Starting over - right approach questions...

Too many years ago I had a big 12" Dob that I built while in college and while I loved looking through it, pointing it and sharing the experience with others was very challenging. 15 years later...I'm looking to start anew from scratch.

I'd like something fairly portable.
I'd like something that I can share an experience with easily (my daughters are around 7).
I'd like something with at least an 8" aperture.
I'd like something that will track objects, but don't need GoTo.

Eventually...
I'd like to get into astro-photography. (I have a Canon 50D and a nice array of lenses, for what it's worth.)

This all leads me to think that a Cessegrain is the way to go.

What I'm pondering is...Maybe I start off with an good tube on a basic tripod and then upgrade the tripod/motors/etc when I can?

If so...What should I consider/avoid? For whatever reason...I have in my head that Meade is better than Celestron, but that's not really based on any facts. Thoughts???

Thanks everyone...Appreciate the input.

Watch both videos and consider a C9.25 or EdgeHD9.25.

The point is that the videos show off some mount configurations you may wish to consider: one is the g11/Berlebach (standard HD tripod is also excellent); the other is the heavier duty AP900.

Since you had a 12" dob I would think that a 9.25 to C11 category scope would be more to your liking. There isn't much of an issue with "the hoist" with those two OTA's.

A Super Polaris mount will easily carry a c8 and that would put you in business with tracking and a much lighter set up.

super polaris:

http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=824

C14 videos:
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBawz69qo_A
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwVg1M6bURI

I think that you need to consider that the needs of your 7 year old daughters are for quick and easy set ups. That would point to something like your old dob. Astrophotography requires a great deal of precision. Your daughters will get bored while you fuss around.

The other thing is that aperture and beginning photgraphy conflict. You want large aperture for eyeball viewing but short focal lengths in photgraphy make imaging easier, unless you are doing planets.

So the fact is what you might really want is some kind of photgraphic set up (4 or 5" refractor, or an EdgeHD anywhere from 8 to 14", which has both long and short focal length options with fastar) to set up and use when the kids get tired, and a 6 to 8" dob (such as an Orion XT8 or Star Blast 6") to use with the kids.

You could also get a ten inch Newt and use it in dob configuration with the kids or for fast setup and have a set of rings on a good GEM. The thing is, Newtonians pose a number of operational challenges for photography, it can be done, but it always demands more from the mount and photographing with a Newt on an alt-az platform puts all the equipment up where it is highly leveraged and adding field de-rotators and other stuff gets to be very complex and expensive very quickly.

When my son comes out to do astronomy with me he brings his Star Blast and I help him find various objects with it. I try to set up my own rig and help him at the same time.

regards
Greg N

I'd like something fairly portable.
I'd like something that I can share an experience with easily (my daughters are around 7).
I'd like something with at least an 8" aperture.
I'd like something that will track objects, but don't need GoTo.
Eventually...
I'd like to get into astro-photography.

Maybe something like a C8 on a CG5 mount. Purchased used, they would come
in well under your budget. For example,
http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=693598
http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=690421
I've used this setup and been fairly happy with it. I've seen good
and bad stuff from both Meade and Celestron -- don't think one
can decide much on the company name.