mjc1
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Contributing Member
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Posts: 501
Re: Anybody using MFT bodies for astrophotography?
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I actually don't disagree with anything written, however I was trying to keep the conversation to the level of what a beginner actually would be able to do as he builds some experience. The idea that a beginner is going to pop out in the backyard and take meaningful shots, well focused with minimal atmospheric turbulence (which typically is the real limiting factor) at 2600mm f22 with a beginning scope and tripod and than stack them seems aggressive at the least. With the number of variables and limitations in doing something like that, the quality of the sensor on a mFT is not anywhere near the top of the list of the weak link in what is needed to get a good shot. The improvements gained by stacking a full moon shot may be pretty small vs the efforts (depending on your gear). I don't deny if you shot hundreds of 16mp RAW images, processed and stacked them you most likely will get a very nice moon shot, but the time and energy and computer space and power required is enormous. Maybe for you it is worth it so I am in no way trying to talk you out of it. Shooting video would most likely be easier to stack images of and maybe better. Remember, stacking really isn't to minimize "noise" of the camera sensor, that would be done in just a few shots if needed, it's mainly looking for "holes" in the atmospheric turbulence that can be killing your ability to get a good shot. Over a period of time, little micro windows hopefully open up, you capture it and software adds all the good images shot in those windows and throw out all the rubbish and hopefully one REALLY good image is created. Also stacking won't help if your telescope is not focused properly or not stable.
Unfortunately, there is no perfect telescope for astrophotography. A 90mm f/10 scope will be OK for the moon, buy VERY hard to balance properly as it will be long and skinny and wobble in the slightest touch and breeze. Additionally it will not be able to take any other type astro shots (maybe some low quality planet shots) as it is too unstable and too slow.
The one thing about astrophotography vs other types of photography is that it really is sorta much more science than art. Give two good photographers a camera lens and light source and tell them to go take photos and their results will vary widely. Astrophotography has much less "artistic interpretation" involved. We all shot the same "model" that has the same "light source" with basically the same gear. The "pose" never changes. The only thing that changes is your gear and experience. The more you have of each, the better generally your images, but they are not gonna look a whole lot different than the photographer's on the other side of the world. (I consider astrophotography images of only the sky with a scope or long lens. Wide field images which include terrestrial subjects to me are photos of the night sky, and can be amazing, but not really astrophotography)
And in a slight disagreement with Astrotripper, this is the one area of photography that the glass is not king. It's definitely important, but any decent quality scope will work, particularly for beginners/intermediates. The mount is the king and than atmospheric conditions and than light pollution and polar alignment and knowledge/experience and even the dang focuser. After all that the telescope and camera's characteristics start factoring in.
Honestly not trying to be a downer on the OP's desire to shot this stuff, I encourage it, but I walked this walk 6 years ago and wasted a great deal of time and money wrapping my head around it all. The things I absolutely learned is that A) you can't do it on the cheap and B) no single telescope will be able to address all types of astrophotography. So my thoughts are to be sure what it is you want to shoot (we talked a lot about the moon in these comments, but I think previously you talked about deep space and those are two very different targets requiring very different scopes and techniques (ie stacking long exposure single shots vs video), be realistic about what level of quality results you want to obtain (lower quality photos are much easier to obtain than higher quality and maybe that is all you are looking for and is still a lot of fun and rewarding, I know, I did it, but kept slowly acquiring more stuff to take better photos).
Enjoy the hobby, it is fun and rewarding and frustrating and all the things that make a hobby enjoyable. Keep expectations in line with your experience and budget and you will get the most out of it. My personal recommendations would be to skip the 90mm f/10 scope, for both visual AND photography. I am sure it may be adequate for both and some visual advantages to an inexpensive F/10 scope, but a higher quality used 80mm f/6 is smaller/lighter/easier to focus and mount, is fine for moon shots, much better for deep space, maybe not quite as good for planets, but not any worse probably either. You can even use it for a high powered manual lens during daylight hours (don't expect it to be on par with a $10,000 "L" lens or anything, but the results can be quite usable). Make sure you have dual speed focuser or you will go insane trying to focus. Triplets are better than doublets, but cost more and probably aren't worth it if on a budget as the money is much better spent on other things and a good quality doublet is not bad at all. You will need a solid tripod and you won't get on with a budget "telescope package" and all your planning and equipment will be rendered useless because your set up is unstable on a wobbly tripod. You will need a good way to attach the scope to the tripod. An EQ mount will be fine, as would a good Alt/Az mount (for moon shots). The more you spend the better it will work. No low end mount is going to be stable enough to securely hold a long skinny scope like the 90mm f/10. Put a long skinny scope with a stiff single speed focuser on a low end mount all on a wobbly tripod and trust me, you won't be worrying much about ISO noise and sensor sensitivity.
And most of all, have fun!