Some widefield shots

[Radar]

I took these shots at Golden Grove on Monday night. I was there from 8pm till 6a.m.

All images are 30 minutes, either on Fuji Provia 400F and Elite Chrome 200, I can't remember which film is for what photo at the moment because my note book is still in the car. I have more images, will post soon.

Ptolemy's Cluster M7

420

Just a chunk of sky near Sagittarius

421

NGC 3532

422

Lagoon and Trifid

423

Southern Cross and Carina

424

[Radar]

They all still need some processing, I'll get there eventually.

This next one is Sagittarius

425

Star Trails

426

With these Southern Cross shots, there was some very light cloud that moved in front of my FOV. This has created a hazy effect. I think the blurriness is from losing the guide-star momentarily.

Southern Cross

427

Southern Cross

428

Scorpius

429

[rogerg]

Congrats on the wide range of objects you managed to acquire in the night Ray. It's no easy task skipping between that many objects.

I find the images are a little over saturated/constrasty, but perhaps that's just me.

I had a film camera going down at astro camp, it felt good, I really enjoy (and still enjoy) doing the film photography, it's just so simplistic compared to the digital! So increadably simplistic.

I'm not sure if I'll get the roll developed soon or keep it to finish next new moon.

Still working on my digital shots from the weekend too.

[Radar]

Hi Rog, I agree that some of these shots are over saturated. I'm not sure why, they were being scanned raw and the colours were like that. There must be a setting in my scanner somewhere that needs to be adjusted.

[Omega]

Do you shoot thru a telescope or with your camera mounted on a tripod?

I have a CCD (Meade DSI) that I am busting to try (had it for a year now, but have just bought a new laptop to run it!!)

I could use film with my old F90X, but also have a D200 and assorted lenses from 18mm to 500mm and a 1.6x and 2x converters.

I am just trying to get 'into' astrophotography and am very new at it.

When I get it up and happening you are welcome to try out my DSI anytime I am at GG. Oh, that is when I figure out how to use it!

Angie

[Dusty]

Lovely images Radar !

It's time to start looking into Digital, there's never been a better time to get a DSLR.

:thumbsupmate:

[Radar]

Do you shoot thru a telescope or with your camera mounted on a tripod?

When I get it up and happening you are welcome to try out my DSI anytime I am at GG. Oh, that is when I figure out how to use it!

Angie

Hi Angie,

Welcome to the site.

I shoot through both. Piggyback and through the telescope.

I have seen some great shots with the Meade DSI. Stick with it because they can yeild some great results.

If you have any questions, just ask away.

And Dusty, glad you like my pics, I am going to go CCD soon. I really want to start tri-colour imaging. I just need the cash.

Regards

Ray

[wakaleo]

Gidday Radar

Nice photos mate. I have a second-hand OM1 that has been sitting idle for 30 months since I got myself a Nikon D70. Must get it operational again and use it for some night sky shots.

Is there any particular brand and ISO rating film you recommend? Is the camera simply piggy-backed and if so is the mount hand or auto guided? What lens do you use? If piggy-backed and using a wide-angle lens, how do you avoid getting the front of the scope in the frame?

Sorry for all the questions, and I apologise if this subject has already been discussed elsewhere, but there's nothing like going to the source for the good oil!

Regards

Wakaleo

[Mick]

Hey nice images Ray, what no exploding rockets this weekend. :Chessy_Smile:

[Radar]

Is there any particular brand and ISO rating film you recommend? Is the camera simply piggy-backed and if so is the mount hand or auto guided? What lens do you use? If piggy-backed and using a wide-angle lens, how do you avoid getting the front of the scope in the frame?

Sorry for all the questions, and I apologise if this subject has already been discussed elsewhere, but there's nothing like going to the source for the good oil!


The lower the better Jim. I hover around the 200 - 400 ISO mark.

I guide manually and automatically. Depends on my energy levels and how much time I have. It's worth while learning and becoming good at both.

For these shots, I used a couple of different lenses. A 28mm nikkor lens and a 200mm nikkor lens.

When I piggyback my shots I have an improvised piggyback bracket that I can swivel and move in any direction, so this allows me to not shoot the tip of the scope. Piggyback brackets that are rigid and only point toward the front of the scope can be frustrating at times, especially if you are using a widefield lens. Try and stay away from them Jim.


Hey nice images Ray, what no exploding rockets this weekend. :Chessy_Smile:

Nah not this weekend Mick, I was going to, but I just couldn't be bothered. :Chessy_Smile:

[Noel Carboni]

Beautiful, just beautiful stuff!

What size (pixel count) do you scan these at?

-Noel

[wakaleo]

Thanks for the info Ray. I s'pose you use an adaptor to fit the nikkor lenses to your OM1?

One of my Orion 'scope's mounting rings has a threaded camera mount on it. Shouldn't I be able to set the tripod and equatorial up without the OTA and mount the camera on the ring (might have to fit a bit of poly pipe or similar to the rings to reduce the risk of vibration though). Wouldn't I then have a tracking mount with no 'scope to obscure the view. Or am I missing something here?

[Radar]

Hi Noel,

These shots were scanned at 2,000 DPI. I set it up to create a 6 meg file though. There are a few techniques that I still need to learn for scanning. I have most of what I need learnt, but there are a couple of other things I still need to go over.

Cheers

Ray

[Clownfish]

Very nice Ray! Are you going to create these into one giant mosaic?

CF

[Radar]

G'day Clowny, welcome to the site mate.

A mosaic is exactly what I am thinking of doing. I want to get a few more shots next month and start piecing them together.

Where are you currently based?

Cheers

Ray

[Clownfish]

I'm still in Warsaw, Poland. We leave here July 27th for some home-leave and additional training and then head to Pretoria, South Africa on September 17th. My #1 goal in the USa is to pick up my scope, camera gear, and slide scanner from storage in Virginia and have it shipped on to Africa!

CF

[Radar]

Is it the Meade SN that you are picking up? From memory you took some great shots with that scope.

Your guiding simulator works well to.

Cheers

Ray