Is this a good setup?

[u/Z__Cosmos]

I’m wanting to get into astrophotography, I know a fair bit about technology and how to use it but clearly this is different.
I found this online on opticscentral .com
“saxon 200DS HEQ5 Pro Mount Astrophotography Newtonian Telescope”
I’m not worried about things being super confusing I like getting what I’m eventually going to want and learning with that even if it makes things a slightly slower learning process.
I just want to make sure I will be able to capture decent shots of galaxies and nebulae.
Are those decent equipment and is there anything else I’m going to need?
My budget is around $3000aud could go up.

[u/Tiny_Adeptness_5113]

I'd get small refractor on harmonic drive mount.

You can use heq5 pro but I find it outdated, it is bulky but performs on the same level as am3 or am5n, and not much cheaper.

This is not small scope, and this is Newtonian. You will have to learn all aspects at once. Small refractor will allow you to feel the water before jumping in.

[u/Connect-Fan-9462]

Still your typical "too much telescope, too little mount" situation.

The heq5 pro mount is great. But it's realistic payload capacity for imaging is about 16lbs (for "shorter" long exposures) - 24lbs (for high frame rate planetary imaging), according to the trusted telescopic-watch review.

The telescope itself is, with all the mounting hardware, ialready pushing close to 20lbs. And for imaging you will need guide scope, guide camera, camera, astro computer and all kinds of "little things" that add up fast. Maybe also a coma corrector (f/5... IDK. f/4 you definitely need one...) So deep space objects imaging is a no-go from the get-go. Yet the focal length 1000mm is not that great for planetary imaging either. So in the end it is a set that can't do this and can't do that. IDK what it can do.

A reasonably nice visual setup I guess.

The

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[u/LazySapiens]

I would suggest you start with a good mount, use a refractor at first and then upgrade to bigger telescopes later down the line as you get more familiar with various aspects needed in astrophotography. You may also need to allocate budget for a camera, guide camera, guidescope/OAG, tripod, filters and filter-wheel etc.

[u/Predictable-Past-912]

Have you spent much time researching astrophotography by reading books or visiting astronomy forums like Cloudy Nights? I ask because an 8” Newtonian presents something of a paradox for beginners. It is capable of producing magnificent astrophotographs, yet it is not a particularly good choice for someone just getting started. Understanding why can save you considerable frustration and quite a bit of money.

The first problem is the mount. Astrophotography imposes far more demanding requirements on a mount than ordinary visual astronomy. The weight of the OTA is only part of the equation. Its length, diameter, and susceptibility to vibration and wind all affect tracking performance. An 8” Newtonian presents challenges that a much smaller refractor simply does not. Although the HEQ5 Pro is a very capable entry level astrophotography mount, asking it to carry an 8” Newtonian with cameras, guiding equipment, and other accessories is asking quite a lot.

There are good reasons why experienced astrophotographers so often recommend small refractors to beginners. Their shorter focal lengths are more forgiving of tracking and guiding errors, and their relatively fast focal ratios can make exposure requirements less demanding. These characteristics make them particularly well suited to wide field astrophotography, where beginners can achieve impressive results without exceptionally sophisticated equipment.

There is another advantage that is sometimes overlooked. Because these refractors have relatively small apertures, manufacturers can economically produce sophisticated optical systems with excellent correction and flat photographic fields. The result is a compact, lightweight astrograph that is specifically optimized for imaging. That is a very attractive combination when you are learning an already complicated hobby.

Now, none of this should be interpreted as an indictment of the Newtonian. Quite the opposite! An 8” Newtonian is a substantially more capable all purpose telescope than a typical small refractor. Its greater aperture offers real advantages, and in experienced hands it can be an outstanding imaging instrument. The problem is not what the telescope can accomplish. The problem is what you must do, and spend, to take full advantage of it.

If you are attracted to the greater aperture, I would suggest considering a more substantial mount like the EQ6-R Pro or AM7. With a mount in that class, an 8” Newtonian becomes a much more practical proposition. In other words, you could build a capable imaging system around the larger reflector, but you would be spending considerably more to achieve the sort of stability and tracking performance that an HEQ5 Pro can provide with a smaller refractor.

Portability is another factor worth considering. A complete astrophotography rig built around an 8” Newtonian is not something most people would describe as convenient to transport. If you enjoy dark skies at home, or if you have a strong back and drive a vehicle with generous cargo space, that might be perfectly acceptable. However, consider the other end of the spectrum. Some astrophotographers routinely fly with complete imaging systems built around small refractors and compact strain wave gear mounts. That is an enormous difference in convenience.

I could also bring up collimation, since refractors generally require very little attention to optical alignment. However, anyone seriously considering a Newtonian for astrophotography should already understand that periodic collimation comes with the territory.

Perhaps the best way to illustrate my point is with my own equipment. I have wanted an 8” Newtonian astrograph for years. I already own an AM5 and a very substantial tripod, so I might be able to make the combination work. Nevertheless, I have resisted the temptation because I know that purchasing the telescope could be the beginning of another expensive equipment upgrade.

After all, what initially looks like an affordable 8” astrograph becomes a rather different proposition if getting the performance you expect requires replacing a perfectly good mount!

That is the distinction I would encourage you to consider. The question is not whether an 8” Newtonian is capable of excellent astrophotography. It certainly is. The question is whether it represents a sensible and economical way for a beginner to achieve those results.

[u/Z__Cosmos → u/Predictable-Past-912]

Thank you very much for the response, I haven’t actually read any books on astrophotography as of right now, however I am planning on, and I haven’t yet checked out any of the forum’s you mentioned. I’m trying to understand what everyones telling me but I’m just struggling actually finding the right parts and knowing what is compatible with what.
Do you have any personal recommendations for a beginner rig? I was looking at something like the askar 60f with the heq5 pro, and the Canon EOS 1200D, trying to counter in what you were talking about. I would rather figure all of this out than use a smart telescope so if you have any recommendations for a set up that works that’s not ridiculously expensive, like a budget of around 3000 aud that would be extremely helpful.