khkman22 said:
labmansid said:
Kool said:
Damn fine photos! How did you do them?
Thanks! I used a Celestron 8" telescope. These were shot at 800ISO with exposures from 1-5 seconds.
I've thought about getting a telescope for my kids. Do you have to buy accessories to attach to the telescope to take pictures or do they come with that capability built in now? If so, any idea on the cost of a decent entry level one?
Most scopes do not come with the necessary accessories to attach a camera to them. It doesn't cost a lot to do, as long as the scope can handle one. First you would need a T-Adapter for your specific camera, usually around $10 or so. Then to go between the scope and T-Adapter, usually another general short tube shaped adapter to fit on the specific scope, usually around $15-20. Often a cheaper scope can't handle a camera, or will not be able to achieve focus due to the increased light path induced by the addition of a camera.
Cost, like with many "toys", can vary widely with varying degrees of quality. A starter scope for kids can be as little as $100-150, but won't be very versatile, maybe good for decent views of the moon and maybe planets. Maybe enough to gauge any real interest for further upgrades later. "Decent" beginner scopes might run $250-500 or more. That might get into some tracking capabilities and obviously better optics. Might be able to attach a camera onto one with some success.
You could check out or even call a major supplier and see what might interest you. They could have a recommendation for you based upon your specific ideas. One that comes to mind is
Orion Telescopes.