mount is required.
For bright objects like the moon and planets, you can use exposure times under one second (which is why the iPhone works for these). But dimmer objects require longer exposures with your SLR (30 seconds, or ideally minutes)
With that in mind, the NexStar 4SE from the beginner's sticky would be perfect. Stay away from the 127SLT, which is said to be unsteady. Actually, with your $650 price you could almost get the NexStar 5SE, $699, bigger is better. Or the 6SE is only $100 more:
https://www.amazon.com/d/Catadioptric-Telescopes/Celestron-NexStar-5-SE-Telescope/B000GUHOYE
That will allow exposures up to 30 seconds with the Nikon SLR. These can be stacked to give good pics of DSOs (Deep Sky Objects, galaxies, nebula, and star clusters). However, for exposures longer than 30 seconds, you need an "equatorial" GoTo mount (whereas the NexStar is an AltAz mount). Sadly, these are a bit outside your price range, but allow minutes long exposures for beautiful images of DSOs:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HX4SWEC
https://www.celestron.com/products/advanced-vx-6-refractor-telescope
And if money were no object, many of the beautiful pics posted online here and elsewhere are taken with 8" telescopes, on equatorial GoTo mounts. Amazing what pics can be done with an 8". Perhaps like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AZDDATU
I'm in my mid 20s and I would straight up marry the woman who bought me this.
Ok I read through some articles. Kind of complicated! Thanks a lot for your help.
Do you have thoughts on this one? It's $20 more for the barlow, is there a difference in barlows or should I get the one that comes in a bundle?
The other one that looks interesting is [this computerized one.] (http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-4-SE-Telescope/dp/B000GUFOBO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top#Ask) This might be slightly out of our price range when you throw in accessories.
Argentina eh? Is that 570 American Dollars?
Good looking scope.
Do you have dark skies where you are? I started off with a Celestron 130mm, but I live in San Jose, CA (which has bad sky pollution), so sold it for a smaller 90mm Mak. In city areas, I think 90mm Maks or (or small Dobs) are the way to go. Easy set up.
But this is a personal preference (I have no patience for those EQ mounts! It took me three trips from my room to the drive way to set everything up. Then you have to align it, etc.)
Ack, don't buy that telescope it's crap. I'd advise you save a bit more and get something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Orion-10015-StarBlast-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D12U1IK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1374094182&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=starblast+4.5
But if $60 is your top dollar you can do better than the Barska with these:
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21024-FirstScope-Telescope/dp/B001UQ6E4Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1374093969&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=celestron+tabletop
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-10021-FunScope-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D05BIGC/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1374093969&amp;sr=8-7&amp;keywords=celestron+tabletop
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21036-PowerSeeker-70AZ-Telescope/dp/B003AM87PU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1374094004&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=celestron+70az
You can definitely get a nice hobbyist telescope for a reasonable to semireasonable amount of money. I don't know much about brands so definitely don't take this as buying advice, but here are two consumer telescopes at opposite ends of the price range for that market.
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-SpaceProbe-Equatorial-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D05BKOW
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-StarBright-Schmidt-Cassegrain-2800mm-Telescope/dp/B000ARFND2
Is she interested in using the telescope visually too? or mostly just for photography?
A "complete package" scope at that price that would be pretty decent for visual and also decent for lunar/planetary/very bright DSOs is the Celestron NexStar 4se plus a T-adaptor and T-ring for her Nikon. Total: under $500
One that would require a bit more work and luck to find used stuff, but might be worth it if she wants to continue with the hobby: Used Celestron AVX or Orion Sirius mount, some kind of power option, cheap 80mm refractor like the Orion Short Tube, T-ring for Nikon. Total: Maybe $600 if you get lucky
For a 5 year old - Celestron Firstscope, Orion Funscope or Meade Lightbridge Mini 82, or Skywatcher Heritage Mini.
Do not buy a refractor on your budget, it will be useless.
Any decent camera for astro-photography is quite expensive, several thousand $ or more. At your price range I would agree with the others and get good binoculars, they will provide a better beginning experience, especially for tracking faster objects.
In my limited experinece the biggest problem with low end scopes is the poor mounts which make it difficult to track and line up on objects. I did buy this scope (http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21024-FirstScope-Telescope/dp/B001UQ6E4Y/) and have enjoyed it even if the images are far from perfect due to distortion, much more glamorous for my kids than looking through binoculars and the mount is very stable, so I don't have too worry much about the kids moving it and losing site of what was there. It is possible to see the great red spot on Jupiter with it on a good night.
As far as pictures go, I am planning on getting a good DLSR with a good zoom lens once I can afford one. This will work for me for pictures of the planets, star clusters, etc. Then I hope to buy a tracking mount and trying my hand at some of the dimmer objects out there that require longer exposures.
Under $50: 76mm newtonian w/dobson mount
Under $100: an 80mm refractor for each eye (tripod not included)
Under $200: 127mm newtonian w/ equatorial mount, tripod, starfinder and 3 lenses
Here's a Celestron 4SE sitting at the top of your budget. It's computerized, I think you can do some astrophoto with it and you don't need to worry about collimation as much as with a simple reflector.
If you get tired of it you can probably resell it on Craigslist for $300 any time in the next 5 years, so in a way you are committing $200 to own a nice telescope with more versatility than a Dob.
Yea no problem
Orion 9823 Apex 102mm Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000XMRR6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6b3QDbCQ2KXQ6
Celestron Heavy-Duty Altazimuth Tripod https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007UQNY0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xc3QDbSP7V3RP
I’d also get a right angle star diagonal:
This one is cheap but its worked well for me
SVBONY 1.25 inches 90 Degree Zenith Mirror Diagonal Adapter Erect Image Fully Metal for Refracting Telescope Eyepiece Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GPMX7BN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ud3QDbBZ3SXJW
You’ll also want a couple good eyepieces probably a 6 and a 9mm for planetary
SVBONY Telescope Eyepiece FMC Broadband Green Film Eyepiece 1.25 68 Degree Ultra Wide Angle Eyepiece Set for Astronomical Telescope(6mm 9mm 15mm 20mm) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C6LRCNN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4d3QDbAHDS0KT
The gold lines are like $5 cheaper apiece but I’m a fan of the reds 🤷🏻♂️
Hello! So I've picked up astronomy a while ago and I love it. I have a decent telescope, but I would like to move to more professional and capable equipment. I want to get into planetary astrophotography. I have tried to do research on what equipment is best for me, but looking at all these mounts, telescope types, camera types, I just can't figure out what the best options for me are.
I have been looking at this Celestron telescope and I think it's a good one. But I need to make sure it's a good choice before I spend my money on it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ARFND2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
I have also been reading up on cameras and it seems that DSLR's are a good choice, although I am not sure which model I should get. If you guys think DSRL's aren't suitable for astrophotography and that I should get a different camera, please let me know.
I guess what I'm asking here is for your recommendations on a complete set of equipment (telescope, mount, wedge, camera, etc.) that is going to be optimal for crisp and clear planetary and lunar photography. My budget is ~$3,000 but I wouldn't mind paying a bit more if it were worth it!
Thanks!
Hey! Thanks for the reply :) I dont really care about Photography yet and would rather just do visual. Id love to get it but I imagine the weight and size being a big problem in moving it (30KG).
What about a [Celestron Nexstar6SE] (https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B000GUKTDM/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1496282160&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=celestron&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=31eM8Sy0kFL&amp;ref=plSrch&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1) ? How inferior is it compared to a 8inch dob?
That was my initial idea but the Mrs talked me out of it. Something about the feeling of using a telescope, which I had to agree with.
I think I'm about to pull the trigger on this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JO06PO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER.
Have always admired astrophotography from afar, but have decided to jump in. Luckily I do have some money to spend on my hobbies. And instead of getting something I would outgrow Im going to get a more expensive scope. The one that has jumped out to me is the Celestron NexStar 8 SE . I might go down to the 6/5 SE.
What are my goals? Id like to us my Nikon D3300 and scope,, with the obviously needed T Ring and adapter for planetary images and some DSO as my next step. I know I will also need a wedge for polar alignment with the 6/8 SE. My question is will this scope be able to help me meet my goals?
Also, I am not located in a dark sky area, I have to travel a couple hours to get there.
If you can find a local astronomy club or planetarium, they would have much better telescopes to look through. A moderate sized amateur telescope is way out of the price range you are talking about, but it's the kind of thing lots of astronomy club members have
If you decide you want one of your own, a tabletop one is better than one of those long refractors with a spindly tripod. The best optics in the world don't help you if the stand it is on wobbles around. "table-top" doesn't mean you have to use a table, anything stable and reasonably flat will work - stack of concrete blocks, tree stump, etc. To see much of anything, you need to get away from city lights, few trees to block the view, and preferably dry stable air.
A bigger telescope can overcome light pollution from a nearby city, but you won't be getting a bigger telescope with your desired budget. One on the rooftop of a planetarium or university building can be much bigger if it doesn't have to be portable.
It takes time for your eyes to fully adapt to dark conditions - be patient.
I'd recommend a Celestron NexStar 6 SE. It fits within your budget and allows you some leftover for accessories.
They're solid telescopes, with a good mount. The Schmidt-Cassegrain design is somewhat of a compromise, but it is a jack-of-all-trades master-of-none kind of design, which seems like it would do nicely for the various things you would like to be able to do. It's relatively compact and portable, but has a large aperture for its size.
As /u/twilightmoons pointed out, you can use a 45-degree prism for upright viewing of terrestrial objects like when birding. You might also want to pick up a high quality eyepiece or two, they make such a difference in how enjoyable a scope is to use.
Under the video it says:
> "Equipment: Celestron C8, f/10, prime focus. Canon 5D2, running Magic Lantern RAW video firmware in 3x crop mode @ 1880 x 1056 resolution. 1/60 sec exposure, ISO 200, 10 fps."
Here's the telescope:
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-S-GT-Advanced-Computerized-Telescope/dp/B00013D2MY
I started with a Celestron FirstScope (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UQ6E4Y). Very inexpensive - ~$40 - easy to use will get you some great sky viewing with no real effort or investment. It was enough to see if it was a hobby I'd really get into before I dropped serious money.
> The Meade Lightbridge Mini 130 or a 4-5" Maksutov might be a better choice for (some) imaging, simply because of the Heritage's open structure and simple focuser.
Is the Meade Mini 130 a better telescope (for the price ?)
> I am not familiar with the telescope prices in France. What does a 127mm Maksutov cost over there? (€359 at Amazon, minimum; Not familiar with telescope stores)
Something like this : https://www.amazon.fr/Orion-9825-Apex-127-mm-Maksutov-Cassegrain/dp/B0000XMRRG ?
The size seems fine (without the tripod), better than the Heritage (but more expensive).
How is it better than the AWB/Heritage ? Sizewise and/or quality wise ?
>Do you have a big/rigid camera tripod?
Do you have insights about how big is a tripod this size (like on the amazon picture ?) once folded ?
Edit : Mixing inches and millimeters had me a bit confused for a moment :)
Edit 2 : The matsukov seem pretty compact. I guess I also need to find some small/foldable tripods/table mount to go with it.
Alternate telescope link based on busted link. Looks like the 8 inch one is ~$1800.
Not sure what you consider to be well priced.
I fell in love with the Meade ETX-90EC back in 2001 and didn’t have money to get it until 2015. I got some cheaper telescopes (100-175 US dollars range) and honestly regretted it.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meade-Instruments-Observer-Computerised-Telescope/dp/B01CPW0A8M
The computerized bit annoys me bc I can’t ever get it to work but it’s my own damn fault, I haven’t done proper troubleshooting for it. The big sell to me is portability. It can be a tabletop telescope which is what I prefer.
If you’re going below $200 (I mean dollars but honestly it wouldn’t be that big of a different in pounds), best to invest in decent binoculars. Finding objects with any telescope is time consuming and then finding that you can’t get them in focus bc your telescope sucks is frustrating af. You can improve some of those shortcoming with accessories but there’s no point in spending $200 in lenses and filters for a $100 telescope.
$300-700 you can get better telescopes for a sporadic hobby.
$1000+ is where you’d want to be for serious astronomy.
$3000+ for astrophotography.
r/Telescopes for more tips and specific models to avoid (including some Celestrons!)
Hello,
I'm a complete noob to amateur astronomy. I once had a cheap refractor telescope as a kid, but it's long broken. I'm currently looking to get a new one, primarily for the purposes of stargazing, but perhaps further down the line take some photographs (issue is I don't have a camera, nor am I sure I will get one). I'm more interested in viewing deep field objects, but as I understand it, the only way to do so is through long exposure with a camera (?).
I'm currently looking at a few different models:
Celestron NexStar 4 SE Telescope -this one being the absolute limit of my budget
Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope
Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker Telescope
From what I've gotten from the 'What Telescope?' post, I need to choose between deep field and planetary viewing. What will I be able to see with my eyes, versus a camera?
Schmidt Cassegrain telescopes are what are known as compound telescopes. They do get pricey, as they combine refractor lenses with mirrors to allow for insane focal lengths out of very compact telescopes (big magnification out of a short tube.)
Celestron CPC 925 StarBright XLT GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain 2350mm Telescope with Tripod and Tube https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ARDYPQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eJ3wCb78JRFRS
This seems to be the current model, for reference of a similar product hot off the shelf.
What are your goals for using this telescope? There are several different kinds of scope, and they’re good for different things :)
It depends on how good the smart phone is, how much you want to do, if the camera has apps. Sony is introducing a 22MP CMOS camera chip for smart phones. This could be close to using a DSLR as the telescope camera.
http://www.stuff.tv/news/sonys-new-camera-sensor-will-make-your-smartphone-snaps-sparkle-videos-stable
That telescope is really low end, so it might be good for nature shots, the examples on the Amazon review page shows really blurry Moon shots, recognizable Jupiter.
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21024-FirstScope-Telescope/dp/B001UQ6E4Y
Is this the scope you are talking about? C8
Oh, I thought it would be cheaper.
I've actually found this and I thought it was a good deal.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Orion-10022-TableTop-Maksutov-Cassegrain-Telescope/dp/B002JO06PO :)
Wow nice hack! Now to go pick one up :)
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-Evolution-StarSense-Schmidt-Cassegrain-Telescope/dp/B01K14Y2LC
Imho it looks vastly overpriced for what it is - the standard 650mm FL celestron tube with a computer mount.
Better would be this
Or maybe a dobsonian
Also allow some room to buy some eyepieces
Check out the links in the side bar.
I had quite some fun with this Celestron and the extras.
Looks like a Meade lx90 series.
http://www.amazon.com/Meade-LX90-ACF-Advanced-Coma-Free-Telescope/dp/B002AK4N74
You could get an Orion Skyscanner or the slightly smaller Orion Funscope/Celestron Firstscope. Or in the more expensive direction an Orion StarMax mak. (My preference would be for the Skyscanner in this case, 4" aperture and universal while not being too expensive if it breaks.)
There are a lot of sites with good reviews/recommendations for beginners.
http://www.space.com/15693-telescopes-beginners-telescope-reviews-buying-guide.html
http://www.backyardastronomy.com/Backyard_Astronomy/The_Best_Beginner_Telescopes.html
http://www.astronomytoday.com/astronomy/tbfaq.html
I looked at these and bought my first telescope (A Celestron NexStar 5) for ~$400 from eBay.
I have a pair of Leupold 10x50 and it's a hard stretch to see a face past 300 yds. I sent you a pic of what my view is like, and you will notice other stuff as well in the background. Feel free to PM me in response. I don't want to give away my location too much here in public!
So the Dobsonian is going to be deep sky only, and the mak will serve the same purpose, but with less field of view, but accurate. So based on the pic I sent, do you think it will easily reach and accommodate that distance?
I'm not opposed to the Dobsonian, with a spotting scope, but considering I already have a 10x50 set of Binoculars that is way too weak to see details at the distance I need, it sounds like I might want to go with the Mak, and use my current binoculars for typical spotting, but with the Mak link I sent, it appears to have it's own little spotting scope as you mentioned.
What do you recommend with the Maksutov?
This one seems to have a 5 star review.
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-StarSeeker-127mm-Mak-Cass-Telescope/dp/B014EXH4WA
I see. It's cool that most telescopes (even entry level) those days have built-in tracking software, maybe they're hackable to track launch.
I was thinking this or this
Would this telescope be a good choice for Astrophotography?
I would prefer something can can assist me in tracking as much as reasonably possible.
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-4-SE-Telescope/dp/B000GUFOBO/ref=sr_1_2?s=photo&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1452609274&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=Celestron+NexStar+4SE+Maksutov-Cassegrain
i have this one
i'm happy when i see jupiter and its moons.
and i need a new DSLR. my minolta X500 is just too old.
You align the telescope, and then use a motorized mount that tracks what you are taking a picture of. Like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ARFND2
I got a VERY inexpensive starter scope ($40), the celestron firstscope and it's been great to get the family started. It's very portable too.
The only reason I broke the "get binoculars for your first telescope" rule is that I could point the scope, take my eye away and let the kids look.
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21024-FirstScope-Telescope/dp/B001UQ6E4Y
But take this with a grain of salt, I'm still just starting out.
Pretty small aperture for that kind of price. Also, it's a refractor, which has inherent optical problems. For more than a thousand dollars, I'd look into something a little more powerful. For instance, a Celestron Nexstar 8. http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-8-SE-Telescope/dp/B000GUFOC8/ref=pd_sim_sbs_p_3
This is an 8 inch SCT (Schmidt-Cassegrain; combines mirrors and lenses), which is much better than an 80mm refractor, optically speaking. And it also seems to be a fair bit less expensive.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000GUFOC8
I know that alot will advise dobsons like the Zhumell Z-series, but honestly, if he is a geeky guy and also wants easy of use then consider the Celestron NexStar 8 SE http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000GUFOC8/
This is what I was thinking of. I think that is even on the telescope I had been looking at recently.
Nexstar 4SE - motorised and looked fairly compact.
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-4-SE-Telescope/dp/B000GUFOBO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1395671954&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=celestron+nexstar+5se
Tbh that looks like a really good beginner scope. It's not meant to be an investment, it's meant to help you determine if stargazing is right for you.
You could also look at:
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21024-FirstScope-Telescope/dp/B001UQ6E4Y
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21049-AZ-DS-127EQ-PowerSeeker-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNKY
Portability might be a factor for you, I know it is for me...so always read the reviews carefully!