"Robert Meyers" wrote in message
...
Ok, here is an odd question. I am interested in a short scope primarily
to
photograph one messier object (Pleiades M.45). Others would be cool, but
that is my primary.

For a crisp, sharp 1.5-degree field, consider a telephoto lens. My best
pictures of the Pleiades were taken with a Nikon 300/4 ED IF AF. Admittedly
the Pleiades do not fill the field. For that, you'd want a focal length of
about 600 mm, which would be prohibitively expensive if you need a low
f-ratio (like f/4) (as you probably do, assuming you're interested in the
nebulosity).

Beware of internal reflections in mirror lenses.

Do you already have a mount or another telescope on which to piggyback this?
If not, that raises the cost. An Orion ShortTube on an equatorial mount
with dual-axis motors might be the only way to do it with your budget.

--
Clear skies,

Michael Covington -- www.covingtoninnovations.com
Author, Astrophotography for the Amateur
and (new) How to Use a Computerized Telescope