How easy is it to set up?

My former astronomy prof was kind enough to send me a Vista Star Stepper clock drive with AC power and a spotting scope with reticle for polar alignment. Realistically, how easy is it to set up, and what is an expected limit on exposure time I can get? Since I can't get into deep space for small objects, I'm really thinking about going widefield and getting Barnard's loop. I couldn't find any pics of it on the internet, but if you need more info, I'll take pics when I get home from work this evening (darn 12 hour hospital shifts! ).

I've been trying to research the Vista star stepper and have only found tiny bits of info. Do you have a link so I can read more about it? This is a new one on me but sounds much like a barn door tracker or an AstroTrac in it's performance. From what I've read it's best used at around the 50mm FL range and can deliver up to 20 minute exposures. If that holds true then raising that ocal length to 100mm should be attainable at shorter(say 5 minute) exposure lengths. Shoot a good 2-3 hours worth and then stack them and Barnard's Loop should begin to reveal itself. Proper balance and an accurate polar alignment will be important but not extremely critical at those focal lengths.

Steve, I've had the same problem on finding any info on it. I have a feeling it's an antique, so to speak. I was planning on using my kit lens, or even the nifty fifty that I am still planning on ordering. 20 minutes exposures would be absolutely wonderful, however, my hubby has to first build me a platform that will support the tracker, as it is very heavy, and my light aluminum tripod is not up to the task, or at least not the plate on it. As for Orion, I will get probably an hour opportunity each night to get shots off before it is obscured by the house or trees, but I didn't expect this to take only one night anyway. When the platform gets built, I'll probably spend one night aligning it, and then painting marks on our patio so it will be easier each night to get aligned. I have a feeling that I'm probably biting off a lot more than I can chew in trying out the Loop as my first project, but for the time being, it is the only decent sized deep space object I can think of off the top of my head. What settings on the camera would you probably start out with? Also, what white balance do you use, or Kelvin if you mod that instead? We'll see how well my cheap programs for editing work as well. It may convince me to shell out money for at least Elements.

I would begin with setting your ISO to 800 and see how the noise level looks. In colder weather 1600 should not be a problem. I wouldn't hold out hopes for 20 minute exposures. even under very dark skies you will likely produce more noise than you would want to deal with in processing. 4-5 minutes will produce plenty of depth at ISO 800 or 1600.

Set your White balance to auto. I use the camera mirror lock function and a cable release to trigger and end exposures.

Apparently it was a one-man company, and the person died in the mid-90's. I guess in appearance, it looks more like a mini GEM. Still need to take those pics! 4-5 minutes is what I kind of figured, unless I want to try tomorrow night. My camera would be well-cooled as it is supposed to get to 10 degrees! LOL, not likely.... I'll give it a try at ISO 800. However, at around 50mm, my lowest f stop will be at 5.6. Will that allow for enough light?

I'm trying to figure out what toys I want for Christmas. I was told to pick out certain items, and then order them. So far, I know I want a wireless remote and nifty fifty as my first prime. I also need a good camera bag. Wouldn't mind a good grip either! Man this stuff gets expensive, and I have barely even scratched the surface on what I want!

drevilsmom wrote in post #6918061
I'll give it a try at ISO 800. However, at around 50mm, my lowest f stop will be at 5.6. Will that allow for enough light?

If you're exposing for 4 or 5 minutes then that will be ample.

drevilsmom wrote in post #6918061
So far, I know I want a wireless remote and nifty fifty as my first prime. I also need a good camera bag. Wouldn't mind a good grip either! Man this stuff gets expensive, and I have barely even scratched the surface on what I want!

You've barely even scratched the surface when it comes to astrophotography either. This mount might work out nicely, but then you'll be wanting more lenses or some scopes, filters, dew-heaters, guiding scopes, an Astro-Tent or observatory...the list goes on.

Going back to exposure lengths, you might find it's better, if you want to expose for 20 or 30 minutes, or hours, to stack lots of shorter exposures together. If you find you can gather enough light in 5-minutes for example, then stack six of these together, (along with dark and flat frames), rather than expose for a single 30-minute exposure. I think you'll probably find the results are better, plus you spread out the points of failure - if something major goes wrong, (power-failure to the mount, camera-battery runs out, clouds appear), you'll likely still have some good frames to work with, rather than losing the only one.

Adrena1in wrote in post #6926245
If you're exposing for 4 or 5 minutes then that will be ample.


You've barely even scratched the surface when it comes to astrophotography either. This mount might work out nicely, but then you'll be wanting more lenses or some scopes, filters, dew-heaters, guiding scopes, an Astro-Tent or observatory...the list goes on.

LOL, don't get me started! I've already got a hefty wish list for just my camera that will probably take me several years to accumulate. And we won't even talk about astro gear! My hubby about choked when he heard how much just the lenses are that I want.

I already figured that 4-5 minute exposures would be sufficient, but I was curious anyway. I know that the Univeristy had a CCD camera, and could take much longer exposures. I don't know if my former prof used it in any way with this star stepper or not. I do remember him hooking up his Pentax K1000 to the stepper, though. He did black and white exposures. I learned a lot about B&W photography because of him, and exposed my own negatives and film. It was a lot of fun!