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Andrew -
DSLR Shutter is working from PC's USB cable into a ShoeString Astronomy DSUSB converter (around AUD $90) with a three pin 3.5mm jack output that is stepped down into a 2.5 mm three prong jack that goes directly into the camera's Bulb function socket above the USB slot on the camera. DSLR shutter sees the Camera only via the Bulb cable. The Canon EOS control software see the camera, and that its in Bulb mode, but it can't send an open/close command to it!
The Canon 400D can be put into Manual + Bulb using the two dials on the camera, and their software recognises this - but it can't send a Bulb command along that same USB cable for some unknown design rationale - the camera appears to be limited / designed into only accepting bulb commands on the bulb in port - sigh, I wish it worked on either port!
Here is what I consider the best shot of the evening / morning, from light drenched North Ryde, a 2.5 minute shot of Omega Cluster at ISO 800, which I then imported into MaximDL and riased the Histogram's white cut-off from 23 to 33 to darken the background sky more. Then I took this good looking output and imported it into SmartSaver Pro and turned it from a JPEG to a recursive JPEG to shrink it from 4mb down to 900k. I did this again and shrunk it to a 14% quality to fit it to under 150k to post it here. Visually I think its my first "real" shot that I'm still proud of this morning!
I think I can step up and say finally, I'm an amateur astro-photographer now - with alot to learn!
I am amazed that the C9.25 CF XLT + Meg 80mm piggy back on a CG-5 - loading it to probably just over 15kgs - its absolute maximum - has performed this well. I'd much rather have a real mount (Tak, G11, Atlux, CGE) but this little beaut has done me proud last night. And all my gotos where almost spot on the centre of the CCDs of the Canon and Meade DSI chips! A perfect night just about, and the astrolab kept all the dew right off till I packed it in at 3:30am.
Finally to add to my pleasure MyAstro had sent me a Vixen 13mm LVW eyepiece that I used on Saturn and Omega - blew me away how good this was, Omega leaped out at me - in moderately poor viewing skies, and Saturn was easy to see the Cassini division and the cloud bands of Saturn.
Score 10 out of 10 for satisfaction recieved last night!
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