Portable telescope setup advice for northern hemisphere imaging from Vietnam

Equipment Refractors Buying Advice
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Andy williams avatar
Andy williams avatar

Hi all,

I am looking for advice with regard to a set up that will fit in my suitcase !

Next year I am going to live in Vietnam for a couple of years ( lucky me !)

I currently live in New Zealand so am well versed in the southern hemisphere options but I am really looking forward to have quite a bit more of the northern hemisphere targets available to me.

I am already in possession of a good tripod, an asi533mc pro, a startracker with counterweight etc etc.

What I need advice on is a small refractor or camera lens.

I love to image large nebulae and also galaxies, so I understand that I will be pushing the limit as far as focal length is concerned.

What does anyone recommend that would be at least able to get me a reasonable framing of the main northern galaxies, while being lightweight and able to fit onto a star adventurer.

I know it’s asking a lot of the set up but any suggestions are most welcome.

Thanks in advance and clear skies to you all 😊

Andy

Well written Respectful
andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar

Given the size of the sensor you’d do well with no more than 200mm of focal length, assuming you want to capture M31. If that isn’t a main requisite then 300mm up to 500mm would be reasonable. I would suggest camera lenses will fit better in the main with what you want to do, more-so at shorter focal lengths. Nikons are specially good in these FLs but so may do other brands although I don’t have direct experience of of several of them since the film days.

Helpful
Andy williams avatar
Andy williams avatar

andrea tasselli · May 5, 2026 at 08:21 AM

Given the size of the sensor you’d do well with no more than 200mm of focal length, assuming you want to capture M31. If that isn’t a main requisite then 300mm up to 500mm would be reasonable. I would suggest camera lenses will fit better in the main with what you want to do, more-so at shorter focal lengths. Nikons are specially good in these FLs but so may do other brands although I don’t have direct experience of of several of them since the film days.

Many thanks for your advice 😊

I will investigate the lenses

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