I recently got a GSO680 Dob and want to use it to take some decent pics of the planets.
I have an adustable t-piece adapter of the type one sticks an eyepiece inside of, and a canon 7d.
The photo attached was taken with a 20mm plossl, using movie mode and stacking the result in registax. seeing was poor to average.
(this was my first attempt so snigger if you must!)
i would like to 'zoom in' a bit closer so registax has more detail to play with, but am torn about the quickest way to get it... (budget is < AUD$200)
I have EP's ranging from 20 to 6mm
i tried with one of those awful 3x plastic barlows and a 15mm EP (wont focus without the barlow) it certainly got closer even if the results were laughable....
with the kit i already have.....would i be better off getting a good quality barlow....
or should i get myseld something like a nexstar and forget using the SLR?
are there any other ways of getting a larger, more detailed image without to much outlay?
I have a 10 inch unguided, non goto (i.e. completely manual) dob (skywatcher flextube) and took the picture attached with the following equipment:
6mm TMB Planetary II (clone) eyepiece ($55)
Canon a590is in video mode, 20 fps, 640x480 resolution, using optical zoom at 4x - I bought this about 4 1/2 years ago new for $109. It is a compact camera not an SLR.
Televue 2x Barlow ($109)
I attached the camera to the eyepiece with the help of a stepdown ring and a business card cut up to take up the slack.
The hardest thing was getting the telescope positioned so that Saturn would drift through the field of view.
I processed the video files on a pentium 4 computer, using free software.
I think you are best off getting a decent 2x barlow, and a point and shoot camera with video mode (you may already have one knocking around, or get one second hand for very little). That will get you started for very little extra outlay.
(it was actually this very pic that inspired me to have a go!)
- as it happens i have tried afocal with my a720is - as there is no manual exposure control in video mode
The camera takes an average exposure reading. Since the image is mostly black, the planet itself ends up way overexposed.
The image of saturn is all white, with detail bleeding all over the place.
how did you manage to get your images correctly exposed?
I'm chuffed that my image inspired you (just like I was inspired by others here)!
Your camera is very similar to mine, except better as it does 30 fps whereas mine only does 20 at 640x480. So I would think you should be able to get an image like mine, with fewer passes of Saturn through the field of view.
My camera also has no provision for manual adjustment of aperture in movie mode. I have tried taking video at lower magnification (with the 6mm ep and no barlow) and Saturn was overexposed.
The higher the magnification, the dimmer Saturn will appear.
It seems that the exposure is perfect when I use the combination of 6mm eyepiece, 2x barlow and 4x optical zoom on the camera. That is a happy coincidence as I doubt I could control the dob at any higher magnification.
So I suggest you try with a higher magnification. As your telescope is 8 inches, my guess is a 9mm eyepiece with 2x barlow would be a good starting point.
I hope this all makes sense, and look forward to seeing your first pics.
Can you show me exactly how you attached the camera?
i have one of those plastic universal adaptors - it works - but you mentioned you do it with a stepdown ring?
(this sounds a bit sturdier to me, as well as easier to get the camer lens centred and square on)
i picked up a GSO 2.5 barlow (very cheap) to play around with.
it worked ok from an exposure perspective....
(i also have another compact that does 1080p and it worked as well)
Only problem now is.....i think saturn is getting too low in the sky
and the seeing is pretty bad (sigh)
can't see the bands, nor the division.....even through my best EP.
ah well....will keep trying while waiting for jupiter
I have a 10 inch unguided, non goto (i.e. completely manual) dob (skywatcher flextube) and took the picture attached with the following equipment:
6mm TMB Planetary II (clone) eyepiece ($55)
Canon a590is in video mode, 20 fps, 640x480 resolution, using optical zoom at 4x - I bought this about 4 1/2 years ago new for $109. It is a compact camera not an SLR.
Televue 2x Barlow ($109)
I attached the camera to the eyepiece with the help of a stepdown ring and a business card cut up to take up the slack.
The hardest thing was getting the telescope positioned so that Saturn would drift through the field of view.
I processed the video files on a pentium 4 computer, using free software.
I think you are best off getting a decent 2x barlow, and a point and shoot camera with video mode (you may already have one knocking around, or get one second hand for very little). That will get you started for very little extra outlay.
Good luck with it!
Hey John,
nice shot , just goes to show
I will be researching this 6mm TMB Planetary II EP of yours
Is it the 58 deg FOV ?
great work !
+1 for the powermate , a great bit of kit , expensive , yes but worth every cent .
