Finding faint objects with DSLR?

[EzyStyles (Eric)]

one thing i don't get is with digital SLR through a tele (not piggyback) how do you guys find faint objects? not talking about the common M42's which you can see with the naked eye, objects you can't see even through the viewfinders. Do you guys literally take random shots at the sky hopefully you got the tele pointed in the right direction?

I'm thinking about maybe getting myself a DSLR. With the Meade DSI currently im using, I find it quite easy to find objects through a laptop screen.

many thanks.

[ving (David)]

maybe thu goto and guidescope?
dunno...

[JohnG (John)]

Me, I GOTO, take 4 second shots through DSLRFocus to get my focus spot on then do a 10 second shot and have a look on the computer screen then set the autoguider and let it settle down, take another 10 second shot for composure, when thats set, make sure the camera is on RAW and program how many exposures and ISO I want through DSLRFocus and then let the sequence go through automatically and download into the Laptop, do some Darks and Bias, all done.

Others may do it differently.

JohnG

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Goto definately makes it easier. If however you need to push to without an AN then it's a case of getting as close as you can with the finderscope, take you're focusing shots (either DSLR Focus (your mad if you don't, unless you've got a 20D) or 10 sec snap, check focus, refocus, 10 sec snap, check focus, refocus, 10 sec snap, zoom in, check focus, refocus, 10 sec snap, zoom in, check focus, ....yadda yadda until you're focused), then take a shot at max ISO for 0.25 to 0.5 of your calculated imaging time to see if you are centered on the object you want. If not then adjust scope and reshoot, adjust again as needed........ finally centered, RESET YOUR ISO (man the number of time's I've forgotten to do that ) and take your shots.


If you don't have them, get DSLR Focus and a Goto

(Did I make my point )