Ah yes the trip down memory lane was fun.
Marc: The quality of shot possible now days is incredible compared to what we thought was impressive back then. Yes the technology now is great, autoguiding was a chore for sure, having one's eye glued to an eyepiece for an hour at a time can be a drag but of course we knew no better so that was just how it was
The change in image quality possible is no more astonishingly illustrated than when we compare these two award winning images for their time, the same object, similar apperture and focal length and both 35mm format sensors/film:
1984 (admittedly - scanned from a poor quality print):
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...94039/original
2008&9:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...61387/original
Gary: I could never have afforded that setup either but I won funding for that camera and two lenses for my School in Canberra in a science competition where I entered a series of panel displays documenting various aspects of astronomy through my astrophotography. It was the equivalent now of getting say..?..an FLI ProLine 16803 or Canon 1D MKIV and two ED telephoto lenses
so I was very lucky to have such equipment at the tender age of just 17 - Shame it is still at the school (I assume) as I would love to try the lenses now with my ProLine 11002. I too imaged Halleys with that 6X7 and lenses, you can see them here:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...eys_comet_1986
** Now, all you other jokers: What's wrong with my appearence
huh? I was a nice slender type back then (a mere 100kg) and I cut my hair short now cause I want too (lazy) not cause I am going bald
We now live in a digital age where we can shoot, delete, reshoot, edit. You must find this really easy now with all the new gear and automation these days no? Again, terrific shot.
