Re: [APML] Getting Started

["DEREK BAKER" <derekb@sympatico.ca>]

Do your research and read some good reference books.

One of the best there is on getting into the hobby are a) Nightwatch, and b)
The Backyard Astronomers Guide.

Both are by Terence Dickinson (and in the second, also Alan Dyer) through
Firefly Publishing. The first book is for real beginners and does discuss
some equipment. The Backyard Astronomers guide is for people wanting to
start spending $$ on their first set up, for visual or for astrophotography.
It puts an excellent perspective on things. Both authors are very
experienced inthe field. Alan Dyer has done many many reviews of equipment
for Sky and Telescope & Astronomy magazine.

Finally. My advice is: keep it simple and small. Go for good quality. Size
of scope shouldn't be your first consideration when doing astrophotography.
There are objects out there for every setup to reach. Get a great mount or
you will be frustrated (try Vixen, Losmandy, Takahashi, or Astrophysics).
Better to go with a smaller set up...perhaps just a camera and telephoto
riding piggyback on a small scope but with a great mount. You can always
move up in scopes, but you gotta start with that good mount. Personally, I
would avoid Newtonians (except, perhaps, the Vixen 8" f/4 and coma corrector
on their DX mount), but get a small quality refractor. They have fewer
'headaches'.

Good luck!

Derek


----- Original Message -----
From: Parker Parrish <Parker_Parrish@mindspring.com>
To: 'Discussion of Film Astrophotography' <astro-photo@seds.org>
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2003 8:24 PM
Subject: [APML] Getting Started


> My Name is Parker Parrish and I have been in the hobby on and off since
> I was about 12. I am now turning 18 and ready to get started again. My
> first scope was the classic 60mm refractor which was eventually followed
> by an 8" Meade Star finder. Eventually my light polluted skies led me to
> sell everything but my binoculars to get started in model airplanes. Now
> I am ready again (with a car to get to a dark sky) and looking for a
> scope to be used for photography. I have a reasonably limited budget (
> scope & mount under $1,000 would be very nice) but I am looking at a
> CG-5 with dual axis drives and a suitable OTA. I thought about a 5"
> achromatic refractor but I am worried about the false color. Also I
> considered a 6" Newtonian but I like the idea of clear aperture and no
> mirror flop. Would I be better off in saving up for a pronto or small
> apo like the Orion 80mm, or go for aperture? My photography interest is
> mainly in deep sky but I also want some clear high contrast shots of our
> solar system. I know what I want doesn't fit in my budget, I'm just
> looking
> for the biggest bang for my small buck. The LXD55 EC series looks
> tempting for either the 5" AR or the 6" Newtonian. I am open to ANY
> suggestions and advice. Thanks.
>
>
>
> Parker Parrish
>
>
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> Astro-Photo@seds.org
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>

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