Diederik
Member
I own the etx for two years now but i just own a cp5k! I just found a way to attache it to my etx.... hope it gets clear very soon!
Diederik
Diederik
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The Moon, 4500 and ETX 90 (pic)
- Thread starter Dwight1973
- Start date
swivel man
Leading Member
Dwight....how good is this combo for shots of jupiter's moons, saturn's rings, etc? And also, for deep space objects...and how long should the exposure be to bring out the color?
PS I remember earlier you mentioned the eyepiece-converter you use with tht 990, is it the same one with the 4500 and could you please send us the link for it. Also, what kind of tripod do you use? I also saw other models, the etx-105 and the etx-125, which seem to have larger lens apertures. Am I correct in assuming that because you can gather more light by longer exposures the benefits of larger aperture lens is negated with regards to telescopes?
PS I remember earlier you mentioned the eyepiece-converter you use with tht 990, is it the same one with the 4500 and could you please send us the link for it. Also, what kind of tripod do you use? I also saw other models, the etx-105 and the etx-125, which seem to have larger lens apertures. Am I correct in assuming that because you can gather more light by longer exposures the benefits of larger aperture lens is negated with regards to telescopes?
Dwight1973
Veteran Member
Yes, I remember reading about that invention of yours. Nice work. Be sure to post some shots when you get them
Dwight1973
Veteran Member
Hi Alex. I can't answer that yet, as I haven't shot Jupiter or Saturn. From what I have seen, the best way to get pictures of them is to take multiple images and stack them. A site that you can check out to see the pictures that people have shot with the ETX scopes is http://www.weasner.com/etx/menu.html . There are a lot of pictures taken by visitors to the site so you can see what you can expect from the ETX scopes.
The eyepiece I used with the 990 is the same one that I use with the 4500. I can't send a link right to it, but if you go to http://www.scopetronics.com/ and click on the digital camera adapters on the right, it's about half way down the page. It is called the ScopeTronix Wide Angle Eyepiece/Digital Camera Adapter. I have the 18mm eyepiece and you can also buy a 14mm eyepiece as well.
I don't use a tripod. I use the 3 legs that come with the scope and sit it on a portable table. I just make sure that the ground is half way level or the scope won't track right.
I would say in answer to your last question that I would get the biggest aperture scope that you can afford, and still be one that you don't mind setting up and taking down. You will see more with the bigger scopes since they let in more light.
The eyepiece I used with the 990 is the same one that I use with the 4500. I can't send a link right to it, but if you go to http://www.scopetronics.com/ and click on the digital camera adapters on the right, it's about half way down the page. It is called the ScopeTronix Wide Angle Eyepiece/Digital Camera Adapter. I have the 18mm eyepiece and you can also buy a 14mm eyepiece as well.
I don't use a tripod. I use the 3 legs that come with the scope and sit it on a portable table. I just make sure that the ground is half way level or the scope won't track right.
I would say in answer to your last question that I would get the biggest aperture scope that you can afford, and still be one that you don't mind setting up and taking down. You will see more with the bigger scopes since they let in more light.
John1999
Well-known member
Hi there Dwight.
I was just wondering to what optical magnification level you went to in order to eliminate any vignetting and whether or not you had any zoom to spare beyond that point?
Was also wondering if you ever had a chance to try out the 2x barlow adapter in conjunction with the regular eyepiece? Would be interestion to see a moon photo with that configuration!
Best regards: john1999
I was just wondering to what optical magnification level you went to in order to eliminate any vignetting and whether or not you had any zoom to spare beyond that point?
Was also wondering if you ever had a chance to try out the 2x barlow adapter in conjunction with the regular eyepiece? Would be interestion to see a moon photo with that configuration!
Best regards: john1999
R
Ralph Encarnacion
Guest
I don't have a Scopetronics 18mm eyepiece, but I do have the William Optics 24mm eyepiece that is threaded for the Nikons. Here is a picture of the moon taken with that eyepiece and a 2x barlow on the ETX-90 in not so good seeing conditions:
Picture was taken with a Nikon 5000 at full zoom. Here is a picture taken with a Meade 18mm eyepiece on an 8" scope under excellent seeing conditions:
When the seeing is good, you can crank up the power on the ETX and take similar pictures.
Ralph
Picture was taken with a Nikon 5000 at full zoom. Here is a picture taken with a Meade 18mm eyepiece on an 8" scope under excellent seeing conditions:
When the seeing is good, you can crank up the power on the ETX and take similar pictures.
Ralph
Paul Sansom
Leading Member
I love this shot where you can see the "mountains" of the crater wall and the shadows they cast. It is just too cool !
Paul
Helena, Alabama
http://www.pbase.com/nomantra
Paul
Paul Sansom
When the seeing is good, you can crank up the power on the ETX and
take similar pictures.
Ralph
Helena, Alabama
http://www.pbase.com/nomantra
Dwight1973
Veteran Member
Hi John. This shot was taken at full wide. No zoom was used at all. There is zero vignetting with the 99x/4500 using the eyepiece.
I do not have a barlow yet. Right now my list of things to get next time I buy for the scope is the 2x barlow, 90 degree finder, and the cable focus knob from Scopetronix. The barlow will let me see more, and the other two will make things much easier.
I do not have a barlow yet. Right now my list of things to get next time I buy for the scope is the 2x barlow, 90 degree finder, and the cable focus knob from Scopetronix. The barlow will let me see more, and the other two will make things much easier.
Diederik
Member
Very nice picture of Archimedes and the Appenines!
If I can shoot a picture like this (with the ETX) there will be champagne...
Can you tell me if you take these kind pictures in the city or on really dark places?
Cheers, Diederik
If I can shoot a picture like this (with the ETX) there will be champagne...
Can you tell me if you take these kind pictures in the city or on really dark places?
Cheers, Diederik
Picture was taken with a Nikon 5000 at full zoom. Here is a picture
taken with a Meade 18mm eyepiece on an 8" scope under excellent
seeing conditions:
When the seeing is good, you can crank up the power on the ETX and
take similar pictures.
Ralph
R
Ralph Encarnacion
Guest
You can make a homemade focus cable yourself. Here is a picture of mine:
First thing you do is take off the focus knob off the ETX. Then drill a hole all the way through it with a small drill until it comes out the backside of the focus knob. Go to the hardware store and buy 1 foot of plastic coated steel braided cable. You will find the cable near the chains and ropes. Then go buy a knob of your choice for the other end of the cable. Epoxy the knobs to both ends of the cable and put it back on the scope when it dryes. Works just as good as the focus cable from Scopetronics. I also built a piggy back camera mount for my ETX. That was a little bit more work.
I just took a flat piece of aluminum and bent it to shape. I drilled a 1/4 inch hole for the tripod knob and cut a couple of slots on each end of the aluminum with a dremmel tool. Then I put a 4" hose clamp through the 2 slots. I wrapped the clamp with tape so as not to scratch the scope. More pictures here: http://www.pbase.com/panotaker/etx90ec Forget the right angle finder. I have one and it is not worth the money. Buy a Rigel Quickfinder instead, it is easier to use and works a lot better. Or just hold a small mirror at a 45° angle in front of your straight through finder until you get the Rigel. You can steal the small mirror from your wife's compact makeup case.
Ralph
First thing you do is take off the focus knob off the ETX. Then drill a hole all the way through it with a small drill until it comes out the backside of the focus knob. Go to the hardware store and buy 1 foot of plastic coated steel braided cable. You will find the cable near the chains and ropes. Then go buy a knob of your choice for the other end of the cable. Epoxy the knobs to both ends of the cable and put it back on the scope when it dryes. Works just as good as the focus cable from Scopetronics. I also built a piggy back camera mount for my ETX. That was a little bit more work.
I just took a flat piece of aluminum and bent it to shape. I drilled a 1/4 inch hole for the tripod knob and cut a couple of slots on each end of the aluminum with a dremmel tool. Then I put a 4" hose clamp through the 2 slots. I wrapped the clamp with tape so as not to scratch the scope. More pictures here: http://www.pbase.com/panotaker/etx90ec Forget the right angle finder. I have one and it is not worth the money. Buy a Rigel Quickfinder instead, it is easier to use and works a lot better. Or just hold a small mirror at a 45° angle in front of your straight through finder until you get the Rigel. You can steal the small mirror from your wife's compact makeup case.
Ralph
R
Ralph Encarnacion
Guest
I took both pictures from my light polluted driveway in Austin Texas. There is a street light about 100 feet away and my neighbors are nice enough to leave their driveway flood lights on for me so I can see what I am doing in the dark;-) I can barely make out the north star from my driveway and can only see a couple of stars on the little dipper.
Ralph
http://www.pbase.com/panotaker/astrophotography
Ralph
http://www.pbase.com/panotaker/astrophotography
John1999
Well-known member
Hello again Ralph.
That is one incredible set of pictures....especially the 2nd one!
I guess the only drawback with the Nikon 5000 is that you constantly have to use full zoom in order to prevent vignetting; whereas the nikon 4500 doesn't appear to have any vignetting throughout its full zoom range.
Although none of the pictures shot by users in this message thread don't show any problems, I am still concerned about the 4500 given all the forum comments regarding pink cast, low light focus issues and highlight blowouts.
By the way Ralph, on you latest post, I noticed that you had your Nikon 5000 monted on top of your scope. Just wanted to compliment you on your ingenuity and resourcefullness. Was wondering what you had in mind with that configuration? Is the camera operating like an expensive electronic finder? Was also wondering what type of telephoto extender you have screwed onto the 5000 as well as the type of step rings if any?
Regards: john1999
That is one incredible set of pictures....especially the 2nd one!
I guess the only drawback with the Nikon 5000 is that you constantly have to use full zoom in order to prevent vignetting; whereas the nikon 4500 doesn't appear to have any vignetting throughout its full zoom range.
Although none of the pictures shot by users in this message thread don't show any problems, I am still concerned about the 4500 given all the forum comments regarding pink cast, low light focus issues and highlight blowouts.
By the way Ralph, on you latest post, I noticed that you had your Nikon 5000 monted on top of your scope. Just wanted to compliment you on your ingenuity and resourcefullness. Was wondering what you had in mind with that configuration? Is the camera operating like an expensive electronic finder? Was also wondering what type of telephoto extender you have screwed onto the 5000 as well as the type of step rings if any?
Regards: john1999
John1999
Well-known member
Hello there again Dwight.
I must say that your shots are quite impressive, especially given that you did not apply any zoom and still managed to avoid vignetting. Having an added 4x zoom available certainly offers you a greater amount of photographic flexibility! It would really be interesting to have seen the same shot with full optical zoom applied as well.
Its interesting to hear that you did not have a 2x barlow lens in the package with your ETX90. When I purchased my unit about a week ago, the package included the 2x barlow, a 26mm series4000 meade eyepiece, a lunar eyepiece filter and soft carry case. I guess each store is packaging them somewhat differently or perhaps thats just the way they are selling the Canadian units.
I understand that it is possible to upgrade the ETX90RA to the 90EC but not sure at this point how much that will cost or what it entails. My original intention for buying the scope was for land based photography, but its ability to do astrophotography is a bonus!
I must say that your shots are quite impressive, especially given that you did not apply any zoom and still managed to avoid vignetting. Having an added 4x zoom available certainly offers you a greater amount of photographic flexibility! It would really be interesting to have seen the same shot with full optical zoom applied as well.
Its interesting to hear that you did not have a 2x barlow lens in the package with your ETX90. When I purchased my unit about a week ago, the package included the 2x barlow, a 26mm series4000 meade eyepiece, a lunar eyepiece filter and soft carry case. I guess each store is packaging them somewhat differently or perhaps thats just the way they are selling the Canadian units.
I understand that it is possible to upgrade the ETX90RA to the 90EC but not sure at this point how much that will cost or what it entails. My original intention for buying the scope was for land based photography, but its ability to do astrophotography is a bonus!
What's the ETX 90 ?I just tried out the 4500 tonight with the ETX 90 to see how it
does with moon shots. I am very happy with the results. Here's one
I got tonight. This is just resized, no cropping.
Fantastic shot Dwight
swivel man
Leading Member
John where did you get from and how much was it???
swivel man
Leading Member
Ralph, are you saying for photography purposes, that you really cant squeeze out any more detail wth the 105 or 125, and that the etx-90 under excellent seeing conditions, is really all you need for astrophography?
You can make a homemade focus cable yourself. Here is a picture of
mine:
First thing you do is take off the focus knob off the ETX. Then
drill a hole all the way through it with a small drill until it
comes out the backside of the focus knob. Go to the hardware store
and buy 1 foot of plastic coated steel braided cable. You will find
the cable near the chains and ropes. Then go buy a knob of your
choice for the other end of the cable. Epoxy the knobs to both ends
of the cable and put it back on the scope when it dryes. Works just
as good as the focus cable from Scopetronics. I also built a piggy
back camera mount for my ETX. That was a little bit more work.
I just took a flat piece of aluminum and bent it to shape. I
drilled a 1/4 inch hole for the tripod knob and cut a couple of
slots on each end of the aluminum with a dremmel tool. Then I put a
4" hose clamp through the 2 slots. I wrapped the clamp with tape so
as not to scratch the scope. More pictures here:
http://www.pbase.com/panotaker/etx90ec Forget the right angle
finder. I have one and it is not worth the money. Buy a Rigel
Quickfinder instead, it is easier to use and works a lot better. Or
just hold a small mirror at a 45° angle in front of your straight
through finder until you get the Rigel. You can steal the small
mirror from your wife's compact makeup case.
Ralph
I got a 90ra last week. The only thing that came with it was the 26mm 4000 eyepiece. I see that there are different packages out there. Did you get the 90M?
Ken.
--
http://www.pbase.com/ken_5
R
Ralph Encarnacion
Guest
No, I am not saying that at all. I am saying that you can get a nice picture of the moon with the ETX, but you can always get a better picture with a bigger scope. The ETX is a very good entry level scope and you can't beat it for the money, but I rather take pictures through my 8" scope. Now that there are a bunch of people that have the ETX-90, I am sure that we will see some very good moon pictures in the future. I doubt if you will see that much of a difference between the 90 and the 105. You might see a noticeable difference between the 90 and the 125, but I don't think the difference in price is worth it. For the price of a new 125, you can get a nice used 8" SCT. Astronomy is like hot rodding, you can't beat cubic inches.
Ralph
John1999
Well-known member
Hello there Gentlemen.
Alan; the ETX90 is a compact 90mm telescope made by Meade corporation that is quite popular amongst many digital camera enthusiasts here. Presently, Meade is having a sale on these scopes for anywhere from $125 to $200US depending where you look. The ETX90 comes in various models with different accessories and capabilities. The top end of this series is the ETX90EC with motorized azimuth and elevation motors and a computer control capability.
Ken; yes you are correct, the scope which I purchased is designated as an ETX 90 RA model M.
Alex; although it will not be relevant to you in New York, I purchased my scope here at a local telecope shop in the heart of Toronto. The package included the ETX90, a 2x barlow, a 1.25" greay filter, a Meade 26mm series 4000 eyepiece, desktop tripod, and a soft carry case. The entire package retailed for $549 in Canadian funds. When I compared all the items in the package and accounted for currency exchange, delivery, duty, etc, it came out pretty darn close to what it could be purchased for on your side of the border. Given the fact that a Canadian warranty is included, I dont Mind paying just a little bit more. In any case, Meade corporation seems to have an agreement with its authorized dealers that forbides US stores from shipping to Canada and visa versa.
Best regards: john1999
Alan; the ETX90 is a compact 90mm telescope made by Meade corporation that is quite popular amongst many digital camera enthusiasts here. Presently, Meade is having a sale on these scopes for anywhere from $125 to $200US depending where you look. The ETX90 comes in various models with different accessories and capabilities. The top end of this series is the ETX90EC with motorized azimuth and elevation motors and a computer control capability.
Ken; yes you are correct, the scope which I purchased is designated as an ETX 90 RA model M.
Alex; although it will not be relevant to you in New York, I purchased my scope here at a local telecope shop in the heart of Toronto. The package included the ETX90, a 2x barlow, a 1.25" greay filter, a Meade 26mm series 4000 eyepiece, desktop tripod, and a soft carry case. The entire package retailed for $549 in Canadian funds. When I compared all the items in the package and accounted for currency exchange, delivery, duty, etc, it came out pretty darn close to what it could be purchased for on your side of the border. Given the fact that a Canadian warranty is included, I dont Mind paying just a little bit more. In any case, Meade corporation seems to have an agreement with its authorized dealers that forbides US stores from shipping to Canada and visa versa.
Best regards: john1999
Dwight1973
Veteran Member
Thanks. I gotta try some shots now with the 4500 soomed in some, it's been cloudy or rainy here lately.
I didn't get the barlow with my scope. Included with mine was the 25mm and 9mm eyepieces, tripod legs, and Starry Night software. I wish I would have got a soft case Like you said though, different shops must package them differently.
I have heard that you can't upgrade the RA to the EC very cheaply. I think I better just hold on to the RA for now, I've got my eye on some lenses and flash accessories for the 4500 right now.
I didn't get the barlow with my scope. Included with mine was the 25mm and 9mm eyepieces, tripod legs, and Starry Night software. I wish I would have got a soft case
Like you said though, different shops must package them differently.I have heard that you can't upgrade the RA to the EC very cheaply. I think I better just hold on to the RA for now, I've got my eye on some lenses and flash accessories for the 4500 right now.
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