I have been dabbling in film astrophotography for a small time and trying to find the right combination of film, skies, exp times, etc. My last attempt was at Saturn. My intent was not to create great images but more to find out how my combination of ep and sky conditions were affected by exposure time. I was shooting afocal with Saturn about 20 degrees up. My skies are about mag 4 but I would expect to be able to do something like planetary. I took the whole 24 exposures in groups of four shots, each group used a progessively longer exposure time with the first set at 1/125. I was using Fujifilm 200 (the 4th extra layer stuff, whataver that actually does I have yet to see). Now, I have had limited success taking my film to both the local 1-hr as well as a pro shop. Since this was experimental only, I went with the 1-hr lab. The results were an entire roll (*except* for the first frame which I always make of a bright daytime object) of completely white frames. Almost as if everything in the dark was over exposed but not even a little detail I could see. In the past I have had rolls turn out similar to this except all light blue (again except for the first well lit shot).
My questions:
1. Is this a recognizable problem to any of the veterans?
2. Why would all dark sky shots be white?
3. As I understand it, the actual development of the film does not introduce any color corrections so whatever is on the film should get developed. Is this true or is the 1-hr lab actually screwing up my film?
4. I suppose there is no way to salvage film that consists of a roll of white frames? (rhetorical question I guess)
5. What brand/speed of film is best for moderate levels of light pollution for use on brighter DSOs and planets?
I am using both a Pentax K-1000 and a Minolta SRT-102. Both camera work perfectly for normal photos so I am ruling out faulty equipment. Also, I use a de-rotator for everything except planets/moon/solar and a wedge is out of the question right now (ask my wife, she will tell you) so please don't suggest getting a wedge. I know, I know... :-/
If I could just get two rolls in a row to come out useable I would have something of a system and I could enjoy this more.
And if it matters, I have a LX200 10" Classic and I use either a 12.4mm or 26mm ep for afocal shots at f10 (no focal reducer....yet).
Thanks very much for helping.
-Al Arduengo
My questions:
1. Is this a recognizable problem to any of the veterans?
2. Why would all dark sky shots be white?
3. As I understand it, the actual development of the film does not introduce any color corrections so whatever is on the film should get developed. Is this true or is the 1-hr lab actually screwing up my film?
4. I suppose there is no way to salvage film that consists of a roll of white frames? (rhetorical question I guess)
5. What brand/speed of film is best for moderate levels of light pollution for use on brighter DSOs and planets?
I am using both a Pentax K-1000 and a Minolta SRT-102. Both camera work perfectly for normal photos so I am ruling out faulty equipment. Also, I use a de-rotator for everything except planets/moon/solar and a wedge is out of the question right now (ask my wife, she will tell you) so please don't suggest getting a wedge. I know, I know... :-/
If I could just get two rolls in a row to come out useable I would have something of a system and I could enjoy this more.
And if it matters, I have a LX200 10" Classic and I use either a 12.4mm or 26mm ep for afocal shots at f10 (no focal reducer....yet).
Thanks very much for helping.
-Al Arduengo
