slr camera help

[LITTLE COL]

just managed to get hold of a zenit 312m slr film camera , just wondering is there anybody that still uses film cameras for astrphotography and if so i can only go up to iso400 film.

good or not so good that is the question

thanks for your help guys

http://www.btinternet.com/~stowupland/index.htm

check the link out ( sound required )

[Kaptain Klevtsov]

That should work OK as it has a B setting. You can use whatever film is still available, maybe 1600 print film? The camera's meter might only work to 400 but thats irrelevant for what you want to do. You will definitely need to get the alignment and tracking perfectly tuned before you start messing with wet pictures though.

Captain Chaos

[Greg]

it could be more hassle than i'ts worth...

I don't mean to put you off or anything but you could be playing out there on a perfect night clicking away thinking you've captured the perfect image..

In reality the process lab will get it all wrong and every print will come back with a little sticker on it saying..

"Remove Lens Cap!"

If you do have a go the first image should be a dark frame and tell the process lab that you have been taking astro photo's.

I played with B&W film in the 80's as I used to do my own developing and printing...That could be your other option a lot cheaper and more rewarding in the long run...

I might have some darkroom stuff for sale if you're interested.

Greg

[LITTLE COL]

cheers guys i will give it a whirl , a big whirl by the sound of things , thanks for the advise and hopefully fingers /arms/legs and everything else crossed i will post you on how i get on!!

maybee i will be the lucky one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i will definatlly tell them what i am photographing as advised

[Greg]

Remember to take a note of the frame number and all the settings.....Guaranteed when you do get the image right...You won't remember how you did it.

And remember to scan em up and put em on here!

Good Luck

Greg

[OXO]

A little tip for you when taking your images to be processed at the film processers tell them there Astrophotography images otherwise they may throw away all those important images thinking there naff

[russ]

Col,

number one tip when taking astro photos on film........always shoot the first 3-4 frames in daylight. This helps the process lab no end and makes sure your film is cut correctly.

As James says, always provide a covering note explaining what they are. Or else you may only get the negatives back.

7 Day Shop in Guernsey sell a range of films and more importantly they are films that are suitable for astrophotography, such as Kodak Ektachrome 200 and Fuji Sensia/Provia 400.

Don't get worked up about ISO ratings, high ISO is not important. Kodak Ektachrome 200 is about as good as it gets for long exposure.

Experiment with some star trails. No other format does this type of image as well as film....it rules for star trails. And you don't need any fancy kit. Just a tripod, camera, 50mm lens or wider and cable release. Remember to stop down the lens to f5.6 or perhaps f8.

The Zenith is the perfect astrophotography film camera, so no worries there. I still have mine, had it 23 years now. Still use the lens on my 300D.

Have fun

Russ

[GordonCopestake]

Make up a sign with the date and time on etc then take a photo of it in daylight for the first frame