Reading mode: Light Dark

350D does the Milky Way

Go to last post
Stéphane said:
Can you post a picture of your set up?
Click to expand...
This is the only pic I have at the moment sorry...



Take away the telescope and picture the camera on top of the mount with a silk ball head.

--
If stupidity got us into this mess, why can't it get us out?
 
DTReed said:
Nice shot! Are you using an unmodified 350D?
Click to expand...
Thanks... glad so many people have liked the image. Yep, just an ordinary unmodified 350D.
DTReed said:
I have been doing
film astrophotography for a while, and just got my 350D last week.
That is why we haven't had any clear nights here in the Atlanta
area, of course (tonight may be the first).
Click to expand...
I think digital is more sensitive to light pollution. The darker sky you can find the better the camera will perform... as you won't need to increase contrast or anything as much to get things to look right.

--
If stupidity got us into this mess, why can't it get us out?
 
Awesome image Kiwi2!!! I am amazed at what you got in only 5 minutes.

Now for those interesed in a low-tech method of doing the same, check out a mount that you can make yourself called a "barn door". Here is one sample I found on google.

http://www.tucsonastronomy.org/barndoor.html

With this type of mount you can adjust for the movement of the earth for time exposures. Good luck and maybe some mechanically inclined individuals will post their results. (Not me, I can't saw a board and get a straight line!) :-)

John
 
kiwi2 said:
Pusseapa said:
wow. how does that work? (i'm a noob)
Click to expand...
It's basically this mount here with a steeper motor attached.
http://www.skywatchertelescope.com/ProductsMO.html#EQ5

There is a wee sight down the middle of it that you use to line the
whole thing up on the celestial pole and then a small steeper motor
that rotates the head at around one revolution per day. That's
it... and now were ever you point the camera, it will track the
stars.

It is accurate enough for wide-angle work say up to 15 to 20
minutes... 200mm work up to 5 minutes... and through a telescope
for 1 to 2 minutes.

If you want more accuracy for longer exposures, then you need to
start "guiding" which involves a lot more expense for the necessary
equipment.

The way I have done it is termed "unguided"
Click to expand...
wow. cool stuff. thanks for the explanation.

--
.
 
kiwi2 said:
I drove out into the middle of nowhere yesterday in search of a
dark sky to really try out the 350D on some astrophotography.

Dust lanes in the direction of Scorpius
Click to expand...
Lovely shot. I use to be into astronomy.....well, I still have a great fascination and admiration for the heavens. Goes without saying how mind bogglingly large it is. And to know what you are seeing is so far away we'll never be able to reach it in our lifetime. What kind of telescope do you need to get this kind of image?
kiwi2 said:


5 minutes, ISO 400, f4 at 26mm with a Sigma 18-50 2.8 EX, tracking
on a telescope mount.

Finally after several years with digital - I feel I am surpassing
35mm film for this kind of wide field work.

Any other astrophotographers out there feel the same?

http://www.Kiwipo.Astronomy.photoshare.co.nz

--
images hosted by http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz

If stupidity got us into this mess, why can't it get us out?
Click to expand...
--

I know you mean well but please do not embed my images into the forum. Thanks for respecting that.
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/northern_gannet_and_right_whale
http://www.pbase.com/golfpic/puffins

 
Noob here, utterly amazed by this shot...

Just have a quick noob question if you don't mind. How often do you have airplanes come across the shot and ruin the photo? is it pretty infrequent? obviously you aren't shooting near an airport or anything, but there still must be the occasional plane that gets into the shot, right?

also, how often you you catch shooting stars?

thanks,

mike
 
Well done. Processing looks good.

I must point out that you have North facing down, rotate it 180*. The Scorpius and Rho Ophiuchus regions should be on the west side of the MilkyWay. That is, unless you are located in the Southern hemisphere. :-)

--
Robert W.
 
Ooops, sorry.

I see from some of your other shots that you might be in New Zealand and if that is the case you have the right side up (for you). ;-)

Nice shots BTW.

--
Robert W.
 
I couldn't have imagined that something like this is possible with the 350d and that Sigma lens (I have both of it too)! Well done!
--
***********************************************
Visit my photo gallery: http://www.retomueller.ch
 
I love doing start trials too.


FlyingDutchman said:
BTW. Great picture Kiwi, I can't believe that was only 5 minutes.
You must live in a very dark area.
Click to expand...
Thanks, glad to share some of the wonders of the night sky with others.

Yep, New Zealand still has some nice dark skies. I drove out of town high up into some hills where there is absolutely nothing around. It was so silent as well.!

5.2 minutes to be precise. Plus as it was a RAW, I ended up giving it + 1.2 EC when converting it in Elements 3. I don't usually adjust "exposure" when processing... but for that one it kind of work without increasing the noise too much.

--
images hosted by http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz

If stupidity got us into this mess, why can't it get us out?
 
saholz said:
I've seen some superb work being done with the 20a, but I have a
feeling that the 350D isn't that far behind.
Click to expand...
I've been quite surprised how well a standard 350D does, myself. I got this one of the Orion nebula the other night through my 6" refractor with only a couple of 1 minute ISO 1600 exposures.



There was some thin high cloud and also nearly a first-quarter moon when I took that one... so I am sure I can get much better results on a darker night.

--
images hosted by http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz

If stupidity got us into this mess, why can't it get us out?
 
jrynash said:
coontie said:
wait a min. you shot this without a telescope?? ONLY with a mount?
Click to expand...
As the OP said:

5 minutes, ISO 400, f4 at 26mm with a Sigma 18-50 2.8 EX, tracking
on a telescope mount.

Looks to me like the "telescope mount" was doing the tracking for
the 350D.
jrynash said:
that's incredible. I also own a sigma 18-50ex+350D but where can
you possibly see sky that rich in stars???
Click to expand...
Most parts of the SouthWest US and Rocky Mountain states, away from
city lights, will give you skies like that.

--
http://www.pbase.com/pespen
--
Canon Digital Rebel XT (Silver),Canon 10-22mm lens,Canon 50mm 1.8 mkII
lens,Canon 35mm 2.0 lens,Canon 17-85mm IS lens,Canon 70-200mm F/4L
lens,Canon 580EX
Flash,Lowepro
Micro Trekker 200 backpack
Click to expand...
--
If stupidity got us into this mess, why can't it get us out?
 
Auriga said:
How much did the mount/tracking platform cost you? I imagine it
could possibly be more than the actual camera setup ;-)
Click to expand...
This is basically what I have... http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=121897&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=4&iSubCat=13&iProductID=121897 (except this has updated electronics on the mount)
Auriga said:
I have a feeling that a steady mount and accurate tracking system
is of utmost important when doing longer exposure astrophotography.
Click to expand...
Indeed... but there are plenty of options to choose from if you are after a system. The latest thing now is auto-guiding capabilities where you can put a small CCD WebCam like camera into the back of the telescope and plug the other end into the mount and have the whole system guide itself.!

--
If stupidity got us into this mess, why can't it get us out?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top