What can you capture in 30 secs?

[Max Vondel]

Hi there, I'm new to the forums.
What you can image with a DSLR that only allows 30 secs max exposure time? I'm planing on using it on my 10"LX200ACF and WO 90FD. I'll be stacking images, but is 30 secs enough to capture anything ?

[dannat]

yes, you will have to stack a lot of 3o sec frames but if you keep to the brighter stuff, you will get started in imaging. You will want a reducer on the cat

[Max Vondel]

I have a 0.5 reducer for the SCT and the 0.8 WO flatner III for the M90FD. Could I capture Omega Centaurii and the regions around Eta Carinae for example ?

[Bassnut]

Peter

M42, and thats about it. Since it seems youve spent a fair bit of money on gear, exactly why would you want to be interested in only 30sec exposures?. Seems an artificial restriction? (and dont bang on about cant guide, cheap excuse, you have a guide scope)

[Matty P]

Hi Peter, welcome to IIS. :welcome:

What DSLR are you using?

You will be able to get a much longer exposure if you use a shutter release cable or if you have a recent model, by using software to release the shutter.

If you don't have an equatorial mount, you will encounter field rotation with exposures longer than 30 seconds. So be aware of that.

There are a few others members including myself who have had some good success with 30 second exposures. The aim is to capture as many sub frames as possible and stacking them together.

Hope this helps,
:thumbsup:

[Max Vondel]

Thanks Bessnut and Matty. I have a Pentax isDL2. In the good old film days Pentax was the one as the body (metal) was so light compared with the Canon's and Nikons. The max exposure setting on the DSLR Pentax has a setting of 30 secs. Remote shutter release does exist but isn't that like the "B" setting, ie holding the shutter open as long as held.? I've also got a DSI 2 and Orion SSag Guider. But the sensors are so small that I thought the DSLR might be worth a go. More field etc

[dugnsuz]

Hi,
To push through the Pentax 30 second barrier, I have read that you can modify one of these...
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Aputure-Timer-Remote-Switch-for-Canon-20D-30D-5D-1D-R8B_W0QQitemZ140272920278QQihZ004QQ categoryZ150690QQtcZphotoQQcmdZView Item

by doing this...
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=16477

Hope that helps some
Doug

[Max Vondel]

Thanks Doug, I'll have a look
Much appreciated
:D