What do i need....

Right, I really want to have a go at astro photography. We bought a digital SLR a month ago and she's much more arty then me so she's putting me to shame with her pics I want to get my own back and dazzle her with photos of nubula, planets etc. :evil: I have a 4" scope and a digital SLR and that's the full extent of my knowledge. Can anyone link me to a beginners guide on this. I've searched the site and the questions seem pretty specific. What equipment do I need and what objects are good to start on :

Cheers,

Swanner

You should talk to Garry Clarke - he's been producing some stunning images (using narrow-band pass filters) with very similar equipment... from a light polluted suburb of Dublin, even during a full moon!! Check out his gallery of images at: webtreatz.com/component/option,com_zoom/Itemid,27/catid,8/

Phil.

In my opinion, the best way to star astrophotography is to learn by first getting widefileld shots form the simple tripod (star trails perhaps?) to putting your camera on a tracked mount. From there you could get your t-ring and t-adapter to start imaging through the scope, but if you have no motor on the scope, the moon certainly would be best to start...

Keith..

Great answer Keith. Learn to walk before you can run....

I've only started to use my cam on a tripod. Seems as good a place to start before moving on to bigger and better things.

Sound advice there.

My point is that while imaging at first through a scope can be very exiting, with all the super pictures that are produced today with great equipment, I think the expectancy level is too high.

Imaging through a scope is not at all easy, only a lot of practice will set you good, and at the start of your endevour, you probably will get very frustrated with your shots, by that I mean I could now write a list as long as my arm of all the things that can go wrong whilst imaging, not a reflection of either the enthusiasm or skill of the imager.

By all means good luck, I certainly don't want to put anybody off, but here is an idea, If you are willing to get up early this week, shoot the morning crescent moon over a nice scene before sunrise, that would be a good start.

You can then learn quickly about exposures, ISO, f numbers and such not to mention, f ratios of scopes, autoguiding and tracking, and of course staying warm

Good Luck !!! Do post what you get and we'll help from there.

P.S. The Orion Nebula (M42) is a good place also to start !

Keith..

First thing i did when i got my scope was to point a camera through it. Got pretty good results of the moon. I havent tried using the scope since because i want to try and perfect wide angle shots of the skies...........constellations etc. I'm learning whats best for my cam to do this.

Astrophotography wont be a big part of my hobby..............but i do like to take nice pics of things i see.

Not sure why really because i can go out on any clear night and see the same thing.

Hey who knows..............maybe in yrs to come astrophoto's will be all i do.

I just like the peace and quiet and no hard work aspect of observational astronomy.