Camera held to the eyepiece

[John Saunders]

Hi folks - this is about as low tech as you can get...my 8" Skywatcher pointed at the moon and my digital camera held to the eyepiece. Processed from a single frame using MS Photo Editor...

Anyway, I'm happy for a first try.

John

[DobDobDob]

Low tech or not, it still came out alright :thumbsup:

[Ric]

Hi John, a great start they are quite detailed and well resolved.

well done

[jjjnettie]

Nothing wrong with the low tech approach. As your photos prove. Very nice.

[iceman]

Great stuff john, that's how we all start out! It's all downhill from here :)

[RB]

That's a great start John, looking forward to more from you.

[John Saunders]

Ahhhh, thanks folks for the encouragement.:thumbsup:

I am looking for advice on imaging...such as whether I should go with the webcam option or try and get some sort of mount for my current digi camera.

Shalom!

John :)

[iceman]

Hi John.

To get you started, check out the articles I wrote on imaging basics:
Astrophotography with a dob (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=63,201,0,0,1,0)
Planetary Imaging and Image Processing (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=63,306,0,0,1,0)

Cheers

[bluescope]

What sort of camera did you use John ? Is it an SLR with removable lens ? If so then you will need a T ring adapter to suit your camera and a camera adapter to insert into the focuser of your 8". After that you will need dual axis motors for your EQ5 if you don't already have them. It makes a difference to track your subject, even the moon, which as you have probably noticed moves very quickly across your field of view.

I'm sure it will discuss these things in the links Mike gave you.

Have fun and as Mike says " it's all down hill from here " but very satisfying when it works.

Cheers !

[ving]

great start. we all start out this way :)
nice and sharp looking.

\\//_

[John Saunders]

Steve (and others),

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately the current digital camera isn't a DSLR...that's the next camera when the budget stretches that far. This one is a Panasonic Lumix 6 megapixel with a 6x optical zoom and it is supposed to be an interim but I think we will have it as the main stay for some time.

The lens housing has a fixed part which sits up about 10mm from the body, and then the zoom lens moves out from there. So I am guessing it would not be easy to use on an adaptor for astrophotos.

I don't have any motors on the EQ5 at the moment, so tracking is all by finger twiddling. Even so, I really have to pull the gears apart and change the lubes - the movement is not as free as it should be and sometimes it bounces through the movement rather than glides. It's only a SkyWatcher but it should be doing better than it does.

Easter blessings to all and again, thanks for the encouragement!

John