Ok lets see if u guys can help me out

Ok here we go. First off let me give u guys the facts. I have a LX200 GPS 10inch with Milburn Deluxe Wedge and in process of building observatory. I have relatively decent dark skys in TN. If u guys need more infor just let me know.

Now i am a very Noob star gazer but i am a quick learner. (at least i like to think i am) but u guys make my head spin sometimes with all the technical lingo. I want to get started in astrophotography and i am looking into what camera would be the best to start off with for under $1k. Now dont laugh. i know compared to some of u rich people out there that isnt anything but remember i am also investing money in my observatory and i just bought the wedge, dan's pier plate, and the list keeps growing. My wife is starting to raise her eyebrows at me and i know she is getting ready to start cutting me off or i will need to put a bed in my observatory too.

I have been doing some research but all i get is confused. i know i want to start with a B/W Camera but im trying to see what is the best one to start with Meade DSI, Stellecam III, etc but i need some inputs from u guys. I also need to know how critical a guide scope is. I love deep space objects (galaxys are my favorite).

I am also unsure how good the mount is on my scope and how well it will perform.

Now that i have layed all this out for you guys please go gentle with me. I have the book Astrophotography for the Amateur and myabe i am a little slow but that book seems to be over my head. I thought i was good in math but that book has me changing my mind. I purchased Astronomy For Dummies ( which i think is a great book for the amateur astronomer by the way) but it doesnt cover Photography. Is there a book that is dumbed down a bit so i could understand it.

Thanks for taking the time to read all this and help me out.

Rick in TN

And would something like this be good to start out with or is this way too old and would cause me too much trouble and not give me very good results? http://cgi.ebay.com/Meade-CCD-Imaging-System-Telescope-Camera-Digital-Pics_W0QQitemZ290067350720QQihZ019QQcategoryZ74926QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Its basically a Meade 416 and 201 guider package

Rick,

I would start out with a modified Canon DSLR second hand from Astromart. There are plenty for under $1000. A 2nd hand Canon 350D would be the go. Hutech make the modification and they are often for sale on astromart for around $650-800 - something like that. I saw a modified 20D recently for $850 - that was way underpriced, they are normally worth about $1600.

With the money left over you can buy an F6.3 Celestron focal reducer and Images Plus to process the images.

Shoot the images with maximum ISO (sensitivity setting) and take say 30 secs to 90 seconds depending on your mounts tracking. You could also autoguide using a cheap DSI later on.

Take lots of images of the same thing say 20 or 30 x 60 seconds or longer (up to say 5 minutes with autoguiding) of most objects will come out looking nice. Much better than any DSI, Stellacam or anything else in that price bracket. It is maximum bang for your buck.

Greg.

Here's my .2, I was very supprised what I could get with a DSI Pro II. This was my very first LRGB image with the Pro II.

Bob

Attached Image:

Rick,

I agreed with another poster who said that your 10 inch SCT going to be a challenge considering the focal length you will be shooting at.

I would suggest a shorter focal length; even if you grab a 0.33 reducer (like the Meade 0.33 SCT reducer) your focal length is going to be greater than 800mm, which is still somewhat challenging.

I would recommend something between 300 and 500 mm focal length.

Some people use that neat Orion 4.5 inch Newtonian...it comes in at about 450 mm f.l.

Also, if you are using the larger format DSLR's, you have to worry about vignetting, field flatness, etc.

I would suggest:

1) Low f.l. scope piggyback on your SCT (~$300):
William Optics Zenithstar 66mm f/5.8 (388 mm f.l.)
2) Set of mounting hardware for the scope (~$200) :
The Losmandy hardware is first rate.
3) Used 750x580 class cooled CCD b/w camera (~500) :
Starlight Express MX716 monochrome camera. The MX716 is not the biggest sensor, but it is nice and very sensitive, and easy to use.

That would probably be a good starting point. I would perhaps buy LRGB filters after doing some messing around with straight b/w first....

With the MX716, you could relegate it to a guider when you move on to bigger and better cameras.

Good luck!

Keith

OK here is what i bought thanks to all of you guys who took the time to guide me in the right direction. Someone named Alec but signed the post Keith sugested that i get a MX716 Starlight Express. After doing some research and price comparing that is exactly what i bought. I bought it from a fellow Astromarter for only $500.00 and that price included the STar2000 guider. Very reasonable in mt opinion.

It appears to be fairly simple to use with the right software ( someone sugested that i get Astroart and i will if i can find it pretty cheap or someone who doesnt want theirs anymore)

Anyway i just wanted to thanks everyone who gave me their expert opinion. But understand you guys arent off the hook yet. I will continue needing your expert advice for quite some time to come.

Dark and Clear Skys forever!!!!

Rick