Eclipse - Nov 8, 2003

[Deckyon]

The following are the 2 good images I snapped through clouds during the lunar eclipse. Photo details to follow each image.

[Deckyon]

Beginning of the Eclipse:
http://www.sturm.org/albums/album13/CRW_3135_SM.jpg

Taken with Canon G3
Celestron Nexstar 8i
40mm Scopetronix Eyepiece
Shutter: 1/80
Aperture: 2.0
ISO: 50
Manual focus set to infinity - Used telescope to focus.

[Deckyon]

Totality Phase

http://www.sturm.org/albums/album13/CRW_3173_SM.jpg

Taken with Canon G3
Celestron Nexstar 8i
40mm Scopetronix Eyepiece
Shutter: 1 second
Aperture: 2.0
ISO: 50
Manual focus set to infinity - Used telescope to focus.

[uberG]

WOW, the detail and quality is amazing! Nice work.

[Basiltoo]

Thanks for showing us what can be achieved, Brad. Were you using ND filters in the first shot or is there an error in the exposure info? It obviously cannot be the same for both.

[celestprof]

All I can say is WOW!!

That is absolutely amazing!! I am flabberghasted!

Brilliant!

Proof that its the photographer and not the camera!

I couldn't do one that good in a million shots!

[Deckyon]

Basiltoo: Yes, in the first shot I turned on the ND filter in the camera. Otherwise it was too overexposed even when going to f8. The second on, no ND filter. The colors were as you see them. I love the full eclipse and the colors it generates, even for naken eye viewing.

celestprof: Thank you. It has taken me a lot og shots to get here, and 90% is knowing the equipment and its limitations. Push them to the edge and you get spectacular results. I had the camera manual out that night, making sure I had everything set up correctly, and I had the telescope manual out to make sure I did not have an clock-motor vibrations to worry about.

Please note, the only thing I did to these images was resizing to 640x480. I did not crop them, the moon really did fill that much of the frame. The camera was at about 2.5/3x zoom.

[billmonti]

I'm new to owning a G3 and new to photography in general. So, here are my newbie questions:

How did you attach your G3 to a telescope?
Do you have to have a special type of telescope or is it a special type of eyepiece-type-converter-thingy that could connect to any kind of telescope?

Thanks!
Bill

[Deckyon]

There is a copmany in Florida that sells adapters for all kinds of digital cameras to hook up to telescopes.

http://www.scopetronix.com

I recommend the Digi-T adapter along with the MaxView40 eyepiece. There is virtually no vignetting when camera is zoomed to 4x.

It is great, and easy to use and I highly recommend the copmany. Support is great and they have a great return policy.

Here is a link to an article that goes into exactally how I achieved the shots here:
Astrophotography V (http://www.sturm.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=20&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0)

[Silverman]

What do you think the Crystal Vue lens 8X32?
Is it better?

Could you post a picture of your telescope?

Thanks

Silverman

[Deckyon]

I do not have the Crystal View lens, so I cannot tell you optically if it is better. My telescope, a Celestron NexStar 8i (http://www.celestron.com/prod_pgs/tel/nx8i.htm) meets my needs better because, with the Goto capabilities with the optional hand computer/controller, it will automatically go to over 45000 objects. this leaves me more time to take pictures since I do not have to consult star charts and computer RA/Dec.

Now, the telescope offers up 2032mm focal length. This gives me a lot more thant the 8x32 of the CrystalView, especially if I start using smaller eyepieces like my 9.6mm. See Telescopes and "X" Power (http://www.sturm.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=13&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0)

I will post a photo of my telescope when I get a chance to take one. I should be able to do so tonight and post it tomorrow.

[Silverman]

Hi, thanks for the answer.

So scope lens, and telescope are different things aren't they?

telescope is for space porpuses, and teleconverter is for shoot everything porpuses, is that right?

I'm waiting for your telescope's photo.

Thanks

Silverman

[Deckyon]

yeah, basically. The CrystalVue is more of a spotting scope to be used as telephoto....

my telescope is for space shots, though it can be used for terrestrial stuff, but I need a focal reducer to bring it down to f5.

[Silverman]

Ok, and the telescope costs about U$ 1300,00 isn't it?
Expensive, too hard to get (FOR ME).

And between Canon teleconverter and Crystal Vue lens, what do you recommend?

Thanks, forgive me if i'm annoying you.

Silverman

[Deckyon]

the crystalvue is a spotting scope and much larger than the teleconverter.

the crystalvue has greater magnification.

I have not used the crystalvue, so I really cant recommend one over the other.

If you do a search on this site, you will find a lot of discussions on the Crystalvue, and the teleconverter.

I like the teleconverter, and use it a lot. I think it is a quality piece of glass, as all canon lenses are.

[Silverman]

tks again....

[sdommin]

Nice work, Brad! I like them a lot.

[Deckyon]

Here is my telescope. No, that is not me in the background.

it is a Celestron Nexstar 8i.

http://www.sturm.org/las/albums/album21/IMG_2708.jpg

[Silverman]

wOw......

What can u see ina norma day???
Or is it only for night???

How much?
Where did you connect your camera?

Nice Telescope, congratulatios.

Where can i see more photos taken by it?

Silverman

[Deckyon]

Silverman wrote:What can u see ina norma day???
Or is it only for night???
It is for night. This image was taken when I was setting up for Mars at a local outing with some friends. I guess it can be used as a spotting scope during the day, but that is not what is was design for.

Silverman wrote:How much?
The setup I have with the eyepieces I have would run about $2000 USD

Silverman wrote:Where did you connect your camera?
The camera goes on the eyepiece with a special adapter. I got the adapter for the G3 from http://www.scopetronix.com (http://www.scopetronix.com)

Silverman wrote:Where can i see more photos taken by it?
You can see more, though not much more since I have not had that much time recently to take many more pictures of the cosmos, at my website:
Sturm Photography (http://www.sturm.org)
Look in the Image Gallery.