Astrophotography with a modified 40D

[strgazr27]

I got tired of waiting awhile back for one of the few companies that modify cameras for AP to get there poop together so I dove in and did it myself. I have a tutorial on my website on how to do it. I believe I was the first private person to perform the mod.

Below are a few of the images I have recently shot with the camera and my Scope. Hope you enjoy! Comments are welcomed :)

This is M45. A small but beautiful cluster and M42 in Orion. One of the most amazing areas of the sky.

[strgazr27]

A few more.

M31 in Andromeda and the Horsehead Nebula in Orion

[strgazr27]

A few more can be found on my website http://Strgazr27.Zenfolio.com

Thanks for looking!

This is Comet Holmes and my Observatory called "StonyHill Observatory"

[borg79]

WOW! Fantastic! What other gear are u using?

[strgazr27]

Here is the Observatory. I currently use a 7" ITE MN74 Maksutov Newtonian, a 66mm APO Refractor, a TMB130SS APO Refractor and I am also starting a project for a 10" f/4 Rosin Astrograph. It will feature a Mark Harry primary along with parts from Protostar, Antares and Starlight Instruments.

CS's

[Yel00tlr]

Very nice pictures..... what is your average exposure times on your pict's ?

[smasraum]

So, you're a dabbler that's just starting?? ;)

Very nice

[CincyShooter]

OH MY LORD!

[IpsoPhatso]

Incredible pics! :)

[Livinthalife]

Gorgeous!!!!!!

Are those L lens telescopes ;)

Is the camera still okay to use in regular everyday situations?

[arizona85224]

very nice

[zeva]

do those telescopes come with IS? :) nice pictures!

[Nighthound]

Great work Bob. I envy your observatory. Traveling to dark skies to set up gets tiring. Still worth the effort though.

NH

[alt4852]

good god, those images are amazing but i could never bring myself to bring down the blade on my 40D like that. you've got to either be one of the most confident and competent DIYer's, or you've got a lot of guts. either way, your results are breathtaking. =)

[splunkinoob]

Nice pics, props on the sliding roof too.

[gary88]

Amazing photos! I'm awestruck. I need to get around to buying myself a good telescope.

[rockabilly808]

those are absolutely stunning

[HighLife]

OMG...its stunning..you photographs and your setup....just WOW!!

[beano]

OMG...its stunning..you photographs and your setup....just WOW!!

I agree! ;)

[Celestron]

Very nice Bob ! Thanks for sharing !

[strgazr27]

Very nice pictures..... what is your average exposure times on your pict's ?

When shooting from my observatory I usually shoot 4 minute subs. I recently bought a piece of property in Massachusettes in the Berkshires that offers MUCH MUCH darker skies. I shoot 10 minute subs when I'm there. I like to stack from 2-6 hours worth of images.

CS's

[strgazr27]

Great work Bob. I envy your observatory. Traveling to dark skies to set up gets tiring. Still worth the effort though.

NH

Steve,

Your shots are some of the best I have seen with a DSLR also. I have always liked your work. Good to see you here.

CS's

[strgazr27]

Amazing photos! I'm awestruck. I need to get around to buying myself a good telescope.

In reality the mount you use is more important than the scope. I would rank the order of importance as far as quality goes from top to bottom as Mount, Camera and than scope.

If you ask most people who image using a scope they'll to you they would rather image with a $5000 mount and a $500 camera than the other way around.

All told I have about $15000 invested in this "Hobby" Lol. You CAN do it for less it just takes more time and patience.

Thanks to everyone else for your comments. :)

These are 2 more I just took on Saturday night of this past week. The first one is NGC1499 and the second is called the "Leo Triplett"

CS's

[filmgirlie]

I am speechless... and that doesn't happen often!
Wow!!

[strgazr27]

I am speechless... and that doesn't happen often!
Wow!!

Me leaving a girl speechless happens less than that so THANKS! Lol. Glad you liked them :D

CS's

[DragonSpeed]

*Hauls out Trashbin*
*Throws scope, camera, hopes etc into it*

Well... Those sure are some moderately nice pictures. I'm glad I don't try things like that.

*sulks off*

:):):)

[Alnitak]

I think I recognize this "stargazr" from another board...

Nice shots, very nice. Those shots look pretty wide-field, but not 66mm wide. What scope(s) did you use? And you SURE didn't use the 66 on the Leo triplets! :)

[Alnitak]

*Hauls out Trashbin*
*Throws scope, camera, hopes etc into it*

Well... Those sure are some moderately nice pictures. I'm glad I don't try things like that.

*sulks off*

:):):)


:lol::lol::lol:

[strgazr27]

I think I recognize this "stargazr" from another board...

Nice shots, very nice. Those shots look pretty wide-field, but not 66mm wide. What scope(s) did you use? And you SURE didn't use the 66 on the Leo triplets! :)

Intes MN74. It's a 7" f/4 Maksutov Newtonian. Fl is 720mm. The 66 throws down an amazingly wide field with the 40D. I'm waiting for a field flattener/reducer for that which will allow me to go REALLY wide :)

CS's

[stathunter]

AMAZING work......thanks for sharing!

[drandtus]

Majestic. Thanks for sharing. :)

[Kaya75]

i sit in awe! - those pics are really really nice i like the last one it's got a deep field feel to it. i have loads of questions but I respect astro photographers to much to try to emulate that kind of dedication - it's one branch of photographer that i can still enjoy for visual and photogenic qualities i know too little to be critical and that is something i hold dear :)

[werewolf40]

This is my first ever post(been lurking for a while) these shots are AMAZING:) simply stunning.

[lensmen]

7" ITE MN74 Maksutov Newtonian, a 66mm APO Refractor, a TMB130SS APO Refractor and I am also starting a project for a 10" f/4 Rosin Astrograph.
CS's

Very nice photos you have shared, i liked them

Can you show us a pix of your setup, i.e. behind the door...... :-)

[Pen6uiN]

holy guacamole ...

speechless

WOW

well done

PS: i just read through what u did on your 40D ... seriously dude, that is so cool ... speechless ..
did you screw up anything on your first attempt?

[bad karma]

Wow, those look as though they were taken with Hubble! Unbelievable.

[tekkie]

those are amazing photos, very nice job on the 40D mod as well

[desanctb]

New to group, and am posting some astropics from my observatory. Calgary, Alberta. Taken with 300D Modified

Canon 300D Modded
Canon 40D
Canon 5D
TMB 130SS
WO Megrez 90
C-11
SBIG ST4000XCM

[Geoff_Shawcross]

Welcome to POTN Desanctb. How is your 300D modified?.....Sensor filter?

Nice photo's as well, just a bit small on the page.

[joayne]

To the OP.....Absolutely Brilliant! More Please

To Desanctb- WELCOME TO POTN and lovely shots also.. Please read the FAQ and Stickies regarding posting.. these are great shots that a really too small to view, but what I can see looks great.

[HighLife]

again, stunning photo's

Photo's like these make me want to sell my house, my car and build a observatory like that.

If i win the lottery...im going to build one out of a penthouse of Trump Towers.

[swiftybilko]

WoW

[Loni]

Oh my. :o That's the coolest!

[okiebass101]

wow... words do not do those photos justice. i am almost embarrassed to say i try to take pictures of the moon.. after seeing those..
:eek: