I'm having a lot of fun with my 8" Newtonian (Skywatcher 200PDS) on an HEQ5 Pro with an ASI 1600 MM Pro. It's getting me some decent DSO images and I'm learning a lot about this hobby. I just wondered what my next step might be as far as an additional OTA. Should I go longer or wider? and what kind of scope would people suggest? I live in a suburban area, so skies are not great. I know I can just stick with what I have got and perfect my craft, but maybe a new toy could help me learn even faster.
What new OTA should I buy (if any)
Well Written Respectful Engaging
No new toys will do that. Only a new location would do that. Otherwise I fear you have been bitten by the buying-new-toy bug. Resist the urge! Or otherwise expressed: just say no 
andrea tasselli:
No new toys will do that. Only a new location would do that.
I thought you may say that, however a wider field of view would be nice. I may just have to finally succumb to my wife's desire to move to the coast where the skies should be significantly better. The move, however, will cost me a lot more than a new OTA, but could well be worth it
andrea tasselli:
Otherwise I fear you have been bitten by the buying-new-toy bug. Resist the urge! Or otherwise expressed: just say no
I do agree with this sentiment. This is my first scope which my wife bought me as a surprise Christmas present 3 years ago. Over that 3 years, I have added a coma corrector, a guiding camera and my wife bought me a dedicated mono camera as opposed to me using an old mirrorless camera. So, I've been pretty frugal so far on the hobby. Relatively speaking, my OTA is the cheapest part of my setup (about £380), so hence the question.
I suppose a fine 4" Tak would complement nicely the existing hardware and in the end is going to be a keeper. May I suggest the Takahashi FC-100DC f/7.4, possibly coupled with the dedicated reducer to bring it down to f/5.4. If you have to throw money at it might as well do it in style!
As for frugality the last time I bought a large item was 15 years ago.
As for frugality the last time I bought a large item was 15 years ago.
Helpful
andrea tasselli:
I suppose a fine 4" Tak would complement nicely the existing hardware and in the end is going to be a keeper. May I suggest the Takahashi FC-100DC f/7.4, possibly coupled with the dedicated reducer to bring it down to f/5.4. If you have to throw money at it might as well do it in style!
As for frugality the last time I bought a large item was 15 years ago.
Thank you! That's the kind of suggestion I was looking for. I'm not going to rush out and waste my money, but you guys will hopefully point me in the right direction.
Well Written Respectful
Andy Wray:
I'm having a lot of fun with my 8" Newtonian (Skywatcher 200PDS) on an HEQ5 Pro with an ASI 1600 MM Pro. It's getting me some decent DSO images and I'm learning a lot about this hobby. I just wondered what my next step might be as far as an additional OTA. Should I go longer or wider? and what kind of scope would people suggest? I live in a suburban area, so skies are not great. I know I can just stick with what I have got and perfect my craft, but maybe a new toy could help me learn even faster.
That is already a fairly wide FOV scope. If you are going to get a second scope, my suggestion is to get something with a much longer focal length, tighter FOV that will be better suited than the newtonian for small targets like galaxies, planetary nebula, planets. Something like an RC or an SCT. There would be no point in you buying a second scope that does not offer some significantly different set of capabilities than what you have. An 8" newtonian is a great scope for this hobby.
My personal approach is that I have 2 scopes. In my case 1 is a 610mm newtonian as my wide FOV setup & then I have a separate longer focal length scope that is about 1200mm focal length when used with the reducer. This allows me to pick the one that fits the target. There is no point in imaging a small planetary nebula from the newt when I have the other. If you take this approach you just want to make sure that you bin your camera when using it with a longer focal length telescope to get a good image scale. In my case I'm using a QHY268 right now & it works with both, unbinned with the newtonian & 2x2 binning with the longer focal length.
Helpful Insightful Respectful Engaging Supportive
I would go wider. A nice small APO scope would supplement your existing 8" Newtonian. It's much easier to use (usually no collimation needed, fast cool-down, small and lightweight, etc.) and there are plenty of wide objects in the sky for it (mostly nebulae).
Well Written Concise
No new toy is going to make the weather any better. But yes, a 200 PDS is a very long scope.
Going for a wider (250-400mm) scope could be a lot of fun and open up a lot of new and bigger targets.
I have a William Optics Redcat 51 as my second rig, great little scope at 250mm.
Going for a wider (250-400mm) scope could be a lot of fun and open up a lot of new and bigger targets.
I have a William Optics Redcat 51 as my second rig, great little scope at 250mm.
I agree, Redcat 51 would be my choice to complement your bigger OTA…👍🏻
I think you've got a nice setup there and if it's working for you, there isn't a need for a different scope. I believe you can still advance a lot with what you currently have. I also live in a Bortle 6 area, and I saw a lot of advantages going from ZWO narrowband to Chroma 3nm narrowband. The filters + longer exposure times were a big upgrade. But to be fair, the main point is your number of hours you put into the target
Concise Supportive
Depending if your interested a nice long focal length for some planetary stuff. I am currently adding a C9.25 SCT for the sole purpose of planetary and lunar.
I must confess to have been bitten by the buy new toys bug in a desire to automate as much as possible.
I must confess to have been bitten by the buy new toys bug in a desire to automate as much as possible.
OK, given all the feedback, I think the answer is for me to stick with what I have got for now. I'll spend my time trying to get more hours on target and perfecting my skills at acquisition/processing. I can afford to buy new toys, but it would probably just confuse me. That said, my wife has given me free rein to invest in my hobby, but not until we have moved house ;)
Well Written
Looks like you came to a decision that makes sense. I just wanted to add that when it is time to add another OTA I would suggest a triplet or good quality doublet refractor in the 80mm range. Your mount is a good one but it can’t hold a large sct. It will do great with smallish refractor.
Helpful Insightful Respectful
Hey Andy,
After seeing the amazing work of Erik Pirtala using a 6"f/4 I knew I had to get one and I absolutely love the little light weight scope and the quality of it's images. Highly recommended for wider FOV work. 80% of my bin images are taken with it.
Cheers & CSTrace
After seeing the amazing work of Erik Pirtala using a 6"f/4 I knew I had to get one and I absolutely love the little light weight scope and the quality of it's images. Highly recommended for wider FOV work. 80% of my bin images are taken with it.
Cheers & CSTrace
Helpful Respectful Supportive
Hello Andy,
!st I'd have to say that your 8" newt is an excellent scope, and it will continue to do an excellent job for you. If you decide to go longer, keep in mind tracking (along with other things, like image scale for example) will come in play with your mount. I agree totally agree with @MarkAbbott on the 80 mm or with @andrea tasselli on a refractor. They will give you a wider fov, and they will be quite easier to deal with when setting up. Also, a small refractor will cool quite quickly.
One other thing I'd like to say is keep in mind processing! I know its easy to want to buy a new OTA, camera, mount etc.. But I've learned "from many here on AB" that processing is just as (if not more) important as software for processing your data. It may not be a "material thing" but is essential at creating beautiful images.
Best of luck whatever you decide and keep the pix coming!
Dale
!st I'd have to say that your 8" newt is an excellent scope, and it will continue to do an excellent job for you. If you decide to go longer, keep in mind tracking (along with other things, like image scale for example) will come in play with your mount. I agree totally agree with @MarkAbbott on the 80 mm or with @andrea tasselli on a refractor. They will give you a wider fov, and they will be quite easier to deal with when setting up. Also, a small refractor will cool quite quickly.
One other thing I'd like to say is keep in mind processing! I know its easy to want to buy a new OTA, camera, mount etc.. But I've learned "from many here on AB" that processing is just as (if not more) important as software for processing your data. It may not be a "material thing" but is essential at creating beautiful images.
Best of luck whatever you decide and keep the pix coming!
Dale
Helpful Respectful Supportive
Andy Wray:
OK, given all the feedback, I think the answer is for me to stick with what I have got for now. I'll spend my time trying to get more hours on target and perfecting my skills at acquisition/processing. I can afford to buy new toys, but it would probably just confuse me. That said, my wife has given me free rein to invest in my hobby, but not until we have moved house ;)
If you have free hand to put money into your hobby, but you need a new house first, there is an ideal solution: a house with observatory (or vice versa: an observatory with bedrooms)! ;-)
Well Written Engaging