CCD for under $2000?

Hi I’m looking to get into CCD. Here is my current setup: a TV NP101 on a Meade LXD55 mount. Yes the mount is not optimal for astrophotography but is still quite stable and tracks accurately. As you cant do autoguiding with the LXD55 I would need to do that manually for right now. In the near future I will also be getting ether a 12”+ LX200 or one of the bigger Celestron on a g11. What equipment do I need to get started? Here is what I think I need: A ccd camera with color filter wheel, guide scope(will get a Tak FS-60 to ride on the NP101), rectical eyepiece, and I already have a laptop. Am I missing anything from the equipment that I need? And from What I understand you take 3 separate exposures with 3 color filters and combine the images to get a color picture. Right? I’m looking to buy used and stay below $2000(just for the camera and filter wheel). Are there any descent options with that kind of money?

You really need to get a mount that can guide if you are serious about this. Hand guiding will last for your first image or so (I suspect it won't last that long). Forget the guide scope and use the money to buy a solid mount (it is the most important component in an imaging system IMHO).

The auto guide feature of the SBIG camera will get you started. Look for a parellel port ST-7 (they run about $1000-1300 and an CWF8 for $700-900 and you are there. Trade your mount with some $$$ for a Takahashi EM10 (or something similar) and you are in the imaging game.

Oh - Software - you'll need some image processing software. I'm sold on MaxIm CCD, but you'll likely get CCDSoft with the camera, and that will get you started.

That about all......You'll spend more than $2000 on this, but if you are careful it won't be much more. But just to be sure I was clear....get a mount that will guide!

Regards

Mike

http://www.DarkSights.com