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First Astrophotography Setup - Need suggestion

iOptron SkyGuider Pro iOptron HAE29 Acquisition Buying Advice Deep Sky
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Kanak RT avatar
Kanak RT avatar
Hi all, I'm planning to get started with the iOptron SkyGuider Pro along with my Canon DSLR, and later, I'll be getting my hands on the iOptron HAE29 scope, RC51, and GSO RC 8". I've attached a screenshot of the Excel file, which includes all the items I need. Please let me know if it's good enough!
Thomas avatar
Thomas avatar
Are you planning on using a DSLR lens with the Canon and Skyguider pro to start with? I'm just curious what your timeline is for doing all of the upgrading. The Skyguider pro isn't bad for wider field work but you'll quickly find yourself putting more money into it; upgrading the base to the WO one, getting a counterweight extension bar, etc. You would probably be better off skipping the Skyguider and going straight to the HAE29. If you don't want to spend the money on an HAE29 right now, I would probably recommend the iOptron SkyHunter over the Skyguider. It offers tracking in both RA and DEC and has goto. Price is just a tad higher.
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Kanak RT avatar
Kanak RT avatar
Thomas:
Are you planning on using a DSLR lens with the Canon and Skyguider pro to start with? I'm just curious what your timeline is for doing all of the upgrading. The Skyguider pro isn't bad for wider field work but you'll quickly find yourself putting more money into it; upgrading the base to the WO one, getting a counterweight extension bar, etc. You would probably be better off skipping the Skyguider and going straight to the HAE29. If you don't want to spend the money on an HAE29 right now, I would probably recommend the iOptron SkyHunter over the Skyguider. It offers tracking in both RA and DEC and has goto. Price is just a tad higher.

Hi Thomas, yes I intend get the skyguider for the time being so that I can get the hang of using a mount. And I don't intend to purchase any other accessories for it, just the mount and my dslr. I initially wanted to get the GTi, but it's not worth the money considering the price here! And I've also heard there's a lot of issues with the SkyHunter, so I'll directly get the HAE29 after this!
Thomas avatar
Thomas avatar
I've never used an RC myself but I do have the Redcat and it is a great starter scope as well as one that you will continue to use. I've also never used an EAF with it and just focused with the included bahtinov mask. Keep in mind that if you want to use an EAF with it, you'll need a third party kit that includes a belt for the EAF to focus the Redcat. My Redcat pushes the capabilities of my Skyguider Pro to the point I don't use that combo much at all. After getting started with a DSLR and Skyguider, I would definitely recommend going with the bigger mount next before the Redcat. It will save you a bunch of headaches IMO. You can also get an adapter to connect a Canon DSLR to the Redcat which I have as well and it works nicely.

I use mono cameras now so I can't comment on most of the filters you have selected but when I first started, I too used a Canon DSLR and clip in filters. I actually really liked the Ha and Oiii ones. You can get some surprisingly good shots with an unmoddified Canon and those filters. This was early on when I was learning as well but here are some examples I've done.

Here is one of the Veil Nebula I did with a Canon, Skyguider Pro, and Ha/Oiii clip in filters: https://www.astrobin.com/366711/?nc=&nce=

And another of the Rosette WFOV area with a CLS and Ha blend: https://www.astrobin.com/336467/B/?nc=&nce=
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tjm8874 avatar
tjm8874 avatar
I recommend "simple start", you can learn a lot of astrophoto.

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi
ASI2600MC Duo (it has internal guiding chip)
FRA300 or RedCat51+ EAF
Drawer + L-Pro, L-Ultimate, Askar Color Magic D2(OIII-SII)
ASIAir

SII filter + OSC is difficult to process. 
I don't recommend RC to beginner!
Save money for next step
 Long focal? Mono CMOS? ZWO AM5?
Oscar avatar
Oscar avatar
I don't recommend RC to beginner!


I also agree. Kanak should spend more on something that is easy to use. The PHQ and FRA lines from Askar are really good, and they are all Petzvel, so no need to worry about backfocus or anything at all, maybe except tilt, but that is natural and doesn't happen all the time. Anyway, I've never seen PHQ or FRA telescopes having tilt issues.

A tip I'll give: Never use a Newt, RC, or SCT as your first AP telescope; A beginner could easily get discouraged on the amount of things to do to setup these things for imaging.

And something I have to point out: the 2600mc pro can have an oil leak, but as far as I know, most people don't have this issue, and it's supposedly easy to clean.

And, unless you want a permanent observatory, you should get a harmonic drive mount, they are much easier to move around.
Oscar avatar
Oscar avatar
One thing I have to mention:

ChatGPT told me I could use the pixelmath expression (image1+image2) to combine narrowband OSC starless data with RGB starless data. Not sure how successful this is, so I would like to know if anyone has ever tried this.
Joe Linington avatar
Joe Linington avatar
One thing I have to mention:

ChatGPT told me I could use the pixelmath expression (image1+image2) to combine narrowband OSC starless data with RGB starless data. Not sure how successful this is, so I would like to know if anyone has ever tried this.

Huh???? What???? Yeah, don’t do that, it won’t work very well.
Joe Linington avatar
Joe Linington avatar
I don’t know anything about your mounts but if you want a wide scope to use with an auto focuser, the SharpStar 61EDPHiii with reducer or the already mentioned FRA300 will be easier and less messy. Both can mount the EAF out of the box. A tip with the EAF, rotate the focuser 180* so it is upside down. Makes the scope sit on a table easier.
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Oscar avatar
Oscar avatar
Joe Linington:
One thing I have to mention:

ChatGPT told me I could use the pixelmath expression (image1+image2) to combine narrowband OSC starless data with RGB starless data. Not sure how successful this is, so I would like to know if anyone has ever tried this.

Huh???? What???? Yeah, don’t do that, it won’t work very well.

How should I do it? I could only find tutorials for combining RGB stars with narrowband starless. But I want to know how to combine RGB starless with narrowband starless for OSC data. (like for example, Ha and OIII in/around a galaxy, or Ha around some reflection nebula)
Kanak RT avatar
Kanak RT avatar
Thomas:
I've never used an RC myself but I do have the Redcat and it is a great starter scope as well as one that you will continue to use. I've also never used an EAF with it and just focused with the included bahtinov mask. Keep in mind that if you want to use an EAF with it, you'll need a third party kit that includes a belt for the EAF to focus the Redcat. My Redcat pushes the capabilities of my Skyguider Pro to the point I don't use that combo much at all. After getting started with a DSLR and Skyguider, I would definitely recommend going with the bigger mount next before the Redcat. It will save you a bunch of headaches IMO. You can also get an adapter to connect a Canon DSLR to the Redcat which I have as well and it works nicely.

I use mono cameras now so I can't comment on most of the filters you have selected but when I first started, I too used a Canon DSLR and clip in filters. I actually really liked the Ha and Oiii ones. You can get some surprisingly good shots with an unmoddified Canon and those filters. This was early on when I was learning as well but here are some examples I've done.

Here is one of the Veil Nebula I did with a Canon, Skyguider Pro, and Ha/Oiii clip in filters: https://www.astrobin.com/366711/?nc=&nce=

And another of the Rosette WFOV area with a CLS and Ha blend: https://www.astrobin.com/336467/B/?nc=&nce=

Thank you for sharing your captures, it's very good! I've gone with RC over SCT because of its optics and some people I know use it and have achieved great results. And wrt to the Electronic Focuser, I'll get 2 of them, one of the RedCat 51 and RC 8", There's a vendor who sells a custom 3d printed kit specifically for RedCat 51. In the beginning, I'll use my DSLR with lens (upgrade to RC51), and SkyGuider Pro and get the HAE29 in a year or two and purchase the rest of them slowly. I will look into mono in the future, no plans as of now!
Kanak RT avatar
Kanak RT avatar
I recommend "simple start", you can learn a lot of astrophoto.

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi
ASI2600MC Duo (it has internal guiding chip)
FRA300 or RedCat51+ EAF
Drawer + L-Pro, L-Ultimate, Askar Color Magic D2(OIII-SII)
ASIAir

SII filter + OSC is difficult to process. 
I don't recommend RC to beginner!
Save money for next step
 Long focal? Mono CMOS? ZWO AM5?

That is similar to what I had initially planned. The reason I'm not getting the GTi is that it costs close to 1000 dollars. My intention is to save money, so if I add 700 dollars more, I can get the HAE29 mount itself. Though the AM5 is my first option, vendors here are selling the mount at a higher price. It costs around 3000 dollars, including the tripod.Regarding the SII filter, that's optional for now. I'll consider any other filter if this one isn't suitable. I have already learned how to process SHO, HOO, and broadband images from both monochrome and OSC. A few friends I know were willing to share their data so that I can learn digital image processing on Pixinsight.
Joe Linington avatar
Joe Linington avatar
Joe Linington:
One thing I have to mention:

ChatGPT told me I could use the pixelmath expression (image1+image2) to combine narrowband OSC starless data with RGB starless data. Not sure how successful this is, so I would like to know if anyone has ever tried this.

Huh???? What???? Yeah, don’t do that, it won’t work very well.

How should I do it? I could only find tutorials for combining RGB stars with narrowband starless. But I want to know how to combine RGB starless with narrowband starless for OSC data. (like for example, Ha and OIII in/around a galaxy, or Ha around some reflection nebula)

We really should start a new thread for this but, here is a tutorial showing common ways to accomplish this type of combination. I have to say that getting it right is one of the more challenging editing tasks I’ve done. 

https://www.lightvortexastronomy.com/tutorial-combining-lrgb-with-narrowband.html
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Oscar avatar
Oscar avatar
@Joe Linington Thanks for the link. Quick questions:

1. Is processing monochrome data generally easier than OSC?

2. Does it take 3x longer to get all the calibration frames for a Mono than for an OSC (I'm saying for every color filter, RGB), as I've heard on YT? (I'm not trying to rhyme)

3. Do monochrome cameras capture more detail?
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Oscar avatar
Oscar avatar
And 4. Can someone check if the latest version of PI has NBRGBcombination? My PI free trial expired a while ago and I have not bought a license yet.