I think it's time I got a dslr for astrophotography. I'd like to go as cheap as possible since I just spent a good amount of money on my motorcycle. should I just look for a used rebel xs?
How much is as cheap as possible?
yeah probably a rebel. afaik nikons suck at keeping the shutter open for bulb.
yeah, this guy likes canons better too I think.
andre: it's as cheap as I can get a decent dslr in decent shape.
andre: it's as cheap as I can get a decent dslr in decent shape.
there's one on ebay right now for 380 buy it now and it looks barely used. I might grab that.
dslr is 1/10th the cost of a good scope and mount to take decent shots of deep sky objects like clusters, nebulae, and galaxies. stay away from astro if you're on a budget.
oh, and for the record, nikons are terrible for astro - you need to go canon.
i know a bit because my dad has spent about 15 grand on this stuff.
i know a bit because my dad has spent about 15 grand on this stuff.
I already have a scope.
What scope do you have brian?
I am quite interested in Astronomy, but I never did any "Stargazing" myself, I'm afraid I'll find it disappointing compared to the beauty we get from Hubble ...
I am quite interested in Astronomy, but I never did any "Stargazing" myself, I'm afraid I'll find it disappointing compared to the beauty we get from Hubble ...
haha, it is a little disappointing compared to that.
I have a meade model 2045. I think it was manufactured in 1985 (same year as my motorcycle!) so it's pretty old, but it has a motorized base and stuff so it should work for astrophotography. I got some new eyepieces for it too which I haven't tried out yet. I need to figure a way to strap it to my motorcycle.
I have a meade model 2045. I think it was manufactured in 1985 (same year as my motorcycle!) so it's pretty old, but it has a motorized base and stuff so it should work for astrophotography. I got some new eyepieces for it too which I haven't tried out yet. I need to figure a way to strap it to my motorcycle.
So what do you look at?
You point it at the sky. Look at a star or two, the crab nebula, the moon, go "oooohhhh" and "aaaahhhhh" and then what happens?
You point it at the sky. Look at a star or two, the crab nebula, the moon, go "oooohhhh" and "aaaahhhhh" and then what happens?
Shutter button is pressed.
preceded with probably some math and physics theory talks on imaging and movement of celestial bodies ♥
i'm kind of curious what kind of motorized base it has :)
i'm kind of curious what kind of motorized base it has :)
carpetsmoker: there's a lot more to look at than that! there are a ton of cool deep sky objects.
the base is just some battery operated thing. I took it apart a while ago and cleaned the gears. it didn't look to complicated.
the base is just some battery operated thing. I took it apart a while ago and cleaned the gears. it didn't look to complicated.
Did you get it, asemi?
argh, not yet. I was hoping it would show up today.
bumpity-bump-bump
it's here! now I'm waiting on a t-adapter because the one I have is for nikon cameras.
So I don't think you ever said what kind of camera it is...I'm curious what you got for $380
oh, it's just a rebel xs/1000d
serious lack of good observing locations in boston is killing me.
A late-night drive out of the city on your motorcycle could be pretty awesome :-J
They are really awesome.
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?ftid=0x864128c9311d60c7 :0xacbe9f40ec247e75&q=Katy+Hockley+Cut+off+Road+%26+FM+529&hl=en&ved=0CA4Q-gswAA&sa=X&ei=4LAtTu-LG4LqyQWpssHyBA
Head north from there and you have my favorite night time ride. :)
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?ftid=0x864128c9311d60c7 :0xacbe9f40ec247e75&q=Katy+Hockley+Cut+off+Road+%26+FM+529&hl=en&ved=0CA4Q-gswAA&sa=X&ei=4LAtTu-LG4LqyQWpssHyBA
Head north from there and you have my favorite night time ride. :)
^ tinyurl.com :-)
NEVER
So Asemi what do you have to show us?
nothing :(. the night sky isn't very easy to see from boston. and the only light-pollution free place I've traveled this summer had trees obscuring the north star so it was next to impossible to polar align my telescope.