Nigeyboy

Fair comment! Only thought it a budget option for the OP above. Proper wide angles (ie wider than 18mm where most kit lenses start) for Canon APS-C cameras are either expensive. I did use a friends Canon EF-S 10-22mm once - great lens, but again, more expensive than the little 10-18mm.

I believe they will with one of THESE. You do lose any auto functions the lens might have, and admittedly its another piece of glass in the imaging train . . .

That's an issue with Zoom lenses - they are generally slower! I think its a trade off between speed and cost. Even some of the Samyang prime lenses are over £400. If you look at whats available for Canon fit at the extreme wide end, options are limited if you don;t want to spend a barrow load of cash!! Have you considered looking at some of the older FD mount lenses? These can be attached to your Canon by way of an adaptor, and you can pick up some real bargains on Ebay!!

Hi A 24mm on a crop sensor is actually nearer to 38mm so not ‘wide’ angle really. While primes are generally better from an image quality perspective, true wide angle primes are expensive. Take a look at the Canon EF-S 10-18mm. It is cheap but hits above its weight when it comes to image quality. As for Macro, I would think you will always want as much focal length as you can afford!

I managed all but Mercury! I had an early start this morning - as it was, I didn't pull the duvet over myself until just past 3am!! Mercury is still the only Planet I have yet to see.

Welcome / Bienvenue! This site is indeed awesome!! You really can ask any question, and you will always get a good and helpful response. I still a relative 'Noob' here on SGL, but trying to get more involved! Enjoy, and clear skies! Nige

Another 400D user here!! I'm still using mine after 12 years!!

Check out this useful tool - its the section at the bottom. Just put in both the telescope sizes and it will work out the difference. Interesting if for the smaller scope you input 7mm (average human eye), to get an idea how much more light even a modest scope collects!!

Hi all Been a while since I added to my blog. To be fair, not really had much to report! I have been out of furlough for over four weeks now, and with nearly 2000 of our Greene King pubs reopening in the space of a week recently, the last three weeks have been manic! We have a reduced team, but have all pulled together and got each site across the line! I would like to say things are slowing down a bit, but that just doesn't seem to be happening! But I'm not complaining - happy to be busy again! All this work had meant I have not been out under the skies for some time now. Sure, the weather hasn't been very cooperative, but on the odd evening where the clouds have cleared, I have just wanted to go to bed! So, I made a conscious effort that this weekend would be different. I had been keeping an eye on Clear Outside all week, and Sunday looked like the best evening. I wanted to see the comet, so decided I would make a trip into the Peak District (I live in Derby), to find some darkness! So, at around 10pm, with a still bright horizon, I hopped in the car and made my way to Thorpe Cloud near Ilam - an area a few miles North of Ashbourne. The car park I used to use when I came here to do some Landscape photography has now got a barrier across it, so I had to park about a mile away and walk back. Note to self: Next time, pack a torch so I don't have to use phone! Here is a light map of the area. Am surprised its Bortle 4 here - thought it darker than that: The 30 minute walk across the side of Thorpe Cloud gave my eyes time to become dark adapted. On the way round, I saw a pass of the ISS. Was as high as I remember ever seeing it, and it was very bright. I checked this morning, and it was -3.4!! I took my time and drank in the Milkyway over head, with Cygnus buried deep in the star clouds. I came round the side of the Cloud and there it was! Nestled just above the horizon below the pan of Ursa Major! I needed averted vision to see it with my naked eye, but when I turned the 20x80's on it - WOW!!! The most amazing site. I have not seen a comet since Hale-Bopp, so this was a special moment for me. I spent a good half an hour on the bins, and then decided to try and take some photos. I will freely admit that I am at the very start of my AP journey. I have a Canon 400D, and a fixed tripod for widefield, while my EQ3-2 is manual right now. Using the 500 rule theory, at 17mm on my 17-55mm f2.8, I worked out I could get 18 seconds exposures before trailing would be really evident. I opened the lens wide, set ISO to 800 to try and reduce noise and set the shutter at 15 seconds and started snapping away. When the first preview appeared I was quite pleased - there was the comet as I had seen it through the bins: Yeah, I didn't nail the focus. Difficult with nothing to actually focus on, and only a small (non-live view) screen to look at! However, if you squint a bit they look ok! The wider shots are better: It was getting late, and I had to be up at 6am, so started to head back to the car. It was then the ISS came over for pass #2 of the evening. Very much the same brightness, and I followed it across the sky. I had put my camera away by this point, otherwise would have taken a long exposure of it going over. Got back to the car, and headed home, getting in at about 2:15am, and went straight to bed. I intend to run these images through Photoshop this evening and try and pull put some more detail. I am also going to try and stack some of the images I took! Thanks for reading all! Nige

Hi Ed Took a punt and drove to an old location I used to use for landscape photography near a place called Thorpe, just out of Ashbourne. The carpark I used to use now has a barrier across it, so I parked about a mile away, and walked down. Should have taken a torch as it was really dark!! Got to see the comet though, so was chuffed with that. I plan to take some daylight trips out over the coming weekends to scout out some new locations. Thanks for your comments! Nige

Hi all I have a rare opportunity to go out tonight to try and see Neowise among other things! I live in Derby and was planning on driving out through Ashbourne toward Buxton. Can anyone recommend a place for me to go that had wide visible horizons, while being away from LP? Thanks in advance Nige

And ours are full of boy racers doing doughnuts . . . . .

Is that Stithians by any chance? I attempted to watch the 1999 eclipse there, but it was cloudy! I do recall it being an amazing dark sky the night before though.

Yep - spot on. I never expected the phone to pick up detail in the planet. Was mostly to show my other half when came back in! Jupiter is over some neighbours roofs at the moment, so get the added heat shimmer from those which doesnt add to the view I can see!

Here is how Jupiter looked for me last night. Single shot on my iPhone held at the eyepiece. Visually, I could see just a couple of faint cloud bands.

I have the EQ3-2, with a SW 150-PL. Its at its limit, and I only plan to use it for planetary AP once I sort out the motors for it. For more 'Deep Sky' AP I intend only to use my DSLR and assorted lenses.

Just a thought but it Migjt be worth checking that the Widescreen showroom is open when you plan to visit. Hope they are so you can get your hands on the hardware!

I was recommended this one by someone here on SGL a few months back.

I tend to follow the adage 'If its too good to be true, it probably is!!' Checking Google shows mixed reviews. Doesn't look they are a direct seller either after reading some reviews! Caveat Emptor seems to apply here!!

Good effort for your first attempt! Was it taken by mobile phone at the eyepiece? Thats where I am at the moment!!

On the plus side, I guess your winter nights are longer than ours further South!!

Wow Victor! Your not even getting Astro Twilight this time of year!!

This is a good site for seeing when Astronimical / nautical night etc begins / ends for your location. Not looking good in Derby until Mid-July!!

That’s a good shout Mark. Definitely worth a look at that idea I think. Do you think it would affect stability if the legs were lower down?

Hi all I have a friend who is a very accomplished metal worker and welder. I am looking into getting him to manufacture a heavy duty tripod for me. It will be along the lines of the EQ8 tripod. At the moment it will be overkill for my little set up, but I’m thinking (and wishing!) long term, so if one day I get a chunky 12” reflector, at least I won’t need to worry about a tripod!! We have had lots of chats about the design, but I’m struggling on what to do about the top of the tripod. At the moment I have a little EQ3-2 mount, and he will make a plate suitable for it. However, as one day I might upgrade to an HEQ5 or EQ6, I was wondering if there are any plans / drawings out there for pier plates for these mounts. I'm guessing that something must exist for those that have their scopes on a permanent pier setup. Do they share the same dimensions at the base? Was trying to make the whole thing as future proof as possible!! Thanks all Nige