DSLRUsers.com

by **Killakoala** on Mon Feb 14, 2005 11:03 pm

For those interested in Astrophotography, here are a couple of pics of my setup at home as requested by some members.

Consisiting of
1 x Meade LX-90 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope with Autotracking.
1 x Nikon D70 camera
1 x Toshiba Laptop
1 x Camera T-Adapter (To interface between camera and Telescope)
1 x USB cable to control camera via Nikon Capture control
1 x Card table
1 x Directors chair
1 x Maglite Torch
2 x Power cables.
5 x Hours spent taking photos
101 x Photos taken
1.5 x Batteries drained

Photos
The complete setup showing the telescope and camera in the prime focal method, the laptop showing Nikon Capture and a pic of what i just shot, the Great Orion Nebula. (Messier 42)

For a closer look at the D70 in Prime Focal setup click this link below. Only 160k but 1335 pixels long so too big for this page.

http://killakoala.smugmug.com/photos/15867460-O.jpg

And of course my astronomy gallery that is looking a bit bare. I will be adding more pics this week.
http://killakoala.smugmug.com/gallery/246284

by **sirhc55** on Mon Feb 14, 2005 11:43 pm

Steve - very impressive but I could not see a ”slab” anywhere :wink:

by **Killakoala** on Mon Feb 14, 2005 11:49 pm

sirhc55 wrote:Steve - very impressive but I could not see a ”slab” anywhere

Good point and i must add that there is only one beer in the fridge too, and no more to be seen anywhere in my house

by **Werewolf** on Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:02 am

Nice set up you've got there Steve. I've seen some of your astro-shots here and on DP Review - very impressed. Can I ask you how much a telescope like that would cost? Way down on the list of priorities, but one day.......................... :roll:

by **Glen** on Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:03 am

Steve, your first transit of Venus is quite eerie, though I am sure you weren't going for a moody look.

by **Mark T** on Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:19 am

Hi Steve,

That photo of the Orion Nebula is just great.

Are they really the colours as seen by the D70? For some reason, I had always imagined that those colour images from Hubble et al were colour corrected to make them more attractive.

About this time last year, I was looking at buying a telescope. My two year old daughter was able (with a little help) to pick out Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and of course Luna. (She's now a year older and has found other ways of stalling before bedtime. :lol:

) When looking at telescopes, I was impressed with the auto tracking and the ability to attach a camera etc. However, I didn't have a camera then, and no intention of getting one. One year later and I have a new D70, but no telescope.

Your post has rekindled my interest and I may have another look into it later this month.

Regards,

Mark T

by **sheepie** on Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:24 am

Being one of those who have asked to see your setup, thanks for sharing

Even more lens envy now! :lol:

If you end up coming to Jenolan, would love to see this baby in action!

by **Killakoala** on Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:09 am

Werewolf This particualar telescope (Meade LX-90) costs about 3-3.5k and then theres other things to buy as well, such as lenses, camera mounts. (If you want Meade then you won't be able to purchase a new unit direct from the US as they prevent grey exports to help local suppliers, even though they are much cheaper in the US, including postage)

Glen
The transit of Venus pic was one of those where the cloud 'got in the way.' There was plenty of cloud that day, as luck would have it

Mark T The colours of the Orion Nebula are as the camera recorded the image. The Hubble photos are composites of 4 seperate images taken with different coloured filters, Red, Green, Blue and some other special low band pass filter. This is so that non-specific colours are not photographed. All the photos are then layered and adjusted to give a correct colour hue. Too complicated and time consuming for my liking

by **Onyx** on Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:08 am

Steve, just one thing - you need to discover Surefire torches. Maglites are the Applies of the illumination industry. They look pretty and cost a fortune but aren't at all any brighter than standard.

by **xerubus** on Tue Feb 15, 2005 9:59 am

great setup Steve... thankyou for sharing...

looking forward to seeing more of your astro work....

by **Killakoala** on Tue Feb 15, 2005 10:47 pm

Onyx wrote:Steve, just one thing - you need to discover Surefire torches. Maglites are the Applies of the illumination industry. They look pretty and cost a fortune but aren't at all any brighter than standard.

Agreed but it was a gift and i've got it now so no point buying a better torch, yet

But the surefire looks appealing. I'm not sure if it would be useful to me using one that bright as i would instantly lose my night vision when iturn it on. I'd look like this -> :shock: