Am I able to achieve these shots?

[Pricey]

The ones I see posted of the Stars and Galaxies are just incredible...

Am I able to do any of these sort of images with a 350D, Kit Lens, 70-200L Lens, Tripod and Switch Release?

Is this camera even good enough anymore for this?

Thanks guys, really would like to try.

[Catanonia]

In a word, no i am afriad.

The major problem for you with a tripod and even a shutter release will be tracking and stabilisation of the setup.

You will also get problems actually finding your targets to begin with.

Nothing wrong with your camera, I use a 350D as well on a scope.

As you take an exposure of about 10seconds at 200mm the stars will move and give you trails (not round stars). Therefore you need some kind of tracking mount.

Do a google on AstroTrac for a method with a DLSR. Not cheap and for that price you can get a decent scope and tracking mount and attach your dslr directly to it as a prime lens. Probably the best method.

You can try at say 50mm at a low Fstop for about 15second images and then stack them with a program such as DeepSpaceStacker (google it, it is free)

Would give some nice widefield images. Check my signature for some wide field images I did this way with a F1.4 50mm prime on a tripod.


Cat

[Pricey]

Ahh I see. So pretty much everyone has a scope of some sort? :p

I'll look into it. Thankyou.

[Sorarse]

You don't need a scope to take star trails. In fact a lens at the wider end of the scale is often beneficial. There have been a few threads on star trails, if you'd like to do a search to see what is possible with standard kit.

Also with a longer lens like your 200, and possibly with a 1.4x converter, it is entirely possible to get some really good shots of the moon, which only need short exposures.

However, as Catanonia says, if you want to take photos of galaxies, and other heavenly subjects that come out best with multiple long exposures, then you ideally need a tracking mount.

[Pricey]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I'd like to have a go at Star Trails...and I've taken some nice ones of the Moon before too, but still, with a 1.4 would still be nice.

One I have:

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/6965/themoonaf4.jpg

[Adrena1in]

Ahh I see. So pretty much everyone has a scope of some sort? :p

Mostly yes, but all you would need to get started is a tracking mount. Something like an Astrotrac or an EQ5 or EQ6 or something like that.

My first one was an EQ1, which cost me about £60, and then I put a motor on it for £20. Was dead basic, but worked, and was a very good introduction to the hobby. Helped me learn about Polar Alignment, (which is what you do to get the mount aligned perfectly with the earth axis, so that the mount's movement exactly copmpensates for the rotation of the earth.)

I soon upgraded to an EQ5 though. ;)

[Pricey]

So, one of these?

http://i.ebayimg.com/01/!BWm2RkgCGk~$(KGrHgoOKkIEjlLmVUyCBKYOO4Jy5w~~_1.JP G

I'll look into it. Thanks.

[Catanonia]

Yes that is a basic one. They either come with electric motors or ones you do by hand. Obviously hand ones require you to track the stars visually and are harder to master.

[DL.Photography]

Im glad you labeled it, i almost forgot what that was :lol:

Anyway, nice shot

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I'd like to have a go at Star Trails...and I've taken some nice ones of the Moon before too, but still, with a 1.4 would still be nice.

One I have:

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/6965/themoonaf4.jpg

[Pricey]

Thanks! That's just a hand held...I wonder what it would be like with a 1.4x.

[Adrena1in]

I'll look into it. Thanks.

That looks like a desktop EQ1, with manual controls. I did some manual tracking once, when I was shooting the Milky Way. I had my camera and lens piggybacked on the telescope, then when I did was look through the scope and put a star right on the edge of the field of view. I then opened the camera shutter, and watched the star. If the star disappeared I would turn the axis control so that I could see the star again. At long focal lengths that wouldn't really work, but at 18mm the movement was so small that it didn't really show up on the image, and I was able to expose for a good couple of minutes with little or no star trailing.

As I said, a mount like that would be good to show you the basics, and you'll be able to improve your images. But you will at some point want a powered one and on a big, sturdy tripod.