Astro-Photography

This is guna sound silly i know but, I am new to telescopes and astro-photography i just purchased a Hardin Optic 8" 1200mm F/6 DOB Telescope, and am in need of a recomendations or list of what equipment is need to mount my Canon 35mm camera, lenses i need to get so i can mount the camera to my telescope, what type of film i need to get and a basic outline of what i need to know so i can start taking photo's of the moon etc. I also have a Fujifilm E550 digital camera i would like to use, dose anyone know if there are mounting kits avalible.......

Thank you
Darren, Gardena CA.

I also have a Fujifilm E550 digital camera i would like to use, dose anyone know if there are mounting kits avalible.......
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I suggest sticking with the digital. There is a fair learning curve in either case, particularly figuring out focusing, with film is takes a lot of time and money, with digital it is much faster and costs essentially nothing.

With a digital camera, the moon and a DOB, you can take some good photos.

Adapters are available at www.scopetronics.com but I normally just hand hold the camera to a long focal length eyepiece, say a 32mm Plossl, use the camera's zoom as needed.

Focusing is the trick. My technique is to set the camera to infinity, and focus the scope using my long distance glasses, this seems to work quite well. You can also just try seeing how well the autofocus works.

Play with the exposure if possible and practice.

Right now the moon is nearing full so it is quite bright, it is better when the terminator is more contrasty.

Right now the thing to do is get out there with your scope and camera and just do it. Play around, experiment and see what you get.

Here is a photo of the moon I took with my 10 inch DOB hand holding the camera to a 32mm Plossl....
http://www.astromart.com/common/image_popup.asp?image=/images/forums/402000-402999/402841.jpg

jon

I'm a beginner too and just ordered this gizmo http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=65&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=6&iSubCat=29&iProductID=65 from Orion for my Canon PowerShot A95 camera. I haven't received it yet, but I'll post when I get it and try it out.

Doug