"DSLR Cookbook for Astrophotography using ImagesPlus" by Tim Cann (price from OPT- approx $35 Aus to your door)
Mini-review
Many of us who are new to digital imaging and processing are always looking out for that extra bit of information to help us in our quest for the "perfect" image
. Over the past year I have started to amass quite a collection of books and internet documents. Unfortunately it is not easy to find a book or document that covers all the aspect that I am interested in learning, so a bit of juggling and mixing and matching of information is often involved in putting information into practice. So when I heard about this book being offered by OPT (Oceanside Photo and Telescope - US) that combined using the various Canon DSLRs and ImagesPlus for capture and processing I though that maybe this is just what I was looking for.
It is described as a "Cookbook". In other words it is a "how to book". Not a "You do this because of this to achieve this part of an outcome". It doesn't explain why you do something, just step by step processes to achieve satisfactory results. Exactly the same as a normal cooking cookbook "Take 1 kg of flour and sift, fold in 3 egg whites, set oven to 180 deg C...etc". No why is this so, just do it this way to achieve a result. I thought for some of us who are still struggling or just starting to struggle this might be an excellent way of learning the process and get some results quickly. Sort of like using a GOTO scope. Get out there get results but at the same time lessen the steepness of the learning curve. And from its description as a cookbook that is exactly what it is, but unfortunately not quite the sort of cookbook I was expecting.
I must admit that I made an assumption about the book based on part of its title "using ImagesPlus" that it had to do with processing (Never judge a book by its cover). I didn't read the full description on the website (full description here
http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?...cookbook&st=2). So my disappointment is largely my fault for poor research. So what is this book that disappointed me; it is a how to for Digital DSO photography using Canon cameras (there is also another book for Nikon) from setting up you mount, to centering your object to capturing your image, to processing your image. The part I was really interested in, the processing part is only a small part of the book, about a quarter, and really only gives 2 options when it comes to processing images. Not a bad thing but I was expecting more.
Now might be a good time to give you a description of the book. It is only a small book, 76 pages at A5 size and spiral bound (which I though was great. Technical books should be able to be opened flat or folded over on itself without splitting the spine. Spiral bound books are great for this). It is produced by Oceanside Photo and Telescope and is obviously photocopied (though excellent quality) and bound at a print shop. This doesn't detract from the book but it is important to be aware of this as I was expecting a pretty bound book with all the trimmings. There are no images. There is very little space filling banter. It is the bare bones. It is step by step instructions only with the minimum of explanation, though what explanations are given is excellent in helping to understand some of the processes. I wouldn't take it outside on dewy nights though as the paper is only moderately heavy photocopy paper that would probably be fairly absorbent and wouldn’t take a lot of dew.
The book is broken into four sections.
1. Introduction
2. Set Up
3. Image Acquisition
4. Image Processing.
The Introduction contains information regarding basic equipment assumption, notation standards and file formats.
The Set Up section deals with:
1. Software initialization and setup
2. Computer setup and file management
3. Camera setup and attachment
4. Telescope setup and polar alignment
The Image Acquisition deals with:
1. Locating and Centering an Object
2. Focusing
3. Guiding Setup and Verification
4. Image Capture
The Image Processing section deals with:
1. Image Conversion
2. Image Calibration
3. Image Alignment & Stacking
4. Image Processing
5. Image Printing and Internet Posting
Ok, so is this a book worth buying. Well, if you are an old hand at imaging or you already have a handle on the basics of setup, capture and processing; then no. That doesn't mean that if you were to get this book you wouldn't get some information from it. But for the price I would be expecting more.
It is aimed at those who are just starting out, who have little idea about the process of capture and processing AND are using ImagesPlus version 2.50. That is the biggest caveat. All focusing, capture, processing etc is explained from the point of view of using this application. So if you don't have it or are not thinking of getting it, I certainly wouldn't buy this book. If however these criteria do apply to you and you are just starting out, then there is definitely value in this book and you could do a lot worse with other books. It is easy to follow and covers the basics fairly well.
Is it worth the $35 paid for it? For me, no, not really. If you are just starting out, it might be just what you are looking for.
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