Can I pair the ZWO AM3 or iOptron HEM27 with Celestron 8" EDGE HD or the BRESSER Messier Maksutov 152/1900 OTA?

1 reply271 views
Kanak RT avatar
Hi all, I've been doing astrophotography for a while using my DSLR and a tripod, but considering to purchase a dedicated astro gear. I'm planning to get the iOptron SkyHunter Pro mount to pair it with my DSLR as of now and later upgrade to ZWO AM3 or iOptron HEM27 mount (prioritizing portability). Latter purchase RedCat 51 for wide field and Celestron 8" EDGE HD or the BRESSER Messier Maksutov 152/1900 OTA or any others (please mention the models if you know) for Deep Space paired with Canon DSLR or preferably a Cooled Color Camera, either ASI183MC Pro or ASI2600MC Pro or if ZWO is going to launch any camera that's between the both. 

I've budget constraints for the setup because of the extra 18% added tax here in India.

Hello everyone! I've been doing astrophotography with my DSLR and tripod, but I'm considering purchasing dedicated astro gear. My current plan is to get the iOptron SkyHunter Pro mount to pair with my DSLR, and later upgrade to either the ZWO AM3 or iOptron HEM27 mount for portability. I'm also looking to purchase a RedCat 51 for wide field shots, and either a Celestron 8" EDGE HD or BRESSER Messier Maksutov 152/1900 OTA for deep space imaging, paired with a Canon DSLR or preferably a cooled color camera like the ASI183MC Pro or ASI2600MC Pro. I'm also keeping an eye out for any new cameras from ZWO between these two options.

Please guide me.
andrea tasselli avatar
I would think this is not going to be a marriage made in heaven (excuse the pun), both as a coupling a ~2 meter FL telescope to the tiny pixels of either astro-cameras or the arduous task of keep everything going with either mounts. Mind you, it can be done, especially if you are used to the hurdles of guiding at those focal length/ratios. But not the easiest way to go from a tripod-based astrophotography into higher end AP. I'd venture to suggest an easier way such as a the following (hoping it is available in India):

Explore Scientific 152mm David H. Levy Comet Hunter Maksutov-Newtonian (explorescientificusa.com)
Helpful Supportive
Related discussions
Help me choose a Strainwave/Harmonic Mount!
Hey folks, Hope you're all having a great day out there! I'm on the hunt for a new portable mount for astro imaging with a range of gear, starting from a camera lens/dedicated camera combo right up to a small wide-field refractor and camera. ...
Discusses portable mounts for astrophotography imaging, directly relevant to your mount selection.
Apr 3, 2025
Will I see stars to guide through an OAG using ASI 290 mini on an EDGE HD 8?
I have an EDGE HD 8, and going to order an ASI 290 mini for a ZWO OAG (small mirror). Please let me know if I ll be able to guide with that setup. I mean… am I going to see any stars to guide? Please let me know if you had any success with that...
Discusses pairing equipment with Celestron 8" Edge HD telescope configuration.
Oct 26, 2021
Requesting feedback on CQ350 Pro Mount
Hello - I currently have EQ6R Pro and love it, but I wish to add a second mount that can handle a larger payload. I like the EQ8 but don't need that much beef and also do not want to spend so much, so I am considering the CQ350 Pro as a nice comp...
Explores mount options for astrophotography payloads; relevant to your equipment upgrade planning.
Dec 30, 2024
Beginner looking to optimize a large-budget single purchase for DSO
Hello, I'm an absolute novice with respect to astrophotography as an activity, but on the technical side I'm quite well-versed in computational photography and image signal processing as I've published academic research and patents on CMO...
Equipment pairing guidance relevant to beginner setup planning.
Oct 3, 2021
Newbie Equipment choice - Star Tracker vs Mount
Hey guys, I have been looking at images on AstroBin and watching videos about astrophotography, equipment, image processing and at merchant websites for a few years now, but got really serious about purchasing my first ever astrophotography gear in t...
Transitioning to dedicated astro gear matches author's current purchasing phase.
Jul 28, 2021