Approve the Cookies
This website uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies and our Privacy Policy.
OK
Forums  •   • New posts  •   • RTAT  •   • 'Best of'  •   • Gallery  •   • Gear
Guest
Forums  •   • New posts  •   • RTAT  •   • 'Best of'  •   • Gallery  •   • Gear
Register to forums    Log in

 
FORUMS Photo Sharing & Discussion Astronomy & Celestial 
Thread started 30 May 2010 (Sunday) 09:12
Search threadPrev/next
sponsored links (only for non-logged)

new

 
chiangrai
Member
31 posts
Joined May 2010
     
May 30, 2010 09:12 |  #1
bannedPermanent ban
SPAM PUT AWAY
This post is marked as spam.
DonR
Senior Member
262 posts
Likes: 4
Joined Dec 2009
Location: Georgia, USA
     
May 30, 2010 17:51 |  #2

The challenges in deep space astrophotography are the faintness of the subjects and the motion of the earth. Long exposures (typically from 1 minute to 10 minutes or so with a DSLR) are needed to capture enough light from the faint subjects, and that means it is necessary to track the apparent motion of the sky as the earth rotates. Even at normal camera lens focal lengths, you can't expose for one minute without the stars trailing, and using a telescope compounds the problem of course due to the longer focal length. At 1000mm, a one second exposure without accurate tracking will display star trails in a DSLR image.

What this means is that the mount is much more important than the telescope. The mount needs to be a sturdy German Equatorial Mount (GEM), with a well-engineered motorized drive train. I don't know if they meets your expectations of "reasonably priced", but mounts in the $1000 to $3000 range (new) are pretty much the starting point. With focal lengths over about 600mm it will probably be necessary to guide the mount with a separate guiding camera, so a mount with a computer interface is a must. Examples of entry-level GEM's capable of guided long exposure imaging of deep space objects at focal lengths up to 1000mm or so are the Orion Atlas, Vixen SXD, and Celestron CGEM. With lighter telescopes under about 700mm focal length, the Orion Sirius and Vixen Sphinx are sufficient.

For deep space astrophotography, you will want a telescope with a fast focal ratio, faster than about f/7 preferably. Most of the reasonably priced telescopes suitable for deep space astrophotography are newtonian reflectors and semi-apo refractors. A 2" focuser is just about mandatory for deep space imaging. Reflectors have the advantage of lower cost per inch of aperture, but larger aperture means a more substantial mount is needed. Look at the weight of the telescope optical tube, then look for a mount rated at at least double that value.

Stay away from telescopes and mounts with brand names you have never heard of and for which you can't find any objective reviews online apart from the vendor's site. If the price looks to good to be true, don't waste your money.

Many people get their feet wet in deep space astrophotography using normal and wide angle camera lenses for wide-field images of the Milky Way and some of the larger deep space objects. In fact, some people keep going with this type of astrophotography and produce truly stunning images any astrophotographer would be proud of. The equipment needed to get started with this kind of imaging is less expensive and more portable.

I'm sure I didn't cover everything, perhaps others will join in.

Don




  
  LOG IN TO REPLY
sponsored links (only for non-logged)

786 views & 0 likes for this thread, 2 members have posted to it.
new
FORUMS Photo Sharing & Discussion Astronomy & Celestial 
AAA
x 1600
y 1600

Jump to forum...   •  Rules   •  Forums   •  New posts   •  RTAT   •  'Best of'   •  Gallery   •  Gear   •  Reviews   •  Member list   •  Polls   •  Image rules   •  Search   •  Password reset   •  Home

Not a member yet?
Register to forums
Registered members may log in to forums and access all the features: full search, image upload, follow forums, own gear list and ratings, likes, more forums, private messaging, thread follow, notifications, own gallery, all settings, view hosted photos, own reviews, see more and do more... and all is free. Don't be a stranger - register now and start posting!


COOKIES DISCLAIMER: This website uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies and to our privacy policy.
Privacy policy and cookie usage info.


POWERED BY AMASS forum software 2.58forum software
version 2.58 /
code and design
by Pekka Saarinen ©
for photography-on-the.net

Latest registered member is Thunderstream
1218 guests, 123 members online
Simultaneous users record so far is 15,144, that happened on Nov 22, 2018

Photography-on-the.net Digital Photography Forums is the website for photographers and all who love great photos, camera and post processing techniques, gear talk, discussion and sharing. Professionals, hobbyists, newbies and those who don't even own a camera -- all are welcome regardless of skill, favourite brand, gear, gender or age. Registering and usage is free.