Back to forums

New Observatory setup

ZWO ASI294MM Pro Equipment Buying Advice Deep Sky
6 replies•272 views
Scope recommendation
Multiple choice poll 17 votes
6% (1 vote)
41% (7 votes)
6% (1 vote)
18% (3 votes)
29% (5 votes)
You must be logged in to vote in this poll.
Ladi Svoboda avatar
Ladi Svoboda avatar
Hi everyone,

After years of saving, we’ve finally bought a new house (Bortle 3-4, New Zealand - but about 30 minutes drive from Bortle 2) with a garden and enough space to build a small observatory. 

I’ve been shooting wide-field astrophotography for a while, but with more room now, I’m planning to shift toward deep sky imaging.

I’ve done a ton of research on gear and would really appreciate your thoughts on the setup I’m considering. This rig will be used for both travel and observatory-based imaging.

Mount: ZWO AM5N
Control: ASIAIR Plus
Main Camera: ASI294MM Pro
Filters: ZWO LRGB 36mm
Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW 7x36
Guide Camera: ASI220MM
Rotator: ZWO CAA
Focuser: ZWO EAF Pro

Where I’m still undecided is the scope. I’m currently looking at:
    [*]
    ASKAR FRA300 Pro
    [*]
    ASKAR FRA400
    [*]
    ASKAR 65PHQ
    [*]
    RedCat 51



Would love to hear your experience or recommendations, especially with the ASI294MM. Cheers!



Here is my latest shot of my wide-field astro:
https://www.capturedbyladi.com/portfolio/nugget-point-lighthouse-milky-way-core
Well Written Engaging
andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar
I'm not a refractor guy so I can't really recommend any of those (apart as expensive guiders) but as far as the ASI294MM goes you'd want to couple it with a longer focal length than those. And as fast as it gets. So basically either a good tele-lens or a reflector.
Bill McLaughlin avatar
Bill McLaughlin avatar
It depends to a great degree on the seeing at the site. I would evaluate that for a year or at least for one imaging season before I decide.
Well Written
Noah Tingey avatar
Noah Tingey avatar
Regardless of what scope you pair it with, I personally would recommend a different camera. The 294 is still a good cam – no hate to anyone who's using one – but if you're buying a new cam you really ought to get one with a current-gen sensor. Even if that means stepping down in size to a 533 if you can't stretch your budget for a 571-based camera (e.g., ZWO 2600, QHY 268).

Edit: also congrats on the house!
Well Written Respectful Concise
Dunk avatar
Dunk avatar
Epsilon 160 (if you can find one) or 130.
andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar
Current gen, previous gen, makes no difference. Apart from shelling out more dough…
Quinn Groessl avatar
Quinn Groessl avatar
I'm just going to base it on the telescopes. Not necessarily matching it with your camera. I'll first eliminate the 65PHQ. It's slower than the rest, and its focal length doesn't get you anything the other ones don't. You can speed it up with the reducer, but that would be more expensive than going with one of the other options that gets you there natively. Plus then you'd have to worry about back focus while with the others you don't.

So now based on the three left, I would go with the  FRA300. It's a good compromise of them. Middle of the road in price, focal length, and F-ratio.
Helpful