Back to single shot afocals

[peterbolson]

Unless someone has any bright ideas I've given up trying to take video with my Powershot S95 because it's impossible to adjust the exposure sufficiently, especially with the moon as bright as it is at the moment.

I snatched this single shot of Schickard and others last night in a brief gap between scudding clouds in a howling gale with the scope visibly shaking and before the torrential rain came. Tonight doesn't look as if its going to be any better !

Peter

[spaceboy]

Great image Peter. Lots of sharp detail

Some of my best results have been a-focal. I struggle with over exposure using webcams and I have no way of increasing magnification with my DSLR. I feel my best picture to date was with a mobile phone. I think as the camera and lens is so small you can get an ideal position at the eyepiece lens. Most modern camera phones have an array of settings and with some offering up to 10 MP there's a chance of getting large, sharp, detailed images. Plus the good thing is most people have camera phones of one type or another so you don't have to worry about getting expensive kit.

[nightfisher]

peter that is a really crisp sharp image, can you give some more details of the capture, like what ep and how do you mount the camera to the ep

again lovely image

[markt]

You could always insert a neutral density filter into the optical train to bring the brightness levels down...

[peterbolson]

Thanks guys. That's a good idea Markt - I'll try that when the weather improves. I'm sure I'd get better results if I could do some stacking.

I'm now using the Baader clickstop adaptor to support the camera. It's a bit fiddly to set up but seems to work.

The EP was a Baader Hyperion 17mm with x2Barlow

Here's another shot from the same brief session, this time with just the 17mm EP.

Peter

[spaceboy]

You certainly seem to have got the perfect combination. Stitch a few of them together to make a full image and that would take some beating. Thanks for sharing Peter.

[peterbolson]

Thanks spaceboy. How do I stitch them together ?

[spaceboy]

Photo shop or I think there is a freeware program on the net called ICE or something like that.

EDIT: Here we have it http://www.naveen.info/2010/04/08/free-panoramic-photo-stitching-software-microsoft-ice/

[Shibby]

Incredible detail, the kind you'd only normally see from hundreds of stacked frames!

[peterbolson]

Thanks Spaceboy. Looks good - I'll give it a try.

Peter

[spaceboy]

I look forward to seeing the results

[nightfisher]

Peter, what camera scope combo did you use for this shot please

DOH! canon power shot s95...........pays to read the post

[nightfisher]

Photo shop or I think there is a freeware program on the net called ICE or something like that.

EDIT: Here we have it Free panoramic photo stitching software – Microsoft ICE | Naveen's Blog

Best treat above link with caution