Open Clusters with Camera Lenses

[Macavity]

Either "can't be bothered" and missing clear skies - Or setting

up and getting about 15 minutes before the clouds roll in.

Still, managed some 100 x 2.56s exposures with "vintage 70s"

telephoto lenses. First a 35mm Vivitar f/4 for C41 (The Hyades)

Then a couple with a 135mm Vivitar f/4 for M45 (The Pleiades)

Just a smidgen of nebulosity? Now M44 (Praesepe) in Cancer

Many (somewhat correctable) issues as ever, but quite fun?

I discover I have some Hoya (K2) yellow filters for both lenses.

I speculate these will remove most of the "achromatic purple".

Want to try adding cross wires to create starbursts on M45!

If you can't manage the quality, go for the BLING, I reckon...

[DoctorD]

Hi Chris

Nice to see some wide field views.

I know what you mean about "can't be bothered" - I've set up a few times only to have the clouds roll in before I've got the mount aligned so next time I spot a bit of clear sky I'm reluctant to set up until it looks like it's going to be clear for a few hours. Inevitably I miss the opportunity or when I don't I end up with technical issues and getting even more frustrated!

Clear skies and keep on trying.

Paul

[Martin Meredith]

Great results and I like the circles; just blank out the bits outside and you've got a great eyepiece simulation (amazing how compelling it is to see that view)...

Tonight is going to be the first clear one of 2015 so can't be bothered isn't an option   in spite of predicted -5C….

Martin

[Dave In Vermont]

Very nice captures! And with a Vivitar? Seems I hear the Vivitar anything being spoken of in sour tones. I, however, have also had very good experiences with my Vivitar binoculars - 8x - 20X 50mm Zooms. So I know Vivitar can get it right on occasion.

Keep up the good work!

Clear Skies,

Dave (snowing again)

[Macavity]

Thanks, guys - And for generally encouraging comments.

Definitely "eight octa" tonight here, but clear skies to all!

Ah, the circles. Not having a great deal of significance just yet...

I sense the fields are approx 6 deg (35mm) and 1.5 deg (135mm)

(To be calibrated, with the help of Stellarium probably...)

The 135 Vivitar looks a bit "soft"... But then it always did!  The 35,

a tad better? But you get smaller spot-size with shorter focal length? 

I keep looking in our various and many "pawn shops" (+Ebay) to see

if they have any old fashioned manual Canon or Pentax lenses...

Some of the fast ones still (justly) carry a fair old price tag.

[Macavity]

Oops - Dodgy double clicking mouse.

[Photosbykev]

one of my all time favourites was an Canon FD mount Vivitar 70-210mm zoom lens. It's difficult to remember just how good it was compared to modern glass but I do recall it was very sharp even back then

[DoctorD]

Well - thanks to Chris & Martin I could be bothered last night event though I had  very short observing window and I thought I'd try some wide field.

Here's my M45 taken with my INED70 and Astro Engineering 1.25" x0.6 reducer and Lodestar-C with Lodestar Live at 30 second exposure

Single 30s exposure

Stack of 8 30 second exposures

And a very wide field M101 just visible

Stack of 5 20 second exposures.

IR/UV block filter used

CS 

Paul