-i have been wanting to buy a telescope for years now and now that i have come to some dough i want to buy a telescope. i wanna spend less than 1,000--in the high 800-900 dollar range. but what confuses me is what is the main difference--pros and cons--between a 'classic dobson' and 'a intelliscope dobson' and a 'tuss tube dobson' and well, you get the point. i wanna do astrophotography but i am mostly interested at just looking so if i have to lose astrophotography for better viewing capabilities then i will suffer. so any help is greatly apreciated!!!!thanx!!
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Orion Telescope type clarification?
- Thread starter Arturo
- Start date
digquickly
New member
Well, ..., for one the dobsonian mount is not meant for astrophotography and it is nearly impossible to use one for long exposure astrophography. So if your heart is really set on Astrophotgraphy then I suggest you buy a scope with a decent Equatorial or Fork mount (w/equatorial wedge). However, you'll not find one for less than $1000.
The orion-EQ computerized goto mount is one of the the cheapest goto mounts that I've seen (http://www.telescope.com/Mounts-Tripods/Equatorial-Mounts-Tripods/Orion-Atlas-EQ-G-Computerized-GoTo-Telescope-Mount/pc/-1/c/2/sc/34/p/24338.uts). That's just the mount and does not include the OTA (Optical Tube Assembly) which could run you another $1000 or so (depending on what you want to do, of course).
If you're looking for an SCT, then starting price is $2,599 and that doesn't include the equatorial wedge. So you really need to be thinking as follows:
1) 8" Goto Fork Mounted SCT: 2,599.00: http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=1-600-603-979-12961&kw=&st=0
2) Equatorial Wedge: 179.00: http://www.optcorp.com/productList.aspx
3) Deep Sky Imaging Camera with Filter Wheel and autoguider: $1389.85: http://www.telescope.com/control/astrophotography/astrophotography-cameras/orion-starshoot-planetary-imager-and-autoguider.
4) 4 Astrophotography filters: 205.95: http://www.telescope.com/control/accessories/telescope-and-eyepiece-filters/1*25-inch-lrgb-astrophotography-telescope-eyepiece-filter-set
So adding it up: 2,599.00 + 179.00 + 1389.85 + 205.95 = $4373.90 * 7.5 tax = ~$4702.0
So it takes a little dough to get started but it's do able. As someone else has already said it might be best to get into the visual end of astronomy first and then work your way up to astrophotography. BTW, the prices I've given, though actual, may be less if you already have some of the items so in your case it could be less. Especially if you already own a DLSR, then you don't need to invest in an astronomy camera and will only need an autoguider which runs about $385 (depending on which one you buy).
You might also want to pick up a copy of one of Robert Reeve's books "Astrophotography for Webcams" or "Astrophotography for DSLR's". His books are full of great tips on how to be successful at astrophotogrpahy.
The orion-EQ computerized goto mount is one of the the cheapest goto mounts that I've seen (http://www.telescope.com/Mounts-Tripods/Equatorial-Mounts-Tripods/Orion-Atlas-EQ-G-Computerized-GoTo-Telescope-Mount/pc/-1/c/2/sc/34/p/24338.uts). That's just the mount and does not include the OTA (Optical Tube Assembly) which could run you another $1000 or so (depending on what you want to do, of course).
If you're looking for an SCT, then starting price is $2,599 and that doesn't include the equatorial wedge. So you really need to be thinking as follows:
1) 8" Goto Fork Mounted SCT: 2,599.00: http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=1-600-603-979-12961&kw=&st=0
2) Equatorial Wedge: 179.00: http://www.optcorp.com/productList.aspx
3) Deep Sky Imaging Camera with Filter Wheel and autoguider: $1389.85: http://www.telescope.com/control/astrophotography/astrophotography-cameras/orion-starshoot-planetary-imager-and-autoguider.
4) 4 Astrophotography filters: 205.95: http://www.telescope.com/control/accessories/telescope-and-eyepiece-filters/1*25-inch-lrgb-astrophotography-telescope-eyepiece-filter-set
So adding it up: 2,599.00 + 179.00 + 1389.85 + 205.95 = $4373.90 * 7.5 tax = ~$4702.0
So it takes a little dough to get started but it's do able. As someone else has already said it might be best to get into the visual end of astronomy first and then work your way up to astrophotography. BTW, the prices I've given, though actual, may be less if you already have some of the items so in your case it could be less. Especially if you already own a DLSR, then you don't need to invest in an astronomy camera and will only need an autoguider which runs about $385 (depending on which one you buy).
You might also want to pick up a copy of one of Robert Reeve's books "Astrophotography for Webcams" or "Astrophotography for DSLR's". His books are full of great tips on how to be successful at astrophotogrpahy.
Miles Dewar
New member
The views are amazing on the XT10.
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The intelliscope comes with a small coordinate computer. You still must move the scope by hand but it will tell you when you are on the object.
The classic dobsonian will not give you coordinates. But this is what star charts and programs like "distant suns" are for.
In my opinion the intelliscopes just don't seem to be justifiable for the extreme price increase. If you have an iPod touch, you can download distant suns as an app. Otherwise they have a PC program.
--------------
ORION Truss rod dobsonians are only for the 12", 14"- 50" dobsonians. They use the truss tubes to keep the size down when you are transporting it via car.
The truss tunes come off so you don't have to stick the entire length of the scope into your car.
------------------------
Astrophotography is not for dobsonians.
You will need a Good equitorial mount.
However, what IS recommended is to buy a good webcam for astronomy. You will be taking great videos of the moon, planets and sun (with filter).
ORION sells one for about $99.00.
---------------------
The intelliscope comes with a small coordinate computer. You still must move the scope by hand but it will tell you when you are on the object.
The classic dobsonian will not give you coordinates. But this is what star charts and programs like "distant suns" are for.
In my opinion the intelliscopes just don't seem to be justifiable for the extreme price increase. If you have an iPod touch, you can download distant suns as an app. Otherwise they have a PC program.
--------------
ORION Truss rod dobsonians are only for the 12", 14"- 50" dobsonians. They use the truss tubes to keep the size down when you are transporting it via car.
The truss tunes come off so you don't have to stick the entire length of the scope into your car.
------------------------
Astrophotography is not for dobsonians.
You will need a Good equitorial mount.
However, what IS recommended is to buy a good webcam for astronomy. You will be taking great videos of the moon, planets and sun (with filter).
ORION sells one for about $99.00.