Houghy's final eclipse setup

[h0ughy (David)]

its like the world according to GARP - a rather altered sense of reality - this is my final eclipse setup.

I have connected 3 cameras to the mac air utilising a powered USB hub, leaving one USB port free in case of an emergency setup?

I can drive the 60D and the 600D as well as the trusty old 30D with the extra leg (well shoestring trigger ) . I did purchase a Canon 650D but with the canon SDK's it wont work with Eclipse orchestrator (win) or more importantly Solar Eclipse Maestro on the mac.

I have done several live "practice" tests and the only things I now need practice are the setting up of the tripod and Starlaspe. I will be taking my Polarie mount as this will be holding the Canon 30D.

I am stoked that i can drive 3 cameras at once!!!! see the second video for the 2 minutes of terror, the first one is just showing some bits of SEM.

I have been doing a little bit of testing for Xavier with the canon cameras with SEM. top bloke

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now as for the 650D - i finally worked out what i will be doing with that one - i will be placing it on a tripod and attaching the standard 70-300 canon lens to it and using the video function do the totality in video form.

so I will be taking the following

Canon 60D with 32G
Canon 650D with 8G
Canon 600D with 32G
Canon 30D with 16G
canon G12 for some happy snaps 32G

50mm, 70-200mmL lens
400mm L lens
70-300mm lens

lithium external power pack
powered USB hub.
Macbook Air 11"
Acer aspire 3830T
power supplies for said lappys
camera battery chargers
powered USB leads 5m x 3
lithium AA batteries, AAA batteries
2 inverlometers
Aluminuim table
lotsa sunscreen and a can of cloudaway

Al Meehan and Scott Alder have seen the monster at work, I think Al just realised i mean business, and has gone home to do lots of homework learning how to drive his camera. Many thanks to Mr Alder for the loan of the 400mm L lens

now to pack the stuff

[bartman (Bart)]

Me thinks David wont miss a single photon!
Awesome set up David.
Is the Acer a backup if the Mac fails?
Cheers
Bartman

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

You get 10 bonus Brownie Points for mentioning one of my most favourite books and movies.

Wowee Dave, leave some photons for us mate. Looking forward to catching up with you in Cairns.

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by bartman

Me thinks David wont miss a single photon!
Awesome set up David.
Is the Acer a backup if the Mac fails?
Cheers
Bartman

Yes bartman it is the alternative just in case. As for missing a single photon - who knows?

It will be my first eclipse, there are far more seasoned and veteran eclipse chasers out there that deserve respect - and i have been listening intently to the advice

if this setup performs it will be the basis for a future trip in 2017 to the USA

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

You get 10 bonus Brownie Points for mentioning one of my most favourite books and movies.

Wowee Dave, leave some photons for us mate. Looking forward to catching up with you in Cairns.

plenty on offer up there JJJ. I just need to take my fair share back home

[bartman (Bart)]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

It will be my first eclipse, there are far more seasoned and veteran eclipse chasers out there that deserve respect - and i have been listening intently to the advice

Surely this is not the first eclipse you have witnessed?
Even though there are seasoned eclipse chasers out there, I'm sure with the equipment and set up you have ( and the dedication/advice you have received), you'll be able to produce some stunning results!
Pack and observe safely...
Bartman

[venus (Lydia)]

watch out DARLEKS!

[acropolite (Phil)]

Impressive setup. Looks like you have almost every eventuality covered.... but have you tested with cloud filters Dave??

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by acropolite

Impressive setup. Looks like you have almost every eventuality covered.... but have you tested with cloud filters Dave??

no i havent Phil but i know that JJJ has the cure for that - the official Clooouwwdsdissappear chant

[tornado33]

Yep I saw the setup in person today, quite amazing and definately the way to get some amazing eclipse imagery.
Scott

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Very nice. When nothing succeeds like excess . You seem to have all bases covered. What's you plan for the solar filters?

[bartman (Bart)]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

no i havent Phil but i know that JJJ has the cure for that - the official Clooouwwdsdissappear chant

Or you might want to employ this girl....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLzSRNqa7X0

Bartman

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

Very nice. When nothing succeeds like excess . You seem to have all bases covered. What's you plan for the solar filters?

I will be using ND5 solar film that way focus wont be changed - using the method by ozEclipse

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by tornado33

Yep I saw the setup in person today, quite amazing and definately the way to get some amazing eclipse imagery.
Scott

LOL i used your lens tonight just on the tripod with the 650D Scott

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

I see another Malin coming ...looks great Dave, shame I'm not coming witch ya

Mike

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

I see another Malin coming ...looks great Dave, shame I'm not coming witch ya

Mike

no Mike you don't, there are much bigger boys out there with way better and bigger toys......... I just want something to remember the trip by

[bojan]

Looks OK.. However, if I were you, I would mount lenses and cameras such that they are closer to tripod vertical axis, to improve balance.
It may prove to be useful to reduce occupied footprint, in case locals decide to impose charges per square meter..

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by bojan

Looks OK.. However, if I were you, I would mount lenses and cameras such that they are closer to tripod vertical axis, to improve balance.
It may prove to be useful to reduce occupied footprint, in case locals decide to impose charges per square meter..

in a nutshell - i can't - the balance point is how it is in the pictures. I might have to go country in order to get rural rates

[OzEclipse (Joe Cali)]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

I will be using ND5 solar film that way focus wont be changed - using the method by ozEclipse

I may have misled you slightly. Anything in the optical path can change focus. I'm sure that at some level, the Baader film does too. With the WO70 f6.3 I use, I find the Baader doesn't change the focus perceptibly in the eyepiece or on the final image and certainly not as much as a glass filter or thicker plastic filter can. I do a final trim on focus on the mountains on the limb about 30-50 seconds before totality just before removing the filter. Don't leave it too late but if you do it too early, the rapidly changing temperature can get you.

But if you use a 400mm f2.8, you might notice something of a focus shift because of the shallow focus.

For an eclipse, optical systems of f6-f8 at ISO 100 require exposures ranging from 1/4000 up to a few seconds from inner to outer corona and 8s for the Earthshine.

Looks like an awesome system Houghy. Looking forward to see the results.

Joe

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by OzEclipse

I may have misled you slightly. Anything in the optical path can change focus. I'm sure that at some level, the Baader film does too. With the WO70 f6.3 I use, I find the Baader doesn't change the focus perceptibly in the eyepiece or on the final image and certainly not as much as a glass filter or thicker plastic filter can. I do a final trim on focus on the mountains on the limb about 30-50 seconds before totality just before removing the filter. Don't leave it too late but if you do it too early, the rapidly changing temperature can get you.

But if you use a 400mm f2.8, you might notice something of a focus shift because of the shallow focus.

For an eclipse, optical systems of f6-f8 at ISO 100 require exposures ranging from 1/4000 up to a few seconds from inner to outer corona and 8s for the Earthshine.

Looks like an awesome system Houghy. Looking forward to see the results.

Joe

so if i get absolutely perfect focus on a star then put the filter over it will be out of focus?