First Afocal attempts with the 800 Edge HD

[Blazar]

I know I should give up on Afocal stuff, but don't really have the kit to go prime at the moment....so heard are the first attempts. please understand I did not polar align....big mistake, but will have a go at that next time we actually have a clear sky! All single shot.

First go at M13...

Second go...still using the handheld

first go at Saturn

cheers for looking

[knobby]

They're really good... I've never seen a shot of M13 afocally

[Blazar]

Cheers Knobby. its not ideal, but I think they are quite nice. did get a lot more, but thought I would only put a couple up here. 

Glad you had a good night yesterday. was up early this morning, and put up a new shed...in the spot I used the other night for the scope (shame). those images of yours of Saturn were excellent....as per our discussion, really don't know which way to go at the moment....

Cheers

[oldpink]

your Afocal saturn is on par with my prime focus or ASI shots
well done considering your restraints 

[knobby]

Hope you don't mind Steve but I got rid of the colour shift ( due to saturn being so low in the sky) and had a fiddle in registax and photoshop

Saturn tweaked.bmp

What do you think ?

[Blazar]

Nice. I did take a video of it as well just in case...I could try throwing that into pipp, and autostak etc....not sure what format it is in though...

[Blazar]

your Afocal saturn is on par with my prime focus or ASI shots

well done considering your restraints 

Thanks for the words oldpink.....need to keep at it. The wife does have an EOS-M, so might get a T ring and the adapter and have a go at prime focus next time.

[dan_uk]

That's really impressive I never knew afocal could look as good as that

[Charic]

........good considering your targets. I have tried Prime and Afocal  on the Moon with  my Skyliner, but more practice is needed. I`m still after a larger image scale, I suppose the computer could enlarge the final image, but roll on some clear nights first!

[nightfisher]

Very good for A-focal, i would keep at it. Its still my preferred way to image the Luna surface 

[Blazar]

Thanks Dan / Charic / Jules.

Its just me trying to stretch what I  can do at the moment with the equipment I have. I agree I need some more clear skys to perfect the ASPA alignment feature, then I will try again. I also just received the edge T ring adapter, and an EOS M T ring itself (along with an illuminated reticle to help with the alignments. we will see how that goes as well.

Cheers gents.

[knobby]

Ooh the excitement grows :-)

[Blazar]

yer....now I have to save for a while again.....to get the 'real' DSLR (thinking 1200D unless the EOS M works out)....and the ASI120MM for planets...then filters, filter wheel.....never ends!

[Blazar]

Right....I got out last night and had an evening of failure...and eventually some success ! so the failure was with using the EOS-M at prime focus. For some reason it did not want to trip the shutter..so it must be a config issue. thats something to investigate...

However success was using the mount for a second time, and having a first shot at ASPA...which seemed to work quite well..not spot on, but damn close.

and the results of this work...wel could not help trying to take a couple of pictures to see how it went. Now remember there was that full moon hanging around...so the sky was washed out.

so here they are:

M13 (1, 2 & 3)

And then really trying something stupid.....try and get another galaxy....so here is M82:

last one of M82:

so not too bad in the end!

Thanks for looking

[dan_uk]

You're making some great progress there, well done!

I'm glad my latest purchase didn't produce clouds for everyone.

[Blazar]

Thanks Dan. Well not too bad for Afocal shots....and I have now figured out what was up with the EOS-M! it appears there is a custom function buried deep in the menu's to disable shutter release if the camera detects there is no lens (so a 00 code). i went and disabled that function, and now it fired away with the T ring on.....bring on tonight!

going to have another go!

[Sandraj]

Nice pics...noob question...what is Afocal and prime focal? sorry for a dumb question but I would like to understand.

[Blazar]

Not a dumb question at all Sandra.

Afocal is using an Eyepiece and the handheld looking through it (also known as Eyepiece Projection). Prime focus is replacing the EP with the camera. Prime focus is the 'proper' way to do it, but can not afford a new camera at the moment!

[Sandraj]

Ah I see, thanks, interesting to know the proper tens and try to understand a little more. Thank you 

[Sandraj]

*terms* not tens 

[knobby]

Nice images! Well done

[Mattscar]

Very nice afocal M13, youve certainly inspired me to get back out with my afocal kit (nothing special, an iphone and an adjustable holder that screws to the eyepiece).

Keep up the great work!

Matt

[Blazar]

Thanks Knobby / Matt.

was quite pleased!....so now want more good weather...without a full moon!

[Blazar]

Heres a prime focus M57:

Single 10 second shot, No PA.