a very basic question about astro-photography

[legion48]

Thanks for the detailed post but moon is no fun. What I want is taking some details of nebulae and galaxies. But I guess I'll have to return to this idea in a few years.

Good luck with the deep space stuff but I wouldn't dismiss the moon quite so easily. A nice, prime focus webcam lunar mosaic looks very nice printed on A3. Quite a talking point with visitors too.

[dph1nm]

Also how do I choose the correct adapter ring? I know that my scope is 1.25" but that's only one end of the ring, right? What camera specs should I look at to make another end of the ring match my camera?

Baah! I apologize - it seems that the A580 is virtually the only one of the A5xx series which doesn't take an lens adapter, so you can't attach directly to the eyepiece. Still the bracket should work reasonably, it is just harder to keep everything in alignment.

I have guide to afocal phorography here

Afocal Astrophotography

with links to my pictures at the bottom.

BTW, afocal is using BOTH camera lens and eyepiece.

NigelM

[crovax]

Thanks for the manual! So just to make sure I've understood everything correctly: this bracket is the only option for me

Adaptors - Skywatcher Universal Camera Adapter

?

And using it I will be able to go both "afocal" and "EP projection" ways (I'll go through manuals on weekend so right now these words are quite misterious for me )?

[AstroTiger]

The problem is as you will discover, Astronomy can be one of the most expensive pastimes.

That said, so is Photography.

The problem you will soon find is the two combine to give astrophotgraphy.

The basic camera idea will work for sure.

Then you will get addicted and probably spend close to a grand on DSLRs like many (including me) have done.

It is highly rewarding, many astronomers i am sure are now attending the priory clinic to be weaned off lol

you will need a very understanding misses as well.

Seriously though, welcome to the field, its trying, challenging, and fun.

Many of my images are on my site.

[dph1nm]

And using it I will be able to go both "afocal" and "EP projection" ways

EP projection requires you to be able to remove your camera lens. You cannot do this with the A580.

I guess there are other brackets apart from the Skywatcher one, but, yes, you need something like that.

NigelM

[crovax]

The problem is as you will discover, Astronomy can be one of the most expensive pastimes.

That said, so is Photography.

The problem you will soon find is the two combine to give astrophotgraphy.

The basic camera idea will work for sure.

Then you will get addicted and probably spend close to a grand on DSLRs like many (including me) have done.

It is highly rewarding, many astronomers i am sure are now attending the priory clinic to be weaned off lol

you will need a very understanding misses as well.

Seriously though, welcome to the field, its trying, challenging, and fun.

Many of my images are on my site.

LOL, I've already discovered that about astronomy. I've also tried piloting a glider recently and that's super awesome. I've already had to allocate some money on piloting courses that I am going to attend next summer. I guess I am just extremely unlucky with hobbies. Hope I am a very talented specialist or something like that because I really need to become a millionaire now.

EP projection requires you to be able to remove your camera lens. You cannot do this with the A580.

I guess there are other brackets apart from the Skywatcher one, but, yes, you need something like that.

NigelM

Ok, so EP projection won't work for me because I can't remove camera lens and afocal won't work for me because there is no ring available for my camera and bracket won't align my camera well enough to get normal photos. I hope I got it correctly and please correct me if I am mistaken there. By the way how will another non-skywatcher bracket fix the problem if the problem is with unremovable lens?

PS. How did you find out that the lens is unremovable? I am going to check if my friends' cameras are suitable for astrophotography but I don't know what spec I should look at.

[dph1nm]

and afocal won't work for me because there is no ring available for my camera and bracket won't align my camera

I am not trying to put you off ! The bracket should work just fine, and you should be able to get decent photos. In my opinion it is easier if you can have coupling rings, but if you can't just go with the bracket.

PS. How did you find out that the lens is unremovable?

The A580 is point & shoot digicam - by definition it has an unremoveable lens.

NigelM

[crovax]

In my opinion it is easier if you can have coupling rings, but if you can't just go with the bracket.

I am sorry but I still don't get it. As far as I understood I can't get rings because I won't be able to attach them to my camera because it has unremovable lens. If some other type of rings exist, please point me to them.

[Milamber]

Search for F adapter on Ebay

Arthur

[themos]

Have a look at AC295 in here:

Astro Engineering Parts AC200 to AC299

I have a set that I don't use anymore, if you are interested.

[dph1nm]

I am sorry but I still don't get it. As far as I understood I can't get rings because I won't be able to attach them to my camera because it has unremovable lens. If some other type of rings exist, please point me to them.

The reason you can't use adapter rings to attach your camera to the eyepiece is simply because the A580 doesn't have any threads on its lens to screw them on to. This is nothing to do with whether the lens in detachable or not. Some unremovable lens cameras do have screw threads (the A590 for instance), although it is not very common.

NIgelM