AstroPhoto w/ G3

[Deckyon]

This kind-of goes along with the "Betcha Didnt know..." topic. However, I think this needs its own.

Betcha didnt know that you could do some NICE astrophotography with the G3... Yes, it is possible. There are a few things you need, of course...

Below are the bare minimums you need to do astrophotography with the G3.

First, the camera. Also, get the adapter ring or go to:
http://www.lensmateonline.com/g3.html
and pick up one of theirs...

Next, and this is the second most important: Telescope that used Plossel or Supe Plossel eyepieces.

Next, if you want instant results, a laptop with extra long USB cable with the Remote Capture software installed.

Next, you need one of these:
http://www.scopetronix.com/maxview40.htm
to connect the camera to the eyepiece.

Once you have all of that, you can take up to 15 sec exposures through the telescope. The reason I say to have a laptop is for both camera control and the ability to change setting on the camera without actually touching the camera, possibly knowcking the scopt out of alignment. And, if you have a computerized scope or mount, you can also control the scope from the same computer...

BTW, once you have all this together, not only do you have a great setup for astrophotography, you have the world's biggest telephoto lens.

Now, even without using the telescope, you can still get some decent pictures of the major objects in the sky using the Teleconverter lens. Here is a photo of the moon I took using the laptop.

http://www.deckyon.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album10&id=Capture_00015a&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Now, it was a 1/15 sec shutter, F3, and a -1.5 Exposure. It took roughly 30 photos to get any detail in the moon... It finally worked.

Let me know if you find this helpfull...

Thanks,

[jglisson73]

That's some really neat stuff...great shot of the moon. It did come out really clear. Are you in a rural area w/o a lot of ambient light? Did you use any sort of filter?

John

BTW...I emailed you asking about the Promaster 5550DX Flash :o)

[CyberDyneSystems]

Deckyon,

Can you recomend a good scope for this application.
Are there any that would be suitable for both astrological and terrestrial applications? (IE stars AND birds)

I have been thinking of trying this for some time,.. but I have no knowledge of what is and what isn't a good telescope. I would be using a 10D,. but the priciple is the same.

Also,. I'm not sure how to compare a telescopes magnification against a 35mm film lens' magnification.

What constitutes a powerfull telescope and how does that compare to a 600mm lens for instance.

Thanks for the information. :)

[Deckyon]

I will give you what I can. I am by no means an astronomer.


CyberDyneSystems wrote: Can you recomend a good scope for this application.
Are there any that would be suitable for both astrological and terrestrial applications? (IE stars AND birds)
Well, the best scope is the one you can afford. If we are talking about deep sky observing, looking for galaxys, then you can expect to spend more than $2000 on a 10" scope (mirror size) I would start at http://www.meade.com for more information on the telescopes offered.

My telescope is the Meade ETX-90. It has a 90mm primary mirror (roughly 4".) but is very portable but the glass and mirror are top of the line. While the larger and more expensive scopes are computer controlled, this one, while it will track, you have to dial-in the objects manually. I love my scope... (http://www.meade.com/catalog/etx/etx_mak.html)

CyberDyneSystems wrote: I have been thinking of trying this for some time,.. but I have no knowledge of what is and what isn't a good telescope. I would be using a 10D,. but the priciple is the same.
All the Meade scope will take a pretty standard Meade T-Adapter for SLR cameras. Basically, you would NOT use the eyepeice from the telescope NOR the lens for the camera. The telescope becomes the lens, but with a very large focal length. Like I said, my small telescope has a 4" mirror, and a focal length of 1250mm.

CyberDyneSystems wrote: Also,. I'm not sure how to compare a telescopes magnification against a 35mm film lens' magnification.
See above. However, from the scopetronix site, if you did get one of their adapters, you could use eyepeice and lens, giving a whole hell of a lot of magnification. I have an eyepeice that will, with the Barlow adapter, give 200x optical. That what you want?

CyberDyneSystems wrote: What constitutes a powerfull telescope and how does that compare to a 600mm lens for instance.
The larger the mirror, the more light it will collect, the deeper into space you can go. Eyepeices are what give you the magnification. Like I said, I have an eyepeice that gives 200x optical magnafication.

I hope this helps. Please, before you buy a scope, read as much as you can about them. A friend who does a lot of astrophotography has a Meade 10" LX200GPS scope and has had nothing but success with it.(http://www.meade.com/catalog/lx/8_10_lx200gps.html)

Good luck.

[dtrayers]

Brad,

With your Meade, how are you ensuring a good focus? Many of my moon shots are pretty soft. I have an EQ mount with a RA drive. I am setting the G3 manually on infinity and focusing as best as I can. Can you get better focus with a PC and Remote Capture? Have you ever tried a Hartmann mask as a focus aid?

Here's a link to a photo of Jupiter I made.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=9707#44817

[Deckyon]

If you saw my picture of the moon, that was without the telescope. I do not yet have the adapter to hook up my G3 to my scope. I DID have to use the PC and remote Capture software to get a good shot. I used the MANUAL focus feature and locked it into focus, when I got it.

Good luck, I will keep you all up to date whenever I get the adapter.

Thanks,

[astrojim]

I have taken some moon shots thru G3 just using lens that is on camera i.e. no scope, and also using Olympus TCon 1.7x. I place the camera into MF and then rack up to infinity i.e. as far as the bar will go and yet the pictures are not in focus. Full moon shots have been at very fast shutter speeds so I think I've eliminated all possible explanations other than focus. I am on a tripod and use remote for tripping shutter. Any tips? There must be another technique to get astro objects or very distant objects in focus other than just racking the bar to infinity.

I should mention that actually when I use autofocus I get consistently better results although once in a while it gives me a soft focus picture. Why would autofocus beaming into space give a better focus than in MF mode and racking bar to infinity? Any help greatly appreciated.

Jim