Photography help needed before I go get a comet tonight

[Dennis]

Open the back of the camera (with no film in it) and set say, a 1/10, ¼ and 1 second shutter speed and fire the shutter a few times. What do you see?

Is the shutter a rubberised roller blind that travels like a slit across the film?
Or,
Is it made up of a set of blades that open when you press the release?

You may be able to see a defect if there is one?

Cheers

Dennis

[erick (Eric)]

After several nights shooting film and having far too many shots overexposed or underexposed, I am coming to the realisation that I have to go DSLR. I'm looking longingly at a Pentax K100D - body only - I have all the Pentax K lenses I could want! Time to start saving the pennies.

Originally Posted by Calin

With all this 'hassel' and guess work then not knowing what the images will be like till you get them processed ... sounds like the film camera should be relegated to day-time terra subjects and invest in the trusty 'old' DSLR - I've been out every evening since the weather has 'cleared' at least until the comet makes it's appearance and taken on average around 80 shots per viewing. With immediate feedback adjusting for changing light conditions as you go. Of course there's the post image processing that can take on a life of it's own.

I'm out over Weston Creek, so probably spotted you driving up to Mt Stromolo and sharing the same clouds rolling in as the comet 'comes out'

The DSLR has made a huge difference to astrophotography and it has exploded in the last 10 years or so since the cameras have become relatively cheap. It only takes a few months of practice before you'll be churning out some very professional looking images, that otherwise with film might take several years to achieve similar results. At least with digital your not worried about how much 'film' your using and how much you have left .... Hats off too you if you stick with film and give it a bash ....

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by erick

After several nights shooting film and having far too many shots overexposed or underexposed, I am coming to the realisation that I have to go DSLR. I'm looking longingly at a Pentax K100D - body only - I have all the Pentax K lenses I could want! Time to start saving the pennies.

Hi Erick

Check out the buy sell ads, I think H0ughy has/had a Pentax *ist DS body only for sale - might be worth considering although these have been replaced by the K10X series I believe.

One word of warning though, the Pentax DSLRs are not as popular for astrophotography as the Canons and Nikons, so 3rd party support, accessories, mods and how too’s are quite difficult to find for the Pentax DSLRs.

Cheers

Dennis

[erick (Eric)]

Thanks Dennis, yes I've seen HOughy's offering - I think I need a camera whose name I can pronounce Actually, I'll use the camera for everything, so the stabilisation ability of the K100D is very interesting. Also, for the foreseeable future, I anticipate just pointing at the sky and shooting (or on my barndoor tracker I'm going to build - soon I promise myself), so I don't need to worry about all the shoot through scope options. Already having a pile of Pentax lenses is probably the clincher.

Originally Posted by Dennis

Hi Erick

Check out the buy sell ads, I think H0ughy has/had a Pentax *ist DS body only for sale - might be worth considering although these have been replaced by the K10X series I believe.

One word of warning though, the Pentax DSLRs are not as popular for astrophotography as the Canons and Nikons, so 3rd party support, accessories, mods and how too’s are quite difficult to find for the Pentax DSLRs.

Cheers

Dennis