Gifted equipment, need advice!

[Osiris777]

I'm a new member to the forum, and hope some folks with experience can provide me with some advice, regarding what I've been given for equipment, what I currently have, and what would be recommended if I wanted to start getting into photographing DSOs/planets/etc.  My gf used to be into photography and isn't anymore.. I'd mentioned my interest in getting into astrophotography, and was given the following:

So here is what was given to me:

1) Canon EOS Rebel T3

2) Canon EF 100-400mm Zoom lens (w/stabilizer?)

3). Canon EF 100mm lens

4)  Canon EFs 18-55mm lens

I've got a basic setup for live viewing, with a 8" dobsonian, and an equatorial mount (not motorized)

 

I'm curious what I would need to get going to start taking some shots of easy targets, like Orion Nebula, Andromeda, etc. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as I'm a total noob with astrophotography (and still a beginner with live viewing) thanks!!

 

 

[Seelive]

I use 50mm, 100mm, 200mm and 400mm lenses for all my astrophotography images but they are always mounted on a driven equatorial mount (together with a guidescope when using the 400mm).

[ollypenrice]

You really need a tracking equatorial mount for anything but short focal lengths. The better the tracking mount the better the pictures - and increasingly so as you go up in focal length.

There is good free software (Deep Sky Stacker) for combining multiple exposures and GIMP is an alternative to Photoshop for post processing.

The Skywatcher Star Adventurer is a good minimalist tracking mount.  From there it's onwards and upwards in both performance and price.

This is a good place to start: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/books/making-every-photon-count-steve-richards.html

Olly

Edited October 27, 2020 by ollypenrice

[JOC]

I have a very similar set-up.  Based on my own experience,  You would probably be able to take some fairly satisfying shots of the moon by attaching the Rebel via a suitable T-ring to the Eyepiece holder - I find with a little care that it is possible to use the zoom function on the camera to find the focus.  With this as the moon is so bright you should be able to take lots of short exposures and even stack them with some free software (my avatar is such a shot), with a suitable home-made filter using authentic baader solar film over the whole end of the telescope (checked for holes prior to use) and removing the optical finder and replacing with a shadow finder you can also take a satisfying shot of the sun in the same way.  

For taking things like constellations, larger portions of the sky and even the centres of things like the Orion nebula you will find that the camera fitted with just it's own lens and on a tripod and with an automatic shutter release to take away vibration (these are inexpensive picked up second hand on ebay or similar places) you can still produce interesting shots.  You can get away with just a few seconds exposure which, again if lots of shots are stacked, can produce star packed images of the sky.  For this a small Bahtinov mask can be used to help get focus on the end of the camera lens, but you can also use the zoom function again and a bit of trial and error with whatever lens gets you the portion of the sky you are after - it isn't quite a far out as the camera lens will go, you have to back it off just a tad. 

You will never get the sort of images that the guys with the proper imaging equipment manage and the advice that you will get on this thread will likely come from some of those folks as well as from, lets use what we have peeps like me, but I find that I can take shots to satisfy my yen to have a 'dabble' and be quite amazed at the results - the 'star field' shots with just my camera are quite amazing when you consider that they are just taken with what I had.  Below are some of my shots - only 'snaps' not 'images' like the specialists take, but they satisfy me and do show what you could take with your equipment and you could do much do better than me esp. if you worked at it - mine are just just one off experiments.

This is mercury transiting the sun, auriga, the moon and the sun

 

 

[happy-kat]

You have two super lenses, the white barrel will have good optics and the 100mm is a lovely lens as well. Many deep sky objects are huge and camera lenses can be used to capture them. You might find the white barreled lens can be used wide open at full aperture but the 100mm may be like the 85mm it's a sibling of and benefit from stopping down to f4.

Both are two long in focal length for static tripod use really so an equatorial tracking mount would be best. The kit lens at 18mm could be used on a static mount at around 20 second exposure length.

[Osiris777]

Thanks for your input folks!  This seems like a great forum, as a beginner I half expected sarcastic responses, very happy that you were all helpful and I'm encouraged!  So it would seem the biggest investment on the radar, after trying some moon shots and maybe some wide field star pics would be getting an tracking EQ mount.  I'm going to try out the camera this weekend up in some fairly dark skies of northern NH (God willing it is clear haha).  I'm going to keep my expectations metered, as I understand (especially after the experience with my relatively small reflector on live viewing) that to get those professional quality images requires professional equipment and skills that I don't possess.  

Thanks again!

[happy-kat]

A picture of your existing equatorial mount might help with suggestions on motorising it if it's possible.

You can take images using a static tripod. The T3 is not full frame I have the same camera. You just have to work within what works before star trails appear. However star trail images are also great especially if you have an interesting item/object/forground to set them in. The 100mm being macro should I think have a good flat lens with little edge distortion (off top of head).

Exposure length to not have star trails showing is 400/lens focal length as a start for you, then see whether you need shorter or can go longer. 

For star trails then say 30 seconds would be a start then take an hours worth.

If I was going to a dark sky one of my targets might be Andromeda with the 100mm and take 200+ 4 second shots.

Check the camera histogram you want the light peak clear of the left edge but I know with my T3 I can't go higher than ISO1600 otherwise way too much noise.

For camera control I use an Android device and app DSLR Controller with an OTG cable with the camera USB lead. Makes focus a breeze plus has timelapse ability. Use the lens in manual mode. For aiming I have a red dot finder that fits in the camera flash hot shoe. 

The camera lens may get dew so I've made a dew shield from a plastic flower pot that I've flocked. A piece of card rolled and rubber bands over the lens will suffice. Though ideally not white card, inside cereal box is at least muddy brown.

Once you have images it's a whole new world of processing with many very good and free solutions.

This is a static tripod 28mm lens image

Link here

Have fun playing and enjoy the night sky.

Edited October 27, 2020 by happy-kat
Corrected lens length used

[happy-kat]

This link might be inspiring, have fun with what you have whilst deciding researching next step

https://youtu.be/e0JSTF8SGi4

[Mr Spock]

The 100mm and 100-400mm are cracking lenses; 18-55 not so much - you can try it out  stopped down a little to get an idea of what focal lengths suit you before deciding on a better prime lens.

[maw lod qan]

When you get an adapter to put the camera onto your telescope you might need a barlow to get enough focus, but you will be surprised at the images you can get of Jupiter and Saturn.

Might not be as good as those who shoot video then stack the best frames, but everyone takes the first steps.

[Osiris777]

This is all very inspiring!  As I'm a total beginner, I think there is a lot of trial and error, plus it seems there is a plethora of resources available.  That was a great pic Bright Giant, and thanks for the tips, I'm watching that youtube vid now.  

I'll get a pic of the mount I have currently to show, I'm wiling to bet it's probably not worth motorizing (the whole scope setup was a steal though, I got it at a flea market for $50).

I'll let you all know how the first jump into this goes this weekend.  You have all been so helpful and boosting my excitement to give this a shot!

[Osiris777]

Well as an update, the first night available to try out the camera happened to be on Saturday night... which was the full moon haha 😆

I had no idea what I was doing, so just gave it a shot, and it was more to familiarize myself with the camera, intervalometer, and manually slewing to the target I was after.  Unfortunately, I've since realized I was out of focus among several other things, but it was a great learning experience and come the next new moon I'll be in the far northern reaches of New Hampshire, hopefully with some very dark skies to give it another shot.  

The only pic I managed to get was of 40 light frames, with a 2s exposure (which was too long, aside from not being in focus) attached.  Also, with the crazy amount of moon glow, even adjusting the levels was damn near impossible.  Surprised I got anything to be honest lol!

[happy-kat]

Great learning experience though and you got a capture to help you next time. Did you try with the 100mm lens as well.

If the Moon is up use the sky the other side of it, aiming into the milkyway can create lovely images, don't aim to high as field rotation accelerates East and West are best to minimise that.

[Osiris777]

Thanks!  I tried with the 100mm, but couldn't get it focused.  I've since learned how to actually achieve that haha I got a bahtinov mask, and practiced last night on a bright star (one of only a few I can see from my urban environment in one of the densest populated municipalities in Boston).  Looking forward to my next attempt!

[Osiris777]

Second attempt went a lot better than the first, this is becoming one of those things that is pretty clearly 'minute to learn, lifetime to master'.  Very much enjoying the community and the time looking up at the sky!

 

 

 

Edited November 13, 2020 by Osiris777

[johngm]

That is superb for a second attempt. You even managed to capture the trapezium. Well done 👍

John 

[happy-kat]

That's a big step improvement, well done

[Osiris777]

Well I tried for a third time.. unfortunately I found a new issue with the lens I was using, when angled too vertical it slid down and I lost about 1/3 of my exposures.  Sigh, I'm very much enjoying the hobby, and learning the ropes.  I'm thinking a better tripod, mount, and a tracker is in my near future though!  

Here is the result:

[Moonshed]

You are making great progress, my first attempts at the Orion Nebula were not as good as that but I have the excuse (always handy to have an excuse up your sleeve) that 30 years ago I was using a film camera. What a pain that was!  Keep at it and before you know it you will have magnificent pictures of the heavens with which to impress your friends and a very respectful overdraft. Who needs money anyway? 😀

[Osiris777]

haha I can't imagine trying to do this with analog tech!  Money is well spent if it provides experience, and this hobby certainly gives that!  I'm so inspired seeing all the great pics from folks on here that are at all levels of skill and equipment (and also the creativity, as much as I enjoy the 'natural' look I also appreciate how no two images are alike!)