First Pic using a telescope

[rich_8377]

This is my first picture I have taken while using a telescope. I used my Celestron Nexstar 5 SE with a Nikon D60 attached directly to the scope with a T Ring and T Adaptor. ISO was 100 with 1/50 sec exposure time. I have tried touching it up using a basic photo editor software. I also had to press the shutter release button manually as I do not yet have a release cable. Any advice for my next attempt? Cheers. Also, it may sound a silly question, but how do I get close up shots? I assume I have to attach an eye piece somehow between the camera and telescope, but not sure how I do this while using a T Ring & Adaptor. Do I have to buy another piece of kit? Thanks

[Schorhr]

Nice shot!

You can use a barlow lens or teleconverter to increase the focal length (with the included change of focal ratio meaning longer exposure times is neccessary of curse).

There are inexpensive barlows that have a T threading,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Barlow-Linse-1-25-mit-T2-Gewinde-fur-Astrofotografie-Topaktion-TSB2T-/390435974770?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_16&hash=item5ae7cc2e72

but it will introduce some color (yellow/blue seam around bright objects)

and of course 1.25" barlow or focuser will crop the image.

If that's no issue, http://www.ebay.de/itm/High-Quality-T-Mount-Camera-Adaptor-to-Fit-a-1-25-Eyepiece-Tube-Holder-NEW-/181107520778?pt=UK_Photography_Telescopes&hash=item2a2ad9750a to use with any barlow, actually, the seben/orbinar 2x achromatic barlow for 17€ shipped and the meade achromatic 3x barlow 20€ are half bad for the low price - all depends on how serious you want to get.

Eyepieces like the hyperion series offer threads and adapters to attach the camera for ep projection. But it's less common and a large leaver on the focuser.

There are clamps/mounts if the eyepiece has no thread, but it really depends if you want to use existing eyepieces.

Something like http://www.ebay.de/itm/37mm-Digital-camera-telescope-eyepiece-adapter-/140760075946?pt=UK_Photography_Telescopes&hash=item20c5f44eaa

as for the remote

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-ML-L3-Remote-Control-for-Nikon-D60-D90-D5000-D3000-D80-D90-D40-D40x-D70-D70s-/290912778543?pt=AU_Cameras_Photographic_Accessories&hash=item43bbc0b92f

(beware, overseas, long delivery)

PS: You may want to try shorter exposure times, if it's neccesary crank up the ISO, and use stacking software, too, especially when you start with a higher magnification- video mode could work, too :-)

Did you focus with live view / zoom?

[VigdisVZ]

Hey that is pretty good! Focus is a wee bit off, you should try and zoom in using live view to get it spot on. Keep up the good work!

[RT65CB-SWL]

Cool photo!

Another way to get 'close up' would be an eyepiece projection unit (EPU). Alan at Sky's the Limit has this one... http://www.skysthelimit.org.uk/telescope%20camera%20adapters.html

[Keener_7]

Pretty good shot. Next you could try taking say 50 - 100 shots and use stacking software, as stated above, such as Registax (it's free).

[Astrosurf]

That's a great first pic. As was said, just a tad out of focus but still very good. I've not used video mode on my camera as I use a webcam but others have with very good results so, as Schorhr says, give it a go. Then use Registax to stack the vid.

If you want to have another go with just snaps before your programmable shutter release arrives, ensure you're on RAW for best image quality (or RAW + JPEG). Then what I did was set the delayed shutter release for 2 secs (or more) for each shot so you don't get any camera wobble.

Alexxx

[Droopy1824]

Very nice! Hope my first turns out this well.

[tonylumley]

_{just a thought, if you haven't got a remote shutter release, I use the delay timer as this eliminates any camera shake, Lum.}