Williams Optics Zenith Star 70mm

[Mosc_007 (Charles)]

These images were taken with a Williams Optics Zenith Star Ferrari Aniversary Edition Spotting Scope. 70mm F6.4

This spotting scope is an APO and has great reviews. I decided to try it for Astrophotgraphy. I am quite pleased with the results. Almost zero CA. Keep in mind this scope is only a 70mm Apperature. Not much light coming in. Taken with a QHY10 CCD.

Taken at Linden last Sat night. Not many Subs as the clouds came over.

Can we organise a petition to have Alnitak Removed ... Its such a pain with imaging.

Horsehead + Flame Nebulas. 8 Subs at 15 Mins each.
Carina Nebula. 10 Subs at 5 mins each.


Charles

[traveller (Bo)]

Very nice Charles.
with the Horsehead and Flame, perhaps try stacking more subs of shorter exposure times?
I did the same area using DLSR and 120 sec subs at 1600 ISO and the results were quite acceptable.
Cheers
Bo

[Mosc_007 (Charles)]

Thanks.

I have done Horsehead many times with my Meade 8 inch using my Modded Cannon 1100D. Celestron C11 using my Modded Canon 1100D. And the C11 with a Hyperstar at F2 using my QHY10 CCD. That one I realy like, But Alnatak looks horrid in the SCT's.

Since this was only 70mm apperature I had no idea what exposure I needed. I guessed at 15 min subs. But even at 15 Mins Horsey was almost lost in the noise. Very little data their. I was expecting a failure. I was plesently surprised to see what I managed to dig out of it.

I wanted more subs but the clouds have a bad habbit....


Charles

[yoda776 (Matt)]

Nice images Charles.

Bo I was looking at the comment about ISO 1600 and 120 sec subs on a DSLR. I have a canon 450D and a 350D with Ha filter. I was finding 1 minute 45 was better for me although my photos were nowhere near as good. I am really only beginning with DSLR. Might give that a go. How many shots should I take to get a good balance?

[JFHimaging (John)]

Nice image with the size of scope I am hoping to get in the near future. What is the Williams Optics 70mm like for viewing and imaging?

[Mosc_007 (Charles)]

Never looked thru it. I bought it based on the reviews. This was a limited edition scope and might be hard to find now. I dont think their standard 70mm is an APO.