Reddit mentions of Celestron - NexStar 4SE Telescope - Computerized Telescope for Beginners and Advanced Users - Fully-Automated GoTo Mount - SkyAlign Technology - 40,000+ Celestial Objects - 4-Inch Primary Mirror

Like $500 for a smallish one, good for planets and stars.

Here's a Celestron 4SE sitting at the top of your budget. It's computerized, I think you can do some astrophoto with it and you don't need to worry about collimation as much as with a simple reflector.
If you get tired of it you can probably resell it on Craigslist for $300 any time in the next 5 years, so in a way you are committing $200 to own a nice telescope with more versatility than a Dob.

Is she interested in using the telescope visually too? or mostly just for photography?

A "complete package" scope at that price that would be pretty decent for visual and also decent for lunar/planetary/very bright DSOs is the Celestron NexStar 4se plus a T-adaptor and T-ring for her Nikon. Total: under $500

One that would require a bit more work and luck to find used stuff, but might be worth it if she wants to continue with the hobby: Used Celestron AVX or Orion Sirius mount, some kind of power option, cheap 80mm refractor like the Orion Short Tube, T-ring for Nikon. Total: Maybe $600 if you get lucky

Ok I read through some articles. Kind of complicated! Thanks a lot for your help.

Do you have thoughts on this one? It's $20 more for the barlow, is there a difference in barlows or should I get the one that comes in a bundle?

The other one that looks interesting is [this computerized one.] (http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-4-SE-Telescope/dp/B000GUFOBO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top#Ask) This might be slightly out of our price range when you throw in accessories.

This is what I was thinking of. I think that is even on the telescope I had been looking at recently.

Nexstar 4SE - motorised and looked fairly compact.

Would this telescope be a good choice for Astrophotography?

I would prefer something can can assist me in tracking as much as reasonably possible.

http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-4-SE-Telescope/dp/B000GUFOBO/ref=sr_1_2?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1452609274&sr=1-2&keywords=Celestron+NexStar+4SE+Maksutov-Cassegrain

Hi,

reflector telescopes are usually cheaper then refractors the same size.

A DSLR is not going to be the best choice for planets. For deep-sky, they are good (though some remove/swap the IR filter or get it removed).

A dobsonian comes with a mount.

Possible "budget" shopping-list for visual use:

• $359 8-inch dobsonian, random link, http://www.optcorp.com/orion-skyquest-xt8-classic-dobsonian-telescope.html - Finder and focuser are OK-ish, eyepiece is basic. I think Amazon has "free" shipping, though consider buying at a telescope dealer. They can perhaps even change/upgrade accessories for a good price.
  
  
• $30 6mm wide angle eyepiece (200x magnification @1200mm focal length), http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-25-66-deg-Enhanced-Wide-Angle-Eyepiece-6mm-EWA-Ultrawide-/111448482773?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f2d8e3d5
  
  
• $89 30mm 80 degree wide angle eyepiece, some flaws, but amazing wide angle and still works at f/6 http://www.universityoptics.com/2inch.html or 33mm 70 degree wide angle eyepiece http://www.ebay.com/itm/William-Optics-33-mm-Super-Wide-Angle-2-quot-Eyepiece-E-SWA33-/351146935336?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51c1fd0428
  
  
• 12-18mm eyepiece, for example http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-25-66-deg-Enhanced-Wide-Angle-Eyepiece-15mm-EWA-Ultrawide-/111448491555?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f2d90623 - these are great budget eyepieces
  
  
• Telrad or Rigel finder, http://www.amazon.com/Telrad-Finder-Sight/dp/B0000ALKAN / http://www.optcorp.com/rigel-quikfinder-illuminated-reticle-finderscope.html
  
  
• "Turn left at Orion"
  
  
• Cheap but decent binoculars with low magnification help getting oriented and you can view a lot of deep sky objects. 6x30 or 8x40, 10x50... Over 10x is difficult to hold free handed / observe relaxed.
  
  
  You can skip the finder, binoculars and perhaps even the book if you'd like, and maybe the mid-range eyepiece, but three halfway decent eyepieces make a good beginner set.
  
  You can get the "gold line" eyepieces a bit cheaper in china, www.aliexpress.com/item/66-deg-Wide-Angle-Eyepiece-Lens-1-25-31-7mm-Ultrawide-6mm-Multi-coated-for-Astronomical/32240594855.html http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Celestron-66-degrees-Ultra-Wide-15mm-Eyepiece-outer-lens-Fully-Multi-Coated-for-Astronomical-Telescope/2054884648.html , but I do not know what the tax/duty free value for orders is in the US.
  
  
  The dobsonian plus equipment is not only a good way to get started, it will last a life-time. There is much to explore with 8".
  
  
• .
  
  Here a few imaging choices for a limited budget, though showing a lot less.
  
  If building a barndoor is no option and imaging is a main aspect, you could consider getting a (used) NEQ3 in adition to the telescope Or get a mount for just the camera such as http://www.telescope.com/Mounts-Tripods/Equatorial-Mounts-Tripods/Orion-Adventures-in-Astrophotography-Bundle/pc/-1/c/2/sc/34/p/27154.uts but that really cant carry more then a camera or a very small scope.
  
  They even sell it with scope, http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Reflector-Telescopes/Reflector-Telescopes-for-Beginners/Orion-StarBlast-45-EQ-Reflector-amp-AstroTrack-Motor-Drive/pc/1/c/11/sc/339/p/113088.uts?refineByCategoryId=339 - but the mount is too weak for that! Never trust kit advertising :-)
  
  Then for visual get a 6" dobsonian (You can not use the mount with it) without accessories. But the EQ1 without motor and such costs $69, a barndoor can be built for less then $10.
  
  Cheapo EQ mount for camera $170, $300 6" dobsonian = $470, leaves enough for one more eyepiece when considering your maximum budget. Not a great solution.
  
  There really is no ideal solution for imaging and visual for $400-500 unless you are willing to compromise or get a great used deal. Or just get a tracking mount without a telescope at all or a very small one.
  
  http://www.telescope.com/Mounts-Tripods/Equatorial-Mounts-Tripods/Orion-AstroView-EQ-Mount-amp-EQ-3M-Motor-Drive-Kit/pc/-1/c/2/sc/34/p/106938.uts
  
  
  
  
  
• .
  
  These goto telescopes are very popular, though not ideal either;
  Great budget telescopes, portable, affordable. But most money goes into the goto-computer-mount that is not very rigid. You can take some nice shots of moon and planets though, for deep-sky, the alt-az tracking only allows short exposures plus the Maksutov-type telescope has a long focal length that is not ideal. Cool-down-time is another negative aspect. Visually, you will see a lot less compared to a 8" telescope, and it is a foul compromise for imaging, ok for snapshots or video astronomy.
  http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-90SLT-Mak-Computerized/dp/B0038LX8WU/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1417801751&sr=8-14&keywords=celestron+nexstar or http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-127SLT-Mak-Computerized/dp/B0038LX8XE/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1417801709&sr=8-12&keywords=celestron+nexstar (Or http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-4-SE-Telescope/dp/B000GUFOBO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1417801709&sr=8-3&keywords=celestron+nexstar with a smaller scope but the mount is a bit better)
  
  
  
  
  
  

Thank you, you're very helpful!

So as far as I understand this is a good deal for visual work only and not for astrophotography, because it has an Alt-Az mount and not a GEM.

So what is a solution you would recommend, for up to $1000?

Hello,

I'm a complete noob to amateur astronomy. I once had a cheap refractor telescope as a kid, but it's long broken. I'm currently looking to get a new one, primarily for the purposes of stargazing, but perhaps further down the line take some photographs (issue is I don't have a camera, nor am I sure I will get one). I'm more interested in viewing deep field objects, but as I understand it, the only way to do so is through long exposure with a camera (?).

I'm currently looking at a few different models:

Celestron NexStar 4 SE Telescope -this one being the absolute limit of my budget

Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope

Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker Telescope

From what I've gotten from the 'What Telescope?' post, I need to choose between deep field and planetary viewing. What will I be able to see with my eyes, versus a camera?

http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-4-SE-Telescope/dp/B000GUFOBO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395671954&sr=8-2&keywords=celestron+nexstar+5se