Cheap Lens for moon photos

[nmoore6]

Hi all,

 

Wondering what some opinions are for a cheap lens that can get my decent closeup pictures of the moon with some above average detail. I've mainly been into landscape stuff but I really want to give this a try. I've seen Rokinon/samyang make those crazy 650-1300mm lenses for really cheap. Does anyone have any experience with those?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA63G2041481&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-_-Digital+Camera+Lenses-_-9SIA63G2041481&gclid=CjwKEAjwoPG8BRCSi5uu6d6N5WcSJABHzD8FNJXEK0ZfQDDyreI5gqNyQVgWT4nXbT55wTnt12-UQhoCLzfw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Also have been looking at this:

http://www.adorama.com/rk500p.html?gclid=CjwKEAjwoPG8BRCSi5uu6d6N5WcSJABHzD8FgtB7Qpb8JwuE4jeasACm_Y2bKnPSY8FbtICWaJTfuBoCqhLw_wcB

 

My budget would ideally be in the sub-$300 range. I'm not trying to win any awards, I just want to take some decent pictures of the moon. I have a Nikon D3300 if that helps.

 

Thank you!!

 

 

[Alien 13]

The cheaper tele lenses will often disappoint, I can get reasonable images with an L lens and TC but expensive. 

I would personally recommend a Celestron C90 Mak or similar, I get good lunar shots with it and has a nice focusing action, it does vignette slightly with a DSLR but nothing that cant be corrected in post processing.

There is a shot  taken with the Mak in this thread. 

This thread is also worth a look.

Alan

 

[nmoore6]

15 minutes ago, Alien 13 said:

The cheaper tele lenses will often disappoint, I can get reasonable images with an L lens and TC but expensive. 

I would personally recommend a Celestron C90 Mak or similar, I get good lunar shots with it and has a nice focusing action, it does vignette slightly with a DSLR but nothing that cant be corrected in post processing.

There is a shot  taken with the Mak in this thread. 

This thread is also worth a look.

Alan

 

Ill check those threads out, thanks! I tried imaging with the nexstar 127SLT, but i cant fit the whole moon in and have to resort to making a stitched image, I'd like to get away from that. Would i have the same problem with the 90?

[Alien 13]

I hadn't noticed that you had a 127SLT already but the 90 has a shorter focal length and the whole disc fits in the frame of my APS C sensor for still shots but clips it slightly when using the camera in video mode. The 90 is also light and compact enough to fit on a photo tripod.

Alan

[nmoore6]

2 hours ago, Alien 13 said:

I hadn't noticed that you had a 127SLT already but the 90 has a shorter focal length and the whole disc fits in the frame of my APS C sensor for still shots but clips it slightly when using the camera in video mode. The 90 is also light and compact enough to fit on a photo tripod.

Alan

I also bought the Orion 80mm refractor, got it used for a good price. I cant seem to focus on the moon with my camera through it, though. is there some sort of piece I can buy, like an extender or something?

[Alien 13]

1 hour ago, nmoore6 said:

I also bought the Orion 80mm refractor, got it used for a good price. I cant seem to focus on the moon with my camera through it, though. is there some sort of piece I can buy, like an extender or something?

If you are using a refactor without a diagonal as you would when fitting a DSLR then you need a two inch extension https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/t2-extension-tube-set.html, this can be a threaded T adapter or if the scope has a 2 inch focusser you can use a camera adapter like this https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/skywatcher-2-inch-t-adapter.html.

Alan

[nmoore6]

On 7/30/2016 at 12:56, Alien 13 said:

If you are using a refactor without a diagonal as you would when fitting a DSLR then you need a two inch extension https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/t2-extension-tube-set.html, this can be a threaded T adapter or if the scope has a 2 inch focusser you can use a camera adapter like this https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/skywatcher-2-inch-t-adapter.html.

Alan

Hey, sorry to restart this thread, and thanks for your help but I had another quick question. I got the 2 inch extension, should be here soon. With the orion shortttube 80, would i connect my camera to the extension, and then connect that directly to the scope? Or should I include a diagonal in the equation?

[Alien 13]

You dont need the diagonal when using the extension.

Alan