FILM CAMERA EXPERIMENT

[LITTLE COL]

hi guys , tonight if the weather keeps up i might try using my film camera for star imaging for the first time , only problem is i do not get a very extensive view were i am ( Polaris and Cassiopeia mainly ) any advise so that we might get some picks for us all to take a look at.

galaxy/nebula/stars which is the easiest

e.p 25mm/10mm / barlow skywatcher130

also exposure time????

[Kain]

I ain't no imager, but I think you would struggle to get nebulae with a normal piece of kit.

I would do more Wide field shots of Cas.

Kain

[Ant]

Taking film images through a scope is really hard.

I would suggest something like the double cluster - below Cassiopeia. Attach th camera to the scope without the camera lens or Eyepeice.

Focus as best you can and then go for 20 seconds. Take a few images slightly either side of what you think is in perfect focus, and increase the exposures.

You should get something worth looking at.

I would suggest using colour slide film though. Less for the lab to screw up!

Ant

[LITTLE COL]

cheers guys ,

no eyepiece at all ant , is that the best way to get a decent shot?

[russ]

Hi Col,

Is your EQ2 driven so it can track the stars? Also, does the telescope have a camera tripod thread on top of the tube rings?

If yes to both, i think you would be better off putting the camera piggyback on the telescope and taking a widefield image using the standard camera lens. Point the camera in the direction of Cassiopeia and experiment with a few exposures running upto a few minutes in duration. And you should bag the Galaxy M31 and the Double Cluster.

You'll need to know how to roughly polar align the EQ2 mount to make it worthwhile though.

It would definitely be worth your while putting the camera on a static camera tripod. Using the standard, point the camera at Polaris. Set the aperture on the lens to f8, and focus to infinity. And then leave the shutter open for 15mins. Perhaps try a longer one at 30 mins.

Hope that helps

Russ

[LITTLE COL]

cheer russ , yes i have motor drive and piggy back , so i will try this method as well , maybee then i will have at least one decent shot or two on my film

excellent response as always

cheers guys

:lol:

[russ]

Good luck Col, hope you get some nice results.

Russ

[Ant]

Russ is right - piggy back the camera for wide field shots. Hopefully your camera lens has infinity marked (an 8 on it's side), thats normally pretty close to perfect focus for film SLR's.

Enjoy.

Ant

[daz]

I'd also take one frame of a normal daytime scene - gives the lab guys something to work with!

And something like Kodak EliteChrome 200 film.

If it's not too late