Ring World... [Archive] - Talk Photography

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Aeryk01

12-05-2005, 13:38

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I've been experimenting with some astrophotography lately. This is a shot of my first planetary image. I find it rather acceptable.

Thanks,
Eric

http://www.geocities.com/aeryk_m_69/sat01.jpg

dlh

12-05-2005, 13:54

WOW :shock:

Steve

12-05-2005, 14:58

WOW :shock:

Indeed :shock:

Eric I hope you will share as much info about that picture as possible as I am extreamly interested to learn the whole process that you had to go through. Is that correct in we are looking at a picture made up from 526 frames?

Aeryk01

12-05-2005, 18:01

Yes Steve, that is correct. 526 frames stacked. I will elaborate the process here.

ANY telescope is capable of becoming a HUGE telephoto lense. The camera one uses can be anything from a DSLR to a regular Manual SLR to a simple webcam, which is what I used. Basically, I remove the focus lens on the webcam simply by unscrewing it out. I bought what is called a "Moog" adapter for $30US, which the screws into the webcam in place of the focus lens. This adapter basically enables the webcam to join onto the telescope. From here, I get whatever object i want to shoot into the telescope eyepiece and centered in the field of view. Then I take out the eyepiece & slide in the webcam. Using the webcam software for a realtime view, I re-focus the image so it's nice & crisp on my laptop screen. From here, it's rather easy. I just shoot a 30-50 second AVI of the target object @ 15fps (frames per second) and save it. Using the REGISTAX software, it takes the AVI & breaks it down into individual frames. I originally had about 650. But the cool thing about REGISTAX is that you can go through & pick out the best frames and just ignore the rest. It then aligns all of the images and stacks them for you. From there, you get a decent shot of what you have to play with in the "Wavelets" section. And thats where all of the detail comes out of. I highly suggest playing with the REGISTAX Software first just to get a feel for it.

After all thats done, I just save the final result as a "jpeg" file and voila... there's Saturn.

I hope this helps, but I will try & answer any more questions the best I can.

Thanks,
Eric

matty

12-05-2005, 18:45

can only echo the others, wow!

digitalfailure

12-05-2005, 18:51

Kin L :eek::eek::eek::eek:

Thats frappin ace :D

What size telescope do you need to see that distance?

Steve

12-05-2005, 18:59

Would you be able to do this with your DSLR and use many exposures of a higher quality than the webcam to make an even more impressive final result.?

I believe Canon should have supplied you with some software that allows the camera to do timelapse photography when tethered to your pc?

IanC_UK

12-05-2005, 19:19

Yeah, to echo DF ! KIN ELL !!!! :) very nice !

Its this sort of thing ! :)

http://www.scopereviews.com/mn61.jpg

6 inch diameter !

Aeryk01

12-05-2005, 19:30

IanC_UK

12-05-2005, 19:37

Steve...

MANY folks use the Canon to do this with and have STUNNING results. And yes... you can take multiple images and align & stack them in REGISTAX.

Thats almost the exact same setup I have, Ian... Only I have a smaller mount...

Thanks,
Eric

I wouldnt mind that sort of setup myself ! I found that pic on the web ! the mount looks hoooooge !

My brother has one of these,

http://www.greenwich-observatory.co.uk/acatalog/skywatcher-explorer130m.jpg

Cost him £199 with a motorised mount, isnt the best mount in the world, but can be replaced ! :)

Aeryk01

12-05-2005, 19:39

dlh

12-05-2005, 19:42

I've finally picked my jaw up off the ground :D

That is just amazing, especially considering you used a webcam to capture it. The telesope is smaller than I imagined it would be too. I really can't wait to see what else you can come up with, especially if you're looking to hook up a dslr.

Steve

12-05-2005, 20:00

If anyone is REALLY interested in what a Canon DSLR can do on the night sky (astrophotography)... look at some examples here:

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/424679/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1

Thanks for the nice comments everyone!

Just had a look at the image in that link you have given. Very, very good. Are you not planning on buying a suitable mount then attempting this with your new 350D?

Aeryk01

12-05-2005, 20:06

A more stable & heavy duty mount is on my list of things to get, but unfortunately, a good mount of that quality, runs in the excess of $2000 range!!!!... And I don't have those kind of funds yet... :cry:

But soon... :wink:

Thanks,
Eric

IanC_UK

12-05-2005, 20:11

Steve, to clarify, the mount is the tripod head that the telescope sits on ! :)

The adaptors to mount cameras on the scopes arent that expensive, i looked when my brother bought his and for eos cameras the mount ring was 70 quid, plus you had to buy a special eyepiece to attach to for about 100 quid ! (may be wrong im not an expert on this !!! lol) although once you have the eyepice all you need is a different t ring for the camera you want to use and job done ! :)

Steve

12-05-2005, 20:19

IanC_UK

12-05-2005, 20:25

So, correct me if I am wrong, to use this setup with your 350D you would need to buy a new adaptor ring from the camera to the telescope yo allow coupling, AND also a new tripod type thingy as well (due to the added weight of the 350D) presumably?

Yes and No mate, yes you would need the new adaptor ring, no the tripod thingy should be man enough to hold the camera, although the heavier duty ones are more stable ! and can be computer controlled for tracking on long timed exposures, but my brothers one is motorised and if setup correctly should be able to track for these exposures. It just cant be computerised.

Steve

12-05-2005, 20:50

I am learning a lot tonight :lol: I can see this being a very addictive and extreamly expensive area of photography, probably best left to you experts :shock:

IanC_UK

12-05-2005, 20:59

LOL I'm no expert mate ! I only know this because my brother has been getting into it ! If you think this sounds expensive ! I just found a mount, that could be computer and gps controlled, Nexstar CGE Equatorial GoTo Mount
£3199 !!!! plus the telescope !!!!! and im worried about spending 1100 on a 100-400 ! lol

Aeryk01

12-05-2005, 21:15

Essentially, Ian is correct... You'd only need a T-Ring & scope adapter to hook up to a scope. My mount does just fine for planets & the moon. But if I wanted any galaxies & nebula & such, I would need one with more precise tracking. In all honesty, some of the most BEAUTIFUL vistas of the night sky I have ever seen were wide field shots of the Milky Way.

For instance... This link shows what can be done with a manual SLR (Pentax K-1000). This film shot was done just sitting the camera ON THE SCOPE and having it ride "piggybacked". This way, you can get a GREAT Wide-field shot & still follow the sky and wind up with BEAUTIFUL results.

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/359830/page/1/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1#Post390203

Thanks,
Eric

IanC_UK

12-05-2005, 22:04

Like i said im no expert ! :)

Glad to hear i wasnt too far out though ! :)

We are all learning new things :)

milou

12-05-2005, 22:20

Blimey missus!

Steve

12-05-2005, 22:45

I so want to try my hand at this but SOO can't afford the costs or the time required. Adds it to my list of future wants :wink:

IanC_UK

12-05-2005, 22:53

I so want to try my hand at this but SOO can't afford the costs or the time required. Adds it to my list of future wants :wink:

MY brothers setup cost him about 300 quid ! I will have to press him to get some pics to pu tup as well, the only ones he has taken so far have been with my old nikon without a remote shutter release and it will only do 30 second exposures without it ! and as the release is 99 quid off ebay i dont think its worth it ! Is his birthday soon, so am going to see if i can get him the T ring for his camera as he hasnt got it yet ! :)

petemc

16-05-2005, 10:32

Wow! That is very impressive.