[Stonius (Markus)]

I'm mostly doing visual at the moment.

Next time I'm at a dark sky site, is there any reason I couldn't just set up my stock Canon 5D Mkii on it's tripod doing interval exposures while Orion drifts through frame? I'd be using a Sigma Art 50mm f1.4, which equates to about 40 degrees of sky. With periodic realignments and sacrificing the frame edges, I should be able to get stackable subs, right?

Question is, what time? My research seems to suggest around 10 seconds is right, though this seems incredibly short, but what do I know? I figure I'll do a few test shots and zoom in to see how round the stars are.

I take it Darks, Lights and Flats are still required, even if shooting through a lens, as opposed to a scope?

Side question; I envisage eventually having an astrophotography rig (waaay down the track) that I set gathering data, while I do visual work. Is that a possibility, or does it require constant monitoring that would preclude any other activities?

Cheers

Markus