Need Some Digital Astrophotography Advise.
Need Some Digital Astrophotography Advise.
Hi! I'm always interested in Astrophotography and likes to take some pics of the moon and etc but wonder what equipments to buy and the costs to set up for Astrophotography for my Canon 350D? Pls advise. Tks!
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weixing
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Hi,
If you already have a Telephoto lens, you can use it to shoot the moon already. If you don't have a telephoto lens or you want to image other than the moon, you can buy a telescope to couple to your camera.
Anyway, a basic setup for Astrophotography will be an EQ mount (this type of mount will help you compensate the stars, moon and planet appearance movement due to earth rotation) with motor drive + a telescope. The cost of it will range greatly depend:
1) brand of telescope and mount,
2) loading capacity of mount, and
3) aperture and quality of telescope.
You should be able to get a basic entry setup for imaging moon and planets at around S$2K... will be cheaper if you get used equipment.
By the way, mount is the most importance factor in imaging and depend on what type of target you are imaging, the telescope requirement may also change... My recommendation is get a basic setup first that meet your budget... a good EQ mount first if you have more budget and slowly upgrade your equipment after you had more experience.
Have a nice day.
PS: Astrophotography is an expensive hobby especially if you want to do it in the easiest way. Basically, the more money you invest, the easier it get.
If you already have a Telephoto lens, you can use it to shoot the moon already. If you don't have a telephoto lens or you want to image other than the moon, you can buy a telescope to couple to your camera.
Anyway, a basic setup for Astrophotography will be an EQ mount (this type of mount will help you compensate the stars, moon and planet appearance movement due to earth rotation) with motor drive + a telescope. The cost of it will range greatly depend:
1) brand of telescope and mount,
2) loading capacity of mount, and
3) aperture and quality of telescope.
You should be able to get a basic entry setup for imaging moon and planets at around S$2K... will be cheaper if you get used equipment.
By the way, mount is the most importance factor in imaging and depend on what type of target you are imaging, the telescope requirement may also change... My recommendation is get a basic setup first that meet your budget... a good EQ mount first if you have more budget and slowly upgrade your equipment after you had more experience.
Have a nice day.
PS: Astrophotography is an expensive hobby especially if you want to do it in the easiest way. Basically, the more money you invest, the easier it get.
Yang Weixing
"The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance."
"The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance." -
weixing
- Super Moderator
- Posts: 4708
- Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2003 12:22 am
- Favourite scope: Vixen R200SS & Celestron 6" F5 Achro Refractor
- Location: (Tampines) Earth of Solar System in Orion Arm of Milky Way Galaxy in Local Group Galaxies Cluster
Hi,
Below are a list of astrophotography type and their requirement from easiest and lowest cost to hardest and more expensive:
1) Star trail: camera with lens + tripod + a dark sky. Should be the cheapest and easiest, but the problem is Singapore light pollution is so serious that you can't get a good star trails image.
2) Moon and planetary: EQ mount + telescope + camera or webcam. 2nd cheapest and easiest. Most telescope and mount will be able to do the job... the rest is learn how to use the astronomy image processing software.
3) Wide field: EQ mount with motor + telescope or camera lens + dark sky. Easier and cheaper than DSO astrophotography, but require a dark sky to get a good image.
4) Deep Sky Object (DSO): EQ mount + telescope + camera or dedicated CCD camera + may require dark sky. The most difficult type of astrophotography. The rules really apply in this one: the more money you invest, the easier it get. Ha ha ha
By the way, digital astrophotography now require to do some form of image processing to get the most out of it.
Have a nice day.
Below are a list of astrophotography type and their requirement from easiest and lowest cost to hardest and more expensive:
1) Star trail: camera with lens + tripod + a dark sky. Should be the cheapest and easiest, but the problem is Singapore light pollution is so serious that you can't get a good star trails image.
2) Moon and planetary: EQ mount + telescope + camera or webcam. 2nd cheapest and easiest. Most telescope and mount will be able to do the job... the rest is learn how to use the astronomy image processing software.
3) Wide field: EQ mount with motor + telescope or camera lens + dark sky. Easier and cheaper than DSO astrophotography, but require a dark sky to get a good image.
4) Deep Sky Object (DSO): EQ mount + telescope + camera or dedicated CCD camera + may require dark sky. The most difficult type of astrophotography. The rules really apply in this one: the more money you invest, the easier it get. Ha ha ha
By the way, digital astrophotography now require to do some form of image processing to get the most out of it.
Have a nice day.
Yang Weixing
"The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance."
"The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance." 
For moon, no need eq mount. I used a cheap P&S camera (Canon A20) attached to my long gone ETX90RA (Chee chien is selling very cheap, go grab it fast!) to get decent moon surface images.2) Moon and planetary: EQ mount + telescope + camera or webcam. 2nd cheapest and easiest. Most telescope and mount will be able to do the job... the rest is learn how to use the astronomy image processing software.
Last edited by ariefm71 on Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
weixing
- Super Moderator
- Posts: 4708
- Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2003 12:22 am
- Favourite scope: Vixen R200SS & Celestron 6" F5 Achro Refractor
- Location: (Tampines) Earth of Solar System in Orion Arm of Milky Way Galaxy in Local Group Galaxies Cluster
Hi,
Anyway, since he use a DSLR, a telescope on EQ mount will be better and more versatile... also, I think the DSLR may not be able to mount on the ETX90RA at certain angle.... the fork arm may obstruct the mounting of the DSLR.
Have a nice day.
Yes, you don't need an EQ mount for imaging moon... basically any mount will be ok... those with tracking will be better.For moon, no need eq mount. I used a cheap P&S camera (Canon A20S) attached to my long gone ETX90RA (Chee chien is selling very cheap, go grab it fast!) to get decent moon surface images.
Anyway, since he use a DSLR, a telescope on EQ mount will be better and more versatile... also, I think the DSLR may not be able to mount on the ETX90RA at certain angle.... the fork arm may obstruct the mounting of the DSLR.
Have a nice day.
Yang Weixing
"The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance."
"The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance." Hi! Tks for all your info but where is Chee Chien and where to buy cheap & good telescope on EQ mount?weixing wrote:Hi,Yes, you don't need an EQ mount for imaging moon... basically any mount will be ok... those with tracking will be better.For moon, no need eq mount. I used a cheap P&S camera (Canon A20S) attached to my long gone ETX90RA (Chee chien is selling very cheap, go grab it fast!) to get decent moon surface images.
Anyway, since he use a DSLR, a telescope on EQ mount will be better and more versatile... also, I think the DSLR may not be able to mount on the ETX90RA at certain angle.... the fork arm may obstruct the mounting of the DSLR.
Have a nice day.