The range of equipment available to the amateur astronomer today is just totally bewildering at times. Please click on the links above here to have a look at what my current setup is for both visual astronomy and astro-imaging.
I guess the recent changes to my telescope “arsenal” have come about following the purchase of my full frame SX-VR H36 camera, and trying to match the optics and accessories to maximise the quality of the images the camera produces.
For several years I have been trying to find a Pentax 75 refractor, when one came up a couple of years ago, I had to have it. The Pentax 75 was the perfect widefield companion for the SX-H36, with a full frame illuminating (designed to illuminate large format Pentax film cameras) “flat field” pretty much straight out of the box. This combination gives a staggering 4ox3o frame.
Another excellent source of advice on equipment, its uses and its limitations, is on the pages of Stargazers Lounge, the online astronomy forum. The Equipment Discussion boards are invaluable sources of information and help to the beginner and experienced astronomer alike.
Lastly, and by no means least, there’s Steve, James and Martin at First Light Optics who will give an unbiassed opinion on a wide range of astronomy and optical equipment.
I’m constantly adding Equipment information to the site as I go along. This section should also cover, in the near future, telescopes, mounts, filters, software, accessories and the observatory. Just click on any of the equipment below to see more detail from the accordion.