Coolpix 5700

[blinky]

First off feel free to move this to the imaging section if you think it is more appropriate.

Anyway I am getting a loan of a Coolpix 5700 camera with (So the person loaning it) the correct attachments for connecting it to a scope. So......Is it any good for astro pics? He also has the remote control for the bulb setting and after a (quick) google it looks like max exposure is 5 mins and on my EQ5 I think thats pushing it anyway. The thing that I am not sure about is do I need an eyepiece in the scope or just connect the lens to the scope? What objects will I be able to image, any DSO's???? Planets?

I know a Canon 350D would be much better suited but I 'think' I may be able to get this will all the extra's for under £100!

Opionions please

[GordonCopestake]

"Bridge" cameras aren't ideal for astronomy but if you have one theres no reason to not give it a go! £100 is a bargain, you can always sell it when/if you want to move up to a DSLR

[geppetto]

Agreed, a DSLR is a better bet but the 5700 is a good camera.

I have a 5400 which is it's little brother and I use it a lot for astronomy stuff.

On mine, I fitted a convertor which fastens the camera to the top of an eyepiece

for projection photography.

I can expose up to 10 minutes with mine so the 5700 could be the same.

Since I got mine, DSLR's have slowly dropped in price so there is little advantage

in buying an ordinary camera new but at that price your getting a good deal.

[Caz]

You can achieve some fine afocal lunar shots with the Coolpix cameras, lovely crisp, sharp detail... The results were very pleasing 8)

[blinky]

Thanks for the replies, will I need to use an eyepiecewith this camera? and if so what one would you folks reccomend?

[FLO]

You will need to use an eyepiece. Generally, you are looking for a large exit-pupil (aperture/magnification=exit pupil) so eyepieces in the region of 25mm or longer work best.

If the adaptors supplied with the camera don't work, this will:

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=swinivcamadaptor

[Martin 2]

You will have to use an eyepiece, I connect my coolpix 4300 to the eyepiece using a piece of plumbing pipe, pushed on to the lens housing and over the eyepiece,

I set the focus to infinety and full zoom and get the lens and eyepiece almost touching each other, if you have a remote thats a bonus but if you still get shake then hold something black over the front of the scope (not touching) until the lens has opened and settled, a couple of seconds should do it.

M2

[SteelRat]

Plumbing pipe - excellent stuff - works for camera phones too