For night sky observations I use Orion Optics Europa 200 (specifications below) on a motorized EQ-5 mount. I think this telescope is a good compromise between performance and price. It isn't too large for one person to carry and at the same time it collects enough light from celestial objects. Of course it's good for the image quality to have a large telescope, but bigger the telescope more problematic mobility so you are forced to make compromises.
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For astrophotography I use digital SLR camera Nikon D70s, motorized EQ-5 mount and a home made metal plate. But there wouldn't be any photos, if I didn't have two lenses: Nikkor 28-100mm and Sigma 70-300mm APO Macro Super II. Well, EQ-5 mount isn't so accurate at longer exposures with focal length above 200mm, so I decided for autoguiding modification. As a guidescope I use Skywatcher refractor (focal length 400mm, dia. 80mm) with Philips SPC900NC webcam (LX mod). A very good autoguiding program for such modifications is in my opinion K3CCD Tools, where you can adjust signals that are sent through parallel port.
Europa 200 specifications:
| aperture | 8" (203mm) |
| f ratio | 6 |
| focal length | 47" (1200mm) |
| resolution | 0,57 arc secs |
| tube weight | 5 kg |
| focuser | 1,25" (31,75mm) |