Help

[canadamann]

I am a total newbie who knows Nothing!!!!!
This is my first attempt at this using a Bosma MC 104d/1000F
and Canon 50D Dslr camera. I hardly know how to use the camera but for fun I am learning and trying.....any advice???

Thanks \
CM

[Shiraz]

hi CM. not a bad start, but images look a bit soft for the level of equipment you have. a lot of people here use DSLRs and could give advice, but it would help if you could describe what sort of tracking you used, stacking method, image processing software etc. Regards Ray

[canadamann]

You are talking above my head here. All I did was attach my camera, focus as best I could and shoot. The tripod I have does not have the counter weight so this was a difficult task.
I will be getting a proper tripod. The "yellow" shot was fixed with Paint Shop Pro and all I did was play with the hue.
I did not alter any of the pics otherwise....Thanks Ray I appreciate all the help I can get here....

CM

[Shiraz]

Hi CM. As a first step you could try enhancing the detail, since there seems to be a fair bit in your images - assume Paint Shop has unsharp mask and/or sharpening filters and suggest you experiment. Regards Ray

[Poita]

You might want to have a look in the projects and articles section for some help.
e.g. http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-656-0-0-1-0.html

[adman]

The full moon is quite difficult to capture. Much better to do it when you can see the terminator (the line between night and day on the moon) where the low angle of the sun casts long shadows that highlight the topography.

Otherwise you have not done too bad a job. It does look like your focus is a little off. You will need to use the live view function on your camera to get this closer. In live view you can also zoom in to check the focus better.

You shouldn't need any tracking to take decent moon shots as the shutter speeds required are still fast, but a tracking mount will keep it in the frame for you without having to make constant movements to keep up with it.

Adam

[canadamann]

Firstly I want to thank everyone for your kind words and encouragement. I can use all the help I can get. Living in China i have no support. So THANK YOU ALL.

The story is like this. I have no clue to what I am doing. I am using a Canon 50D but all the docs are in Chinese!!! I can't read it...I am not Chinese but I live in Shanghai. So how to do a live view I have not yet figured out. Also the tripod does not have a counter balance so I need to hold the OTA as I shoot so ya maybe the focus is a bit off.

Tomorrow I will get a better tripod. The scope is a Bosma M-C d102 F1000 (4inches f10)..I like the portability.

I am still messing with the camera settings and these are best shots out of who knows how many shots I took..
I did use the sharpen tool and I messed with the hue tool as well (on the yellowish pic).

Yes the full moon is a bit harsh...my scope came with a 10mm and 25 mm eyepiece...I prefer the 25 for the moon now as it is not so much in your face to look at. I will also get a Barlow 2X.

:thanx:

[naskies]

It's addictive, isn't it?! :) The manuals for most popular consumer electronics are now available online these days (e.g. search for "canon 50d manual" on your favourite search engine). Here's a direct link to the 50D manual... in English!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/lit_files/80.pdf

Good luck!

Dave

[canadamann]

It is funny I just got the docs then saw your post.....Well I got a new tripod and it makes the world of a difference....
I also figured out how to to remote shooting from my laptop....too bad the sky clouded up on me just as I got everything together.....figures...

I love this now!!:thanx:

[El Paso Eric]

Great start. Focus is really important!!! Make or buy a Bahtinov mask for your scope. Focus on a star first, then go to the moon, without changing the focus. This will help eliminate Focus as the trouble.

http://astrojargon.net/MaskGen.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSu pport=1

I use one on my similarly sized Takahashi, and I always have pinpoint stars.

Also try shooting the Moon at half-full, or so.

[canadamann]

My latest attempt....remote shot off my laptop.