widefield startracker

[blink138]

a few more from the SW star tracker, this time in darker skies, dwellingup w.a
a tokina 16-28 @16 and a canon 70-200 @70 for these
lots more practice at processing naturally and i should have stopped down the 16mm a few spots
pat

[Atmos]

They're looking real nice :)

[langman78]

Fantastic effort Pat. Hopefully in the not to distant future I can achieve similar results with my iOptron. Unfortunately with limited time I don't get the opptunity to travel to darker locations. I was rather disappointed with the ioptrons finder scope. Hoping it was going to be bigger with more magnification to locate sigma but living 8kms from Melbourne that's no chance. Most I've achieved is 45 to 50 secs using my iPhone's clinometer and compass. I've actually just ordered a digital clinometer and a good quality compass so hopefull I can zero in closer to achieving polar allignment. If not they will be handy tools when I get the chance to travel away from the city.
What exposure times are you able to achieve Pat?

[Somnium]

really nice work Pat. looking good

[blink138]

thanks guys, a dark site makes a huge difference obviously
ben yes we used a very good compass and inclinometer and we generally use 90 second exposures and stack between 10 and 15 subs and no darks or lights were taken here
good luck with it all
pat

[Decimus]

Great images, Pat! I thought they were taken THROUGH your scope, not with a camera on a skytracking platform. I was looking at getting the SW Star Adventurer (not sure that that is its name) and your beautiful photos here have inspired me to get one.

So, all-up, about 15 - 20 minutes exposure time? And how fast were the lenses wide-open? F3.5/F4?

Cheers,
Richard

[blink138]

hi richard i have been following your post on the lzos you lucky duck!
yes mate this was the star adventurer but sometimes i forget what it is called
we just used two lenses the tokina 16-28 f2.8 and the canon 70-200 f2.8
90s to 120s exposures and about 800iso usually do it mate but i think i will try and do less subs and keep it to 10 or less
we love that mount!
pat

[blink138]

oh yes too richard they were taken with my brothers self modified 60d
pat

[raymo]

Lovely, Pat, but I find the red in the right hand one a bit overpowering for my taste.

[Decimus]

Awesome, Pat. I'd be thrilled just to be able to capture images like this in such a relatively short time. Maybe the APM will be able to deliver with either a Nikon 810 or a Canon 5Dsr at prime focus and 15- 20 minutes? Then again, perhaps the focal ratio will be 'too slow'for such image density, but then ISO 1600 or even 3200 might make it work? I live in hope. Meanwhile, I have to find a power supply for the AZ-EQ6, seemigly quite an issue, from what I have read on various sites...

Cheers,
Richard

[Zane]

those images are fantastic might have to snap up one of those mounts myself.

[Camelopardalis]

Very nice Pat, well done :thumbsup:

[anyone]

nice !

[astronobob]

Thems is very nice compositions and captures Pat, , , The milk way offers a wide variety of scenes for widey's - Grouse Going :thumbsup: :thumbsup: