Nikon D40x and astrophotography

Hypnotist (Bartholomew) · #1 03-09-2010, 06:00 AM

Hey guys,

I've got this Nikon D40x that I got as a birthday present a few years ago. I don't know very much about photographers' vocabulary such as ISO, noise etc. I've ordered myself a remote for my camera, a celestron cpc 1100 xlt is on its way, along with an equatorial wedge, a Nikon T-ring, a T-ring adapter, some filters, additional eyepieces etc. Now I quite basically need to know what settings to use and "what buttons to hit" to make this work out. (Please don't tell me that Canon cameras are better; I've got to use what I have, I'm only 15).

Esseth (Alan) · #2 03-09-2010, 07:25 AM

I have a Nikon D40x and i love it, although i am only starting to dabble with AP until i get my self an Heq5pro. however i have taken a quite a few afocal shots with my dob

Still very early into the learning curve.

The only things i can tell you so far is use the M mode for manual focus and exposure settings, i bought the "Nikon D40/x for Dummies" as it was my first DSLR and it was well worth it

Logieberra (Logan) · #3 03-09-2010, 09:42 AM

All of my astro photos (not that I've done that many) have been taken with my Nikon D40 (not the X version). Yours will have more megapixels.

I'm not expert, so in the right hands you'll get even better results!

I love it.

Another member on here "Omaroo" uses it as well.

Here was my first image with the Nikon, single exposure, ED80. And my first image with the Nikon, single exposure, 10" Newtonian. No stacking etc. You can expect similar results if your doing guided exposures.

There is also a Yahoo user group for the D40... do a google search.

And I recommend a few accessories:

- Oxford Eye TetherPro camera control software (Nikon does not come with any)

- IR shutter remote / release (cheap, from China/Ebay)

- Extra battery (off ebay)

- Focal reducer for the Celestron (this is a complex issue, I can't help here, but I'm pretty sure that you'll need one for deep sky exposures... Perhaps create a seperate post and get the experts to chime in).

Cheers,

Logie.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #4 03-09-2010, 10:23 AM

I still use my Nikon D40 for my lunar work - in preference to either my Canon 350D or 40D. For some reason I just prefer the colour it produces on this object - even after experimenting ad nauseam with various white balance settings on all of them.

For deep sky, I've found that the D40 likes to produce a fair amount of purple cast in bright stars. It can be eliminated, for the most part, in post-shoot processing. For a camera that doesn't turn off the read-out amplifier during the exposure (such as the 40D Canon does) it controls amp glow far better than the 350D. I have qualified this by providing a series of test exposures from my D40 here:

http://www.omaroo.com/index.php?opti...g2_itemId=2381

Noise levels at medium ISO settings were also noticeably better than those generated by the 350D. Noise control was a fair step up from the D50/70 days preceding it.

The D40 doesn't have a physical cable release, but works just fine with an infrared remote. All you need to do is set it to bulb mode, press the remote and time it yourself. A bit of a pain but no biggie.

It's a very good camera. Given that it was Nikon's entry-level DSLR, it has provided many astrophotographers with good results.

Logieberra (Logan) · #5 03-09-2010, 10:32 AM

NOISE REDUCTION

This setting confused me to begin with...

Eg, if you take 3min shot, the camera then takes a DARK shot by itself for the same duration right after. It will clean up the noise that is generated for the shot duration that you just took. This means that you'll be waiting 6mins until you can take another shot...

I turn of this setting. The post-shot preview now pops straight up after the shot, and I use a program like Deep Sky Stacker to add my own DARKS.

Hypnotist (Bartholomew) · #6 03-09-2010, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logieberra

- Focal reducer for the Celestron (this is a complex issue, I can't help here, but I'm pretty sure that you'll need one for deep sky exposures... Perhaps create a seperate post and get the experts to chime in).

Logie,
Is this what you mean?
http://www.telescopes.com/telescope-...ocal%20reducer

will it work with the the D40x?

Hypnotist (Bartholomew) · #7 03-09-2010, 08:33 PM

I'm getting myself Adobe Photoshop Elements 8, will that work well in astrophotography and with my D40x?

Logieberra (Logan) · #8 03-09-2010, 09:56 PM

Sorry mate, I'm not qualified to make recommendations on this. I'm a relative newbie to the astro hobby.

I can only comment on the D40

Cheers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hypnotist

Logie,
Is this what you mean?
http://www.telescopes.com/telescope-...ocal%20reducer

will it work with the the D40x?

Hypnotist (Bartholomew) · #9 03-09-2010, 10:29 PM

But Logieberra, tell me do you use one of those reducers with your D40, or don't you?

Visionoz (Bill) · #10 05-09-2010, 02:26 AM

Hi

Yes that's the right focal reducer for your new CPC1100 SCT scope

It will reduce your focal ratio of F/10 down to F/6.3 so that imaging times will be shortened accordingly

HTH
Cheers
Bill

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hypnotist

Logie,
Is this what you mean?
http://www.telescopes.com/telescope-...ocal%20reducer

will it work with the the D40x?