Been a long time since I posted here. Unfortunately not by my own choices, a lot of things family related happened and needed to sort them out before being able to enjoy my hobbies again!
Quite some time ago I was learning about the stars and planets, the moon etc. I started viewing using a starter scope, something I bought cheaply from a local store. It has been nice, viewing the moon especially and even Jupiter/Saturn at times. Although I'm starting to outgrow this scope and also just viewing. I've always been interested in the photography side of things when it comes down to it. Unfortunately equipment wise and astrophotography wise I have no idea where to start out. Living in Darwin there are a few planetary objects that I can see at certain times of the year.
I was hoping someone could recommend some starter equipment for astrophotography, and maybe explain a bit about it.
Also, I have a Canon 1000D already, would it be possible to use this to take the shots?
generally speaking, each requires different equipment, that's why Rob asked
DSLR for Deep Space, yep you bet
For planetary, not really great.
Focal Ratio's come into it too, and Barlows or Focal Reducers, little scopes like ED80's that are fantastic for Deep Sky images, but can be awkward for Planetary.
For DSO's slow scopes like f10 and above need more aparture than for Planetary. Slow scopes are terrific but need Barlowing for Planetary but can be in the small Aperture range.
EQ mounts are essential for either (but you can do some planetary imaging with Alt/Az), Planetary doesn't need Autoguiding, Deep Space does. It's a long list of variables between the two.
Deep space is definitely a fascination of mine. It's going to be most of my focus really. Planetary is just more so something I'd do if for some reason I didn't feel like shooting DSO's. Although that's kinda why I have my other beginner scope here, just no images.
So if I was going for Deep space, where is a good starter?
The other elephant in the room is how much you want to spend. It is possible to do decent planetary with a webcam and almost any scope, but deep sky can turn into a bit of a monetary black hole. If DSOs are on the radar you need to do quite a bit of research on quality mounts, scope to give a decent flat field, and guiding options.
It is possible to do some planetary work with later model DSLRs by collecting video too.
Plenty of helpful souls here to bounce ideas off during the wet season though
Deep space is definitely a fascination of mine. It's going to be most of my focus really. Planetary is just more so something I'd do if for some reason I didn't feel like shooting DSO's. Although that's kinda why I have my other beginner scope here, just no images.
So if I was going for Deep space, where is a good starter?
DSO's image well starting out with something like an 6" SCT/EQ package and your DSLR, or to go even cheaper start with a HEQ5 GoTo mount and an ED80 with your DSLR
Many many people started out (and many still use) the ED80 on a HEQ5 or EQ6 mount
as has already been said there is no one scope does all situation! Deep sky objects require decent aperature and pin point tracking as the objects that you are photographing are generally very faint.
On the other hand having a planetary rig you want massive focal lengths which "zooms" in so you can get details.
If you are looking to use a DSLR in Darwin you will very quickly get sick of the thermal noise produced by the sensor (im from darwin lived there for 20+ years).
If money is not so much a problem, you might consider some other scopes apart from the ED80.
Go through the Deep Space imaging section and see what the others use rather than me make a long list here
And Brendan makes a good point.
Living in Darwin you will definitely need cooling on your camera.
I was reading up a bit about guidescope's and off axis guiders, pro's and cons etc. I was also reading about autoguiding but all the information on autoguiding seems to be relating to CCD's. Is it possible to do autoguiding and be using a DSLR?
Edit:
I was doing some more reading up, I think I may be a bit confused. The autoguider actually has it's own camera in it?
Edit 2:
I read up more again and now understand them a bit better. When Looking at guidescopes and autoguiders though is there some rule of thumb that needs to be followed? I guess the biggest worry for me is with a lack of knowledge for the more advanced equipment I'm not sure whether everything is going to fit together.
Jarryd, the autoguider isn't for imaging.
All it does is shows stars and you select one of them in the view and the computer will stay exactly on that star by sending signals to your mount.
If the mount moves off the star by even a few pixels the autoguiding program corrects the mount to move back exactly onto the star again.
That way the image in your main camera doesn't have stars and nebulas moving around
The Bintel camera and scope together looks ok. The good thing with scopes for autoguiding is that they don't have to be of high quality.
Ah okay, thank you Ken. After reading a bit I sort of figured the autoguider/guidescope is just for tracking.
So if I was to go for the Bintel package with the ST80 guidescope + autoguider and the Skywatcher ED80 and the EQ6 mount with my Canon 1000D am I going to have any problems?
You are probally going to have lots of problems. But if what you mean is will all of those items fit and work together, then yes you should be fine. You will also be needing something to attach the camera body to the telescope, which would mean these 2 adaptors.
If money isnt tight and you are looking at setting yourself up then the first adaptor may not be needed because I think you will possibly need a flattener down the track and this might have a T thread on it ( I dont own a refractor so I dont know for sure, but someone on here will)
good to see you're asking questions but reading up as well - hence, your edits are no drama.
The ED80's a great place to start as there's a steep learning curve and it would still be useful later as a guidescope if you ended up purchasing a bigger scope - the EQ6 is a good choice too as it'll handle that sort of upgrade.
The bintel guide package seems like a good deal, couple that with the ED80 and EQ6 and you're on your way.
The you'll need - t-ring and extension tube to connect camera into the 2" focusser of the scope, a laptop, some cables and a bahtinov mask to help you with focus. All bit and bobs and most of the software is freeware.
I've just been through the whole scope and mount purchase and I ended up with an ED80, NEQ6 and Orion StarShoot Autoguider kit. It all arrived last week so I may be partially responsible for half the country being covered in cloud for the eclipse. I finally got to use it tuesday night for the 1st time and managed to get an hours worth of imaging using my 60D in before the moon came up.
As Peter.M said there will be issues. But it wont be the gear it will be the user!! I have attached my 1st ever picture taken with similar gear to what you are looking at. Im pretty happy with it for a 1st go. I can see the obvious errors regarding focus and alignment but that is just the skills I need to improve on.
You wont be dissapointed with that gear list. Im not.
If you need a hand im in Palmerston, you could also check out my setup and results. I have an NEQ6 Pro, 8" newton, Orion awesome autoguider, dslr canon 550d. Pulled it off the pier today, the wets well and truly here and its game over for now.
Cheers,
Dan
refactor vs reflector war but here is some from my setup anyway.
Last edited by Cosmic; 15-12-2011 at 07:39 PM.
Reason: pictures
If a few of you guys want to get together ill be up in darwin for a few weeks as of next week. I could hold a bit of a learning session for some processing and or answer some of your questions. Just putting it out there if want to organise something just PM me.
(im from darwin lived there for 20+ years).
)
