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Gears Suggestion for Newbie

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi William Optics Redcat 51 Equipment Beginner Buying Advice
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Deepak Sureshkumar avatar
Deepak Sureshkumar avatar
Hi Folks,

Can anyone please suggest to finalize among the following gears? As a new hobbyist, I did all my studies (FoV, simulation-based calculation, arc-secs, and Camera - scope matching) and came up with these two sets of cameras and scopes. Unfortunately, not being able to finalize the one set of pairs to buy. The Cameras are ASI533MC / ASI2600MC, and the Scopes are WO RedCat 51 and WO Zenithstar 81.  My idea is to start with short focal length DSO targets, but not limited only to that  Apart from these, below are my other finalized stacks,
    [*]
    • Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTI
    • ZWO Mini Guide Scope
    • ASI120MM Mini (mono) -Guide Camera
    • ASIAIR Plus
    • ZWO EAF (Keeping as optional for now)
kuechlew avatar
kuechlew avatar
Welcome to the hobby. There is not yet enough reliable information available about how accurate the Star Adventurer GTI is. Given the good reputation of the Star Adventurer 2i it should be plenty good enough for the RedCat 51. The Zenithstar 81 with a weight of 3.5kg may get you quite close to the maximum load of the mount (5 kg) all other stuff considered. A ZS 61 may be a good compromise in terms of weight and reach. For the Zenithstars you will need a flattener. 

With respect to the camera, the ASI 2600 will provide you with a very wide field. If this is what you want, then go for it. Of course you will always be able to crop.

Clear skies
Wolfgang
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Deepak Sureshkumar avatar
Deepak Sureshkumar avatar
Thanks, Kuchlew for your quick response. Let me have a relook with Star Adventurer 2i and ZS 61.
kuechlew avatar
kuechlew avatar
Thanks, Kuchlew for your quick response. Let me have a relook with Star Adventurer 2i and ZS 61.

Maybe I misphrased my response. I intended to express that given the good reputation of the StarAdventurer 2i most likely the Star Adventurer GTI - which is sort of an enhancement of the 2i - is quite capable too. I didn't intend to talk you out of the GTI. So I believe it's a reasonable choice for starters, we simply don't know for sure at the moment.

Of course if you decide for the ZWO 533 you may consider to invest the money you saved for the camera for a more sturdy (but more heavy!) mount. It depends a lot whether you are aiming at a lightweight mobile mount or something for your backyard. In general it's a good strategy to consider the mount the most important part of your rig. 

Clear skies
Wolfgang
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