Camera question

[axle01 (Alan)]

I just took delivery of my new United Optics ULT132 telescope and now i need some advise on a camera setup.

I have a Nikon D300 and a Nikon D3s and the adapter and camera mount.

My question is, will the DSLR give me better results than a dedicated CCD camera or would i be better off getting a good quality CCD camera.

Alan

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Hi Alan, thats a big question.
That depends on what astrophotography you wish to attempt. Planetary, DSO, lunar, widefeild and what equipment you have to make it all happen.
Do you have a tracking mount ?
I'd suggest starting with widefield just using the camera and existing lenses to discover some of the techniques and pitfalls and then progres from there.
I've been working towards astrophotography for nearly two years now and I am just starting to come to grips with some of the issues involved.
Maybe if you tell us a little more about what hardware etc you have, your astronomical experience and what you want to acheive then better advice can be given.

[axle01 (Alan)]

Thanks Brent, i have a Sky-Watcher AZEQ6 GT Dual Mount on the way and as i said i have a Nikon D300 and a D3s, lenses start with a 10.5 f2.8 Fisheye,,,35 f2,,,50 f1.4,,, 105 f2.8 macro,,,300 f2.8 VR11,,, 16-35 f4,,,24-70 f2.8,,, 28-300 f3.5/5.6 and a 70-200 f2.8 VR11.

As for astronomical experience that is a big zero but i am into photography and i would like to start with the moon, star trails then planetary.

Alan

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Moon is quite easy with DSLR but not the best option. ISO200, 1/125th but try various combinations. The moon is so bright in some areas but almost pitch black in others. I take about 20-30 shots, pick the best to work on. You can stack them with Registax (free) to improve resolution. The atmosphere tends to blur the details and this helps but moon photgraphy is normally done from an avi file from a webcam, not a DSLR, same for planetary.

Star trails are the easy ones, just a longish exposure or multiple exposures accummulated. There is software to do his but I haven't gone down that path myself. Widefeild is also an option here. Higher ISO and exposure not so long as to show rotation. The wider the lens the less apparent it is but it will accumulate the Milky Way star fields and some nebula clouds.

Planetary is best done with modified webcams, high magnification and stacked video (avi). They are normally too small to be well captured with DSLR although modern DSLRs with video capability are being used to see how they go by some.

DSOs which you haven't mentioned, are good subjects for DSLRs. Semi-widefeild as they can quite large and long exposures to capture enough photons to be useful. Guiding and filters become important in this area. This si the area I am most interested in and also in many ways the most demanding.

There are many postings and advice on here in both the forums and in Projects and Articles on the various forms and practices of astrophotography. I suggest you read some of their threads to understand and learn the techniques and pitfalls of which there are many.

Expect it to be both a slow path and an expensive one as I have found.

But fun !!

Your EQ6 will be capable of guiding btw, good, you'll need it if the bug gets to you.
I ama serious photog myself btw. Motorsports mainly.

[axle01 (Alan)]

Thanks Brent very much appreciated.

Alan