I do have savings put aside for a new astrophotography setup, however I have decided to stick with what I have got for now.
The main reason is that it is still teaching me a lot. Some of the things I have learned:
* How to maintain a mount, change it's bearings, regrease and re-assemble
* How to add a belt drive upgrade to quieten it down and reduce backlash
* How to tune out backlash from a mount
* Moving from a separate guide scope to an OAG to remove differential flexure and improve guiding
* Realising that I, my skills and knowledge are the limiting factors rather than my equipment
* Learning to automate a setup using ASCOM and telescope control software such as APT
* Realising that post-processing is at least half of the challenge
* Learning how to collimate a telescope (a work in progress for me right now)
* Learning how to be patient with the weather
* Realising that polar alignment is actually quite trivial using something like SharpCap
* Learning the importance of darks and flats
* Learning PixInsight rather than trying to cobble together free software and just get frustrated
* Realising that my mirrorless camera was one thing, but a mono cam with filters was way more satisfying and ultimately successful
* Spending hour outside in the cold manually taking shots initially and working out how to automate that so that I can effectively control the mount, scope, camera etc. from anywhere in the world via the internet
* Just how important platesolving is
* How a cheap autofocusser can remove one of the issues from the equation
I could probably go on and on (as I already have), but I do believe that a reasonably-priced first setup can probably help one learn 95% of the skills we need.
I wouldn't have learned half of the above if I had spent £20,000 up-front and yet my total spend over 4 years has been below £4,000. I am still not doing my OTA justice, so I will stick with it until I can honestly say I have got the best out of it. Then, and only then, will I upgrade it and the mount.
The main reason is that it is still teaching me a lot. Some of the things I have learned:
* How to maintain a mount, change it's bearings, regrease and re-assemble
* How to add a belt drive upgrade to quieten it down and reduce backlash
* How to tune out backlash from a mount
* Moving from a separate guide scope to an OAG to remove differential flexure and improve guiding
* Realising that I, my skills and knowledge are the limiting factors rather than my equipment
* Learning to automate a setup using ASCOM and telescope control software such as APT
* Realising that post-processing is at least half of the challenge
* Learning how to collimate a telescope (a work in progress for me right now)
* Learning how to be patient with the weather
* Realising that polar alignment is actually quite trivial using something like SharpCap
* Learning the importance of darks and flats
* Learning PixInsight rather than trying to cobble together free software and just get frustrated
* Realising that my mirrorless camera was one thing, but a mono cam with filters was way more satisfying and ultimately successful
* Spending hour outside in the cold manually taking shots initially and working out how to automate that so that I can effectively control the mount, scope, camera etc. from anywhere in the world via the internet
* Just how important platesolving is
* How a cheap autofocusser can remove one of the issues from the equation
I could probably go on and on (as I already have), but I do believe that a reasonably-priced first setup can probably help one learn 95% of the skills we need.
I wouldn't have learned half of the above if I had spent £20,000 up-front and yet my total spend over 4 years has been below £4,000. I am still not doing my OTA justice, so I will stick with it until I can honestly say I have got the best out of it. Then, and only then, will I upgrade it and the mount.
