Newbie first post and images

[browndog]

I have been lurking around this web site for a few months now and picking up some great ideas. After seeing some of the wonderful images posted by others I recently decided to try astrophotography.

I thought I would post some of my initial images in the hope that some of the more experienced members could provide some feedback on ways to improve.

These were unguided and taken with on a Celestron 8" SCT (CG-5 mount) with a 350d. Stacked with Deep Sky Stacker and processed on Photoshop.
Light 50 x 30sec
Dark 25 x 30sec

M4 was at ISO800
28529

M83 was at ISO1600
28530

[norm]

Welcome to the forum Browndog !:welcome:

Nice Pics too !

[Ric]

Nice images Ian, definitely a very good start. As I'm not a DSLR imager I'll leave the feedback to those with more knowledge in that area.

I'm looking forward to seeing more from you.

Cheer

[iceman]

Hi Ian! Welcome to IIS and nice images to kick off your account ;)

For a first attempt they look good to me. Are you guiding at all?

[browndog]

I haven't tried guiding yet. I have read that there are two techniques; either off-axis guider or a guide scope. I am not sure which method to try first or which would be better for my 8" SCT. I am a bit reluctant at this time to purchase too many more accessories as I have only had the SCT for a little over month.

I do seem to spend a fair bit of time getting my alignment right, but thankfully there has been some easy to follow techniques posted by others on this site. I have found that if I take too long exposures (say greater than 3min) I seem to get pear-shaped stars or star trails.

I would like to take longer exposures. I think that my alignment can handle up to 2min exposures without guiding.

I use the remote shooting feature that came with the Camera. This makes it much easier to take many shots of the same exposure and then stack in Deep Sky Stacker. I also do not know how to setup remote shooting for times longer than 30sec on my 350d. Does anyone know if there is a simple and easy way to do this?

[iceman]

Hi Ian

For exposures longer than 30 seconds, you need to go to Manual Mode, and turn the dial to the left until it goes to "Bulb" setting, which is one past 30s.

Then, put the camera on the remote shooting mode (self-timer mode) and click once to start the timer, and then again when you want to finish. A timer will increment on the camera display.

[Dr Nick]

Hey,
Welcome to the forum!
Nice images to start off with too! ;)

[[1ponders]]

:welcome: browndog. Like Mike says, use the bulb exposure and then get a cable release. That way you don't have to touch the camera to turn it off.

Definately a great start to astrophotography though :thumbsup:

[leon]

Browndog, if you can get your hands on a Canon TC-80N3 Remote, you can set any number of exposures, for any amount of time, and also bracket each exposure for a set amount of time, then walk away, it will do the rest. ;)

They are brilliant, but not real cheap.

Anyway great images for a first attempt well done. :thumbsup:

Leon :thumbsup:

[browndog]

Thank you everyone for your replies.:hi:

I have given the "bulb" setting a go and it certainly allows for longer exposures :thumbsup:.

I am now looking for a way to automatically control the exposure time so that I can take a large number of exposures of a set time. I am using the EOS Utility feature that came with the Canon Camera software but this seems to only allow shots of up to 30 seconds. Is there a simple way to automatically control the shutter open and shutter closed via a PC for exposure times longer than 30 sec?

I have had a quick look at the Canon TC-80N3 Remote as suggested by Leon, but at $150+...:eyepop:is there any cheaper options??? The information on this remote seem to do exactly what I am after but I would prefer to use my PC to control the shutter if possible.

[ballaratdragons]

Wow Ian, they are very very good images for your 1st.
M83 is a real stunner.

Just imagine the images you'll be getting in the months ahead if these are your 1st attempts!!!!! :eyepop:

[[1ponders]]

What you want is a Canon Timer Remote. I know they make them for the 20D etc and I'm am sure they make them for the 300D.

[[1ponders]]

This is what is available for the 20D etc. http://www.qualitycamera.com.au/popup_image.php?pID=43

See if you can find one for the 300d. A cheaper option may be to get DSLR Focus (http://www.dslrfocus.com/) for your laptop and a serial bulb cable from http://www.hapg.org/astrocables.htm