G
Guest
Guest
Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)
I have a relatively new DSLR and an old (~ 1980, black tube) Celestron
C90. The other light I tried taking a picture of the full moon with
the camera at prime focus (tripod, ASA 1600, 1/800, remote release
after ~10 sec of MLU), and the results were reasonably well-exposed
but very fuzzy (and noisy: maybe ISO 200 or 400 would be better). I
was using an Olympus Varimagni right angle finder attached to the
camera. This gives a 2.5x magnification of the viewfinder, and I got
the focus as sharp as I could. The view through the 20D viewfinder is
horrible, though . . . I wish the screen had at least a small spot of
fine-grained matte. There's a picture at:
http/home.comcast.net/~jgates777/Moon.html
I thought that perhaps the 'scope was damaged or had deteriorated in
some way, but visual observations (30mm Kellner) look very sharp. So,
I have a few questions:
1. Is it normal for lunar astrophotographs to have much lower
resolution than visual images?
2. Since the 'scope focuses "beyond infinity", it is very
difficult to focus on the screen in a Canon 20D. Do you have any tips
for manual focusing with a DSLR, or is it largely trial and error
("Jeff R." at sci.astro.amateur recommended a Hoffman mask)?
3. The tripod I was using was an old, cheap Velbon (~$25 new) I
bought for a video project, and is none too stable. If you touch the
'scope at all the image dances all over the place. After some
research, I've ordered a Bogen / Manfrotto 3246 with 488RC2 Midi
Ballhead that will be used primary for daylight photography, but it
hasn't arrived yet. Would you folks with experience expect this to be
any better?
I understand that the 'scope is not the greatest, and this was my first
try at lunar imaging, but my images look nowhere near as good as those
I've seen from similar setups. I don't expect miracles, but these
pictures are pretty sad. Any suggestions?
I have a relatively new DSLR and an old (~ 1980, black tube) Celestron
C90. The other light I tried taking a picture of the full moon with
the camera at prime focus (tripod, ASA 1600, 1/800, remote release
after ~10 sec of MLU), and the results were reasonably well-exposed
but very fuzzy (and noisy: maybe ISO 200 or 400 would be better). I
was using an Olympus Varimagni right angle finder attached to the
camera. This gives a 2.5x magnification of the viewfinder, and I got
the focus as sharp as I could. The view through the 20D viewfinder is
horrible, though . . . I wish the screen had at least a small spot of
fine-grained matte. There's a picture at:
http/home.comcast.net/~jgates777/Moon.html
I thought that perhaps the 'scope was damaged or had deteriorated in
some way, but visual observations (30mm Kellner) look very sharp. So,
I have a few questions:
1. Is it normal for lunar astrophotographs to have much lower
resolution than visual images?
2. Since the 'scope focuses "beyond infinity", it is very
difficult to focus on the screen in a Canon 20D. Do you have any tips
for manual focusing with a DSLR, or is it largely trial and error
("Jeff R." at sci.astro.amateur recommended a Hoffman mask)?
3. The tripod I was using was an old, cheap Velbon (~$25 new) I
bought for a video project, and is none too stable. If you touch the
'scope at all the image dances all over the place. After some
research, I've ordered a Bogen / Manfrotto 3246 with 488RC2 Midi
Ballhead that will be used primary for daylight photography, but it
hasn't arrived yet. Would you folks with experience expect this to be
any better?
I understand that the 'scope is not the greatest, and this was my first
try at lunar imaging, but my images look nowhere near as good as those
I've seen from similar setups. I don't expect miracles, but these
pictures are pretty sad. Any suggestions?