I want to pay for advice and demonstrations

John Hynes · #1 31-01-2010, 01:57 PM

Hi everyone,

I live in Canberra and have had a bit of a bug taking photos of the night skies. I had limited myself to a fixed tripod with a Pentax K10 DSLR and a 18 - 200mm sigma lens to make sure it was not just a phase.

When established that it wasn't, I purchased a telescope and mount that I was assured would 1. Allow me to take images with my camera and 2. track stars as these were being purchased almost exclusively for astrophotography.

I then established that what I was sold would do neither 1 or 2, I purchased some additional equipment including a HEQ5 mount.

I am looking for someone who lives in Canberra who would be prepared to show me the ins and outs of balancing the scope properly, getting polar alignment and basically having their brains picked.

I am not looking for freebies. I am prepared to pay people for their time. I run a business and have no issues charging for my time and experience when someone requires it so I have no issues doing the same.

Pretty much available whenever and am prepared to travel (ACT region).

Thanks

John Hynes

Octane (Humayun) · #2 31-01-2010, 02:14 PM

I'd be happy to help for free, John.

Just a question, what equipment are you using? Your main scope/guide scope? Do you have a guide camera?

H

John Hynes · #3 31-01-2010, 06:30 PM

Thankyou very much, I would welcome the assistance. Just be aware I will try to reciprocate the gesture in some way!

I have a Saxon F1309FMS Newtonian scope. I purchased a Skywatcher HEQ5 mount that comes with the two axis controller and a polar scope.

Don't have a guide camera yet or guide scope yet. I want to get one but am a bit gun shy at the moment. I have not been able to get images from my Pentax camera. They blur and I am told this is becasue I do not have a Macro mode on the camera so it won't focus. I am waiting to see if I have to buy a different camera before buying stuff to use with a camera that focusses. Once I am getting sharp images I do want to get a modified 2ucam. I have a little asus laptop to conect it to.

Lumen Miner (Mitchell) · #4 31-01-2010, 09:44 PM

John, may I ask, have you attended any star parties before / your local astronomy group?
I only ask because there is no one worth the money that takes it. The beauty about this pursuit is people are MORE than willing to help set you up free of charge.
Like Octane you will find many of us willing to help. If Octane can't meet up with you, call your local club for their next meet-up, take your scope, set it up best you can then go for a wander. Soon enough conversation will switch to your scope. Once someone there finds out you are having issues, you won't be able to drag them away from your scope till it is setup and your shown how.

Get out there mate, plenty of people willing to help out.
The forums here are a great place to troubleshoot your problems, use the search first, then post your questions.

Davros (Lauren) · #5 31-01-2010, 09:59 PM

What type of camera are you using. A DSLR should reach focus. If not you may need an extension tube. If your alignment and tracking are OK and you have focus on a camera that can operate in bulb mode (manual long exposure) via a remote control you should be able to produce some images. Then the joys of processing begin.

John Hynes · #6 31-01-2010, 10:50 PM

The DSLR is a Pentax K10. The issue I have is that when I mount it directly to the focuser there is just not enough travel to get it close enough to get it in focus. I do have an extension tube, but I got closer to focus without it and the focuser as close to the scope as possible, but not quite enough. I do see how a macro setting may assist in this. I just wanted to exhaust all possibilities before having to buy a DSLR with the macro mode

I bought a generic 800mm lens forthe camera and got by on it for a while. I could even get by mounting the camera on top of the scope just to take advantage of the tracking, but I can see that shortly after that I will want to use the scope as a lens.

Davros (Lauren) · #7 01-02-2010, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hynes

The DSLR is a Pentax K10. The issue I have is that when I mount it directly to the focuser there is just not enough travel to get it close enough to get it in focus. I do have an extension tube, but I got closer to focus without it and the focuser as close to the scope as possible, but not quite enough. I do see how a macro setting may assist in this. I just wanted to exhaust all possibilities before having to buy a DSLR with the macro mode

I bought a generic 800mm lens forthe camera and got by on it for a while. I could even get by mounting the camera on top of the scope just to take advantage of the tracking, but I can see that shortly after that I will want to use the scope as a lens.

Interesting, ive never come across that problem before. I have always had to add extension tubes to get focus with the original focus tube on max extension. Hopefully an answer will be forthcoming from someone more knowledgeable.

Lismore Bloke (Paul) · #8 01-02-2010, 08:00 AM

I'm no imager, but quite often the mirror in a newtonian needs to be moved forward to achieve focus with a DSLR. This is because of the position of the sensor. This can sometimes be achieved with the mirror adjustment screws, without drilling holes in the tube. At times the focusser needs to be replaced with a low-profile one. The thread below discusses the problem:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ocus+newtonian

John Hynes · #9 01-02-2010, 09:28 AM

Thanks, you may be correct. I have bought a lower profile focuser and attached it, but unfortunately the larger focuser allowed a attachment via the three screws or thread the camera directly onto it. The lower profile one does not have a thread, so I have to use the focussing tube, making it further away. I am currently trying to find out from the place I bought it whether they have a small tube with thread on it that can be secured by the screws.

Sorry for teh long winded answer, I am sure there are names and words that would cover entire sentences.

John Hynes · #10 04-02-2010, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumen Miner

John, may I ask, have you attended any star parties before / your local astronomy group?
I only ask because there is no one worth the money that takes it. The beauty about this pursuit is people are MORE than willing to help set you up free of charge.
Like Octane you will find many of us willing to help. If Octane can't meet up with you, call your local club for their next meet-up, take your scope, set it up best you can then go for a wander. Soon enough conversation will switch to your scope. Once someone there finds out you are having issues, you won't be able to drag them away from your scope till it is setup and your shown how.

Get out there mate, plenty of people willing to help out.
The forums here are a great place to troubleshoot your problems, use the search first, then post your questions.

Thanks for the advice, I think it may be a little unfair to suggest that no one worth the money will take it. Students, retirees or people with limited spare time may know everything there is to know and want to be compensated. No one has to take the money, but if their particular circumstances warrant it, I think it quite fair. I also look at it as my researching and learning by trial and error would take far more time than picking the brain of someone experienced. It saves me time as well and if they are happy to be paid and I am happy to save time, I don't see an issue.

I would also feel far less guilty taking up hours of someone else's observing time if I can pay for their time, rather than rolling up and wearing out a welcome, uninvited.

barx1963 (Malcolm) · #11 04-02-2010, 10:24 PM

John, I can assure you, at most observing nights or star parties you would have to work really hard to wear out a welcome!
Most observers are happy to help and will be happy to let you try their gear as long as you observe a little courtesy and common sense, eg. ask permission and thank them afterwards. We are a small community of like minded people who are mostly rapt to thinks someone else is keen to join in.

Octane (Humayun) · #12 05-02-2010, 01:57 AM

John,

I'll be in touch with you soon. Been a busy week, almost over!

H

John Hynes · #13 06-02-2010, 04:38 PM

Whenever you are right, I'll make time.

I have a low profile focuser with a threaded lip on it's way on monday, so hopefully i may have sorted out my camera issues before you are free.