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SteveNickolls
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How to do flats with Samyang 135mm F2
SteveNickolls replied to catburglar's topic in Getting Started With Imaging
Hi John, I use my Samyang lens at f/2 with an Astronomik 12nm clip-in filter in the Canon 700D modified DSLR. I have two ways of creating flat frames (either shooting with a manual remote or using BYEOS). For both methods I use a clean, large matt white bethroom tile illuminated evenly and place the lens a 3"- 4" inches away from the tile and not affecting the illumination of the tile. With the Camera in Av setting I then take multiple RAW flat frames (x50) and thereafter use the master flat for subsequent stacking in DSS. If you get the histogram on the camera/BYEOS between a third and half way across the flats are fine to use. Hope this helps. Cheers, Steve -
Thanks for your update, I also help you recover from the 'flu as quickly as possible. Cheers, Steve
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Is it worth shooting the Horsehead with a 12nm H-Alpha clip in and 70% Moon phase.
SteveNickolls replied to Ross1204's topic in Getting Started With Imaging
I'd say no but why not try it and find out practically. You can get amazing results when you least expect too. Cheers, Steve -
3and 4 minute exposures, no LP filter needed then?
SteveNickolls replied to smr's topic in Getting Started With Imaging
Be guided by what you practically get. Last night there was a decent Moon shining so on a darker evening you would get the histogram more to the left as well. Cheers, Steve -
Adding WiFi To My Canon 600D DSLR
SteveNickolls replied to Mikey07's topic in Getting Started With Imaging
If your camera is usually located within 20m of an indoor location (kitchen etc. then I'd suggest using a program such as BYEOS and one of these quality active cables- https://www.lindy.co.uk/cables-adapters-c1/usb-c449/20m-usb-2-0-active-extension-cable-p510 You can then control imaging from the warmth of indoors with no worry over the laptop. Cheers, Steve -
William Optics RedCat 51 APO
SteveNickolls replied to FLO's topic in Sponsor Announcements and Offers
Thanks, The Samyang lens is reviewed here-https://www.lenstip.com/index.html?test=obiektywu&test_ob=442 I can only add I have been extremely happy with mine which I always use at f/2 with a modified Canon 700D. I'm sure other SGL-ers with the lens will similarly vouch for it. The RedCat 51 has a lot of positive, desirable features but the speed of the optics (from my point of view) isn't one of them. If you bought the Samyang lens (it retails around £440 new) I don't think you would be disappointed. Cheers, Steve -
William Optics RedCat 51 APO
SteveNickolls replied to FLO's topic in Sponsor Announcements and Offers
+1 to all that. However it's 51mm objective and f/4.9 optics light grasp pales against the Samyang 135mm f/2 lens. Apples and pears though. Cheers, Steve -
Thanks for posting. Any chance someone could video the programme of events to reach more hobbyists? It would make a good resource for the future. Good luck with the events. Cheers, Steve
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Quite agree, when I made the count on Saturday night I could see only 8 stars but my son who is in his early 30's could count 17 (that's not including the framing stars btw). Converting the readings off my new SQM-L meter showed the VLM at that time was just over Mag 5. We submitted both reports to the CPRE. Cheers, Steve
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I'd think the problem for a DSLR would be bringing it back into a warm atmosphere after a cold imaging session where dew would form on the cold body of the camera and potentially inside connections etc. I always replace the lens cap before bringing the camera inside and secure the rubber cover over the USB port. A few times recently ice has formed on the outside of the camera body (a Canon 700D) and I leave my camera in the colder kitchen covered with tea towels so that it can warm up more slowly than in the rest of the house. The following morning it has warmed up to ambient temperature and can be surfaced wiped and stored. I've only imaged with the laptop outside once and when I'd brought it inside I left it running on mains power for 15 minutes to ensure it had evaporated away any residual ice/water. Cheers, Steve
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Thanks for posting. With the telescope at 360 mm FL you are pushing the SA at its limits so a good attempt without guiding. If you used Start Tools for processing it has the ability to turn eggy stars into round stars if you needed that. Cheers, Steve
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I have been imaging using my SkyWatcher Startravel 102mm refractor on a Go-To Synscan alt-az mount and Canon 600D DSLR since just before Christmas 2015. Having since read, "Astrophotography on the Go" by Joseph Ashley I have been inspired to use longer exposures, typically 30 seconds at ISO 1600 and to take more images per object (up to 200 light frames) weather permitting. I use Deep Sky Stacker to collate frames and subsequently process the master image using StarTools. I hope this album of images shows improvement upon my earlier attempts. Since April 2017 I have been using a SkyWatcher Star Adventurer (SA) mount on an old Celestron heavy duty tripod to image DSO's with my Canon DSLR. At Christmas 2017 I received a modified Canon 700D DSLR and an Astronomik clip-in Ha 12nm filter to complement my UHC filter. I am continually impressed by the accuracy of the little SA mount. In January of 2018 I began using my old CG-5 Go-To mount to take images and later swapped the original Celestron polar scope for an modern SkyWatcher type which has made polar alignment faster and more accurate.
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Street light at the end of my back garden
SteveNickolls replied to Taz777's topic in Getting Started General Help and Advice
The photo on page 21 is interesting- Shedding_light_-_a_survey_of_local_authority_approaches_to_lighting_in_England.pdf Courtesy of the CPRE. Regards, Steve -
Unsure if you are imaging in Alt-Az or EQ and what optics. Agree you should be fine for longer exposures wrt field rotation (if imaging in Alt-AZ) even with Orion being SE-S-SW so your mount/equipment set up may be failing you in one or several ways. Many potential culprits. Let us know more of your set up to potentially help out Cheers, Steve
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Star Adventurer Accessories
SteveNickolls replied to Midnight_lightning's topic in Discussions - Mounts
http://www.astrofriend.eu/astronomy/projects/project-star-adventurer-angled-viewfinder/project-star-adventurer-angled-viewfinder.html https://www.darkframeoptics.com/product/polarite-right-angled-polarscope Cheers, Steve
